Going Home Service

 

On February 15 we went to the 

"Going Home Service" 

for 

Delcie Elizabeth Rivera de Munguia

held at the Baptist Church in Coxen Hole

We went to support our dear friends

Myra and Adi who had lost their Mom who was 97 years old.

Miss Delcie was known and loved by many around the island.

She loved the Lord and loved people.

Her claim to fame was the way she always had a song or an

encouraging word for people.

Many people were blessed not only by her fervent prayers

and service in the church but also practically as she 

helped meet the needs of many folks here on the island.

She was known as the "fiery little old lady"

One of her nieces shared that everytime you met up with her

you went away feeling better.

 What a testimony is that?!!

One day she asked her why she was so happy all the time

and her Auntie told her this:

"Well I got the Holy Spirit inside of me

and it is like a sack o' sugar upside down inside of me.

Everytime I open my mouth, the sugar just gushes out!"

That is the kind of sweetness we need!

It was so encouraging to hear so many testimonies

about her love for the Lord, her kindness, her fire, her passion for the lost,

and her commitment to serve over the years.

Her last days were confined to a bed, 

her body was frail but her spirit was alive!

Even in her unconscious state at the very end,

she would start moving around whenever someone 

sang or prayed for her.

Many within her family have been blessed the gift of singing!

The service was evidence of that as they sang song after song, as they glorified

the Lord with testimony, and shared in the JOY that only He can bring.

I can say without a doubt that I have never been so blessed and encouraged

to stay true to Him as I was at this "Going Home Service"

She has left quite a legacy and a torch for many to carry!

She had 11 children,

98 grandchildren,

191 great grandchildren,

95 great great grandchildren!

And I, for one, was deeply affected,

to hold up the Light of Christ everyday

and let that sack of sugar inside of me

flow out to many!

By the way, if you look closely at the photo above you will see Bob

up on the stage with the family.

The reason he was up there was because he played piano 

before the service started.

Our friend Edwin was the musician for the singer and he asked

Bob to 'stay close by' just in case they sang a song he didn't know.

So Bob was up there with all the family.

Quite a fitting picture I thought as the Lord has 

given us such a love for many of them and they are indeed

'like family to us'

no internet and lots of rain!

Life changed on Sunday!   The rain began to fall relentlessly and we lost our internet connection at the same time.   So for the past 5 days we have been hunkered down, with the rain pouring down, sometimes with no power.  Although it is hard to take I must admit that I love the rain and it is so important for the local folks to get their cisterns filled up before the dry season hits us hard!

this was the first day the clouds came and we have not seen sun or blue sky for almost a week

We had 2 Canadians fly in on Sunday to help with a house build with Alternative Missions.  You can read about the house built at that link.  They arrived tired and luggage-less.   We finally got their luggage yesterday!   Yes you read that right!!!   That is 4 days without luggage.  I gave Mel a pair of my undies one night and later in bed I chuckled thinking she is going to swim in them!!!   So the next day  we took a trip to Coxen Hole to Carrion to buy some personals and a trip to a second hand shop for tshirts.   Why would it take soooo long for their luggage to arrive?   Even small planes can't fly in bad weather and so they had to wait for the weather to lift.  I am sad to say that there was a plane crash on Valentine's Day on the Mainland and 14 people lost their lives.  You can read about it here

Weather affects everything here.  Internet stops.  Why, I don't know!   Ships can't bring in groceries.  Planes from the Mainland can't fly in.   So our little island becomes quite insulated.

I didn't even go out for Valentine's Dinner with Bob because alot of the restaurants are open air and I couldn't bear getting dressed up and battling the driving rain and cold.   I am getting to be a softy I know!!!We opted to stay home and enjoyed a nice chicken dinner with david, emily g, dusty and mel.

On Monday morning I was out walking through the garden in lovely drizzle looking at my flowers. The rain had left her beautiful mark on all the vegetation.

the rain left her jewels everywhere

Suddenly I saw two young guys dressed in uniform walk up to the gate.  It was my neighbor's boys coming to get the book bags and school supplies for school.  I thought school started on Tuesday but I was wrong and they needed it right away.  I went over to their place to get a photo of all of them but the girls didn't go to school til the afternoon and when I asked for a photo they gave me a 'look' that said, we aren't dressed up, our hair is a mess' so I just took it of the girls.  I thank Tami and many other island friends for helping out this family.   We were able to get 6 kids suited up in school uniforms and shoes, plus all their school supplies.   They were thrilled and I thank you for your generosity!   It made a difference for this family!

