This fellow works on a scaffold that would be quite scary to me. The pole furthest to the right is actually 2 poles joined by 2 boards nailed to it.

Mary was encouraged to try her hand at patting out a pupusa. She did very well!

Two men squeeze the juice out of some sugar cane on the corner of a busy street in Ocotepeque, Honduras.

A very cute little girl stands in the doorway of her home!

An elderly lady visited with us in La Antigua, Honduras. She stands in the doorway of her adobe home, which needs some repair.

Nicole climbed up on the lap of 'Grandma Thomas', and was asleep in about 45 seconds!

Home! It was a successful trip. Lots of evangelism is happening. Tune in often for updates.

We have arrived in Houston. Melvin and Mary are headed for Shreveport and I go to Fayetteville in a couple of hours. Last night we enjoyed native food with good friends, Napo and Miguel. Our trip is about over, but there is lots to do for the next one.

Children playing in the yard of a home in La Antigua.

Grandma Thomas found this sweet-faced little girl at church in Ocotepeque last night! What a doll she is!
We are back in La Palma for the evening, relaxing a little. To San Salvador tomorrow and home Saturday. We have met our goals and are feeling fine.

Candlelight Bible study in La Antigua (Old Ocotepeque). It was candlelight of necessity because the power was off in the region.

This lady was in a sewing class but got new reading glasses and just sat and read her Bible-ignoring the class and blocking a sewing position. Mary was patient with her, of course.
We had another great day today. Got a big welcome from the medical director for a medical brigade in La Antigua (Old Ocotepeque). The hotel owner gave us his water park right across the highway from the village to set up in, and promised all of the translators we need, with his son being one of them. It is an excellent location and facility- convenient to both us and the patients. Dates will be March 2-10, 2012 with some alternate travel dates available.
Mary continued her sewing classes with the ladies, who are excited and enthused. Tonight we attended worship in La Antigua. Twelve of us went from Ocotepeque. There were 12 children and about that many adults met us there.
We are well and healthy.

Melvin testing the eyesight of a lady who thinks she needs reading glasses. He fitted several pairs today while Mary taught basic sewing skills to several excited women.

Possibly heading out for more Chinese food!

A great day comes to a close for our team. We attended worship at La Palma this morning- there were 56 there. Pizza for lunch and then we came to Ocotepeque, Honduras.
As usual, we were swarmed by children wanting to hug us! What a welcome they give. Marcos Rafael was the preacher, and he is dynamic! He used almost no notes on a very brief outline and had great rapport with the audience and lots of "Amen"s. There were 62 adults and 42 children there, and the children mobbed us after it ended. They almost took Mary and Melvin down! This is a loving, hugging congregation.
After checking into the hotel we went to a Chinese restaurant across the street. Absolutely awesome food! Mary said she had just eaten the best Chinese food ever and it was in Honduras.
Tomorrow Mary has 10 ladies wanting to learn to sew and Melvin has a bunch of people needing glasses made. We will be busy. We are well.

We enjoyed a leisurely morning although we did get some work done. Mary had brought a suitcase of material for Ana, the lady who sews and has the little boy with leukemia. She loved it.

Shortly after noon I discovered that my Iphone was missing from it's pouch. We searched all over and did not find it so suspect it was lifted while I wandered thru the market. Remember, I am the one who briefs the travelers on not letting things like that be visible! I turned it in to the police with a reward. It is on the radio station with a reward, and I spread the word with the taxi drivers about the reward.

Tomorrow we plan to go to Honduras for a few days.

It is raining, just like it did most of last night. The humidity was very high today, or at least it seemed that way to me.

We are well. There is a large men's group here tonight from a church in San Salvador. We will likely get to hear them sing Amazing Grace in Spanish a little later.

Ralph

Mary, Melvin, and I arrived in La Palma before dark today. We have visits planned for tomorrow and will go to Honduras on Sunday.

I am on my way to the airport. Our small team will arrive in El Salvador about noon Friday.
Ralph