A funeral next door

This post is not fun. Its not glorious. It isnt happy. But this is life in Honduras. 

Sometimes people tell me that I shouldnt post stories like this. Its not good for my supporters. But honestly, I think its the opposite. This is real life. This is El Porvenir. 

Late Saturday night, early Sunday morning, my neighbor, well call him B, was shot and killed. Why? We dont know. Who? We will probably never know. I woke up Sunday morning to talk about the nights events happening outside on our porch. I walked outside to find out what was going on. 

This is how I learned about Honduran funerals. 

B's family is very poor. They live right next door to me, about 20 people in a house the size of most of our living rooms. Sunday afternoon, a car pulled up with a wooden casket and B inside. B still had to be prepared. There was no funeral home. No makeup. No preserving. B arrived and the family, through their desperation, had to prepare the body, cover his wounds.

The casket was held up with old cinder blocks. A paint bucket was placed under the casket filled with ice. Some of the teenagers went down the street and came back with a special leaf to help preserve. A Fanta 3 liter bottle on top of the casket was cut in half and held flowers picked from outside. The casket sat in middle of the house. A wooden scrap house. Electrical wires just strung about, holes in the walls covered by scraps of unused clothes. Magazine pages plastered on the wall which was once used as "wall paper". All day long people came in and out of the home. Eight PM held a service with a local pastor sharing the word of God. Singing. Community. 

Everyone was gathered around the home. Some brought rice, other brought Pepsi. Trays went around. Everyone shared coffee and bread. The neighbors shared their wood to keep the fire stove burning. 

Even those that didnt quite get along with B, came out to share their respect. I think that was the impact. The community that gathered. The little that people had to share, was shared. All day I was thinking that I wasnt going to go. The only interactions I had with B was when he made dirty comments to me and the time he killed a tarantula on my porch. Well, I decided to go. Im glad I did. At the end of the day, its still a mother who lost her son. There is still a family aching from a loss. 

Maybe through B's death this family might come to see the light. Maybe this was Gods way to bring the family to Him. 

Please pray for healing for the family. Please pray for hearts to be healed. 

Today should hold the burial and we pray that they may be able to move on.

(Please note that although circumstances like this happen in El Porvenir, I am not in danger. If you are involved in drugs, alcohol, gangs, and etc here, yes, you are putting yourself in a bad situation. Most situations like this are closed and confined to the person involved. I know that my God will protect me. I know that if I trust in Him, He will keep me from harm.)

Through Finding Hope and our examples we show towards this community our hope is that people will turn from their evil ways and turn towards the only one that can save them. Please pray that we may be this example!

Refreshed

I have two homes. My family lives in both of them.  One is stateside, the other, Honduras. 

I love that. I love that whether "coming or going"...its always home.

So I just got back from the states after a 6 week visit/fundraising trip. Time flew by as I was able to visit family, friends, travel a bit, visit and talk with churches and host fundraiser events

We hosted our 4th Annual Garage Sale Fundraiser which thanks to hundreds of people who donated, came out and supported our cause, was a huge success. 

We also hosted a Chick-Fil-A fundraiser night, several events at local churches and other community activities. 

I also got to meet with Reliance Church in St. Petersburg Florida who will be coming on a week long mission trip here in July! We are so excited for them to come and help #RaiseTheRoof !!! They are working hard to raise funds and bring enough down to put the roof over one room of our Women and Children Center! They are a wonderful group of people who will be blessing this community immensely. 

(If you have or know of a group that is looking for a project to do, you can be a part of finishing Reliance Church's #RaiseTheRoof campaign and help us complete Finding Hope's Center and Shelter! Please contact info@findinghopehonduras.org for more information)

After all is said and done, I had a great trip home but I still need your help. Finding Hope needs just about $1600 in monthly donations to open our doors and keep it that way. We have costs for our feeding center, hiring local staff and guards, opening and stocking our free daycare, continuing our trade classes, starting a sewing cooperative and in the near future a womens shelter. 

We are nearing very close to finishing our first floor (thankful to some VERY generous donors) but we cannot start accepting women and children until we are complete in our monthly donations. That means YOU, yes, YOU are our answer. 

