Good morning, Siestas! How is everyone today? Well, ever since the time change my kids have been waking up at about 6 a.m. That is definitely not when I would prefer to start my day, but with the extra time I've been trying to get out of the house and jog a little bit. I'm NOT a runner by any means, but this baby weight has got to go! So I'm trying. If nothing else, I've enjoyed getting to talk to God without morning cartoon background music or needing to stop and wipe someone's nose or worse. Was that TMI? I'll go ahead and change the subject now.
I've been thinking a lot about Marlon Alexander, who is one of the children we sponsor through Compassion. He just turned twelve a few days ago. Every time Compassion sends out a group of bloggers, all the posts give me this overwhelming desire to get on a plane and head to Honduras to see him. By the way, have any of you ever been to Honduras? Did you know that Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has one of the scariest runways in the world? Curtis and I have survived it a few times. I feel like we should get a t-shirt or something.
Compassion has a team of bloggers in El Salvador this week. You can go here to read about what they're doing. I know they would appreciate our prayers. While it's fresh on our minds, this is a great time for us to log in to Compassion's web site and send an email or even a Christmas gift to our sponsored children. I was never good at writing until I realized I could email. I love that! I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, ladies. We love you here at LPM.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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47 comments:
How did I not know we could e-mail them?!?! Oh, bless you for that piece of information!
Have you watched Heather's video where her kids got to meet their sponsored child via Skype? It rocked my world.
Amanda, I just wanted to share with you that my daughter works in a hair salon owned by a lovely lady from Honduras. She is such a lovely compassionate young woman. I give thanks to our Lord that she and my daughter crossed paths (which was God's doing from the beginning). She has become like a sister to my girl. I have enjoyed hearing her talk about her beautiful country that she is so proud of...she is the 8th child of 9. All of her siblings live there along with her parents. Such a beautiful person...inside and out.
As a matter of fact, my 18yo daughter, Hailey, has done two mission trips to Honduras with Orphan Outreach. Last year it was just a week, this past summer she was there almost three weeks, shortened by the military coup. (A scary thing for parents when your child is escorted out by armed guards as a safety precaution!) I had heard scary things about the Tegucigalpa airport, and last year it was actually closed because of an accident and she had to fly into San Pedro Sula. Anyway, she has fallen in love with the people there, especially the children from "the dump" that they teach at the school where she works. She has about decided that is where God is calling her to the mission field when she finishes college. She's applying for another summer long internship there this summer.
All that to say that Honduras has a special place in my heart, because of her.
Blessings,
Kathy W
I went to Honduras once on a Medical/Evangelical Mission trip. We flew on the airline SAHSA (South American something.) We called it STAY AT HOME, STAY ALIVE. And yes I remember the airport. When we were there they had kids, looked about 13, marching around with rifles everywhere. Someone said they weren't loaded tho. Obviously we came back alive, and it was a memorable trip. We went up into the mountains where no doctor or white man had ever been before. God was working. Unbelievable experience!
On a related note, have you all seen the video of the young man who met his Compassion sponsor at a conference in Atlanta in early October? Watch and be blessed. I hope I am attaching this correctly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW0uTKblmN4&feature=youtube_gdata
Susan in OKC
First of all, I am so insanely crazy about what God is doing with Compassion--and want desperately to be involved. (Working on that privately).
And second, prayers and love to the team there.
And C), I read your post quickly and have a poor habit of scanning ahead as I am reading--usually happens when I am excited about what I am reading--Anyway, I read so fast that I thought you said something about a free t-shirt. And I was thinking, "Oh, yeah, I want a free t-shirt."
Ahem, after reading it slooooower, I get the point. You deserve (read with italics) a t-shirt for surviving the runway. Yes, yes, of course. I knew that.
I have too many t-shirts anyway.
Blah.......
.......we love you, Lord. Thanks for the laugh fodder.
Our church is speaking as I write to staff with Compassion about a mission trip to El Salvador. My husband speaks the language fluently and I believe he will be the team leader and I am beside myself with excitement!!!! I pray he sends us...
