Well it is that time of year again, Wish list time!
Central church of Christ will be sending a container over to Honduras. We are putting out a wish list for items that we are wishing for, some things we want and some we need. We are asking that everyone look to see if you have any of these items that you are no longer using or if your friends or neighbors are wanting to do any spring cleaning. Of course if you would rather go out and buy some of these items we will always take new items. We are very happy to accept used items but we do ask that the items are in good condition. The container is large and we can send quite a bit of stuff, but we do not want to pay to send something that is in bad condition or that does not work. All items need to be packed in cardboard boxes and labeled with a list of enclosed items and with Manna Project or Kluges on the box. The container will be shipped out at the end of April.

For the Kitchen

Lots of dishtowels (garage sales)
large food processor or two
good sturdy serving spoons good quality knives
rubber mats for the kitchen floor for the women to stand on
cutting boards
md. size plastic bowls with lids
good first aid kit
3 clocks
large locking cabinet
5 gallon buckets
unsweetened kool-aid (any brand will do and you CAN NOT BUY TOO MUCH!) this is great to pack in your bags if you are coming on a trip, We use about 20 packs a day.
pad locks for outdoors ( to lock the water containers and gas)
plastic wrap
gallon ziplock bags
an island-style workstation


We watch about 10 children a day we could really use any of the following:

Playpens
baby swings
babyseats
highchairs
diapers
toys, games, supplies appropriate for a daycare
large rug for concrete floor

Free English classes:
spiral notebooks
pens
chalk
colored chalk
flashcards
English Spanish dictionaries
English Spanish books
English-Spanish bibles
computers and computer tables

Sunday school class:
construction paper
classroom decorations
glue
glue sticks
crayons
markers
scissors
paper cutter
Spanish bibles
pens/pencils sharpeners
reams and reams of white paper
black ink for printer brother lc51bk and lc51y, c and m
md. size trash cans
chalk and colored chalk
craft supplies cottenballs q-tips craft sticks pom-poms pipe cleaners
glitter colored cardstock
craft, coloring books that can be copied
staples
hole punchers
overhead projector and pages

We are also working on a project to construct a daycare center that will include after-school programs. If any of the groups are seeking to build a playground, we should have the space ready by the time the summer comes.

I might add to the list if I think of anything. I will post a comment when I know that I will be getting something so if you are sending something please let me know by a comment or by email at klugefamily@gmail.com Everyone has been so generous with your time, prayers, you financial donations and with your support of all of this work. Thank you.

The ringing of the Honduran telephone.............

I was at home cooking on Friday for the next days dinner with the ladies at Mololoa. The Honduran line rings, oh boy.
Well what to do, most of the time it is a wrong number, 99% of the time they only speak Spanish, sometimes it is Jen, but she usually calls my cell. Okay here I go. Hello? Yes, hello does Jennifer Arnold live here? What? It is English without an accent, but with a lot of static. Well yes she does, but she isn't here. So I ask who it is. Harmony from Jen's TN church. Okay. Well they had planned a family trip here for nine people, they got fogged in, their contact here was going back to the states and they wanted to know if there was any work. Could we help set up lodging and work for them, was it worth them trying to continue on their trip.

Well I said let me think it over....No just kidding, I said you get here and we will help in every way and as for work, well I am sure we could find a few things to do here and there.

Saturday and nine people I don't know arrive, without any luggage and starving. Well we were having Christmas dinner in Mololoa and we had just finished and there were plenty of left overs. They ate and then got to work, they packed all the kitchen workers gift baskets and helped clean up.

They wanted to go by the mall for some new clothes. They had to wear the same ones for several days. As we were getting ready to leave they noticed the people coming to church and I told them about bible class. The group decided it was far more important to attend class than to get clean clothes. The class was wonderful with Rex leading songs in English and Leo in Spanish.

After church everyone came to the house to borrow a few things. They had peanut butter sandwiches and borrowed socks and they were happy. I have never seen a family deal with so many obstacles just to get here and then still have such a thankful spirit even when wearing the same clothes for days and having no idea when and if their things would get here. I really admire the way that they accepted the situation and still rejoiced. I have a lot to learn from them.

They worked so hard as a family, each doing their part and encouraging one another. They worked in the kitchen, they planted trees, made a drain ditch, hauled rocks, water, and even manure to fertilize the trees. They picked up bags and bags of trash, passed out shoes, fixed our drain pipe problem, worshiped on Sunday with us, built a house, provided watermelon as a special treat, made friends with Franklin, made special gift bags for the children, helped with Sunday school, loved and shared joy and happiness with all of the children. We often work and work hard, but the attitude that this family had was special. Wearing the same jeans for a couple of days, feeling way too hot and so what do you do? You make shorts and get back in the game.

I want to say a special thank you to this family. Not for all of the work that you did (even though it was amazing what you did in such a short time) but for you example of how to not only survive adversity and set backs but how to thrive in adversity and set backs. So I thank you. I pray for your family and I thank God in my prayers for you. Please know that you are welcome in my home at anytime. I always answer the Honduras phone line now...who knows who may be calling....

Brandy

Brandy Barrnett is a wonderful special person and I an honored to call her my friend.

Brandy took her entire Christmas vacation from school and dedicated her time and resources to coming to Honduras to work with us. I really have to say that I admire her unselfish act. I am sure that she missed her family and I know that her Christmas gift was this trip. But she loves the people of this country and feels like the Lord calls her here and not only did she listen to the call she responded.

Brandy came in on Saturday and went straight out to Mololoa to help. She got right with the program and worked with laughter and joy. The entire time Brandy was here she was working. The Lord has given her the gift of joy and she shares it with everyone.

