Honduras - Day 7

Hi, I'm Linshuang. (So weird random connection- I'm good friends with a guy who said he joined Penn IV because Wilson was his mentor). You kept reading about me in third person earlier on in Wey's blog entries but now he is so nautious that I have to blog for him.

So you're probably thinking- what did she do to Wey? Did she really want to write on his blog so badly that it merited poisoning his food? Well believe it or not, I did not poison his food- it was most likely a bad sunny-side up egg at the breakfast joint.

Rundown of the symptons: "A little after I ate, I had the uhoh I have to go kind of feeling. And then I went and it was hershey squirts. And then I went back, thought I was okay and then about an hour later, more squirts. This time it was much less pleasant. Then another half hour later, a little more squirting. Actually it was alot more squirting. So by now my ass is a little tender from the rough toilet paper I am dealing with. Along with the expulsion of water was the expulsion of all the energy in my body. After my fourth time I thought I was okay so I went to have beef stew. That was a bad decision" (clearly, this was due to the fact that the usual beef stew place we went to did not have beef stew. But the stand next to them eagerly marketed their stew, as equally 'delicioso' to us. But alas, they had lied. They had jealously seen our loyalty to the other beef stew place and coveted it for their own. Their soup was not quite the same. Not salty enough. They didn't put the rice inside. It just wasn't the same)

Symptons continued... "Post beef stew. Not surprisingly I had to go again and at that point, I took the pills my doctor gave me. Whether this was a good decision or not, remains to be determined."

Wey then tried to sleep all afternoon. At first his room without success because the traffic was so loud so I let him sleep in my room where there was not as much noise. But he still didn't fall asleep and he messed up my bed! Like Goldilocks! I'm sure it smells it bad too. The things I do for Jesus' love. (Oh btw, Wey also vomited. Ernesto and I heard all of it. He has quite an illustrative wreching sound in case any of you are wondering. He says "I could see bits of the beef stew in my vomit. And then when I tried to flush, bits of it splashed back up at me. Linshuang told me to wipe my chin." Good thing he didn't squirt at the same time. But he still washed his face afterwards. (Thankfully, before he went to sleep in my bed).

So abandoned by Wey, I had to go about touring Siguatepeque and teaching Excel classes on my own. So I guess I'll give a rundown of my thoughts before going on to prayer requests:

Touring Siguatepeque:
We had a chance to see the evangelical hospital that was started about fifty years ago. It's the only hopsital in Siguatepeque but people from all over Honduras come to it because it charges so little. The reason it charges so little is because it pays its doctors only about half the salary that they would receive elsewhere (i.e. government hospitals). In addition to lower costs, the hospital also has a school for nurses as well as housing for its doctors and single nurses (married nurses move out to live with their husbands). Most of the doctors are from Honduras- some stay for awhile, some stay for alonger period time but because of the lower pay, the doctors really have to view the work as ministry. What is really amazing about the hospital is that it has played a pivotal role in growing Siguatepeque's Christian population. I'm not really sure how it goes about sharing the gospel verbally but atleast through its actions, it has definitely communicated Christ's love. It's really amazing to see how something so little can make such a big change (I'm sure the hospital was started with donations and from missionaries as well as locallers- and through it and the work of other churches, Siguatepeque has gone from one church to 40% Christian). For me, it has given alot more hope and alot more perspective on the value of missions and the value of giving and what God can do through it. It does make a difference.

We also had a chance to see two of Scripture Union's micro-empresas (micro-businesses). A cement factory- which was really just two cement block machines and a camp center. Scripture Union generally finds it difficult to find church support for its ministry because people seem disinterested in supporting their work (teaching Bible classes in public schools) whereas they are willing to give money for children on the street etc.. So Scripture Union finds that it supports alot of its ministries through these businesses- which are actually very wonderful because it supports Scripture Union's Ministries as well as giving people work in a country where unemployment is high.

