Brad managed to miss his test today because he had the good fortune of spending about 40 hours in bed with some type of virus. Guess he will try the examen on Monday (lunes).
Cindy being the good wife took care of him very well, but still continued her Spanish lessons. She is just a little competitive in this Spanish thing and sees this as an opportunity to make up some of the ground she lost while in Evansville.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
May 27, 2008
Being back at school for three days has shown us how much Spanish we have forgotten in just one week being away from concentrated, focused study on Spanish. Cindy is trying to remember her verb conjugations and Brad's instructor told him (very politely) "I don't think you're ready for your test on Wednesday." Brad agreed.
Entonces, Cindy is still doing seven hours a day of Spanish this week and tried to get seven hours a day next week. But, the director of the school said "Nada, Nunca, No Chance in Junio". They are completely full. Entonces, Cindy esta' muy triste (Cindy is very sad)
Brad's test has been rescheduled for Friday.
Entonces, Cindy is still doing seven hours a day of Spanish this week and tried to get seven hours a day next week. But, the director of the school said "Nada, Nunca, No Chance in Junio". They are completely full. Entonces, Cindy esta' muy triste (Cindy is very sad)
Brad's test has been rescheduled for Friday.
May 25, 2008
Today we returned to Antigua, Guatemala for our remaining five weeks of language school. The weeks are going fast and there is still so much to learn.
May 23, 2008
Ok, we have a new problem. We have been having a problem with thieves stealing stuff from our Bible Institute. When we say stuff we mean the doors, the windows, etc. from the actual building. To try and stop this we are building a fence around the Bible Institute. Well, a couple of weeks ago some of our team members went up to the Bible Institute to check on things and guess what they found. The fence has slowed down the thieves from taking things from the building. They have been too busy dismantling and stealing the fence. Gotta give em credit.
We think perhaps we are approaching this all wrong. We should be trying to get them enrolled in the Bible Institute because anybody with that much determination will have a great impact for the Kingdom. (can anybody say Paul, Matthew, John Newton, Nicky Cruz, etc.)
We think perhaps we are approaching this all wrong. We should be trying to get them enrolled in the Bible Institute because anybody with that much determination will have a great impact for the Kingdom. (can anybody say Paul, Matthew, John Newton, Nicky Cruz, etc.)
May 23, 2008
We had a meeting with the pastors today along with pastors from two new churches that want to be a part of what we are doing. We talked about them joining and then the pastors of our existing churches decided they wanted to accept these churches into our group. After the meeting Brad went with Miguel (the head of the pastors in Honduras) and the two new pastors to visit the new church locations along with two additional locations where they are preaching. These two "additional locations" mean they setup chairs in the middle of the street and have church. Yea!!!
During this visit Miguel and the two pastors only speak Spanish and Brad only speaks a little Spanish. So here's how it worked. The two new pastors would talk very rapidly in Spanish. Then Miguel would translate for Brad. Translating in this case means Miguel would translate the very rapid Spanish into much slower Spanish trying to use words he thought Brad would understand. It worked pretty well. How about that. Spanish translated into Spanish for better comprehension by the gringo.
During this visit Miguel and the two pastors only speak Spanish and Brad only speaks a little Spanish. So here's how it worked. The two new pastors would talk very rapidly in Spanish. Then Miguel would translate for Brad. Translating in this case means Miguel would translate the very rapid Spanish into much slower Spanish trying to use words he thought Brad would understand. It worked pretty well. How about that. Spanish translated into Spanish for better comprehension by the gringo.
May 23, 2008
This time when Cindy went to the children's houses the house parents were excited because they told her she was speaking Spanish with them now. Maybe this language school is really working.
May 19 - 22, 2008
We were able to help three people specifically that we would like to elaborate about.
1. A lady who had a large tumor in her abdomen. We couldn't do anything at our clinic but we gave her some money to get a lab done. She brought us back a receipt and the change along with the good news it wasn't cancer but did need to be removed. We gave her the money for the surgery.
2. A husband with a wife and four children who was shot in the foot while waiting at the bus station to go to Belize for a job. He was caught in a shootout between the police and a local gang. We had to take him to the hospital for x-rays and to see a specialists. Good news is he will not lose his foot. We showed him how to clean his wound and gave him the supplies he will need to keep it clean along with a set of crutches.
3. The young boy in the picture whose tongue was connected to his mouth in such a way that it prevented him from talking and thus he was not allowed to go to school. After spending most of the afternoon on Friday trying to locate him we finally found him and Dr. Mark was able to fix the problem. As we drove him home he kept sticking his tongue out. It was great. As you can see by the pic his mom was just as happy.
May 19 - 22, 2008
And of course the people had the privilege of being entertained by our magician, "The World Famous Ricardo"
May 19 - 22, 2008
This would have been much more difficult without the help of our translators from a local high school in San Pedro Sula.