The following is a list of a few of the things she did while she was here.

Worked in the kitchen serving the children

went shopping at the food market

loved on Walter and made him feel like a special little boy

Sang and sang and sang

baked chocolate cakes

made two hundred cupcakes with gummy bears and sprinkles

encouraged our family with her good attitude and joyful spirit

hauled yucky river water to a yucky bathroom

felt sick and still went to work

taught the English class with laughter even though she couldn't speak Spanish

taught 138 children in Sunday school on Christmas eve

sat beside me when the mariachi band serenaded us for an hour

handled tamales which she hates

sat in the back of the pick up handing out leftovers to homeless children on the streets and people digging in the dumpster

shared her bed when we over booked the house

played porko and almost won

helped bake chocolate chip cookies and eat them

baked cookies in Casa de Esperanza

loved on my puppies

loved on the children in the community

never grumbled or complained

I could go on and on but you get the point

My family considers her a part of our family and our ministry and I ask that everyone pray for her as she returns back to her studies and her life in the States. I pray that she can come again soon she is always welcome in our home and our hearts.

Brandy we will miss you.

Special Christmas dinner with special friends.

We decided to make a special dinner for the wonderful women who cook for the children of Mololoa everyday. We had been discussing Christmas foods and the difference between a Honduran Christmas dinner and an American Christmas dinner. There is a world of difference. I explained that one is not better than the other just different and we should appreciate them for their differences. So Jen and I decided to make an American Christmas dinner for all the women who work in the kitchen and the volunteers and their families.

Okay, a lot of work. Cooking started early on Friday for an afternoon dinner on Saturday. We loaded everything up in the trucks and used the kitchen in Mololoa for the finishing touches. We cleaned the classrooms and set out the tables. We brought table clothes, silverware, glass dishes and glasses, decorations and candles. We wanted something special for the ladies.

They were a little timid at first, we told them to just take a little of each food and try it, that they could get more of what they liked and didn't have to eat what they didn't like. Everyone took their food and the fun began. The turkey was a huge hit. Everyone liked the turkey, sweet potatoes so-so. Green bean casserole not so much, my end of the table didn't like the olives but Jen's did. The stuffing was a complete bust. No one liked it. The cranberry sauce was fun and we all laughed when the baby made the same face that the adults were making (it was much cuter 0n the baby). We ate and ate and laughed and talked and then came dessert.

We had made pumpkin pie, pineapple upside down cake, chocolate banana cake, chocolate delight, jello cubes and I don't remember the rest. I didn't even get a bite, nor did Jen or Brandy, gone, every last crumb. I was glad that they enjoyed it.

After dinner we gave each family a large plastic tub filled with beans, rice, sugar, cornmeal, fruits (pineapple, tangerine, bananas) veggies(papasta, carrots, tomatoes) candy, cookies, a hand towel, matches, soaps and a few other things as well. They were very happy. We took a group photo, and all the ladies want a copy.

They all agreed some of the food was good some wasn't, but it was a wonderful time to get to spend in fellowship with our friends and co-works. I Thank God for open hearts and minds that can accept that we can be different, not better not worse just different and know that we can still be sisters.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE OURS!!!!

I'm sure that most of you know our dear friends Jen Write and Karen Vaughn. They are the two ladies who decided to come to Honduras to live, love and work in a children's home called Casa de Esperanza. They stayed with us for several months during the building process and I was blessed to add two special people to my heart. I love these girls and I admire their dedication and their amazing hearts that they so willingly put on the line for the sake of little lost children in need of love.

Okay this blog is about a Christmas dinner like no other....

Jen and Karen are up to ten kiddos, little kids. We wanted their family to join us for a special dinner. Here at our House. Yep that's right all of the crazy, fun, crying, hollering, jumping, running, hugging, kissing, messy, grinning, hyper, sleepy, wonderful children were coming to our home.

I worked for two days to make an American Christmas dinner, from turkey to sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, to pumpkin pie. We set the table and brought in a special kids size table and chairs for the little ones, pretty plates and napkins, flowers and decorations everywhere. I was so excited to have my friend's family in my home.

They all came marching, crawling, jumping and skipping into the house. A few of them were a little shy for a nano second. The next thing I know Randy is tackled and down. Cartoons are playing. The puppies are running. And the house was full of the lovely sound of children's laughter. It was awesome.

The children all sat down and bowed their little heads to pray. Dinner came and everyone got to try a few new things. For little kids they could sure eat. I think Jen and Karen enjoyed some American dishes that they haven't had for a while and everything went surprisingly smooth. After dinner we broke out the Jello squares. Okay they are a little messy but that's okay I have tile and they were all going home with Jen and Karen.

Playtime outside for most and naptime for a few. And then mini cupcakes with sprinkles. Yep we did it. We didn't ask we just broke out the sugar. Cupcakes were eaten, cupcakes were worn, cupcakes were dropped and we even had a run by frosting licker who could lick the frosting off a cupcake and put it back on the tray so fast you didn't realize what was happening until you saw the naked cake sitting there. Did I mention that I have a hard time saying no to little ones? So I didn't. I figure I get to be the fun Aunt and that Jen and Karen get to do the dirty work.

It was a great time and I can't wait to see them again. When they were leaving one little one was sitting on the steps next to a few bags of fruit that I was sending home with Jen and Karen. She ask Jen Arnold if it was ours. Jen said no it is Jen and Karens. She grinned and threw up her arms. That means they're Ours! Yep that about sums it all up. Jen and Karen saw these little ones, God said take them home and they threw up their arms and said..THAT MEANS THEY'RE OURS!