Royana
yes, i've been on that runway! it truly is scary. i think i actually screamed out loud :)
i love following the bloggers. it definitely makes me feel apart of what they are doing.
I just received an email yesterday asking for prayer for El Salvador, San Salvador and outlying areas due to massive floods & mudslides now. Praying the teams and residents are safe.
Amanda, yes I have survived (barely it felt like) the runway in Tegucigalpa! My husband, my sister, and I went on a mission trip some years ago. Everyone clapped when we landed b/c it was such a close call!
We later found out that apparently, it's the 2nd most dangerous runway in the world. (Not sure if that's accurate, but that's what we heard.)
my church was to go to Houndras this but because of the fighting we could not go.Pray we can go this comeing Oct, i so want to go all over but havent ever been mab ey some some day i will ahve the money to do sso.God bless love sister in Christ Victoria Reidsville NC
Yes, Tegucigalpa's runway is one to be reckoned with! It was always the most frightening one I'd seen until I was in a little plane that had to land in the fog on a tiny airstrip on top of a not very long mountain in Tanzania...good times.
Thanks for the Compassion info, Amanda. Sorry you are having to get up so early. School's off for the day around these parts and I SO ENJOYED sleeping in!!!
Warm in Alaska.
Amanda,
I too like to email our Compassion children. I am much more faithful when I email. I have never been to Honduras but would like to visit our Juan Carlos who lives there. I would also like to visit our little Diana who lives in Ecuador. Just to know that these precious children write us and tell us that they pray for us just brings so much joy!
Amanda,
My heart smiled when you said not having to have quiet time with cartoons in the background. I love that God gives me "notes of encouragement" through other Siestas; and that he gives moms of young children so much grace. Ah, time for my quiet time.
Christ's love and blessings to all LPM staff.
Heather G.
Charlotte NC
You know what ministered to me the most? You talking about your baby weight. Mine is going, I declare it right here!!! Amen!!!
My baby is almost four - it's time!!
Having flown into that exact airport multiple times - I would agree with you on the runway thing - it's very scary!!
Reading your post has made me miss that country and the friends we've made there a whole lot! Thanks for the reminder to be praying for them.
Amanda,
I am actually from Honduras, and know exactly what you are talking about in regards to the Tegucigalpa runway. Did everybody clap when you landed? I believe it's a miracle to land on that runway, my uncle explained that the pilot has to time everything perfectly. I'm so glad that you have had the opportunity to visit my country and I too always keep it in my prayers.
Melody
I have been to Honduras, Amanda--went there on a mission trip when I was 17 (which has been quite a few years ago!). We did not fly into Tegucigalpa, but I remember *distinctly* how short the runway was. The protocol seemed to be "hit the ground, slam on the brakes." I do agree that we all deserve a t-shirt!
Yes, I have been to Honduras on a medical mission in a village 6 hours oustide of Tagucigalpa. I was a "pharmacist." When we landed, half of yelled with fear and grabbed the nearest hand or knee because we were about to lose their lunch. The other half yelled with excitment and put their hands in the air like they were on a rollercoaster.
For my Christmas present this year, I asked my husband that I wanted to sponser a girl from Asia.
Happy Wednesday! Erika
I LOVE Honduras! We have friends that are missionaries in San Ignacio...a small village about 2 hours away from Tegus. My husband and I have been so blessed by visiting. It is a scary landing!!!We are praying for all of the turmoil facing Hondurans these days.
I cry with every post, video, tweet that I come across. I, too, have a HUGE heart for Compassion and what they do!!
We sponsor Sofia in Uganda and was overwhelmed with emotion when Boomama went. That was my first exposure and I'm begging God for sponsorships to come out of the woodwork for these children in El Salvador!!
SO thankful for LPM.
Hugs,
Fran
I have family that go down there to Honduras a couple times a year to that exact runway you mentioned. Even brought back a home video of it and the car ride that followed to the little village they went to. I had to turn the video off to go take a dramamine! Oh my goodness at the bumpiness.
