This is the mother and sister to Francisco. He is the 15 year old who was an alcoholic starting to do drugs. With your donations he entered a treatment program in San Salvador and is doing well at this time. He is not allowed to have contact with his family yet, but soon will have earned that right. Thank you for your donations toward his treatment.

For those who have gone to La Palma in the past, you may be interested to see the new look of the Montana hotel. A new owner took over in the summer and spent a lot of money upgrading it. It has a new roof, a cleaned up pool area, and a revampted parking lot. Also, room 1, the big one with the trees growing through the roof, has been demolished and 4 smaller rooms on 2 levels replace it. They still don't have much business, but it sure looks better.

Update on David and Fernando Gonzales, the two boys who were burned in Honduras and sent to the Shriners Hospital in Boston.

Fernando is doing very well. He attended church with his family in Ocotepeque Sunday. His scars are healing quite well.

David was burned worse, but he too is doing well. The Social worker says he will get to go home in about 2 weeks. The hospital has several Spanish speaking workers who have helped him as much as possible without his family near him. His burns are not going to be as bad as they earlier thought, and he will not be scarred badly.

He has been given a LOT of toys, and he will get to take them home with him. He can also take home letters that are sent to him and his brother, so please send them. Here is the way to get cards and letters to him and his brother:

Attn: Julie Solivan for David Gonzales
Shriner Hospital 64
51 Blossom Street
Boston, MA 02114

Let's show him our love in his last days at the hospital.

Milagro cooks on the stove outside her home. No sure--no idea--what the food is.

Lori and Reyna pose for a photo before the big pupusa feeding. As usual, the pupusas were GREAT!

Lori is shown with Alissa, Franklin's widow. Many of you have asked how she is doing. She says "OK", but you can see the stress has had an effect on her. She is still afraid to leave the house very often or for very long. The entire family was working on some wood/painting projects when we were there. Christian is working in the woodshop part of the time.
She came to Bible study at Reyna's house while we were there.
She needs our prayers and support.

Claudia was in a wheelchair all of her life. At 22, she told us she would like to learn to walk. We got her a good wheelchair to make her life more comfortable. A lady from Monett paid for physical therapy for her. Our nurses encouraged her. Our teams made her some ramps to help her mobility. A power hospital bed helped her get up alone. In June, Morris Ellis made her some parallel bars to practice walking. She is working to walk by herself, and can do it with a walker or other assistance. Here she gets help from Mom and Dad (Ana and Trini) to walk across the back of the church to a chair.

Home!

Home!

Tulsa...

Ralph just sent a text message that he and Doug have landed safely in Tulsa.

In Houston...

We received a text message that they have arrived safely in Houston.

Boarding at San Salvador.

We are at the Quality Inn near the airport. Had a fabulous meal and are going to bed early for an early flight out.
It has been a great day. We met with the preachers after church and made some agreements on the new congregation to begin in San Ignacio. It was bittersweet to leave the church people.
The baby that Lori was shown holding in a photo last week died last night. We are reminded of the precious moments we get now and then.
I may be able to post some more in the morning, but not sure. Will try. God bless you, Ralph

We are spending our last evening in La Palma. It was a busy day getting all of the final list items done and 'fighting' computer problems, but we prevailed and all is well.
(Murphy was at work in the computer! Skype would not work because of a firewall setting, then the sound would not work. We ended up replacing the sound card and later a pair of speakers. Thanks to Rick for his patient help.)
We had a relaxed dinner at the hotel and are waiting a late meeting with the contractor.
Tomorrow we plan to go to a hotel by the airport about midafternoon and catch the early flight home on Monday.
We are well and healthy. Lori is posting some photos and videos for me. She seems to have more patience and people perspective, and that is good.

Boys will be boys...

This is a video of Vladimir. His mom is one of the teachers at the school. We gave him a couple of "Happy Meal" toys one afternoon while we were at the school. He was so excited about them and enjoyed playing "war" with them. He also enjoyed a Mr. Potato Head earlier in the day that was donated to the kindergarten classroom. :)

Wednesday as we were ready to 'head up the hill' from the school to the hotel, Doug spotted a man walking up the street wearing only plastic bags on his feet. We had just moved a barrel of shoes in the storage room, so Doug hollered for Jose to have the man stop. Then he went and got a pair of used but good shoes and gave the man. The photo shows him taking off the plastic. We bought him a cold drink and some food, gave him God's blessing, and watched him walk up the hill with good shoes that fit him VERY well.

We are well and busy. A new congregation will soon be started in San Ignacio.
Will post more later.

