Back into our Honduran Routine

Since returning from the U.S., we've been trying to get back into our normal routine.  However I think our bodies have gotten used to the American lifestyle a little too much!  After our first few days back, Bry could barely walk!  And Aaron's allergies are already protesting the nice clean, pure Honduran air! Haha.  At least some things never change...Chirpa our cat was home waiting for us when we got here.  He's is just as fat and independent as ever!  The congregation is also doing amazing!  Here are a few updates and stories:

While were gone, there was announced 6 new unbaptized publishers.  That's great news. But even more exciting is that they all ranged from ages 6 to 10!  It was so great to come back and see these young children taking their stand for Jehovah.  They all have been active in the preaching work for years along side their parents but now wanted to take the next step by themselves.  Many of them are just learning to read but already have several presentations memorized, 10-15 different scriptures memorized and are comfortable conversing with total strangers in the ministry by themselves to explain their Christian beliefs.  We are SO proud of them!  Our congregation now has close to 50 publishers, and many more on the way. 

Many studies are attending the meetings and progressing well.  One cute experience that I wanted to share happened while were gone to the states.  A local woman named Maria has been studying with our friend Xiomara.  Maria lives near us and is in her 70's.  From the very first visit that Xiomara had with her, she began attending the congregation meetings.  Xiomara offered to walk by her house and bring her to the Kingdom Hall, but Maria said that she didn't want to wait for Xiomara...she wanted "to be there nice and early to enjoy listening to the music and talking to all the nice people!"  During her first meeting, she was so enthusiastic that she yelled out several times "Amen!" and "Glory to God!" Hahaha, it was funny but also very sweet that she was enjoying the talk so much.  She cannot see well and only knows how to sound out letters since she never went to school.  Nevertheless, she is striving to learn about the bible during her weekly studies in the "Listen to God" brochure using the beautiful illustrations and simple writing.  Recently, we had the visit of our Circuit Overseer; a special bi-annual visit by a brother that travels from town to town encouraging and giving special talks to the congregation.  During his discourse on Thursday he reminded everyone that there would be a meeting on Saturday morning for those that wanted to go out preaching.  Saturday morning came along and there was Maria!  She said, "The brother said we should come, so I came!"  She enjoyed listening to the meeting for field service and then Xiomara conducted a bible study with her afterwards.  We are looking forward to seeing her progress!

Its been nice getting back into our normal routines.  Aaron is busy with things in the congregation.  We have several brothers that are really stepping up and making themselves available to help out in the congregation.  Bry is busy with her bible students.  On one of her first days back, she went on the bus to conduct a study with Lourdes, a young mother of 2 kids that lives in a mountain village about 20 minutes away.  Since we didn't have the motorcycle cleaned up and running yet, she had to take the bus there.  Unfortunately she missed the bus as it passed by on the way home and had to wait to find a friendly truck passing by for a lift.  To welcome her back to Honduras...the only thing going by was a cattle truck!  Needless to say, she arrived back in Taulabe a little stinky and dirty!

We are also very privileged to have the opportunity to help out with the construction of a new Kingdom Hall in a nearby town of Siguatepeque.  The project is completed entirely by volunteers.  Some are full-time construction workers that are part of a regional group here in Honduras and others are just there to help out for the day, like us.  Here are some pics of the project:

Our dear friends Oneyda and Raul are part of the construction group.  They travel from project to project full-time as volunteers.  They get their food and rent paid for and a small monthly allowance for personal items. But they have to cover all their travel expenses, etc.  They are such a great example for us of self-sacrifice and hard work.  But you can also see that they really love what they do!  We are so happy that they are assigned so close to us right now.

 

Its so encouraging to see everyone helping out and smiling as they do it.  Even our dear friend Noe, who is disabled and cannot use his feet, wanted to come help.  He worked hard all day shoveling rocks and sand from either his wheelchair or sitting right on the ground. 

 

The Kingdom Hall is one of the first in all of Central America with this design.  Before we only had 3 styles to choose from and they were all made with concrete blocks.  Our Mexico branch office sent brothers here to teach the construction group some new methods for building, including using bricks, putting the bathrooms inside rather than outside, adding a 2nd school, and using sheetrock.

 

Aaron spent the day shoveling sand and gravel.  Bry was assigned to tie together rebar with small wires to shape concrete supports in the walls.

 

So its back to work after our little vacation in the states!  We're hitting the ground running!  There is always lots to do here and we can always use help.  So anyone that's looking for an adventure or to try something new, you're always welcome to visit!  We promise we won't make you ride in a cattle truck you're first day here!  :)

 

In fact we are looking forward to the visit of our friends Manoah Anderson and Nick Butler.  They arrive January 1st and will be staying for a couple of months.  Aaron is excited to have more brothers in the congregation to help congregational stuff and also more support in the preaching work.  We are both very excited too for Bry's aunt Trudi's visit in January and February.  She has become an annual visitor here and the local friends are always anxious for her return!  We'll post more updates when all the guests get here.  Take care everyone!