The Gap in time...

Things have been a little quiet these past couple of weeks. Between recovering from a heavy month of teams, surgeries, stitches removal, continued work on the Police Bathhouse, preparation to send Amber back to the states for her last two years of college... Our lives are full.

By God grace, we are still here. It is only with his generosity that this ministry continues. We have several things to celebrate. Yea God.

1st Pres - Team Visit...

This week we have been blessed to receive a team from Corinth, Mississippi. They come to us from 1st Presbyterian Church. 26 team members including a medical team w/ medicines, a dental team w/ supplies, an army of volunteers for children's ministry, and a construction team. This team came prepared. Obvious time spent in advance getting ready the arts and crafts for the children's outreach and the aquisition of medical supplies. Their focus was in several areas.

1 - Working with Arms of Jesus in home construction.

2 - Facilitating a free Medical Clinic for the city of Pastores.

3 - In connection with the clinic this team facilitated 4 days of children's outreach.

As for the clinic over 1,000 people were given medical and dental care. This was the first event of this type for Pastores. Feedback from Mayor Lopez was that the community of 14,000 people were very appreciative for this teams sacrificial efforts and support. This also included the assitance of more than 20 of the Mayor's staff. This event has set several landmarks for future clinics. Including the innovation of children's outreach, electronic tracking for patience, large scale methodology, just to name a few. Plus we were blessed with 3 professions of faith in Christ.

Thank you 1st Presbyterian of Corinth. This event would not have been a success or even possible without you. May God bless in all of your future ventures.

Nancy is running again...

My wife rocks! She ran another 1/2 Marathon called the Las Rosas. For the past several months she has been in training with other women, preparing for a full marathon this coming fall. Seen here are two of her running mates (Jessica and Tami) as they passed by the church. Nancy is the one on the right.

She ran it in 2 hours - 20 minutes.

It brought me to stitches...

Woo-Hoo! The day finally came for the removal of the 2 screws and 3 nails that were generously deposited in my leg during the first surgery after the accident. So, the day before I get a phone call from the hospital. They ask me if I would like to be put under with gas or just receive local anestesia. I thought "Kewl", I can watch the surgery, how hard can it be - deaden the leg, they pull a couple of screws and nail - Maybe I can practice my Spanish with the doctor!

The definition of "local" needed to be clarified. I get into the surgery room and they give a local starting in my back! For me a "local" would be as much as my right leg. For them, they consider a local being an epidural. So here I lay on the table, semi-gassed like a slug. Of course they decided to shoot me up 4 hours for a 1 hour surgery. I returned to the room - wide awake - unable to move. Boy did that feel funky.

But here's the kicker. They told me that I received 2 screws and 3 nails. The healing to date had been fantastic, as a result the removal process took longer than expected. I had asked for the screws and nails before the surgery. They gave me a small envelope with the inventory of only 1 nail, 1.5 screws and a washer. While I am not sure what that means, I figure it should be very interesting the next time I go through airport security.

I have ten more days with 6 stitches, several more weeks of therapy. Let the healing begin. Maybe in a couple of months I won't have as much of a "kankle". That is when your ankle is as big as your knee.

Calvary Baptist x2...

These past two weeks we have been blessed to have a double header. Calvary Baptist Church of Winter Haven sent two teams - one of high school students and a second with college students. The reports back from the two teams scored high for the various week's activities. Both groups participated in further progress for the Police Bathhouse with focus on several projects, ranging from not only construction to children's outreach.

The first week while it didn't quite go as planned. But it did provide an opportunity for quick climb up a volcano. The second week not wanting to be out done set out on their Pacaya hike the second day they arrived. This may become a regular event offered into the future.

Other perks to the weeks included police escorts to local parks; as one group described being "arrested" or rather picked up by the police on the way back from the grocery store and then returned to our hotel. The second week of students challenged the officers to a "friendly game" of fútbal (soccer). While the score was very close my officers gave quite the education as well as recieved. The Americans won this round. My boys have asked for a rematch.

Thank you CBC (Calvary Baptist Church) in da 863!

11 more profess Christ...