Some of you will have the opportunity to hold this newsletter in your hands next week, but until then I’m trying out various forms of getting our newsletter in front of as many people as possible. If you would like more info our the ministry of LTW or would like to be added to our mailing list please send an email to info (at) louderthanwords.org.
Archive for the ‘Honduras’ Category
Louder Than Words Ministries Fall 2010 Newsletter
September 2, 2010Favorite photos from Honduras 2010 . . .
September 1, 2010
This is the first of a few photos that I plan on sharing on the blog that are among my favorites from our summer ministry in Honduras. I don’t know how many pictures I took this summer, but I’m certain that it was over 4000. I’m not sure this one is my most favorite, but it is certainly in the top 5. This photo was taken in the small village of El Rosario, Intibuca, Honduras. I met Maura because we were putting a floor in her home. She was a very bashful young lady who liked to have her picture taken. Not unlike most Honduras she didn’t want to smile for the camera.
Last week I was confronted with an intriguing question about this picture. ”What is she saying?” was the question Erick Sanchez asked as he looked at this photo last week. So, I ask you the same question this week. When you look into those dark brown eyes what is Maura saying to you?
Update on Marlon . . . 05.04.2010
May 4, 2010
Today, Marlon went to his second Dr.’s appointment since coming to North Carolina on April 19th. His first week here with us he saw Terry Jordan, an audiologist with Charlotte ENT. Terry knew Marlon because in 2008 she visited his orphanage with her church in Charlotte. She has been our connection to getting his hearing evaluated. Terry’s initial evaluation was that he has “aidable” hearing (deafness that can be helped with hearing technologies). On that initial visit she noticed that he was having some trouble breathing and thought he might have a deviated septum. So, that brings us to today’s visit.
The visit to Charlotte ENT today was to meet with pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. David Parsons. The outcome of this visit was confirmation that Marlon definitely has “aidable” hearing and they are going to proceed with getting him fitted for high tech hearing aids. The next step in this process will be getting some molds of his ears made this weekend. After that, he should get some hearing aids very soon.
The other outcome of today’s visit was the discovery that the boney cartilage inside of his nose (that’s how I’m interpreting it) has completely closed off his nasal passages. We had noticed that he breathed very heavy at night while he was sleeping, but it wasn’t until his first Dr.’s appointment that Amy and Terry discovered that he only breathed through his mouth. Dr. Parsons advised that we watch him while he sleeps to determine if he is having sleep apnea issues. I think I’m going to set up my video camera tonight and see if he stops breathing! Dr. Parsons’ advice was that Marlon needs surgery to open his nasal passages and to remove his adenoids. So it looks like he may have a little surgery before he goes back to Honduras in June. I’ll keep you updated on his progress . . .
How can you pray for Marlon? I’ll just make a list:
1. Pray that he gets the help he needs to learn to communicate. Whether that be through hearing aids or learning sign language.
2. Pray that we can develop a plan of action for maximizing his chances of hearing, communicating and learning.
3. Pray for Marlon’s mother (Sindy) that she will have the wisdom to make the best choice for Marlon. Yes, he lives in an orphanage, but his mother still has the rights of a mother. She gave him and his two siblings to the orphanage when he was three years old (she was 18 at the time – now 25).
4. Pray for us to make the best decision about an upcoming surgery to repair his nasal passages.
5. Pray that God’s will would be accomplished in Marlon’s life and that his life and our actions would bring glory to God.
Headed to Honduras . . .
March 22, 2010In less that 24 hours all seven of us will be in Honduras again. I am excited about the opportunity to provide a camp for two orphanages in Honduras. I’m not at all excited about our TACA adventure on the way down to Honduras, but I’m never excited about traveling on airplanes with 5 children!
For those of you who pray and are reading this blog post please say a prayer for our travels tomorrow. I know Daniel is a little nervous because the last leg of our trip is on a turbo prop jet! I’m a little concerned that all our luggage gets there with us. We do, however, have a few days before the first team arrives so as long as we make it we’ll be fine! I’ll write more this week from Honduras on our upcoming camps for orphans until then enjoy a picture from last year’s camp.
Video – Honduras Orphan Camps 2010
February 24, 2010I admit it’s not the greatest promo video, but when all you have is iMovie HD it works! I made this video to promo a special project for the children’s small groups at our church (Bethlehem Church). If you have questions about this year’s camps or would like to sponsor and orphan to go to camp you can email me (info (at) louderthanwords(dot)org). You can sponsor an orphan’s trip to camp by giving securely online here: SEND AN ORPHAN TO CAMP.
Body Shop Bible Studies
February 11, 2010A couple months ago while in Honduras I had the opportunity to attend a bible study at a local body shop in Tegucigalpa. The bible study was started by two of my friends in Tegucigalpa (Esdras and Daniel). One of the guys at the body shop asked them if they would come once a week and teach a bible study. They whole-heartedly agreed and began going each Wednesday at lunch. The news must be spreading because a few weeks ago another body shop approached the guys about doing one at their place. I’m excited for these guys because they are “taking the Gospel” to the streets. Well, maybe not to the streets, but out into the public workplace.
This is a challenge to me because too many times we as North Americans build buildings where the Gospel is proclaimed. If you don’t come to the building then you don’t hear the message of Jesus. We don’t intentionally think that the message of Jesus can only be taught in a church, but too few of us talk about Jesus in the places we work or the stores we frequent. The Good News of Jesus cannot be contained in a building! This is challenging to me. If people are going to see Jesus in me then I’ve got to go to places where they need to see Jesus. I’ve got to talk about Jesus. If we only talk about Jesus in church then many who need to hear the Good News will likely miss it. I may not have access to a local body shop in which to teach the bible, but I certainly have opportunities each week to share the Good News of Jesus. What about you?
Orphan Camps 2010
February 10, 2010One of my favorite times of the year is coming . . . Orphan Camps 2010. I get excited about it because these children rarely ever leave their “compound” to run and play out in wide-open spaces. Several years ago God gave me a vision for taking these children to camp like many Christian children in the States go to camp. We rent out a “real camp” just outside of Tegucigalpa and put on a 5 day camp full of fun and learning more about Jesus. I’m sure over the next few weeks I’ll be writing more about our upcoming camps . . . stay tuned for more.
James 1:27 – Orphans and Widows
February 7, 2010Some of you know that a pastor friend of mine from Guinope, Honduras recently passed away unexpectedly. He was a young man. Younger than I am. For several years now we’ve been working with orphans in Honduras (and here in NC). James 1:27 says that pure and faultless religion is to “look after orphans and widows in their distress”. Since the passing of my friend Nery it’s renewed my thinking about “looking after widows”.
I’ve been contemplating why God connected orphans and widows together in this verse. I can figure out that orphans and widows have both experienced loss. Yet, one of the things I’m perplexed by is why has “the church” renewed its vision and response to orphans and rarely mentions widows? Do you have any thoughts on why God connected “orphans and widows” in this verse? Do you have any thoughts on why “the church” has often neglected widow care?
I’m excited about the possibility of several widows joining us for our orphan camps this spring. Doña Marina (widow of Pastor Nery) wants to join us at camp with all three of her children. I looking forward to what God is going to do during that week. If you would like more information on our orphan camps write a comment to this post and I’ll get you more information.
Pastor Nery and his Daughter – July 2009