The Compassion bloggers are in our prayers this week. Love reading their stories and seeing their pictures.
I left some of my heart in Honduras when I had to return from a mission trip there several years ago! The runway is for sure one of the scariest things I've ever seen /experienced. What a bumpy landing we had!
At the church I attended in college, students took annual trips there to Orphanage Emmanuel. It is run by David and Lydia Martinez - two of the neatest, most passionate, loving, kind believers I have ever met. They left a life in California where they "had it all" to pursue Jesus and his calling on their lives to rescue children in Honduras. They started with a mere few kids - camping out and depending on God's grace each day to care for them. They now have a beautiful piece of land God provided, buildings, and last time I checked (which was several years ago) - the number of children had grown to the hundreds!! Its a great place to go and serve. Honduras and it's people have a special place in my heart!
I am not good at writing letters either, but was doing it for my sponsored child (in Brazil) and then I found out I could email her letters...YEA!!! Love you, too, Amanda
Emailing them is the best thing ever! It's so easy. Love it, and love my little John.
Siestas, I hope you'll forgive my interruption, but my heart is heavy. Two days ago, a friend of ours lost his wife. They were married just two or three years ago, and they had a baby girl, Annalee, just two weeks ago today. Lorkay died of a pulmonary embolism, and now Eric and Annalee are left without her. They need your prayers.
Lorkay was a year younger than I am. Just 31. And while I didn't know her well (and unfortunately not well enough to know whether she's a believer, though I think so), I do know that she had a fierce love for her man. I watched her nurse Eric through nearly a year of therapy and rehab after a near-fatal car accident until he was to the point where he could work again. Her devotion was unquestionable.
Have survived the Tegucigalpa runway. Scariest thing I've ever done...really! Instead of a t-shirt, I'm thinking more like a solid gold 10-foot trophy! But you know what, it's all worth when you get out amongst the people and start loving on them and caring for them. I really miss that place! It will turn you into a Jesus-bleeding missionary very quickly.
Hi Folks, I work here at Compassion. Thanks for all your wonderful comments. We really do try to do our best for sponsors and the children. Please do email you kids but also there is still time to send them a beautiful Christmas card. Most of them have never seen one, especially with snow. If anyone has a question, give us a call anytime (7-5)...800-336-7676. We are here to help.
Oh, Amanda, I read the blogs and saw the pictures and my heart just broke for these children and their families. And each child is so beautiful inside and out. I thought I had never seen such special children after reading Melissa's Compassion blogs from India, and now these! I still have not signed up for a child, because I know my husband will say we can't afford it. But even with our limited resources, we have SO MUCH compared with these families. Please pray with me that he will agree to view these blogs and will be moved to rearrange our finances so that God can use us to make a difference in a child's life. I did give him a heads up when he saw me sobbing at the computer as he headed off to work. Surely we can deny ourselves a meal out in order to provide the funds to change a child's life financially--and expose them to the love of Jesus. Thank you for helping keep our hearts tender toward these dear children!
Love, Karen in Yorba Linda, CA
Amanda,
I did not know that we could email our sponsored child! That is great, because I AM so TERRIBLE at writing to her. And every time I get a letter from her, after being excited reading all about what is going on in her life, then I have this overwhelming guilt for not writing to her. Thank you so much for that info.!!!
We CAN email our child??!!
Where have I been!???
I have had my Compassion girl from Brazil for quite a while now....this is my second child from there. Joyce is now 12 years old and I regularly write her and I pray for her all the time. What a blessing she has been to me! Last year, a group from my church went on a mission trip to the same city where she lives and they took a box of presents and needed items to give to her for me (since I was on a mission trip to Poland at that time). She wrote back and said how thrilled she was! Blessings abound!!!!!!
See you in January!
Blessings,
Ginger
Wetumpka
Oh yeah, Toncontin International Airport! I've survived that one twice now, and would love to go back again someday! I'm glad to know others clapped when they landed safely too.
