The Feminil (the group of Honduran staff and missionaries) planned an evening event to celebrate the Day of Friendship. It is a day that celebrates February 14^th.

One of the games the students participated in. 

Samuel, a Bible student, lead some special songs.

The Bible students did a game with the students, one of the ladies of the Feminil gave a devotion and a snack was given. The students were able to select a few friends for a photograph which would be given as a gift to remember the day. The following are some of the pictures with their friends.

Luantany and Bessy are two of the six Bible student ladies. 

  The first week or so in February is a time a medical brigade arrives in El Sembrador. The first days are spent providing care for the students and families on the campus of El Sembrador. This year they received medical and dental care. The rest of their time was spent traveling to areas around El Sembrador to set up a clinic. Jerry was able to travel with the team along with others to translate. We appreciate all they did for the students and the communities.

Waiting, waiting and waiting!

Jerry translating for a doctor.

The Bible student young ladies waiting for their time to see the doctor and dentist.

We have two volunteers who are working on the campus this year. Gwen teaches English classes and Amy works with the sponsorship program. They both are always available to help in other areas as well. This is their second year of volunteering in El Sembrador.

Amy fell down a few stairs here on the campus and broke her ankle. She has had surgery to put two pins in each side of her ankle. She is living with us as she recuperates.

It has been fun getting to know Amy and Gwen. They are special young ladies the Lord is using.

As we had experienced the year before in taking two of our youth to Escuela El Sembrador we now had to be the ones to adjust to a whole other culture and type of weather. We were able to settle into our home before the students began arriving in January. We thank the ones who went before us to clean our home and the ones who were there to offer help when we arrived.

The first day of registration is a busy time. The staff set up several stations for each student to travel through: An area to collect paperwork such as medical, birth certificates and past education, reading rules with parents, cutting hair, purchasing the basic items needed, marking personal items, picture and interviews for the supporters and the clinic.

We are excited that seven of our youth from La Esperanza are students this year in El Sembrador. Two are young ladies who are attending the Bible Institute. It is nice to have a piece of La Esperanza with us.

Milton and his dad. He was an Educatodos student of Sherri's in La Esperanza.

David

Lenin

William and Alberto with their Aunt Miriam.

Keila, her Aunt Miriam and Jexcel.

Keila, William and Alberto are three grandchildren of Dona Marta who passed away the year before.

Sonia (right in blue) with a Bible Institute friend.

After returning from the states in January we had a couple of days for goodbyes and last day activities.  The youth came and played softball on Saturday and then celebrated birthdays Saturday night during our regular youth time.

Olman, Klaret and Rafael

Jorge, Danielle (the volunteer in La Esperanza), and Nelson at the birthday celebration.

There is a tradition in La Esperanza that when people leave the area there are fireworks. Some of the  youth showed up our last evening at 11:30 or so and gave a shower of fireworks. What a loud blessing!!

On Sunday morning the church prayed for us and Pastor Dany and Carminda. They were leaving the next week to travel around to the various churches to raise their support for serving in Mexico. 

The people of the Mas Que Vencedores church have come along side us since the first day of arriving in La Esperanza. We are thankful God provided so many people who encouraged and prayed for us as well as becoming dear friends. We have seen God work in the lives of the people of La Esperanza and are so thankful to watch the spiritual growth.

So with much emotion we left to begin our ministries in Olancho, Honduras.

After time in prayer we felt the Lord was leading us to leave La Esperanza to serve in Escuela El Sembrador. It is hard to explain why/how this was possible since we loved La Esperanza and serving the people there. God has a way of giving us peace when we are in His will, doesn't He?

Since Bob and Kathy Owen were returning in January to La Esperanza we felt the best/easiest time of transition for all would be for us to be in El Sembrador for the start of school in January. So with many tears we packed our bags once again and headed to the department of Olancho. 

It was good to be able to spend time with our daughter Allison. She lives and works in South Carolina. We are so thankful for the people the Lord has placed within her workplace that take good care of her.