On a side note, Honduras is quite beautiful. I love the mountains and the hills and just the amount of green that is around. Up at the campsite, I was told that at nighttime, it is so dark that the village below with its few lights look like stars so that up on the hilltop, it seems like you are walking amongst the stars. Praise God for the beauty that He puts in the world.

Back to health issues, I'm still recovering from food poisoning as well so every once in awhile, I would bend down in pain. But I'm kind of getting used to it so it's not so bad.

So afterwards, I went to teach the Excel class without Wey beside me for moral support (Wey complains "I did more than moral support". That is true, he also pointed). So I was pointerless and moral supporterless. Quite devastating. But God was faithful and the class was successful even without Wey (how is that possible?!?! well it is with God). The class was actually much smaller- only three people which made things much easier. I'm starting to joke around alot more with the 'students'- making fun of a guy's girlfriend, of the computer and of Ernesto's excessively loud voice (we were in another room but Ernesto's voice carried over... Priscilla said 'This is great! I get two lessons in the time of one!').

Despite this, I still feel like I don't really know anyone. Hopefully this weekend trip with Orlando and Sylvia will change that- I hope to learn more about what they have to say about Honduras, about ministry, about poverty, about America. I really would like to learn from them and hope that their perspective helps me see the world better from God's eyes.

Then Ernesto and I had dinner. I think I am learning to get along better with his personality. He is difficult because he is overly eager to help and sometimes a little blunt in his comments. But his intentions are always good so it's good to see God teaching how to forgive more. But please do continue to pray for unity within the team. colossians 3:12 I think? About forgiving each others' grievances and building one another up in love.

Then we came back to find Joy completely distressed because Ernesto had given her and the children two seashells. However, there was still a slug in one of the seashells. But far from its ocean home, it came to an untimely death. And began to stink. Ernesto then went off to get rid of it. I think Wey's diarrhea and a stinky slug are just too much for this hotel to handle.

Anyways, Wey and I chilled upstairs at our favourite hangout spot which I think we'll have to take a photo of before we live (along with the beef ste place :) "Can't forget about the beef stew place" adds Wey). Then Ernesto joined us and we had a conversation about Viagra and how long erections lasts. So actually, if anyone does know (because I'm afraid to google it), how long does a normal erection last? (because you know, girls talk about how long their periods last... so don't you guys talk about how long you can hold an erection for?)

Forgot to mention, it was also Jesse's birthday today. He's so cute especially when he gets excited. Ohh Jesses has also dubbed Wey the loco. He no longer has a name, just a physical symbol to refer to him (pointing to the head making crazy circles). Actually today in the car, he was saying 'I wish (making the cray symbol) was here'.

Prayer Requests:
- Pray for health- for Wey and Linshuang's recovery. Grace and Joy have also gotten sore throats. Pray that we would return to health and that we would stay healthy. As fun as it is for us to write and for you to read about our bowel movements and using our asses to make varieties of candy, we don't want to be like this anymore.
- Pray for unity- especially as this weekend lays groundwork for learning to love each other. But it could also be a chance for the Devil to really infiltrate and cause dissensions. Pray that we would say no to sin, and yes to being obedient to God's command. Pray that we would be filled with tolerance and forgiveness for oen another. May we be eager to get to know each other instead of being just content with tolerating each other.
- Pray for fellowship with Sylvia and Orlando (Scripture Union people) as well as a visiting German who was a missionary here earlier on- pray especially for learning more about what they think about various issues listed earlier. Pray for understanding and sensitivity because not everyone knows Spanish.
- Pray for training and point of sales preparation- work still has to be done this weekend. Pray for diligence and wisdom and technical expertise as we do this.
- Pray for Joy's mother who is still ill in the hospital. Joy I think is having a difficult time here partially because of that.
- Pray for children's ministry- pray that God would continue to be at work and using us in spreading seeds and reaping his harvest. Pray that He would be using us to open more doors for the gospel to be preached especially to schools that normally are not open to Bible classes.
- Pray for our quiet times. That we still seek God on our time despite the business, the travel and the illness. Pray that we continue to be grounded in His truth and His presence.