We need 64 families to pledge $25 monthly. Think about it. How easy is that? 64 families give up $25 a month to serve mothers and their children. Give them an opportunity to provide for their families. Be behind the change for this community. Keep women out of danger and teach their kids that they are loved. Loved by a God so great we cant even fathom that depth. Please be that for them. Please help myself, Finding Hope and be our partner in this mission. 

Finding Hope is currently in the process of receiving our non profit status so your donations ARE tax-deductable. 

Once we have those 64 families, our concern and stress will be lifted off our shoulders. We can only to so much here on the field, its YOU who keep us going.

If you decide to start supporting Finding Hope and our mission, thank you. From the bottom of our hearts thank you. I can personally tell you that your money will be used 100% for the right reasons. Your money will go directly to our cause. If you have any questions, please email, Id be happy to help!

So how have I been feeling being back in Honduras? Wonderful. I feel refreshed and ready to take this on again. I feel like Im coming back with a new vision, a bettered heart and a deeper desire. 

I have loved seeing all my kids again and being back to the community I call home. As I went to visit one home, the mother told me "You told Estephany to count 6 Wednesdays and then you would be back. This past Wednesday she counted one more in her head and wondered if this was the Wednesday you would be back." 

So am I happy? Yes. It feels good. Really good. As Im writing this Ive got this little lovins in my arms:

I want to thank everyone who supported the fundraisers we hosted while I was home. Thank you to the churches who let me come speak to their congregation. Thank you to everyone who helped donate to our cause. And especially thank you to my mom, dad and grandma who for months now have been preparing for our annual garage sale, pricing, pre-selling, organizing and everything else inbetween. They faithfully woke up early and went to bed late for our 4 day event. Thank you, muchisimas gracias!

Asking for you to donate is hard. I dont like to do so. It has never been easy and never will. But sometimes I have to remember that Im not asking for myself, Im asking for the Kingdom of God. I'm just a worker for the Lord, Hes got me taking care of this project of His called Finding Hope and Hes called all of us as a community to keep it growing. 

Visit and subscribe:

http://www.findinghopehonduras.org/#/donate

A day in Ceiba

Sometimes people ask me how often I get to go into town. I tell them once every other week. What do I do when Im in town? Here is a glimpse into "What does Catalina do in La Ceiba?"

Well, todays trip to Ceiba was yet, another, adventure. After spending 9 hours in the city, youd think we got alot done. Little do you know that anything and EVERYTHING takes 8 years to accomplish.

So we start the day at the police station to get our Honduran drivers license. Before we even step foot in the office we have about 62 people trying to "help" us. (Really means, take advantage). So we finally decide on the lucky winner who tells us we have to go across the street and do an "eye and mental health" exam. I WASNT ASKED A SINGLE QUESTION. I was brought into an office, sat down and waited. I was asked, however, what my blood type was. Well, I didnt know. So they asked me if they could write the most common type. I said sure. And theres that, I have O+ blood, at least thats what Honduras thinks I have. Apparently I have no illnesses, Im not a psycho, I have 20/20 vision, and my "test" concludes "the patient is well aware of surroundings in good mental health". All I had to do was pay 13 dollars and be on my way. Next step, pay at the bank your 7 dollars and be on your way. Next step, go to the police station, fill out a form asking to describe your physical features, which I asked the VERY OVERLY TOO FRIENDLY ALMOST CREEPY police man who described me as "oval face, small nose, green eyes, tiny mouth and skinny body". That I quote. Next step, pay under the table 25 dollars to another OVER THE TOP friendly police man who made it sure we knew he was single. Right there, he pulled out a written test and filled out the answers for me, which Im proud to say I got an 85% and im not so proud to say I got an 80% on my drivers test. But thank you nice single police man who passed me without asking me a single question. Then, off to take my picture and right there my card is printed. Who knew getting a Honduran licence was all about corrupt police, flirtation and under the table payment. Much confusion later, you are out the door.

Well, after taking all those tests and racking my brain and trying my best in my "drivers ed" the day was still not even half over. Next was to call the car insurance guy saying "Hi, Its Catalina, uuuuuummm Katlyn. I wanted to know if your office is open?" with the ever sure response "Its Catalina? Otherwise Jodie Foster?" YES CAR INSURANCE GUY, its me Jodie Foster. (When we first entered his office a few weeks ago, in the middle of explaining what the insurance covers and what it does not, he stops and says "You know, you look just like Jodie Foster." WELP. Ok then.

