At the school promotion ceremony, some of the kids entertained us with an act going along with the song YMCA! It was fun and funny.

Isabel (pronounced eesabel), the young lady shown here in a Bible study with Lori, Melva, and Daniel, is coming to the US! She applied for and received a tourist visa to see the culture and commerce in the US. She will arrive on January 7 and return on the 14th.
Isabel is one of the hostesses at the La Palma Hotel Restaurant--the one who was always smiling. In addition to her work at the hotel, she is attending technical school and learning computer systems. She helped Rick and Doug install the cabling for the network in the school and the new Bible Institute building during the December trip, and they said she was really good at it. Isabel will be the guest of Mary and Doug Anders and wants to visit as many places and people as possible during her trip. She speaks some English. Maybe we can have her 'fix' us some pupusas while she is here. Please let Doug or my know if you would like to be her host for some event during that time.

Monday I talked with Jose, and he told me about Francisco, a young man of 13 or 14 who is an alcoholic and starting into drugs. Jose and Marvin recommended a rehab program in San Salvador that we are familiar with, and we agreed to send him to it . The cost is $150 for the first month. His mother pleaded for help to get him into the program. Yesterday he was to be taken there.
Also yesterday, I was privileged to speak to nearly 200 teenagers in Kansas City about the La Palma mission work and tell them how they can be involved. One thing I talked about was Francisco, and how we were raising money to get him into the treatment program. They took up a collection and it amounted to over $100 (these are jr and sr high kids) and will collect more today!
We ask you to pray for Francisco, his family and friends, and for all of the people in La Palma. God bless you, Ralph

The roof is being installed on the new building which will house the Bible Institute and the orphanage. We really look forward to this new facility becoming a place where God is glorified daily.

No posting today. I am trying to find out more about the Gonzales boys - ages, what happened, etc? Does anyone have church contacts in Boston that could check on them?

Note: the Ruth Paz foundation helped get the Gonzales children to Boston for their medical treatment. You can read about this foundation at www.ruthpaz.com/

We have an urgent prayer request from Honduras. Two boys, David and Fernando Gonzales, have been burned badly and evacuated to the Shriners Hospital in Boston. They are cousins of two children in the sponsor program in Ocotepeque.
They need our prayers badly. I spoke with the floor nurse who said they are in stable condition. If you care to fax them a greeting, it can be sent to 617-371-4813. You can mail them a card at Boston Shriners Hospital, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114
Everyone can pray for them.

All of the sponsored children and their siblings got a gift when we were there in December. It took lots of work to wrap and sort the packages, but each child received something. May their day be happy today.

Many of you asked, "Who is Norma?" after reading that Jose and Norma plan to marry. Norma is a teacher's aide at the La Palma Christian School, and she is the computer teacher. She is working hard to get her University Teaching Certificate by traveling to San Salvador each week for 2 days of classes. They have not set a wedding date because of Norma's mother's objections to the marriage. They would like to work through that challenge before they actually marry. The photo seems to show that they really adore each other.

Steve is so romantic! Who else would wear a rose over his ear to pose for a photo?

Coffee beans drying in the sun. They work hard to keep stirring them so they dry evenly.

We paused for a photo at the monument at the border between El Salvador and Honduras. The photo will be for the Lawrence County Record, to show the community what we are doing.

Troops showed up at the Ocotepeque, Honduras Church of Christ a few weeks ago. The ouster of the President and selection of a new one caused unrest around the country, and martial law was in effect much of the time. Gatherings of people were monitored, and the church had to explain that they were simply worshiping God--not planning an insurrection. We should be extremely grateful for our freedoms, but too often we simply take them for granted. Have you thought about having troops arrive during worship and asking what you were doing?

One week ago we were in Houston waiting our flight to Tulsa. We had left the loving people in La Palma and temps of 60-80 to come to COLD. We were blessed to be able to make the trip.

The Rodriguez family in Ocotepeque, Honduras. Jorge and Gloria and three daughters--Gloria, Karen, and Cesia.

A gracious and generous lady sent gifts for Emerson, the six year old in a wheel chair. We had the pleasure of presenting them to him and his brother. What a blessing that was. Emerson squealed with delight over and over again.

The small church in Sweet Name of Mary, near Chalatenango, meets in a lady's home. From 4-12 people worship there each week. The second photo shows where they plan to put a roof for an enlarged auditorium. The other photo shows the sweet lady with a very worn Bible. And we complain because our buildings are too hot or too cold or there was a line at the bathroom or there was dust on a light fixture or whatever!

Donnie celebrated one of the big birthdays while we were in La Palma. He reached the first age mentioned in Psalm 90:10.

On the Saturday after we arrived in La Palma, there was a regional gathering for young people at the La Palma church, featuring our own Tony and Leo as speakers. Kids came from many locations for the event. This Toyota pickup became a church bus and contained 18 people in it upon arrival, including this 'young lady' who was the driver's mother. She understood that it was for young people and wanted to be among them. The event was very succussful--over 200 attended.

It helps to have a sense of humor on these trips, and having some fun in addition to a lot of hard work really helps. Tony celebrated his 39th birthday Friday, and was allowed to have some fun and a cake to go with it.

Somewhat rested. Will start posting more photos and giving more reports in a day or two. Pray for the La Palma church as it moves forward. They asked for more responsibility and we gave it to them. They want to grow in their own culture and do it their way. We will support them!

Home at 12:30 Sunday morning. God bless you, Ralph

Houston! Dr Pepper!

Reflecting: this was the best evangelism group we have ever had--the most diverse and the most translators. God was glorified. It can only get better. Pray for the La Palma church and school.

Flight to Houston delayed! Waiting.

