First Two Days

Wow! I know I will leave things out so ask me questions when I get home! The first day I went to build a house for a man with three children. His wife left him. We drove a long way on the bus to a village. Then walked up and down and then REALLY down to the site. We had to tear down their old house - sticks and mud. Then built the house - 16 feet x 16 feet x 19 feet. The walls and floor are like laying laminate flooring and the roof is tin. We had a dedication ceremony as a family with us paid for the house in memory of the guy's dad who just died 3 weeks ago. We said a prayer and then the man told us how much he appreciated us. To see the joy on the children's faces was priceless. Then yesterday I went with a crew to dig out a spot on a mountain to build a house for a woman and her 13 year old son who is in a wheelchair....you know that is where my heart is. I have NEVER worked that hard. No shade and hauling buckets of rock and mud down a line for almost 6 hours - I used muscles I never knew existed. We had the best time! We had to walk down to the little village town to wait for the bus and I was so tired that Liza Johnson and I were laying down on the side of the dirt street with our heads on our backpacks! On the way back we went to shop at Mi Esperanza (Lori's non-profit that teaches women a skill) and I won the prize for spending the most money! Not really honey! On the bus ride back we were stopped by the police - for no particular reason than we were a bus full of white people. There are no road rules here - it is a free for all and everywhere you go is uphill - literally - We are staying at the most amazing camp but it is at the top of a mountain! Today we are going to be touristas and then go to church in the afternoon. God is showing me so many things about myself and our kids. They are doing a great job and I have not heard one of them complain at all. They are loving every minute of it! More later - internet is sketchy.

running on faith,
Lee

First Morning in Honduras

We arrived safe and sound in Honduras yesterday at lunchtime. Lori picked us up from the airport, gave us Honduran money and took us to a restaurant for lunch. I was leary but she assured us everything was safe. I had a Sprite in a real bottle, grilled chicken, rice and pico which I rolled into a flour tortilla. Very good. I also tried one of Andrew's plaintain chips - bland - no taste. Then on to Villa Gracia up the mountain. What a bus ride! There are no traffic lights or stop signs in town - free for all with horns blaring. Pretty comical. Then up the mountain - the views were amazing! Lori oriented us and gave us room assignments. I am in a room with three nice ladies who are younger than me. Ellen is with her buds and that is good. Tried to get organized - No space but I arranged my suitcase so it would fit under the bed and my carryon has just enough room at the end of the bed. Then a huge storm kicked up and we lost power. Dinner was baked chicken, bread and spaghetti seasoned with broth. Then devo which was amazing. Beautiful singing and I had forgotten how much I love to hear Mark Connell sing! I got a shower - maybe 2 minutes and hit the bed since I had been up for over 18 hours. Please pray that God will use me and remind me that it is about me and him and not me having friends. I feel pretty alone right now.

running on faith,
Lee

Satan is still on steroids but I am winning because I am not giving up or in. Sunday our worship leader, Kev, planned an incredible time of worship in song. Some of my favorite songs including my Sweet Ellen's Everywhere I Look that she wrote when she was 7! The one that touched my heart the most was Give Me Jesus - it goes like this -

In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus.

Oh when I am alone
Oh when I am alone
Oh when I am alone give me Jesus

Oh when I come to die
Oh when I come to die
Oh when I come to die
Give me Jesus,

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Give me Jesus

Throughout all of the end of the year stress, uncertainty about work responsibilities for next year, preparing physically and mentally for the trip, my baby turning 15 - all of it is so insignificant if I just live that song. I want to be clay in His hands, ready to serve no matter what, no matter when, no matter where. Just give me Jesus.

running on faith,
Lee

Preparing my heart and mind...

So Satan is still on steroids trying to rock my world. I REFUSE to let him win this one. This morning when I was talking to God I asked "What is it you want me to get from this?" (unspoken situation) He said "I am trying to prepare you to yearn to be in Honduras." I udnerstand now. I am excited but as I have shared before I am very nervous and apprehensive. God is using a situation to make me want to be away from everything for a while - to yearn to not have telephones and text messages, Facebook and television. I am craving to be away and that is good. I am trying to listen to him and trust him in all situations.

running on faith,
Lee

I have been really emotional today...don't know why...could be that I am too tired, too busy, ran out of time to do anything productive...who knows. Our baccalaureate service was today at church. So hard to believe these babies are graduating. At the end of service our worship leader, Kevin Kilpatrick, had the seniors come up to the front. Then, he had everyone who sings on praise team join him...then the congregation. We sang Revelation Song and it was amazing to have those voices so close together - blending as one to sing praises to our God. Kevin told his graduating daughter, KK, during the sermon that he wanted her to sing the lead...she has an amazing voice and just stepped right in there and did an awesome job. Tonight I got an email from my oldest and dearest friend in the world, Lisa. She just returned from her first weeklong mission trip. God truly used her to spread his word and spoke to her. I am so thankful for her, her heart and her love for our God. Have a great week everyone.

running on faith,
Lee

worrying about the little things

It hit me today that 3 weeks from today I will have arrived on foreign soil for the first time in my almost 49 years. It made me dizzy to think about all the things I have to do in 21 days and made my heart beat a little faster with excitement and apprehension. I have been worrying about little things like how will Izzy (our shih tsu) do without Ellen for two weeks? will Jeff eat right? can he get his laundry done? how will he get along without us? We will miss him so much but I can only imagine how he will feel coming into an empty, quiet house every night - Ellen and I are anything BUT quiet! Satan has been working overtime but right now I am winning the game 2-1. Just gotta keep asking God to go before me every day. I am so blessed to have this opportunity - 2010 has truly been a banner year thus far...ran my first full marathon, going on a mission trip for the first time ever, got a passport - I may even train for another marathon, who knows? I do know that I am a very blessed woman - I have a husband who loves me and makes me laugh, an incredible daughter who I love more than the grains on sand in the ocean and I most importantly I am a redeemed daughter of the King of Kings. Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our Blessed Redeemer.

running on faith -

22 days until we leave for Honduras. I can't believe it. We have talked about it, raised money for it, dreamed about it, prayed about it and now here we are so close. We had a dinner last Saturday at the Dorris' house to have questions and answers. The kids who have been had so much good advice and information and great stories to tell. Those of us who have not been were so attentive and soaking it all up. One thing that has meant so much to me is how supportive everyone has been. All my running buddies, school buddies, family and church family want to help in any way they can and it is so appreciated and I am humbled at the way we have been showered with monetary gifts. So, to all of you, a heartfelt thank you! Satan continues to try to wear me down - stress over school for me and Ellen, things to do, my house is a mess, etc..I will not let him rob me of my joy! Last Thursday night I watched a video from a link that Mark Connell (our friend who lives in Honduras and runs TORCH Missions) put on Facebook. It was about 20 minutes long and was real footage from The Dump in Honduras. The Dump is just what it says it is but people live there. I saw pictures of small, dirty children filling torn plastic bags with plastic bottles to resell. Women gathering around a dump truck of garbage as it dumped its load to look for food to eat, clothes to wear, things they could sell. I saw men, women and children competing with buzzards flying over head for food. As I sat on my couch in my comfortable home - clean, belly full and my comfy bed waiting for me, I realized that I am so not prepared to go to Honduras. I have seen a lot of things in my almost 49 years on this earth but nothing compared to this - in movies and on TV sure, but not face to face in real life. I am praying that God will continue to prick my heart and make me stronger physically, spiritually and emotionally so that I can do the work he has for me to the best of my ability.

Until next time - I am

running on faith,
Lee