Then off to see if Hailles residency card came in, hoping the office would open when it is supposed to open, but no. Nothing like an additional 45 minutes added to your lunch break.

Next stop is Wakirias beauty salon. Otherwise known as the scene of the crime. The gun in my face. Have to check up with the teacher, ask about various costs and see how she is doing in class.

Now, downtown. Find a parking spot and thanking the nice security guard who moved cones out of the way so our car would fit. Buying diapers, jewelry materials for the beading program, and a quick stop to treat ourselves to a new pair of jeans. Bartering the prices and off again.

This time, we get a phone call that a woman we have been helping with a foot infection is back in the hospital and needs our help. We head over to the emergency room, check out the situation and buy a few items the doctors need. We wish her luck and are off again.

Back into the city where we decide to take a quick break before the sunsets and walk along the beach. With 3 gringa girls and 3 cotton candy sticks, we are happy. The sun is going down so we get back in the car and go on our way. Before heading home we have one last stop. Time to buy a woman and her new born some essentials. Rice, beans, laundry detergent, soap, flour, baby powder and cream, etc. (Thank you Sarah W.) We do some grocery shopping while we are there. Finally, we are done.

We get home and of course, as always, there is someone on our porch waiting for us. Someone needing something. After figuring out what she needs and how we can help, its time to sit down and relax. It doesnt matter what is on TV, as long as we can turn off our brain and chill.

So here I am, TV on, catching up with everything online, checking our GoFundMe Campaign, and listening to kids playing soccer in the street.

Sweet, sweet Honduras.

And there you have it. A day in the life of .....oh wait, GIANT spider. Call a neighbor kid!!

2014 Newsletter

Better late than never, right? Plus, don't you want to know everything that happened to us in 2014? Well then, your welcome.

Here are the many ways you can partner with us monthly! By subscribing through our paypal account on www.FindingHopeHonduras.org YOU can make one of these programs happen in 2015. We want to be sure each of the following are funded to be able to provide each to this community! Here is how your gift  will greatly bless this ministry:

MINISTRY MONTHLY SUPPORT

$15 monthly

-          -We want to expand our Sponsorship Program! With every $15, one child is sponsored in our School Sponsorship Program. All school materials, uniforms and fees will be provided.

-          -Women’s beading program. For the 23 women making recycled beaded bracelets, you will provide the materials needed to sell and ship bracelets all around the world.

$20 monthly

-          -Medical help! You will help us pay for those unfortunate events. Sometimes it’s taking a mother to give birth in a hospital versus at home. Sometimes it’s a cut foot, appendicitis, parasites or a broken arm. Even Tylenol for a little boy suffering from a fever can mean the world. With the monthly support for medical help, we won’t have to turn anyone away needing medicine who otherwise can’t afford it.

-         -Special community events! We are constantly being invited to birthday parties, graduations, dinners and other special celebrations in people’s lives. They are excited to share these special days with us and we are excited to be there with them! By sponsoring $20 monthly, we will be able to help them celebrate!

$25 monthly

-          -Sponsor our Sunday School! You will help purchase a small snack for 30 children and any supplies needed to teach these young ones about our Lord and Savior! With Sunday School support we can better teach with materials we otherwise wouldn’t be able to buy.

-         - Construction costs seem like they are never ending. You will help us purchase the basics like blocks and cement! Each block purchased and set in place means one step closer to opening our center and accepting women and children!

We can’t explain just how important your monthly support is to us. Thank you in advance!

Christmas 2014

This year. The busiest one yet. The biggest success yet!

This season has been jammed packed full of everything under the sun. Although my body is literally sick of overworking/organizing/prepping, I love celebrating and putting sweet smiles on so many faces. We have been preparing Christmas newsletters and photos to send to all of you! (Also, be sure to check back here on New Years to read our Newsletter online)

We have had several large orders from supporters of our ministry help us sell our bead wrap bracelets. This Christmas, we have been able to bless 23 women and their families by selling their products. They have had us busy busy busy ordering from our women, printing cards, cutting and packaging over 700 bracelet orders!