Okay, now I am missing the friends I made there in El Paraiso & Danli (several hours to the south of Tegucigalpa, along the Nicaraguan border). (sniff, sniff)
I'm from Honduras...and I'll never get used to landing at that airport. That's why many decide to go through San Pedro, which has a much better airport. I miss my country and am so glad so many of you have had an opportunity to go. I love the Bay Islands, the food, the people, etc. I miss everything about it! Its so close to Houston too, you jump on a plane and you're there 3 1/2 hrs later!
I can't wait to go back, Christmas is specially wonderful over there. I miss my family, christmas tree, the fire crackers (they are legal)and the whole atmosphere. :(...
Oh I am soooo excited that you brought up Honduras!! I get to go on my first mission trip to Tel...(spelling?), Honduras in March with my husband and church. We are going to help an orphange there build ceiling on their bathrooms and fix their playground equipment for the kids. I cannot wait!! Although now that you metion a bad runway!?! but I know it will be great! Keep us in your prayers!
I've flown into Tegucigapla twice, and both times, the place went silent until we landed and then broke out into applause. Apparently, that's tradition---to clap if they land the plane and no one dies. (!!!)
Meg Ebba
girl, you speak TRUTH about the airstrip in Tegus!!!! Glory to God, we were able to get into the country of Honduras in July during the apex of the political upheaval for a ten day missions trip.....still in awe at how Almighty God worked that one out!!! Anyway, after landing, one of the guys in our group looked over at me (and probably saw me white-knuckling my arm rest) and chuckled and said, "You have just landed on the shortest international airstrip in existence." Why oh why did he feel like sharing that?!?!
I did not know that Compassion offered sponsorship opportunities for Honduras........thanks for the info!!!!
I have been to Honduras several times and the runway there is the scariest in the world-- and I've flown into Kabul, Afghanistan! Every time we land in Teguc the plane errupts in applause. There are some great clips on you tube from people who have filmed landings and take offs. I wouldn't suggest watching them if you've never been and would like to go. :-)
I have been to Tegucigalpa twice girl and that runway is scary! The last time I was there was September! LOVE IT! Not the runway so much as the people! Thanks for the blog info!
God bless your day and your jogging!!!
Thanks Amanda. I didn't know we could email either.I will have to do that.
Have a blessed day.
Pat from Kansas
didn't know about the emailing thing! Thanks!
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalms 29:11 (KJV)
Mulls
Chuckey TN
Somehow I missed the part about posting memory verses as we go. Sorry. Here is batch #1:
Colossians 1:28, 29
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy which so powerfully works in me.
Deuteronomy 6:4,5
Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his glory and goodness.
Psalm 91:1,2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
Romans 4:23-25
The words, “It was credited to him” were not written for him alone, but also for us to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead. He was given over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification.
Psalm 84:1-4
How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns and even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house for they are ever praising You.
John 5:24
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed over from death to life.
Psalm 139: 1-4
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.
Psalm 139:5-6
You hem me in – behind and before; You have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee. Yea I will uphold thee by my righteous right hand.
Galatians 3:9
If you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
Psalm 37:3-6
Trust in my and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the sin and the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Romans 8:1,2
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death.
Isaiah 43: 18,19
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Even now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making paths in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever believes in me and will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Thanks for writing about our trip! It was so life changing and amazing! I wish you could have been on the trip with us - now that would have been awesome! :-)
And Harper gets up at 5:30. It's hard to be a loving mom at 5:30. ha!
Amanda, I read the last post that Kelly posted, and I am moved just by reading it. Makes a person, any mom want to give!
Blessings,
katiegfromtennessee
Thank you, Amanda! We had an incredible trip together. Kids were released from poverty...and so were we.
No one got sick. No one was suspended in the air against their will (sorry about that, Melissa) and the airport wasn't scary at all. It was a perfect trip! Thanks for the prayers.
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