Hola! We are at the San Salvador airport--early. The plane for our trip to Houston has not arrived yet. We left the hotel at 7 am, ate breakfast in San Salvador, and arrived here safely. God has blessed our trip greatly.

We have said our goodbyes and are going to bed. It has been a great trip.
There will be posts tomorrow as we progress home. God bless the people of La Palma.

Look closely at this photo. Guess who is begging.

Our team! This is our last day here. Pray for our continued safety and success. There was another young lady baptized last night!

Dea addresses the sponsored children and their families about health issues. Daniel translates. Illness seems to be less than usual, and the H1N1 situation is much, much better.
Leo spent the night in the local clinic but is back in his room and better. We are making our final lists of things to do before we leave here early Saturday.

Dr Morris Ellis delivers the baccalaureate (sp?) address to the La Palma Christian School, with John Cannon translating. We had a great time watching the kids as they entertained us and moved up in grades.
Leo was not well today--he had to stay in bed. The rest of us are doing OK. We are sorry about the cold weather at home but very happy with the warm temperatures here.
We are busy. God bless you, Ralph

John presented a super sermon to the Ocotepeque church Sunday night.

It was another long and very exciting day in La Palma. There were many home visits. I toured some small churches in the region and met some great people. Tonight there were two ladies baptized as a result of the home visits. An elderly man was baptized in Ocotepeque also.
We are well and healthy mostly. Steve's back is hurting and Tony fell this morning --hurting his back. They both continue to function but with pain. Good night.

Jose and Norma have expressed their intent to marry each other in late January! The dymanic here will change with that!

Morris reads from the Bible during his devo while Leo considers how to translate.
We are doing well and staying very busy.

We are well and healthy. A lot planned for tonight.

Greetings from La Palma. It is the end of our second day here, and we remain healthy, happy, and busy. Yesterday was a very long day and we were very tired last night. Our trip was almost uneventful other than the delay at Houston. We arrived in La Palma after dark, which is unusual. Customs people inspected several of the totes because they thought we were bringing medicines into the country. The inspection was cursory and they soon quit. The plane from Houston was completely full, and it was a 757. Continental should be making money.
This morning, there was a youth rally at the La Palma church. It was well attended—over 200 from the region. Tony and Leo did a fantastic job and will have a lasting and positive influence on the youth who attended.
Some of us went to Ocotepeque and worked with the sponsor children and their families. Each of the children and their siblings got parasite treatments, vitamins, other medicines if needed, and a gift. After the others had left, Olga, mother of Maryruri, stayed and visited. After some teaching and consultation, she wanted to be baptized. We went to the river for that glorious event.
We enjoyed dinner again this evening, and were joined by Hiliana, Ligia, and Norma.
We have a tremendous team this time—each with a special ability to help the mission work. We are greatly blessed.

Here is our team at dinner. We are settled in --will get rested and go to work tomorrow.

In La Palma...

Just got another call from Ralph. They are just getting into La Palma. They are all healthy but very tired.
-Lori

Leaving San Sal airport...

Just got a phone call from Ralph saying that the group had arrived safely at San Salvador airport and were boarding the bus to head to La Palma.

-Lori

We are in Houston on hold for maintenance on the aircraft. Next announcment will be at 10 am.

Next posting will be sometime Friday afternoon to give our travel progress.

Honduras: Honduran Congress Votes Overwhelmingly Against Restoring Zelaya – 3 December 0900

The Honduran Congress yesterday voted overwhelmingly not to restore to office ousted president Manuel Zelaya. Of the 125 members present, 111 voted against reinstatement. Congress was voting on ratification of an agreement reached on 30 October between Zelaya, an outspoken leftist who was ousted from power on 28 June and has been holed up in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa since September, and the interim government.

The overwhelming “no” vote presents Washington with a dilemma. It has recognized the outcome of Sunday’s presidential and congressional elections but has urged the Honduran Congress to restore the president. Zelaya has said that he would refuse reinstatement in any case.

Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Peru have indicated that they will recognize the election’s outcome. Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, on the other hand, stated flatly that they will not recognize the new president, and other left-leaning and leftist Latin American regimes are expected to follow suit.

Porfirio Lobo, the candidate of the right-of-center National Party, easily won the presidential contest, garnering more than 55 percent of the vote, to 38 percent for Liberal Party nominee Elvin Santos. He is set to be inaugurated on 27 January. More than 60 percent of eligible voters turned out for the elections, a stronger showing than in 2005, when only 55 percent turned out.

The 30 October agreement called for Zelaya to be reinstated temporarily and with limited powers. It had to be ratified by the Honduran Congress, which referred the matter to the country’s Supreme Court. The Supreme Court last Thursday advised against Zelaya’s restoration on the grounds that he has criminal charges pending against him in connection with his attempt to overturn a constitutional provision that bars presidents from serving more than one term.

We leave very early tomorrow for El Salvador. The temperature in San Salvador is predicted to be 91! That will be a switch from Tulsa at 20.

The Honduran people have elected a new president who seems conservative and acceptable. The US and several other countries have accepted him, although Venezuela has not--and probably won't. The Honduras trip should be easy and uneventful for us, as the hostilities have ceased.

We have a very busy schedule and lots to do. Gladys got word that her mother is very ill and she will be spending time with her. We will miss her but understand that she must take care of her family.

Pray for our safety and security and success, please. God bless you, Ralph

Doug and I repaired the power cord on a clothes dryer for a family last week. I was reminded of the clothes dryers in La Palma--no power cords to repair and the clothes smell fresh!

These two became instant friends in June. Pray that they may spend time together again and that little Jorge will be positively influenced to return to school.