As the year 2014 comes to a close we have had to finished up logistics for this year with Finding Hope. This includes tax information, nonprofit records, tracking donations, and important papers for our ministry. Our town has also generously donated more land to Finding Hope! We are growing more and more everyday! Praise the Lord!

A dear friend of mine, Cristina was able to visit again this year! Cristina has been back several times to Porvenir, this time specifically to start a health project through her school. Thanks to her help we have had one more person to help us with all the craziness!

We always love when we get to visit our sponsored children. They hold a special place in our heart. We were able to share a small Christmas present with the family, visit four children who I truly consider my brothers and sisters and kiss their precious little faces! I am looking for two sponsors for this dear family. If you would like to know more about them and how you can be a part of their future, please send me a message!

This year, we were able to host two Christmas parties. One for our Womens beading group and the other for our Sunday School kids! Both were a huge success filled with lots of food, pinatas, crafts and activities, cookies and cakes and lots of happy holiday joy.

Sunday School kids in the back of a pickup! Just a "few" of the 60 kids who showed up for our Christmas party!

Almost all of our women celebrating a year FULL of bracelets!

For the past few mornings (squeezing in ANY time we could find) we spent making 200 Christmas goodies to hand out to all our families in El Porvenir! Just a lil treat that for most people have never had a candy cane before!! Note to self: Make more next year and next time something easier! The 24th we walked around town for hours visiting everyone and sharing a little joy with those we love so much!

This year we were honored to be able to celebrate with our special firefighter friends in a Christmas dinner and gift exchange! With lots of food, great company, and karaoke we were able to share a bit of the season with people who do so much for this community. More than firefighters, they are a large part of a BIG change for this town!

Along with the Christmas dinner, the firefighers also hosted all things "Christmas events" taking part in Porvenir. They hosted festivities like the lighting of the tree, the setting up of a hand-made manger scene, the best tamale cooking contest, a hidden treasure activity, Christmas parade (of which we got to ride with Santa on the ambulance), karaoke night, crowning of Miss. Porvenir Christmas, and more. Everything was filmed live on a local La Ceiba channel and I was even interviewed and starred on TV (haha yet again)!

This year I was able to visit a very poor village just outside of El Porvenir, meet a few families and their children who touched my heart deeply. Thanks to Anne Fowler who donated a mattress and COPECO an organization in Honduras, Don David and "Feed the Children", and the firefighers for their collaboration and organization, this family along with several others got new mattresses, food and toys. Hopefully they were able to have a bright Christmas with a little gift of Christs love.

Their old mattress.

Their house of sticks and mud

One of the several children who sleep together on this bed

Last week a local family, a second family to me, were able to get married. They have been together for years and all their children are grown. If you remember earlier this year I posted a few pictures of their church marriage. Well this time, they were married legally! Haille and I were able to be present as "witnesses" and share this special day with them!

All of these activities/events/parties meant crazy busy days getting everything together and making it just perfect! It was a wonderful Christmas season and I am overjoyed to have spent it with so many special friends. I am blessed to have so many people in my life who love and care for me as family. 

I would love to say my body can rest and maybe ill get some sleep but its not over yet! Christmas day will be spent with our missionary family over a Christmas lunch together and an evening church service celebrating the birth of our Senor y Salvador. The 26th we will do another food distribution and anxiously wait a work team for our Women and Children Center! The 27th my WONDERFUL family comes to Honduras! I cant wait to show them everything so special to me and share the coming of the new year together! So many great things still to come :) 

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo!

These are the days of our lives

Sometimes being a missionary on the field is a day of playing with kids, swimming and soccer games. Sometimes its planning logistics for a Women and Children Center/Shelter. Somedays it’s a shopping day in La Ceiba buying materials for the womens bracelets, buying supplies for a new mother and baby or running hospital visits. Other days its filled with stories that break hearts and we are reassured God has us here for a reason. To be available to this community, that people know they can confide in us and feel free to tell us whats going on in their lives. Today was one of those days.