May 19 - 22, 2008
The grease that makes the whole process work. The escorts who move the families from one stop to the next.
May 19 - 22, 2008
Final stop is Hospitality where each family receives: soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes for each family member, wash clothes, vitamins, shampoo, combs, and their family picture.
May 19 - 22, 2008
Eyeglasses where they were fitted with prescription and/or reading glasses. Check out the photo of the equipment needed for the eyeglasses. Operation of this equipment is learned by people who have no knowledge of optometry during a one day visit to Louisville, Ky.
May 19 - 22, 2008
After triage they went to several different places. MedicaL. Sorry we only have one picture of our hard-working doctor.
May 19 - 22, 2008
Next the people went to church. The church was held in the vocational building that is under construction. It started with singing for the entire family. Then the children went to their own church service where they heard the gospel and the adults stayed in the vocational building to hear the gospel. The local pastors preached the message to the adults while members of the team shared the gospel with the children.
May 19 - 22, 2008
The first thing the people did when they arrived was to have a family photo taken. Many of these families have never had a family photo and they are quite a hit.
May 19 - 22, 2004
We had a Medical/Dental Clinic in the clinic at Faith Home. This is the second time it has been used but the first time it was planned ahead of time. It was first used in September because hurricane Felix came through and changed the original plans.
We about 35 people on the team with half of them being first timers for a medical/dental clinic. During the four days we saw a little over 1300 people who were mostly bused into the clinic from surrounding communities. During this clinic our focus was to support our pastors, churches and their communities. So, each day we did a different community and by the end of the four days 81 people said they had put their faith in Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross to pay for their breaking of God's holy law. Yea!!
We about 35 people on the team with half of them being first timers for a medical/dental clinic. During the four days we saw a little over 1300 people who were mostly bused into the clinic from surrounding communities. During this clinic our focus was to support our pastors, churches and their communities. So, each day we did a different community and by the end of the four days 81 people said they had put their faith in Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross to pay for their breaking of God's holy law. Yea!!
May 17, 2008
We arrived at the San Pedro Sula airport at 6:45 pm. Got our bags, made it through customs and immigration, and went into the airport lobby expecting to wait for an hour or so for the remainder of the Med/Den team to arrive. Then we would all go to Faith Home together. Not to be so. Before we could even get a coke from Wendy's our teammates Sid and Vicki Smith came through the doors. We got in the truck and in about 20 minutes were back in our home in Honduras. We do work with some great people here in Honduras.
May 17, 2008
Cindy went to class today (Saturday) so she could take her Grado B examen. She passed and is now moving on to Grado C.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
MAY 17, 2008
Today we head back to Honduras for one week to work with the Medical/Dental team that is coming. We leave this evening about 5:30 and return to Guatemala next Sunday. The team will be working out of the new clinic at Faith Home and serving our local churches and their communities.
Hey, it's another opportunity for Cindy to fly. She is so excited.
Hey, it's another opportunity for Cindy to fly. She is so excited.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
May 13, 2008
Ok, Brad is getting a little upset here. Cindy returned last Sunday. So, the Saturday before she returns Brad comes back from town, goes in their bedroom, and .... The sheets on the bed have been changed, the light bulbs have been changed, and there is a new roll of toilet paper in the bathroom. What's the deal? The entire time Cindy is gone none of this happened.
Then we go to cena (supper) tonight and we're having tacos, frijoles, guacamole, platanos. Monday night we had rice, frijoles, and platanos. All of these are what Cindy mentioned on Sunday that she had missed while in Indiana. Nobody ever took Brad's request for food. Guess it's easy to see who they really like around here.
Then we go to cena (supper) tonight and we're having tacos, frijoles, guacamole, platanos. Monday night we had rice, frijoles, and platanos. All of these are what Cindy mentioned on Sunday that she had missed while in Indiana. Nobody ever took Brad's request for food. Guess it's easy to see who they really like around here.
May 12, 2008
On the way home from school we met two young men from Argentina that are traveling around Central and South America in a 1971 Ford Falcon. They have a large map on the trunk of the car showing their route. To help finance their trip they are selling T-Shirts with info about their trip on the shirts. They had a good story so we bought one.
May 12, 2008
Cindy was at school bright and early to begin her 7 hours a day of language school. She did her four hours in the morning from 8 -12 and then returned at 2:00 for her three hours with her favorite instructor and good friend Ana. They spent the entire three hours talking and catching up on the past two weeks. It was good for Cindy to have to talk only in Spanish for three hours since she didn't use it at all in Indiana.
