What‘s a normal day like for us? We like to say that there is no such thing as a normal day in Honduras. For example, we got new neighbors two weeks ago when a very dilapidated gypsy circus set up shop right outside our gate. We laughed so hard a few nights ago as we watched a couple of the resident free range stray horses standing two abreast watching the early evening circus activity materialize. By North American standards, there’s just nothing normal about that!
All humor aside, it’s easy for us to get caught up in the daily normalness (or abnormalness) of our jobs here and forget what amazing things God is doing in this place through Hospital Loma de Luz and its various outreaches. As our time here winds down, we have been thinking about the ways we have seen him work in the past 6 months. Wherever and whenever God is at work, it is worth sharing for God’s glory and the encouragement of his church. The following are a few highlights from our time here.
Enil: God miraculously provided the equipment (a Dermatone) needed to do skin grafts on the worst of his 2nd degree burns covering 45% of his body. He continues to heal well.
Emin: An 8 year-old-boy brought down from the mountains after being bit by an extremely deadly barba amarilla (yellow beard snake). He was genuinely more dead than alive, but responded well to antivenom, supportive care, and Christ’s gospel. Below is Emin after he had recovered a bit. Staff members were joyfull treating him for parasites and lice, knowing only live boys need that!
Louis: Another 8-year-old who came to the Children‘s Centre a couple months ago, neglected, abandoned and very sick with complications from worms. Just this week, he had surgery to repair previous surgery damage and remove more worms and damaged intestine.
Hospital Finances: In this very tough economic time, finances needed to keep the doors open continue to come in. While there has been no excess (or even breathing room) in the past couple years, God’s provision continues to be sufficient.
The Slow, Quiet Work: On average, one person/day comes to Christ through the hospital’s ministry to patients and their family members. Dr. McKenney, founder of Loma de Luz, calls this the “slow, quiet work” of the hospital. Praise God for it!
Josh’s Jobs
Josh’s recent activities have varied widely, ranging from taking care of farm chores while the farm manager is out of the country to repairing autos to remodeling. One of his recent jobs has been supervising the remodel of several tiny houses that were originally intended for temporary housing for families of hospital patients. As hospital staff, both Honduran and North American, has grown, the little houses need to be upgraded for long term living. Also in the works is the reconstruction of suspension bridges across two ravines between the hospital and one of the staff housing areas. Below, a worker mixes cement for one of four bridge foundations.
If you are interested in helping out with the construction/maintenance end of things, check out the Loma de Luz construction blog: http://www.lomadeluzconstruction.blogspot.com/.Teaching
We will be leaving about 6 weeks before most of my students will finish their school year, so I have been busily getting them lined out to complete their math studies without me, as well as planning for next year‘s math and science classes. I will miss my students!
Want to Hear More?
We love sharing about Loma de Luz and Honduras, and during our time in the States this summer, we would like to be available to speak in churches and to small groups about God’s fame here on the North Coast. Please let us know if you are interested!
Thank You
In thanking the Philippian church for their generous support during his two-year Roman house arrest, Paul called their gift “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.” (Phil. 4:18) Thank you so much for partnering with us in this place!
Blessings,
Josh, Linzy, Guildy, and Hadley
Please Pray For:
*Breaking of the enemy’s strongholds in Honduras: legalism in the Church, promiscuity, and drug use and trafficking, to name a few.
*Christ’s love and gospel to be clearly demonstrated here every day.
*Staff needs at Loma de Luz: surgeon, anesthesiologist, family doctors, obstetrician, nurses.
*Hospital finances.
*Our upcoming travel and time in the States.
*Safety and protection.
Contact Us
Email: yznil1@yahoo.com
Blog: http://www.joshandlinzy.blogspot.com/
U.S. Phone: 406.600.6687 (Apr. 7th-June 1st)
US Address: PO Box 281, Circle, MT 59215
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