The following stories are all women in our bracelet group:

This morning Haille and I spent washing clothes with Liliana and Onoria in the river. For a few hours we learned a few hand washing techniques and skills. We talked about Lilianas pregnancy and the troubles with her husband. We met Onorias 16 year old daughter who cooked us the most delectable lunch. We talked about God, what sin is in our lives and the importance of asking forgiveness. Even though the morning ended up with wrinkly fingers and an achy back, getting to learn more about the lives of the women in our program and spend time with their families is all we could ask for.

This afternoon, we had our weekly meeting with the women of our bracelet group. Thanks to so many wonderful supports, the women have sold 40 bracelets each in the past month! Each bracelets sells for $5 and the women receive 100% of the proceeds. They were thrilled to hear for the next 6 weeks they will receive $25 weekly. A week before Christmas they will receive $50! Christmas here is a very special holiday with family, the blessing of $50 to be able to share with family is more than many of us can even comprehend. After our meeting I was pulled aside by Stephanie. She proceeded to tell me her mother was brutally beaten by her stepfather last night. Her younger siblings shocked and frozen in the room. Her mother left in the middle of the night. This has been going on for years, but her mother is scared to report him. Unfortunately this happens more often than not. Haille posted this last week:

“In a town of about 5000 people, only 40 women in an entire YEAR reported domestic abuse.
In an area where there is some sort of abuse going on in almost every home, this statistic breaks my heart.
It breaks my heart that so many women stay silent because they're afraid of their husband, they think they deserve the abuse, they don't know what the alternative could be, they can't imagine a better future, and many other tragic excuses that are just not true.
The lies that are believed about their self-esteem and their roles in society are absolutely soul-crushing.”

Through Finding Hope we want to be a solution. A solution to these women who feel like they have no other option. We want to be the love and Christ like examples to families who have struggled and suffered for years. El Porvenir, when you drive through for the first time, seems like a cheery quaint little town with happy people and kids running about. Its true. But its not until you invest in the lives of the families and look past the outward appearances that you realize the true suffering that goes on daily.

After our meeting, we passed by Kerlins. Her mother is always sitting outside the house with the biggest smile on her face. Every Wednesday when we pass by she is so delighted to see us. This Wednesday we learned her husband, Kerlins dad, passed away at 78 years old. He was their only source of income, begging for money. Now Kerlin is the only provider for the family through her work with Finding Hope and making bracelets. Her mother said "Thanks be to God for the money Kerlin has received through Finding Hope. It has been a big blessing for our family, as its our only source of income....some days we eat and other days we just have to deal with hunger. We have no other option”

Our hearts break through these types of conversations. We do what we can to help people in these types of situations. We can pray with them, we can give what our resources allow, and we can keep encouraging our women in our bracelet program. You, reading this right now, are the backbone behind this program. Every bracelet purchased directly supports 23 women and their families. You are giving so much more than just $5 to these women. You are saying “I support you, I love you and I want to be a part of your life” The changes are real. These lives are real. So thank you. On behalf of the women, thank you.

Please consider being a part of Finding Hope by selling bracelets at a local event in your area. Christmas is coming up and they make great stocking stuffers! Would you sell at your office, work or school? Its important for us to show these women we are continually invested in their lives. You can help us do that!

Today was a special day. A special day spent with several of our women. Please keep these women in your prayers. Please also keep Haille and I in your prayers. That we have the words to give these women. That God may use us to minister to them and pray for them. That through the faith we have in our eternal father change can happen. 

And finally, a baby is born.

This blog is all about a sweet baby boy still with no name.

Births. Births here in Honduras are filled with drama. Do we have the baby at home? Can we even afford the hospital? Do I take these vitamins? How will I pay for formula? Should I get an abortion? Who will take my baby once its born?

Unfortunatly, safe sex and planned parenting are not taught or talked about like they should be. Women suffer. Entirely too much. Many times sexual relationships are forced because they feel they “have to” or they are pressured into it. There is so much confusion. Everyday I talk to women and I hear more and more stories of their relationships. These conversations are just normal now. “My husband is abusive” “I want to leave but I have no where to go” “I stay with my husband because of my kids”…

Everyday I have these conversations and everyday I see more pregnant women. Just the other day a pregnant women was on the bus on her way to the hospital…IN LABOR. By herself. There was no one with her. I know too many 14-15 year olds with babies. Many of them impregnated by older men. Some twice or triple their age.

