Finally a big smile out of her! Culturally, many children, and families, try to look stern for photos and not smile.

Here is the beginning of a smile!

Another of the sweet faces we get to see on our trips to Central America. I think I later got a photo of her with a smile on her face. If I can find it, I will post it later.

The La Palma picnic is planned for the Monett City Park at 6 pm on September 24. Make plans to be there!

It rains almost daily from May thru November. This group was prepared!

Lori, Monte, Ruth Erin, and Nathan have completed a year in La Palma working with the people and the church and the community. They have now moved to Jenks, OK, where Monte is employed.
Wednesday through Sunday they will be attending a workshop designed to help them re-enter the culture that they left a year ago.

Lazarus is shedding the graveclothes as he emerges from the tomb during VBS at La Palma.

Kids love to color in class, and our teachers had some good Biblical coloring pages ready for them.

Dea meets with the family of each child in the program about their health needs.

The staff of La Palma Christian School!

The children at Mira Mundo school were given school supplies, clothing, cookies, and a toy. This is one of them! What a face!

Many people in the La Palma region cannot read; hence they cannot study the Bible and become the teachers that are needed. Maybe you can help!

Do you have a working MP3 player--portable or pocket size - that you would donate to load the audio Bible or New Testament on so someone can listen to the passages they want to hear? Or perhaps an Ipod that you had before your latest upgrade.

Preference is given to those which are rechargeable because it is hard to get batteries there. Please let us know if you can help.

Kami and Thomas pose with Manuel, the boy they have sponsored for several years. They have seen him grow from a little boy to a healthy young Christian man.

Another view of the impromptu Bible study we had in a field at Loma Larga, a mission point for the La Palma church. The host family was very receptive and attentive to the message.

Crossing the border between El Salvador and Honduras was fairly easy and quick until about a year ago. Now it takes over an hour--depending on how many are ahead of you in the lines. You have to 'exit' one country, then get permission to 'enter' the other. Honduras charges $3.25 to enter their country - usually. And that is good for one crossing only. That is for EACH crossing.
We should be thankful that we can cross state lines here so easily!

Another game that happens anywhere is marbles. This is a serious game!
No batteries required and not much else but a small open area and a few marbles.

A soccer game is likely to happen anytime a ball is available! Daniel loved playing with the kids, and they loved him also!

At this point in the trip, the group makes a feeble attempt to stay warm by covering with a sheet! A little later the sheet was wet from rain and useless. They still had fun!

Look at the hands holding this well-read Bible! As I look at those hands, I think of how spoiled we are here in the USA. We have Bibles galore! Anyone who wants one has one or can have one simply by asking for it. Yet we don't read them or appreciate them as we should.
In the La Palma region, that is not the case at all. Few families have Bibles, and some who do have one cannot read! We should be ashamed for our ingratitude for the precious Word of God! Let's read our Bibles and honor God by sharing with those less fortunate, especially those who have no Bible.
Sister Ernestina reads her Bible! God bless her for it.

Think about this photo. Rachel is teaching in a public school. The book she holds and teaches from is the Bible! And they welcome us to do that! What a contrast to our own country where the Bible is not to be used in school. Our country needs to wake up and put God back in our daily lives.

High in the mountains at a K-6 school, our young people lead the students in an interactive song. Our young people had only met each other a few days before, but they bonded quickly and were enthusiastic in their efforts to teach.

It turned out to be an exciting day, although it had some disappointments. We had planned to go to Loma Larga, a community across the river from La Palma, to visit the school and hand out school supplies to the children there. In the morning, we learned that the school teacher had problems and the school was closed. Loma Larga is a mission point for Jose, so we decided to go anyway. Jose was unable to go, but Lori and Monte had been there before and would guide us.
First, you walk down a steeeeep slope to the river! Then you cross an old suspension bridge, and the group enjoyed that part. Then you climb the hill to the village. This is a poor village, as evidenced by the houses along the trail. Few people are home. Lori speaks to those who are home and invites them to church--and for the children there is a special invitation to attend the VBS classes going on in the mornings and afternoons.
We went to the gate of the school so the group could see how small it was, and how remote it was.
As we started back Lori called out to a lady in one of the yards. Hola! Como Esta? Would you like a Bible study with us? At that, the lady smiled and said she really would, but she wanted her family to participate. At her call, kids came from various locations, and a man came out protesting about something. The lady told him to get out here--"this is the holy Word of God". They started bringing out chairs and stools for our rather large group. We told them that was not necessary, but they brought several anyway.
Monte led some songs in Spanish and they joined in. Daniel opened his Bible and presented a lesson in their language. Edwin offered a prayer in their language. This all took place out in an open field as a result of a 'cold call' or door knocking! Lori told them where the church building is located and when times were for classes and worship, and encouraged them to come. As we left, each of them shook hands and thanked us for coming.
The power is in the Word. It was a fun and profitable trip for our team.

They are back! All flights were on time or early, and they arrived to a welcome of family and friends.
Now the re-entry process and change in culture begins. They have studied and been warned of the challenges they face as they begin a new life. Pray for them and for the church and friends they left behind.

Lori and Monte and Ruth Erin and Nathan are to arrive in Tulsa at 2:22pm today. They are very saddened at leaving the many friends they have made during the past year, but happy to be back in the States. Their goals were not met in many ways, yet they exceeded their goals in other ways. God has blessed them with lasting memories, and they will all return at times to those friends in the La Palma region.
Now they are faced with finding employment and a place to live. Pray that all will go well as they settle in - somewhere!

This is the basilica at Esquipula, Guatemala. It is famous and very large. Do a google or bing search for 'black Christ' to read about it.

This is our group walking down the trail to Miramundo (window on the world) school facility. This school has about 25 children, K-6. The altitude was about 7700 feet MSL. We enjoyed presenting some lessons and games and singing with them.

Morris and Thomas pose beside their first project after completion.

Andrea meets Andrea! This little girl stole our hearts in short order.

Morris and Thomas begin a reroofing job for Deysi. It was quite a project.

This great group of young people had lots of fun on the trip and did a tremendous job of teaching and modeling Jesus.
Left to right: Rachel, Daniel, Andrea, Erin, Megan
They really were awesome!