Great day today! All systems are running for the new Bible Institute. It took a lot of work and sweat, but classes will run tomorrow as scheduled.
We gave approval to rent the house that Jesus had selected for the new congregation in San Ignacio.

Two natives visit in front of the Mayor's office. It is interesting to wonder what they are talking about.
We had a busy but productive day working with school, church, and Bible Institute people. At 5 pm we went to Reyna's house for pupusas and small group Bible study.
Lori goes home tomorrow morning, getting into Tulsa about 10 or 10:30pm. Ken, Doug, and I are doing some computer work and moving stored items. We hope to see a potential building for a new congregation in San Ignacio. Friday we expect Napo and Carmen to visit us, if things work out for them. We are all well and healthy.

This dear lady sat on the curb across the street from the school almost all of Monday morning because her baby was in his first day of school. Today she did not wait for him, so I guess things are OK with her now.
We had a great day and got a lot done. We moved all of our stored stuff from the Mayor's building to our new building, and will arrange the storage room tomorrow. Where else in the world would the Mayor of a town like this give us the only key to his building for 4 months at no charge? Lori has had several Bible studies and is spending tonight visiting with Norma about the wedding that they are now planning in June.
Ken and I visited the hospital today. We visited with Dr Ramirez briefly as we took a tour. He told us that he has been reassigned to Chalatenango and will not be here after this week. His replacement has not arrived.

Our team Sunday in San Ignacio with the mountains in the background.

Ken Tipton is with us on his first trip to La Palma. He felt very much at home from seeing all of the photos provided to him by others who have been here. His adaptation to the people and culture went very rapidly, although he keeps reverting to the German language (from his year in Austria). The photo shows him eating his first pupusa shortly after we arrived. Ken and his wife, Connie, have been big supporters of the work in La Palma almost from the beginning. He is a welcome addition to the team and has been very insightful and helpful.

First day of school at La Palma Christian School. The kids were very happy to be back. One mother sat on the curb across the street from the school most of the morning waiting on her baby who was attending his first day of kinder.

Pincho Mixto--baked potato wrapped in foil shaped as a turkey!
Very good.

We had another busy and enjoyable day for us. We are all healthy and well. We just got back from Ocotepeque. There are many things to tell, but we got back here late. Maybe tomorrow.

We had another great day in La Palma. Our team visited many homes and met many people that we know from previous trips. The photo shows Lori holding a baby which has Spina Bifida and probably a fairly short life expectancy. We prayed over the baby's father who is in bed with Sciatic nerve pain.
We also planned resolution to several security improvement suggestions and challenges.
Two major issues regarding the school have been resolved. We will not request reinspection to get approval for 7th grade this year. The stress level is already high with the beginning of school being Monday, and it was felt that there were other things to work on. All of the 7th grade students are enrolled in the government school, and that had been a concern. During the coming year, some improvements will be made and materials purchased to meet the requirement for 7th and 8th grade next year. Secondly, arrangements have been made for an English teacher. Napo will be listed as the teacher and will provide his certification for the position. When he is unable to be in La Palma for class, Samuel will teach as an auxiliary teacher. This meets the requirements of the government and was the choice of all the options by Lilian.
Ken is making his first trip to La Palma, but has studied the mission work and looked at so many photos that he feels very comfortable here. He did some climbing and walking today, but has not climbed the 'tire trail'. We may force him to do that tomorrow or Monday. He will be preaching tomorrow at the request of Jose. If you look at his Facebook page, you will see lots of photos with his commentary on them.
Tomorrow we will worship with the La Palma congregation in the morning and probably be in Ocotepeque tomorrow evening.
It is predicted to be cooler this evening, but as of 8:30 pm we are in shirt sleeves and comfortable.
God bless you, Ralph

Lori took this photo at the school yesterday. School is not in session until Monday, but her mother was cleaning the building. Many of you will recognize her.

For those of you concerned about Gerardo not being able to get into 7th grade somewhere, we learned today that he has enrolled in the local public school at no cost and WILL be in school this year! Thanks for all those who share our concern on this issue.

A short visit to Gabriel and Erika's house was fun. The photo shows Gabriel, Gabriela, and Krisna doing the "see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil" routine. Erika says she is fine and the cancer is gone.

Great news today! Of the 2 boys from Honduras that were burned badly, one is home and the other is improving. Fernando has returned to his family and David is now able to visit with his family by phone and is getting much better. Jorge told of the father calling him from San Pedro Sulu saying the doctors were going to cut off both of David's hands because of the burns. Jorge and his family immediately went into prayer for him. A short time later the father called back to say they were being taken to Boston. Now it appears that David will be able to use those hands! Keep praying for them.