On top of the struggles that go on at home. Just figuring things out in the labor part of pregnancy is difficult. Here is Miladis story:

This is Miladys 9^th baby. Eight of the kids are from the same father. This is rare. Very rare to have the father stick around but also for so long. No, her husband isn’t perfect. He can be forceful with his kids, hitting them for something silly or taking out the belt to teach them a lesson. He has his faults.

About 2 months ago, Miladis said she was feeling a weird sort of pain and wanted to get an ultrasound done. We found out she would be having yet ANOTHER boy (only 2 are girls). Nothing was wrong.

About 2 weeks ago, her water apparently broke. She was losing constant fluid. She called one night saying that would be the night. She was having contractions. Three days after her “water broke” still no baby. It wasn’t until we were talking to my sister and another nurse in town that things could be bad. That if for sure her water broke, the baby could die from being suffocated inside, almost “stuck”. Well, Haille and I didn’t know any better. We immediately went over to her house at about 8:00 at night and said we needed to go to the hospital. She was hesitant. Apparently in the hospital there has been an infection killing babies and sending other children to a bigger city for intensive care. We finally convinced her that if she didn’t go that night, her baby could be dead before morning. So we went to the hospital. We told Miladis we would cover all expenses, obviously, since her husband Alex was out of a job and they have no money to their name. Our charge to be seen at the hospital was 5 lempiras. That’s 25 cents.

The nurse in the ER told us she just had a bacterial infection and that we needed to go to the clinic to get an ultrasound done to check on the baby. So we took a taxi to the ultrasound place. Its now about 10 at night. The doctor that does ultrasounds wasn’t in. But if we paid the after hour fee, they could call her in. So we decided it was worth it, we had to. The receptionist called. However, because of a gun shoot out in the doctors neighborhood she was too scared to leave. So we went home as well. The next day we went back for the ultrasound. The baby was fine but this time had the cord wrapped around its neck. Miladis lost some amniotic fluid but nothing that harmed the baby. The doctor didn’t know what the water could have been that she lost.

Finally last Sunday, Miguel shows up at the house in the morning. This time for real she is in labor. As Haille and I were to deliver the baby, we threw some things together, hopped on our bikes and sped over. Baby number 9 were thinking is going to come pretty quickly.

But, we waited. And waited. And waited. Still no baby! By this time Miladys (who is also a midwife) was starting to get a bit nervous thinking maybe there is a problem. Luckily some EMT’s from Denmark were in town so I called them over to just check on things and advise us on whether or not we should go to the hospital. Well, they said we should.

The ambulance was called. Miladis was off and the rest of us were to find a taxi and follow behind. We met them at a private hospital (since the public one is basically worthless) only to find out they would charge about $1,500. We put her back in the ambulance (remember having constant contractions this entire time) and the rest of us flagged down another taxi. Off to another private hospital. Luckily they charge $200 for a normal birth.

Miladis is transferred into a room to wait until its time to deliver! We were able to be with her. This was not the state I enjoyed to see her in. Her contractions got more and more intense. As they are getting closer and closer together I can tell she cant take it anymore. During one contraction she yells “Catalina!” Gosh, did my heart just about die.

Finally its time! She is carted away and we wait. Not 20 minutes goes by and we hear crying in the hallway. He is born! A new child of God enters our world at 7:40 pm. The next morning Haille and I go back to the hospital to take mom and baby home. Unfortunately we had to wait longer. Miladis was losing too many blood clots for her to be safe to go home. The nurse said that if she had had her baby at home, she might not have made it. (This was Miladis first birth in a hospital)

Finally they say we can leave. Once we arrive back at the house, everyone wants to see and touch the baby. The youngest, Alyson, notices a change in her mom immediately. Jealousy ensues quickly.

After all the drama and scares, everyone is home safe and sound.

Here are a few pics of this little bundle of joy. 

Alex having a cigarette to calm down

Just minutes old!

Going to see the baby!

Alex guarding the door to make sure no one steals his baby

He's just a little hunny!

Apparently this outfit doesnt fit

Beautiful momma!

Everyone wants to see the baby!