With no internet, and no cruise ships I took the liberty to settle in for some serious reading time.   It is wonderful to make a nice cup of tea and settle in to read.  I am happy to have a library close by!!  What makes it so miserable isn't just the rain because anyone can handle that but it is the mud that sweeps down from the hills which makes walking treacherous and messy!

the semi circle is the mud flowing down from the colonia into the sea!!

hang on mr. heron.. the rain is coming in torrents!!!

Due to the rain, the house build was also put on hold.  We basically all hung out here, reading, playing dutch blitz,  watching tv, doing puzzles and sharing meals together.

 Yesterday they were finally able to start the house build!  How exciting!   Unfortunately poor Dusty and Mel came home with tired and RED bodies as I don't think they were expecting the sun to make her appearance after so many days of rain but it did.   We put on cold compresses to get the heat out of their bodies and then after dinner sent them to their rooms armed with aloe vera from the garden to slather on.

Yesterday David and I decided to take a girl we met at Seadancer for  a tour of the east side. We had been trying for days to find a good day to go but the rain was relentless and unforgiving, so since she was leaving the next day we decided to go to the east side regardless of the weather!  What a wonderful day we had!!  I was deeply grateful when the sun burst out just as we were driving towards Jonesville to go on a tour of the mangroves.  It was simply glorious out on the water and yes I did thank Him!!  ;-

david and kristin going through the mangroves

me with some of the kids from punta gorda

Today is laundry day as the rain has stopped and I think it is dry enough for things to dry on the line.
So I best go and tackle that!

a fire and a trip to punta gorda

A week ago Saturday I went to a Bible Study at Laura's in West Bay and I met a pediatrician named Beverly who was here volunteering at the clinic.   I asked if she had seen the East Side of the Island and she said she hadn't.  What a shame I thought, what a shame!  

So I offered to take her out Friday on her last day at the clinic since she was leaving the island the following day.   All was planned for us to go after she was finished at the clinic sometime in the early afternoon.   

I was just getting ready to go when Carlos came to the door and 

"hay un fuego mal!!"

(there is a bad fire!)

he was so stressed and was filling up a bucket with water and then heand ran off down the hill.

I hollered at Bob and David and we all ran down to the beach.

Carlos puts alot of brush by the fence at the bottom of our property by the beach

and I was shocked at the amount of smoke and fire that was blazing!

We all rallied together filling up buckets from the sea.

I am deeply grateful for the boys next door who helped us tirelessly.

The fence is really quite high so two of the boys climbed up on the fence

in order for us to pass them up a bucket of water,

they would jump down and douse the fire.

We did that endless times! 

Bob worked right at the fire site racking and digging to put out the fire!

The sun was hot, the fire was hot but we all worked to get the fire out.

The fence along the side was burnt and one banana tree went down but the 

property was safe.

At one point, David left his 'post' and went up to get us pineapple juice.

I am telling you it never tasted better!!!

Beverly called in the midst of the fire and I told her about the fire

and said I would get back to her later.

It was close to 3:00 pm before we got it out but still I felt in my heart

to take her to the East Side.

After a quick shower, and lots of cool water

we jumped in the car and headed out

Bev took this photo:   Punta Gorda, April 12, 1797!

 

click to view large

 If you asked me why I love the East Side it is easy to answer:

  I love the simple life and the easy pace

but there is something more:

I love the people!

I am meeting more and more people who are Garifuna and each time 

I go and visit them I am blessed by the joy in their eyes and the

warmth in their hugs.

I went looking for Pedro and his family in order to pay them for what sold in

the Made in Roatan shop.

We didn't know where they lived but I stopped the car and asked some young boys:

"do you know Pedro?"

no

"do you know Victor?"

no

"do you know Moses?"

yes!!

alright!!  

so off they pedaled on their bikes and we followed behind.

We had a good time visiting on the road, laughing

pedro brought some jewelry which of course we bought!

and exploring the beach.

David and Moses had such a good time together.

I love the beach at Punta Gorda.

Of course I bought a seashell (not that I need it)

but they need the money.

Some little kids played the drum for us and danced the punta.

David with Moses

Bev took this photo:   Punta Gorda, April 12, 1797!

David our photographer!

 

 

 

 

Our drive home was just glorious.   The sweet evening light was on the trees and the palms and everything had a soft warm glow.   It was beautiful.

