The Day of Love and Friendship

I just love the fact that Valentines Day in Honduras does not focus solely on

romantic love but the love of friendship as well.

We had a special lesson at the Sunday School Outreach. We spent our two hours talking about how we show love to God, to one another, to friends and family, and how they are all connected.

The bible is full of verses that talk about all kinds of love.

We were making a bulletin board to hang up at the church, we passed out two hearts to decorate, one to give to someone special and one to hang up in the church.

Well let the decorating begin, I tell you watching these children get so excited over the most simple of projects, markers and a few shiny heart stickers, does something to my heart. I love watching their sweet little eyes shine and their grins of pride break across their little faces when I praise their work. When I take a minuet to bend down to their level and take a wet, crumpled heart in my hands and tell them how beautiful it is and how I am going to hang it up for everyone to see, they giggle and blush and you see pride sparkling in their beautiful eyes.

And you know what........they are beautiful and even if I say it 100 times, I mean it every time, because I an not really seeing a paper heart..........I am seeing the heart of a child.


What an awesome responsibility and a blessing to hold a child's heart in the palm of my hand and I pray that I always handle them with love and care.




I know that when I hold up my broken, crumpled and wet heart up for Jesus he will hold it in his hands with love and care.

OK I know I have not blogged in forever and the first one I put up is asking for a favor.

I need everyone to PRAY, pray and then pray a little more.

Jen is in need of many prayers.......

...... prayers for protection as she fights for the little ones in Mololoa to have what they need against the greed and corruption that is abundant.

......prayers for strength as she is carrying a heavy load.

......prayers for wisdom as she tries to navigate tricky political situations.

.....prayers for patience as she tried to deal with the never ending circles that she is running in due to bureaucracy.

.....prayers for peace when she can find it as this is a huge responsibility.

......prayers for the right people to step up to help her at the right time.

......prayers for the right people to kneel down to help her at the right time.

......prayers for her heart as she is pushed and pulled about.

I know that we can make an amazing difference, God will hear our pleas and he will answer. So I beg of you to take the time to hold Jen up. God knows what she needs and I have seen him work amazing things through her because she is open and willing to be his hands and feet.

P.S. Jen... We love you, I love you. You are never far from my heart even if we are oceans apart. You are the sister I did not have and the best friend I always dreamed of. I know you will do what ever is in your power and I know that you will do it with honesty and integrity. I am proud of you, you are a real life hero, without the fan fair and cape, you still work miracles.

Know that I am praying for you to be held in God's hand. Miss you more than you know.

Melissa

Okay I think that it is time to share a little too much information.
This lovely structure is the bathroom for all of the kitchen.
Yes that is a board and rock holding it together.

Yes that is daylight shining between large cracks.

Yes that is the door that does not close all the way.

Yes that is a little mini toilet.

Yes those are the buckets that you use to poor water into the toilet.

And Yes I have used this bathroom on more than one occasion.

Yes I am always wondering who is peeking in the cracks. Yes I have chased peekers away. (Franklin)

No I am not complaining, it is way better than 85% of the ¨bathrooms¨ that are on the mountain. I am thankful for the fact that we have a toilet and not a hole. We have walls of wood and not plastic or sheets. We have a roof and considering we are at the bottom of the mountain that is a really big deal. It is cleaned everyday with disinfectant and water by the ladies in the kitchen, so no complaints.

I am also very thankful that no one on the mountain can afford a camera.

But........ if there is anyone out there who is interested in funding some much needed repairs, walls and a door, new barrel for water, feel free to let me know. It would be much appreciated and well used. I can guarantee that it will not be just flushing money down the toilet!

Did you know it has been over two years since The Manna Project first served its first meal?

You might want to look back at a blog titled cookies and juice. http://klugezone.blogspot.com/2006/01/cookies-and-juice-we-have-started.html

or the first day at the kitchen
http://klugezone.blogspot.com/2006/10/yes-it-is-true.html

From passing out bananas and cookies from the back of a truck to serving hot meals in a loving and safe environment still has the power to amaze me.

We have served over 78,000 meals to hungry children.

We have prayed with these little ones hundreds of times thanking God for the food that was provided, for the women who fixed the food and for the people who provide the means to buy this food.

We have washed thousands of dirty little hands.

We have been able to employee six women from the community and allow them the chance to support their families as well as minister to the children in their community.

We have had unlimited opportunities to love, kiss, hug, comfort, discipline, feed, laugh, teach, hold, and pray for and with these little ones.

We have been taught and we teach. We have blessed and we have been blessed. We have loved and been loved. We have held and been held. We have offered comfort and been comforted. We have prayed and been prayed for. For everything we have given we have received far more than we could have ever have imagined.

When I say we I am not only referring to those of us who are blessed to be able to be in Honduras physically working I am referring to everyone who has worked with us, everyone who has loved one of our children, everyone who has worked in the states to keep Manna serving hot meals, everyone who has listened, who has cried with us and for us, everyone who has spent time in prayer for this mission.

I am referring to everyone whose heart has been touch by a hungry child and has stepped up and said I will do what I can. That is who we are.

We are blessed beyond measure to have been called and to have answered this call.