Raining Cats & Dogs…

(copied from old blog. entry dated: 11/7/2008 11:03:00 PM)
Or should we say, Raining Buckets?!  It has rained and rained and rained in Honduras the past three weeks.  Last week we had the incredible privilege of hosting a team from Men & Women of Action based in Cleveland, TN.  They were coming to lay all of the block walls for our house.  We were ecstatic!  All of the blocks were purchased, the cement was on hand, the sand was on the ground ready for mixing cement and the groceries were in the frig – we were ready!  And for two days we worked and made great progress. And then, the floods came…

                           

I woke up at 3 a.m. hearing that some of the group members had awakened in the heavy downpour.  I was going around checking for new leaks, a common occurrence with the roof on the hospital.  Others began getting up and saying they had never heard such heavy rain in their lives.  The wind was blowing hard and the rain was torrential.  By morning it was still pouring and we had to move some of the group members who were getting wet from the leaks.  It was apparent that no work would be getting done that day.  The lights were out, the water was out and we found out later that after 15-20 inches of rain in 24 hours, the road was out as well!  A portion of the dirt road had been taken out by the monstrous river and we were stuck up the mountain.   What an adventure for these 7 visitors here to build a house.  But let me tell you, there were such troopers!  They helped us catch rain water in buckets, took bucket baths and a few of them even got really sick, but they stayed anyway!  We played cards, ate by candlelight, and laughed and laughed.  On day three of rain Martin decided to remove any unwanted moles! ha/  Yes, that’s right, we had a mole removal party.  Nine moles came off that day, plus one cyst, all from the group members!  What a day that was, we’ve never had a party like that, but then again we’ve never had a group stuck up in the jungle with us like that either.  Finally on day four and still no road we decided to walk into the city and try to get the group closer to the airport so they could try to make their departure flight.  It was another great adventure and we made it safely across the missing section of road where we were met on the other side by some missionary friends from La Ceiba.  The airport closed several times, but they finally all made it out and safely home.  While in the city they decided to buy Sam and Rachel bicycles, what a treat for the kids, they were so surprised and so happy!  They have ridden them through the mud and rain ever since.

                        
    MEN & WOMEN OF ACTION: Ron & Pam Barker , Jim & Carol Daniel, Bill Hale, Milton Abbott, & Hugh Carver.  
     Walking out on Thursday during a momentary respite from the rain.  What an adventure!

                         
                            Sam & Rachel on their new bikes at the hotel with the group – THANK YOU!

We want to say thank you to those who came and let you know how much you blessed our family!  I know you didn’t get to finish the block laying you came to do, but we believe you did what God had in mind in the first place: you encouraged our family more than you can know.  It was such a pleasure to have you with us.  And we welcome you all to come again.  Though next time we’ll be sure it’s in the dry season.