I was so sorry to see the day come to a close but I was so glad that we went.  Sometimes when we are tired, and we had fought fires it is tempting to say.. no I can't go.  I am so glad that I didn't say no.  Not only was it good to go for a visit to our friends in Punta Gorda but I enjoyed getting to know Beverly and hope to see more of her if she returns to the island again.

We ended to day meeting Bob, Emily G, Kathryne and Paul at Pizza Inn.. a perfect way to end a Friday!!

back to school!

The rainy season is almost behind us which means that soon the kids will be back in school.  The shops in the market are laden with neat rows of black shoes, colorful backpacks waving in the breeze, and stacks and stacks of workbooks and school supplies are piled up on the tables outside the shops.

I guess it would be equivileant to 'back to school' specials that we are used to seeing in canada, but the problem is that they aren't on sale.   I am amazed at what it cost to 'outfit' a child here. I am not sure how the people manage because they live so 'hand to mouth' here but as the week approaches for school to start I  am seeing more and more parents walking through town carrying large bags of school supplies for their children.  I also know that many of the kids won't go to school next week because the parents can't afford it!

Mr. Bob with a happy little girl

We are grateful for those of you who helped out at Christmas with the food drive.  We were able to help many families with food and now we are also able to help the kids get their back to school supplies.  We can't thank you enough for your support!!!

Bob, Miss Joan sorting shoes in sizes!

We always love the way the Lord leads us!  He is so good!   About a month ago, we went to the opening for the sandy bay library and while we were milling around we were happy to meet Miss Joan, the librarian in French Harbour.

this photo doesn't capture the JOY that Miss Joan felt!

She had mentioned to us that she has many poor children who hang around the library and they spent time reading with them and helping them get ready for school. but she was worried because so many of them were so poor that she didn't even know if they'd be able to go to school.   we asked her to give us a list of the kids that she was concerned about and their shoe sizes.  she was so shocked at our generosity and we quickly let her know that it wasn't our money but it was from the generosity of our friends from Canada felt called by the Lord to give.  So really it is a gift from HIM!   she was so grateful and overwhelmed.  as we were walking away, bob said to her, "oh and miss joan, you can make a LONG list too!"  it is one thing to be able to help, it is another thing all together to be able to 'really help'!!  she was so blessed and kept saying, thank you for coming to our island and being willing to help us.  we thank God for people like yourselves.

So she sent us the list of sizes and we went to work organizing the shoes between sizes and boys and girls.   we took all the shoes to the library and sorts them there.  it was a big job but we were glad for the help from the young people who were hanging around the library.

We went to the market last week to price out black shoes and we were surprised that no one was willing to give us a deal.  the shoes sell for about 10 - 12 dollars each and the lowest people would go was around 10 dollars a pair.  i am again so thankful that Nidia came to our aid because she knew a spanish man who had a small shop and was willing to work out a deal for us.  bob bought 100 pairs of shoes and got them for around 8.60 each.

On Monday we returned again to the library in French Harbour with Katheryne, who is here from Canada helping us for 2 months (along with her husband Paul and their beautiful children Samuel and Isabel).  our son David, arrived on the plane on Monday as well and he was willing to come and photograph for us.  it was a nice change for me to not have to take the pictures!

Katheryne with the kids in French Harbour

The kids were so happy to recieve their shoes for school.  Bob was able to share with them that God cares about them, and this was a gift from Him from our friends in Canada.   It was like Christmas morning in that little library!!

just SOME of the kids who got shoes!!  Praise GOD!

We are also helping get Carlos and Kendy into school.  They are  very excited!!  I had told Carlos along time ago that we would help him.  He is so smart .. it would be a shame for him to not finish his schooling.  He is going to work here during the day and go to school at night.  Please pray for endurance for him.

Last week I had Kendy come to the house to help me clean and I asked her about school and she said, no she couldn't go because her dad isn't working and they didn't have money for that.  My heart almost broke just talking to her.  Later on I spoke with Bob and we decided to help her our of our own funds. It is so important for them to finish their schooling but many of them just can't because they don't have the money available.   We are trying to teach people to 'save a little' but it is hard for them to grasp that concept.

This week is matricula (registation) so today we are taking Kendy with us in the car to get her registered in school in Coxen Hole, and then get her uniform, shoes and school supplies.  I better go get ready as she will be here soon.

Kendy outside her new school!   She is so excited!

Kendy's school

Thanks again for your help, your prayers and your support!  It is making a difference!!!

  If you want to help a child go to school please let me know.  My neighbor's kids aren't in school because they can't afford it and I would love to see those kids in school.  Just email me okay.