Friday, December 31, 2010

Prayer Request

Please pray for Bro. Jesus Falcon who has gone missing from his home in Mexico.  There has been no contact with him since he arrived December 14th, 2010 to visit his family for the holidays.  Jesus lives and works with us in Belize and has become like family to the Joiner's.  Official paperwork is being filed with the missing person's department in Mexico by his sister.  However for those of you who are currently following the news you will know that Mexico is currently in a state of upheaval. Jesus's hometown of Monterey, Mexico is now under drug/mafia control so the police won't be much help at this time.  Again, your prayers are much appreciated at this time.   



Bro. Jesus Falcon and his favorite activity....food. 




Wednesday, December 15, 2010

This is Why I Teach...


I've always wondered how men and women could dedicate 20+ years of their life to the classroom.  Today I found out how.  During their free time one my of older students wrote me a beautiful letter. I also received the cutest drawing from one of my younger students.  These little notes and drawings are what making teaching worth the hard days. 



"Sis. Amber,

I love you you are my best teacher that have teach this school I like your words that you speack [sic] to the class your words lift me more to Christ some say that you ar [sic] mean but I notice that you wont [sic] us to do right thanks you for ALL you have done for me you are soch [sic] a blessing to me

                                       Love You "

*This is how the note came to me...spelling mistakes, missing grammar and all. :) 

Monday, December 13, 2010

Honduras/Guatemala Missions Trip

I was told that Honduras was beautiful but nothing prepared me for the beauty that I found on my resent trip there.  With the cancellation of our planned Mexico trip, Missionary Tim Joiner decided to squeeze in a quick trip to Honduras.  Okay, so maybe my roommate Korena leaving might have had something to do with it.  Regardless it was a week that I will never forget and pray I get the pleasure of going back soon.  While there we were honored to visit several of the local missionaries in the area as well as some of the churches under Bishop Joiner.

It was also my first time having more Americanized food and a hot shower.  I can't tell you how excited I was about the previous mentioned.  I'm sure we look liked crazies POW's fresh out of jail, stuffing our faces like there was no tomorrow. Many of us got sick but the pain was well worth the wonderful tastes such as Wendy's, Popeye's, Baskin Robins and more.




Our first service, the trip will up the mountain will make you pray through if nothing else. Me and God became close friends let me tell you. :)



The church in Subidana, Honduras. You can see the small lantern which is normally the only source of light.  They have church in the dark, walking miles in the rain, located way up in the mountains. We brought in a generator and a string of lights for this service.  I don't think many of the people there had ever had electricity at night. If this doesn't make you thankful for the little things, nothing will. 




The church in El Progresso.  Got to spend Sunday morning with them; great move of God in that place. 




Pastor Jimmy and his beautiful family.  They are located in the city of El Progresso and pastor the revival church there.  



The church in San Pedro Sula pastored by Bro. Rudy Lopez.  We baptized 7 people in the wonderful Name of Jesus the night we visited. 



Having an outside service on the site of the future church in Siquatepeque.  






Looking down into the city of Siguatepeque.  I'm standing on the site of the church that is being built by Pastor Marc & Lori Schreckhise. 




My roommates posing with Pastor Mac & Lori Schreckhise




Outside of the church in La Celba, Honduras. 




Inside of the church in La Celba, had to be one of the hottest services I have ever been in. There was only one working fan in the middle of the church, but with about 50+ people dancing around it got kind of hot.  




Missionary Brent Schrechise & Family.  These people are so very sweet and doing a great work for God in the city of La Celba. 





Pastor Jimmy cutting up oranges for Korena and I.  We teased him all week that he looked like Obama, that was until he showed up that morning looking like Tiger Woods. To be honest, I'm not sure what image is worse right now. :)
He was a great sport with it all, even let us American girls take pictures with him like he was a celebrity.



Breakfast at our hotel.  Eggs, black beans, slice of ham, cheese and tortillas.



It took me a while to actually get the guts to eat this but I'm glad I did.  Kind of looks like a sea urchin with an eyeball inside.  Not sure of the name but it tasted real good as long as I didn't look at it before I popped it into my mouth.  Hey! When in Rome right? 




It's pronounced different so now I'm permanently confused.  But the biscuit was WAY better then they make it in the U.S.   This was the first American food we eat upon arriving in Honduras. 


Haven't been to Baskin Robbins in so long and here I am eating it in Honduras.  It was good let me tell you. But again, anything tastes good after a long time. :)




This is not a  dwarf banana, it's called an Apple Banana. The texture is slightly drier inside and it's a mixture of sweet with a little bit of a nut flavor to it.   They are very common here in Central America and can easy be bought from fruit stands on the side of the road. 





Eating Pizza Hut after service. I don't care what Haley says, THIS was the cause of ALL our sickness. It had nothing to do with the sweets we eat at the mall....nothing at all.  



The first thing to greet me when we entered the mall in San Pedro Sula.  When you haven't had something for a very long time, it tastes better somehow.  Not sure how that works but it does, trust me. 




Yes, I'm enjoying it.  Wish they had this size (they call it junior) in the US as you can actually finish it without felling sick.   




Like any youth group we don't pack light.  I was just happy not to have to pack my own bedding and towels.  However, I discovered that hotels in Honduras and Guatemala don't give the standard 3 towels per a room.  Thankfully someone packed extra towels....can you say local? LOL




Finale night on the road was thankfully NOT spent here. Gross and dirty doesn't even cover this sad excuse for a "hotel." Korena's face really does say it all and the pictures doesn't even show how dirty and small the room was.  We ended up sleeping in the bus parked at the Guatemala/Belize border...all 20 of us.  It was actually kind of fun - what a way to end the trip let me tell you.