May 11, 2008
Cindy returned to Guatemala today. Her flight from Evansville to Atlanta and Atlanta to Guatemala was, shall we say "bumpy." And, since Cindy loves to fly (well, not exactly) she was even more excited to land in Guatemala. Brad met her at he airport with the driver from the school, Eddie, and they made the 45 minute drive back to Antigua. When we arrived at the house the entire family was here to greet her with a small "welcome home" celebration including a sign on the door (pics), flowers ( the big ones), the small flower with chocolate (which Marcela, the youngest girl bought with her own money), and many, many hugs.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
May 9, 2008
Brad had his first real conversation on the street with a stranger today. He was walking home and passed a place where they work on tuk-tuks (the local taxis). Two guys were out front and as Brad passed them he said “Buenas Tardes.” One of them responded with something and Brad is thinking “here we go again I didn’t understand one word he said.” As he passes them it dawns on him the guy was speaking English and had said “How are you.” It is so strange because you get so geared toward listening for Spanish and having to focus to try and understand enough of the words to get the meaning that when someone speaks English, and you’re not expecting, you are totally lost. Brad went back and talked with the two guys for about ten minutes in Spanish. Once again, the conversation was basic, BUT it was a conversation.
Before you start thinking we have this language thing down. Here’s a good one. Wednesday night at supper (cena) and again on Thursday the family and Miguel are talking and Brad is following along pretty well. They are talking about traveling to different countries and places, getting visas, and all the stuff that goes along with traveling. They are in the middle of talking about all these different locations and they keep say “oo ropa.” Well, the word for clothes is “ropa” and usually they put an article in front of it such as “la.” So, Brad is thinking he is just not catching how they pronounce “la” and to him it sounds like “oo.” This is not a strange occurance having trouble understanding pronunciations. The problem is Brad can’t figure out how “clothes” fit in with the discussion about different locations around the world.
It’s not until Friday morning in language school that he figures it out. His instructor uses the same phrase during their discussion about something. Brad realizes he is not saying “oo ropa.” He is saying “A oo ropa”. Get it? He is saying the Spanish pronunciation of “Europe.” So goes the world of language learning. Sometimes days later you finally understand what a person was saying. The long delay in comprehension sure makes it difficult to participate in a back and forth conversation when it may take two days or more to understand what the person is saying. But many times you never understand what they are saying, so two days is better than never (nunca)
Before you start thinking we have this language thing down. Here’s a good one. Wednesday night at supper (cena) and again on Thursday the family and Miguel are talking and Brad is following along pretty well. They are talking about traveling to different countries and places, getting visas, and all the stuff that goes along with traveling. They are in the middle of talking about all these different locations and they keep say “oo ropa.” Well, the word for clothes is “ropa” and usually they put an article in front of it such as “la.” So, Brad is thinking he is just not catching how they pronounce “la” and to him it sounds like “oo.” This is not a strange occurance having trouble understanding pronunciations. The problem is Brad can’t figure out how “clothes” fit in with the discussion about different locations around the world.
It’s not until Friday morning in language school that he figures it out. His instructor uses the same phrase during their discussion about something. Brad realizes he is not saying “oo ropa.” He is saying “A oo ropa”. Get it? He is saying the Spanish pronunciation of “Europe.” So goes the world of language learning. Sometimes days later you finally understand what a person was saying. The long delay in comprehension sure makes it difficult to participate in a back and forth conversation when it may take two days or more to understand what the person is saying. But many times you never understand what they are saying, so two days is better than never (nunca)
May 9, 2008
We had a new student move into the house last Thursday, Michael from Orlando, FL. He was only here for one week and left this evening to stay with friends over the weekend before returning to Orlando.
So this left only Brad and Miguel in the house along with the family. The family left for an activity at their church for the evening and this left only Brad and Miguel in the house. While they were eating supper they managed to carry on a conversation in Spanish. Brad’s second language and Miguel’s third language. Very interesting that Brad was actually able to follow along most of the time. The conversation was nothing too deep. Since we were eating Domino’s pizza the bulk of the conversation centered around fast-food restaurants in different parts of the world and our favorite foods from each restaurant. Very spiritual!!! It was the kind of conversation that may someday have a lasting impact on the world.
So this left only Brad and Miguel in the house along with the family. The family left for an activity at their church for the evening and this left only Brad and Miguel in the house. While they were eating supper they managed to carry on a conversation in Spanish. Brad’s second language and Miguel’s third language. Very interesting that Brad was actually able to follow along most of the time. The conversation was nothing too deep. Since we were eating Domino’s pizza the bulk of the conversation centered around fast-food restaurants in different parts of the world and our favorite foods from each restaurant. Very spiritual!!! It was the kind of conversation that may someday have a lasting impact on the world.
May 8, 2008
The Bible Institute started the second set of classes with five students – we have grown from four to five full-time students since the last session. However, two of the students are a brother and sister. Shortly after classes started they found out their grandmother had passed away and had to return to their home – about a 5 –6 hour bus ride away. If you could pray for the Bonilla family they would appreciate it. During the last session Jose Luis, the brother, had a difficult time because his father was, and still is, very sick and they thought he might die during the previous Bible Institute session. His dad is Juan Bonilla who is a pastor but with his heart condition is limited to staying around the house. The doctors have told him there is nothing they can do and he gets worse each day.
