Dea went home from the hospital today. She says she is doing well. Physical therapy will begin in her home Monday.

Two crews helped load the container. One group is made up of local retirees who give unselfishly of their time to help others--almost daily. The other group assembled just for this load.
The entire organization that made this load possible is terrific. CURE- Compassionate Utilization of REsources - gets medical equipment and supplies that are outdated or unwanted and finds a home for them. They literally put millions of dollars worth of supplies to work that would otherwise be wasted. They are all volunteers! God bless them.

Dea has done very well after her surgery. She is up walking and was able to bend her knee 108 degrees on the day after surgery--phenomenal! She plans to go home from the hospital on Friday.

This container was loaded out yesterday at Ft Smith and is going to San Salvador to equip a nursning home wing. It had hospital beds, wheelchairs, other furniture, and lots and lots of towels, sheets, blankets, and other linens.
It also had about 35 computers for the University and the National Zoo and a grade school nearby. The container was loaded by several men who are volunteers. They did a great job.

Please say a special prayer today for Dea. She is having knee replacement surgery and really wants to recover rapidly so she can return to La Palma.

School started today! Does the happiness show on the faces of these girls? Started in February 2007 with K-4, the La Palma Christian School now has grades K-7 and about 60 students.

School starts today, Monday, at La Palma Christian School! This will be the first time for 7th grade since the school received approval for it a few months ago!

Another exciting bit of news to report! Noemita (little Noemi) and 'Chana' (Roxanna Elizabeth) are going to start 7th grade. They live with their parents in Cumbre de Gramal, a community in the mountains that is hard to get to and quite isolated. One graduated from 6th grade last month and the other graduated a year ago. Neither was able to continue their education because they are too far out to attend an upper grade school safely. They appeared to be 'doomed' to follow the usual pattern of kids there: complete 6th grade and start a family and work life.

In December Dora was invited to live with Lori and Monte during the week, attend 7th grade, and go back home to Chuntrun on weekends. Her father has repeatedly refused to let her go saying she was needed to help with housework at home. The mother of these girls was delighted and is allowing them to 'move up' in life. They will learn better how to live and how to make a living, and they will be able to learn Christian values and how much God loves them.

Lori and Monte ask for your prayers to help them and the girls. This is a huge change in family status, and the girls have not lived with electricity and running water. Please pray for the entire situation and that God will protect and bless them all.

Why do we collect and send used wheelchairs to La Palma? This plain used one in a store is priced at $95, more than the monthly salary of most people. They simply cannot afford to buy one, and in our country they are thrown away because our government provides new ones so often.
The shipment that loads out next week will have about 10 wheelchairs to help families in need.

My beautiful granddaugher, Ruth Erin, with mountains in the background. When you see scenes like this you want to think that no man has ever explored this area--then you see the building and the hi-voltage powerlines!

We need a donor or donors! The church in Ocotepeque needs internet service to continue the Bible study classes they were taking. The previous donor is no longer able to provide the $70/month needed-- please consider helping in any amount you can toward this very beneficial work.

We will be loading a large container with hospital equipment next Wednesday the 26th to ship to El Salvador to furnish a new nursing home. Any help will be appreciated; work starts at 10 am. Let me know if you can help.

There are four new Christians in the Ocotepeque church since the first of the year. Even though they have a baptistry in the new building, sometimes they prefer to go to the river. We must rejoice with them!

Selena reacts to the gift of a toy. If you could see the house and conditions she lives in, you would understand why it is so precious to her.

Lori, Monte, their children and his parents visited a home in Chuntrun Saturday. Read about it on Lori's blog at

http://soylori.blogspot.com/

This view of the Chuntrun school shows the small solar panel on the roof. The only uses for electricity that can be seen are a radio for communication and a single light bulb. There are no other power sources.

A group including Lori, Monte, and Monte's parents will be visiting the remote area of Chuntrun today to do some visiting and teaching.
The circled area 3 1/2 km west of San Ignacio is Chuntrun. It contains about 6 houses and several families. A truck can take them part of the way, and then they must walk and climb a trail to include crossing a poorly-maintained suspension bridge.

When you have almost nothing, everything is precious--even without batteries!

Jorge's mother needs a wheelchair, and we were happy to be able to provide one. Here in our country there is a lot of medical equipment unused and unwanted, while in other places it is badly needed.

She lives with 3 siblings and her mother in a 2 room adobe house with no water or electricity. Her brother has leukemia. Her mother sews and irons for a living. The iron is wood-fired, and someone recently stole her treadle sewing machine. This young lady was delighted when Erin presented her with mittens, new shoes, and a hat.

And in spite of the troubles she endures, Mom says, "I am so blessed!".

There were several chefs in training at the La Palma Hotel while we were there in December. They took their situation very seriously as far as uniforms were concerned.

Ocotepeque had a regional worship activity Sunday for congregations in the area. Here is a photo of the assembly.

He is not really locked out! He just preferred to watch the school program from outside.

Gladys joined us in December for much of the work. She is a tremendous asset to the team with her language skills and her unique sense of humor! She knows the people and the culture and loves to work for the Lord.

Glayds lost her mother recently and we want to remember to pray for her and the loss that she feels. God bless you Gladys!

Jessica and Andrea, sisters, proudly show their gifts at the sponsor program.

School is very important to those who realize what an opportunity they are given, especially those parents who were denied that opportunity themselves. At the promotion ceremonies, parents seek out those who have influenced their children and want a photo with them.

During our December trip we were able to give each sponsored child a gift during the monthly program. The gifts were very much appeciated. I picked out some random photos of the children showing their gifts.

December 4 was Ladies day in the La Palma church. The event drew ladies from several towns around as far as 40 km. Here Lori and two ladies do a skit for their learning and entertainment.

In Central and South America, it is tradition to celebrate the eve of the Christmas and New Year's Holidays with much fireworks. Last night was no exception to that in La Palma, with lots of noise and celebration in town.

Please pray for the churches in the La Palma region that they may grow in 2011, that they will withstand the attacks of Satan, that they will worship in unity, that they will shun evil behavior, and that they will love each other and reach out to the lost.
God bless you,
Ralph