Community Transformation Honduras

Dave and Becky Sharp

daveandbeckysharp — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:31:58 +0000

Dave and Becky Sharp are headed back to the States July, 7th to seek more financial support. Please pray that the Lord would raise the support they need to bring them back quickly to Honduras.

Water well

daveandbeckysharp — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:28:05 +0000

Please pray for the quick installment and completion of a water well in Las Delicias. There have been some delays, so please ask the Lord to pave the way for this project.

Political situation

daveandbeckysharp — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:23:09 +0000

As Honduras struggles for its democracy, please pray for wisdom and discernment for authorities and for peace. Please also pray for safety for its citizens and all who reside within its borders as they continue to support their military, congress, police, and nation.

The kids…

daveandbeckysharp — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:17:52 +0000

Please pray for Carla’s health as she continues her difficult recovery from malnutrition. Also, please pray for Samir, Leslie, and Bessie — as they are currently struggling with severe malnutrition.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

daveandbeckysharp — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:32:02 +0000

On Saturday, the team went up the mountain to distribute clothes to families, give water, and install the rotoplast. The clothes were distributed family by family to address specific needs noted while completing surveys. The rotoplast, which will be the back-up water storage for the future well, was moved uphill and settled in the ground. While movable empty, when full of water it will weigh upwards of 5000 pounds! Some rain in the beginning subsided to reveal a hot, but sunny day!

"Suppose a bother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to hin, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:15-16

Work smart, not hard...

What a bunch of fakers!

The rotoplast is in place and all is well!

For dinner, the team wanted to treat the Hines to dinner at Expatriates, a restaurant owned by gringos that features a mix of American and Honduran food.

Jeff, Michael, Julie, and Luci Hines

Dan and Amanda

Debbie, Hillary, Alex, David, and Andrew Outlaw

Clay and Liesl

Dave and Becky Sharp

Having a blast!

Thanks for your patience in this post, extenuating circumstance delayed it a bit, but better late than never!

Enough said!

Sunday, June 28, 2009 (revised)

daveandbeckysharp — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:05:17 +0000

On Sunday, as the team was preparing to leave, the political situation in Honduras was beginning to escalate a bit. By the time the team was scheduled to leave, a curfew was in effect. Jeff Hines had personally gone to the Police Commissioner and gotten permission to travel, but that wouldn’t necessarily guarantee passage through the 4 checkpoints along the way. Before boarding the bus, the team gathered to pray for the Lord to act in a powerful way. All the glory to Him, He did!

At the first checkpoint, the police officer stopped the bus and spoke to Jeff. He told him that there was a curfew and that they were not allowed to travel. The permission from the commissioner didn’t seem to sway him too much until Jeff mentioned that they were missionaries. At that word, everything changed! The police officer boarded the bus and (in perfect english) thanked the team for coming to Honduras to serve the people, a declaration that was met with cheers and praises! Letting Jeff know that had they been tourists, they would have had to stop there, he sent them on their way. At each of the other 3 checkpoints, the team witnessed a similar show! As missionaries, God opened doors that man couldn’t have! The team had a long, long day of traveling, arrived with a few less bags, but received a confirmation of the power and favor of the Living God!

It was a pleasure having this team, and we look forward to seeing them again! Thank you, New Life Missions Team!

Dios le bendiga!

This team touched lives and softened hearts. May the Lord bless and keep them, using their hands, feet, and testimonies in a powerful way! Keep serving, you are always on the mission field!

Friday, June 26, 2009

daveandbeckysharp — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:01:41 +0000

We went up to the mountain early today and stayed until 4pm. The surveys were officially finished and cinder blocks were laid for the walls of the latrines. It doesn’t sound like much, but there are a ton of pictures, we’ll let them do the talking!

Everyone getting ready for the day...

Debbie was awesome and taking the survey info and inputting it into the computer - Go Debbie!

Jessi doing Julie Hines' hair (local missionary)

The Mabis family got the chance to visit with Carla, the girl from Las Delicias who almost died from malnutrition. She is now doing much, much better!