May 5, 2008
Cindy’s mom came home from the hospital today so it looks like Cindy will be able to return to Guatemala as scheduled on May 11, 2008 – unless something unexpected happens. She is anxious to get back to language school. However, after leaving she is not guaranteed to have her same instructor, which she loved – Ana Garcia. Instead of taking the usually four hours of language each day she plans to take seven hours each day. For those who have studied another language you understand her brain will be mush by end of seven hours. She will have one instructor in the morning for four hours and then return after lunch and have Ana as her instructor for three more hours.
April 30, 2008
Found this at the local YWAM coffee shop. Sure makes you think!
“Perhaps the most effective advertisement ever written appeared in a London newspaper early in the 20th century. ‘Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful.’ Those words were the words written by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famous South Pole explorer.
Commenting on the overwhelming response he received, Shackleton said, ‘It seemed as though all the men in Great Britain were determined to accompany us.’
Shackleton’s words remind me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’ The Lord was calling people to go with Him on a hazardous journey – the way of the cross. He issued that call after telling His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to suffer and be killed.”
Not much more to say. Think it kind of leaves you with your mouth open.
“Perhaps the most effective advertisement ever written appeared in a London newspaper early in the 20th century. ‘Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful.’ Those words were the words written by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famous South Pole explorer.
Commenting on the overwhelming response he received, Shackleton said, ‘It seemed as though all the men in Great Britain were determined to accompany us.’
Shackleton’s words remind me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’ The Lord was calling people to go with Him on a hazardous journey – the way of the cross. He issued that call after telling His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem to suffer and be killed.”
Not much more to say. Think it kind of leaves you with your mouth open.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
April 30, 2008
Today is Wednesday and tomorrow is Thursday May 1st. We’re pretty good aren’t we? We can count AND we know our days of week. Oh, you want it in Spanish? “Hoy es miercoles y manana (can’t do the ~ above the last n) va a ser Jueves. O, hoy es miercoles y manana (~ problema otra vez) es Jueves.” In Guatemala tomorrow is Labor Day which means no school. Yes, a day off from cramming more verbos into the head until it hurts – really bad.
Brad took his test for Grado B and passed. His reward? He got his books for Grado C. The highest Grado is Grado G. Don’t think that one will be reached. So, you’re thinking, “Wow, he is into his third level he must be getting pretty good at Spanish.”
Ok, here’s what passing the Grado B examen (Spanish again) means the best we can determine. It means if someone speaks very slowly, only uses the verbs Brad knows AND only uses those verbs in the two forms he knows(out of 14 different forms), he MIGHT be able to recognize them on his good days. However, the chances that he will actual understand what in world the person is talking about are extremely slim. Remind us again, who said Spanish was easy?????
Brad took his test for Grado B and passed. His reward? He got his books for Grado C. The highest Grado is Grado G. Don’t think that one will be reached. So, you’re thinking, “Wow, he is into his third level he must be getting pretty good at Spanish.”
Ok, here’s what passing the Grado B examen (Spanish again) means the best we can determine. It means if someone speaks very slowly, only uses the verbs Brad knows AND only uses those verbs in the two forms he knows(out of 14 different forms), he MIGHT be able to recognize them on his good days. However, the chances that he will actual understand what in world the person is talking about are extremely slim. Remind us again, who said Spanish was easy?????
April 29, 2008
A Happy and Sad Picture. These two guys are also staying at our house. On the left is Colter. Actually he just left this morning at 4:00 am to return to the States. He has competed his time at CSA (the language school). He is with CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) and after a few weeks in the states will be moving to HONDURAS to work with CEF there. He has been a pleasure to get to know and we will miss him. He speaks Spanish very well and interprets for us at meal times when we are completely lost - which is most of the time.
On the right is Michael (known as Miguel here). He is from Germany and is doing an internship at a local computer business. He speaks German, Spanish, and English.
April 29, 2008
Marcela esta' haciendo tarea (doing homework). She is the youngest of the girls and just entertaining to be around. Since Cindy has left she goes around saying "I want Cindy." Yep, she says it in English - which she speaks very well.
April 30, 2008
There are three girls in the family. On the left is the oldest - Maria Jose. She goes by Majo. Majo is an excellent student and is currently taking math, physics, and chemistry all in the same semester. Marcela (the youngest) in the middle and Lesbia.
April 29, 2008
Ok, happy pictures. This is the family we are living with while in Guatemala. This is Estuardo and Lesbia with the youngest of the three girls - Marcela. They are great people who have made us feel at home since the first day we arrived.
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