Thursday August 4, 2011

Imagine not having your home’s floors recovered, refinished or redone in some manner for the last thirty years. Add to that the fact that your roof leaks in the rain and that the damage from rot and insects has brought your home to the verge of ruin; so much so that when it rains during the night you stay up and alert to any sign of imminent collapse so that you can escape the crushing weight of a falling terra cotta tile roof. This being the rainy season in Honduras means you lose a lot of sleep because it rains torrentially at times most days. That probably sounds unthinkable to most of this blog’s readers, but this week we met the woman who lives in that house. Gloria Fugon is the grandmother to two of the Micah boys – Edwin and Michael. This animated and saintly woman became a much loved grandma to the team this week. And by the way – did I mention that the floors in Gloria’s home are dirt?

With money from the funds many of you donated toward team member support we purchased a truckload of lumber and left the highway to make our way to the hamlet of Corrolitos on a well rutted single lane mountain track that involved driving through several small streams along the way. The next few hours, to borrow a term from Bob George, were transformative. Under the direction of a husband and wife team from Torch Ministries the Grace Point team packed lumber, set corner posts, set smaller posts for wall supports, laid and supported floor joists, laid and nailed down a floor, nailed on siding, secured roof joists, applied a laminate (tin) roof and cut out hinged door and window openings all while still having time for a fire roasted hot dog lunch. By day’s end there was a new simple but secure 16’ X 16’ dwelling for Gloria who learned this week that she has cervical cancer and will soon begin treatment. No matter the outcome, Gloria won’t be living on a dirt floor losing sleep over the thought of a collapsing roof.

At day’s end we debriefed and our youngest team member Sareena Patzke observed that we had followed a truckload of wood into the mountains “and at the end of the day there was a house!” When you follow the direction to “share with God’s people who are in need” (Romans 12:13 NIV) transformational things take place for both receiver and giver, God gets all the glory and today – Gloria got a home!

Prayer needs –
Pastor Aaron is still experiencing some issues from the ear infection – pray for resolution before the flight home. Today is the last day of VBS - pray for lives to be transformed. Pray for Grandma Gloria Fugon (we can receive updates).