The local people seem to think it is cold. It probably got down to around 60 last night. They had provided an extra light blanket for the beds, and it felt good. There is a lot to do. We are ready for breakfast and work. Good day.

We are here. Our team is shown eating dinner. Heading to a church activity now. More later.

Esabel ready to check out at Dollar Tree Store.

Tomorrow we leave -- very, very early! Lori, Ken Tipton, Doug, and myself will travel to La Palma with Isabel.
We have a full month of work to do in about 9 days, so it will be busy for us.
I don't know when the next posting will be - possibly after we arrive in La Palma.
Pray for our safety and success. Ralph

Isabel continues to enjoy her stay. She has tried some new foods and has seen how things are done here. She really liked chili Sunday night and she will work with Lori to make some while we are down there next week. We took her to a Waffle House yesterday. The restaurants in La Palma have remote kitchens and you can't see the cooking operation. I wanted her to see how efficient it can be to have the waiter/waitress holler orders to the cook who acknowledges it and immediately begins cooking. She LOVED the waffles--her first ever.
Last night she made pupusas for a group at Joplin. Nearly as good as Reina's!
She has been sledding, and appears to be acclimating to the temps here. She saw Bass Pro and several other shops. She loved the Dollar Tree and bought a lot of 'women stuff' to take home. She and Lori were jabbering in Spanish at lunch and I tried to enforce a no-Spanish rule to make her speak English. In return she replied that next week I must speak only Spanish! OK, I can order my food that way but will struggle beyond that.
She took some photos of the large auditorium at the Mt Hope church building. I told her NOT to let Jose see those or he would want a bigger building. She told me if I gave her enough chocolate she would keep them from him. Her time is getting short. We leave EARLY Thursday morning for the trip to La Palma.

Our team for this trip just got a little bigger! Lori is going with us. The men are Doug, Ken Tipton, and me. We have a lot of work to do, and she can do some teaching and evangelizing and translating as needed. It will be a great week! Pray for our safety and success. Ralph

Another class photo.

One of the class photos taken at the La Palma Christian School promotion ceremony.

Children waiting to enter the promotion ceremony! Caps and gowns!

Isabel enjoyed Avatar! She said she couldn't understand a lot of the words, but she thought it was fun.
We took her to Logan's Roadhouse in the evening for dinner. She was amazed at the number of items on the menu and that we just threw our peanut hulls on the floor!
She got to see snow falling heavily and was 'wowed' at that sight.
She repeatedly said the Houston airport was impressive--a big "WOW"! She said she had no trouble finding her way to the gate by reading the signs.
She brought a medium weight hooded coat with her and is comfortable wearing it over a sweater and sweatshirt. Her description of the weather--"mucho frio"!
They don't plan to be out much today in this weather.

I found more information about David and Fernando this evening. David is still in very bad shape and cannot talk. He is 11. Fernando is 7 and is able to communicate. No family members are with them. I have contacted a minister in Boston who will go visit them and give us more information. They were burned by some fireworks that were purchased to celebrate after the last election. The wrong guy won and the celebration did not happen. David and Fernando were exploring a vacant house and found them--bad result.

The address for the hospital is:
Shriners Childrens Hospital
51 Blossom St.
Boston, MA 02114

Their last name is Gonzales
Their parents are Christians in the Ocotepeque church.

Isabel arrived in the Ozarks last night--what a shock to come from La Palma to this cold and snow! She is staying with Doug and Mary Anders. They plan to see a movie this afternoon after seeing the east Tulsa mall yesterday and saying "wow" a lot. She probably is here during the worst weather we have had for years as the forecast for the next two days is bad. Call Doug if you would like to spend time with her or entertain her while she is here.
There is a small group of us going to La Palma Jan 14-25 to move the Bible Institute to the new facility. Let me know if you have interest in going.

A happy bunch of children at Bible class. Can you find the nurses in the photo?

The church in La Palma has been going to San Ignacio on Sunday afternoon for about a year to conduct a program for children there, and there are several church members who live in San Ignacio who have trouble getting to La Palma for worship and other activities. The preachers have asked for help to rent a building in San Ignacio for the children's program and to conduct worship activities there.
The Goodman Oaks church in Mississippi has budgeted money to provide this facility. It will be a new congregation which will start with several members. Pray for this new work to be successful.

Repeating: 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 I have been unable to find out any more info on ages or condition.
Everyone can pray for them.

Here is a better photo of Isabel that shows her smile.