Amanda giving toys away to the kids on the mountain

Clay surrounded by a mob of kids who wanted stickers

Johanna (one of the Honduran translators) is making balloon animals for the kids

Jessi with Paola (one of the Honduran translators)

Stacking the cinder blocks for the walls of a latrine

The local kids were working harder than any of us! They came and simply wanted to help.

Praying with a family after a survey

Words can't describe...

We’re sad that our trip is winding down; we only have one more day on the mountain. Thanks for all your prayers as we have been far away, we’re headed home soon! See you all tomorrow!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

daveandbeckysharp — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:46:32 +0000

Today was a short day, we were graciously allowed to sleep in and so we did! We enjoyed a late brunch and then headed up the mountain. Thanks to the extra sleep as well as 2 extra translators, we were able to get a bunch of surveys done. (go team!)

Debbie and Hillary blessing us all with some hard work with the breakfast dishes. The team has divided up the chores to help everyone!

Ready for a half-day of work... but this mountain/hill gets harder to climb everyday!

David with a care package for a family

Filling in a survey with the help of one of the new translators

Hanging out after the survey. While the surveys are important, the relationships we're building are infinitely more important!

Coming back down... it's much easier than going up!

Dinner was a very enjoyable, very air conditioned KFC and then we went back to the hotel. Still exhausted and quite sunburned after the island day, the short work-day was quite appreciated!

Enjoy the pics and see you tomorrow!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

daveandbeckysharp — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:27:22 +0000

Well, today was a full day. We worked really, really hard….. on our tans! (or sunburns, as it were) The team was able to go to Cayos Cochinos today as a mini-vacation. The islands are just north of La Ceiba, and so after a 30ish minute boat ride, we arrived at the home of Lori and Hoss Pollard. They had graciously allowed us to use their property (guest house, dock, and champa) for the day. Right next to their dock are 2 reefs and some really big, impressive ones are about a 10-20 minute swim away (depending on who you ask)! Check out the pics, but believe us, they don’t do it justice!!! Only God could create something so miraculously wonderful, and only in His mercy could He allow us to get to experience it!

Loading the boats, they just bring them right up onto the shore and we hop in!

: Clay, Julie, and Luci with smiles of anticipation on the boat ride over!

Becky and Liesl on the boat

This is the way life should be!

Wilmer, the caretaker of the property, found a pink boa. The pink boas live only in Cayos Cochinos. Orignally very pink, they are slightly more brown now due to breeding with brown boas that have been brought over. They are pretty rare, so getting to see it so close was very cool!

Here she is! Our crazy photographer got pretty darn close to get this shot!

Thanks to Jerry, we were able to get some AWESOME underwater shots! Thanks Jerry! Here is some coral

Jerry and Bailey snorkeling

Michael Hines snorkeling

more snorkeling

And more snorkeling!

Some tropical fish, there were so many of all different colors, some huge and some teeny-tiny!

Wish you were here!

Afterwards, we went back to Jeff and Julie’s house for a barbeque and hanging out. It was an amazing day all-around!

Jeff, master of the grill!

Hope you like the pictures, try not to be too jealous!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

daveandbeckysharp — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:09:46 +0000

Today was a full day of work for the team! The big, strong men went to work on latrines for some families and the women continued working on surveys and health checkups.

Hillary and Becky having a laugh while giving a survey

more surveys!

Jerry and Debbie interviewing a family

Craig and Jessi after some hard work on a latrine

The men putting a huge cement slab in place for a latrine

Here’s the video of the men moving the slab down the steep, steep hill (the video doesn’t do it justice). Note the magic of gravity!

Afterwards, we tried again to go swimming, and it was a success! Between two waterfalls and a high rock, the team was more than entertained! The afternoon was made even more wonderful as we were blessed to participate in three baptisms! Praise the Lord!

Amanda jumping

We love swimming in water after swimming in sweat all day!

Your guess is as good as mine...

Drew's baptism

Bailey's baptism

Andrew's baptism

Sorry for the delay in the post, but we hope it was worth the wait!