Rodney Blog (Jan 09-Feb 09)

February 28, 2009 6p (day 276)

This week Jack Eberhardt and Don Witter were here to work on the VBS video.  This was Teresa and my first year of working on this project, but they made it easy on us.  All we had to do is talk about a couple of our kids (the catch of course was that we did our talk in front of the camera).  Teresa picked two of the girls and I chose two boys.  As we went through the files, we read some and looked up a few words along the way about how the children came to FH.  I knew the children had painful pasts, but it was so sad to read about what they went through before getting to us.  Darwin was admitted into the hospital because of malnutrition.  When IHNFA investigated his home life, they found that his mother was not able to provide for him (sad enough), but what made the story worse for me was the next line.  She not only did not have the means to take care of him, but she had no desire to do it.  I looked into his face, and I cannot understand.  I cannot understand how his mother would not want to take care of him.  Tears come to my eyes as I think about that!  I am so thankful that Darwin is here.  He no longer has to worry about not getting enough to eat.  He no longer has to worry about someone to WANT to take care of him.  I do; we GB's do!  We are blessed beyond measure to have this ministry.

I appreciate the many volunteers like Don Witter, who give of their time and their talent.  Don providing so many of the images that you have ingrained in your mind when you think of FH, but then Don is like so many of us, these children have captured his heart.  Rodney

February 23, 2009 7:50p (day 271)

Today the MVP team on the ground had big plans.  They had all kinds of projects to work on, and they were ready to go.  Most of the projects were outside.  One of those projects was to repair the roof on Cottage 7 (Pastor Miguel and Eduarda's).  Things were going great till the rains came and came and came and it is still raining.  Everyone went to plan B.  There are lots of inside jobs to do.

About 6pm, Pastor Miguel came looking for me.  The roofing crew got half the tejas off before the rains came.  They had covered the roof with a tarp, but somehow the rain was soaking the inside of the house.  I gathered up David Willis and another team member and we headed for Pastor Miguel's.  It was dark now.  Our shoes had some mud on them.  The tarps on the roof had slid out of place and we needed to add another tarp.  It is dark (have I mentioned that), and we had one flashlight and a rechargeable lantern light.  In the dark with muddy shoes and it is still lightly raining, up on the roof we went.  It was slick up there.  You would take a step and slide a few inches before stopping.  I know the folks at First GB church in Oakland City knows, but for the rest of you.  I am not a fan of heights.  Now reread the sentences above.  At least it was dark (rainy and slick).  When we finished, we were all soaked and dirty again, but I think that most of the rain will not make it inside now.

I don't like heights, but when your kids are getting wet, you climb up on the roof.  You never know what you will be doing here.  Rodney

February 20, 2009 7:20p (day 268)

The outcome was never in doubt.  The three gringos were just too much for the house dads to overcome, and the young teens just never got tired.  At one point (not that Brad, David or I had anything to do with it), the score was 4 to 3.  However, that did not last long and the final score was somewhere around 8 to 3 (more or less).  Truth is it was a lot of fun.  Everybody on campus was at the field.  The cheers were louder for the transition boys than for us but that was okay.  Brad, David and myself had been trash talking the boys for a couple of weeks.  We knew that as soon as we played that we would have to eat a lot of crow and we did!  Afterward we had a big pizza party and just spent time with each other.  I figure tomorrow will not be too bad but Sunday will probably be hard to get out of bed.  For my part, I managed to get in the way some and kick the ball a few times.  Did you know that you can't use your hands in soccer?  Even after they penalized me a couple of times, I still found it hard not to throw my hands up at the ball.  First picture is prayer at the start of the game.  Second pic is the winning team and the last one is a pic of (yes, you guessed it.  The losing team).

The outcome was never in doubt. We lost, but maybe we won.  We spent time with them.  We grew closer to them, and we showed them how to lose.  All in all it was a great day at Faith Home.  Sorry you missed it.  Maybe next time.  Rodney

February 19, 2009 9p (day 267)

Tomorrow is the big game.  For weeks now the anticipation has been building.  I am not really sure how it all started, but several weeks ago, I mentioned to some of the children that one day we missionaries and the tios would take on the kids in a soccer game.  Since then things have rapidly progressed to the point that I finally set the date.  For the last 10 days, trash talk has been going on.  We missionaries figure we can only trash talk until the soundly, completely, totally and convincingly beat us badly.  In our favor, we do get the tios to help us, but we are talking playing a game with young boys and young men that run for hours without getting tired.  This is going to hurt!  Yesterday, the younger boys were on the soccer field playing when they saw me on the gator.  They yelled and wanted me to come over.  When I got there, I told them we were going to win.  NO came the shout.  Si was my response.  NOOOOO, they yelled again.  The older boys just keep saying they can't wait to get us out there.  They knew the truth, and so do we.  Even the tios are getting excited.  We passed out uniforms for the tios today and everything is a go tomorrow.  Even though I banned photography, I am sure that there will be a bunch of photos posted, so I will try to write again tomorrow night with the score if my body is not aching too much.  At 2pm, we start.  Say a prayer for the missionaries (no, not that we win-that we won't get hurt to bad).  Rodney

February 15, 2009 2:30p (day 263)

Today Brad Taylor preached a powerful message in our worship service here at FH!  We may talk about sacrifice but most of us do little of it.  A little sacrifice here and a little obedience there and that should do it, but...that is not what we find in the Bible. 

Yesterday, I helped mix concrete most of the morning.  This team put in about 160 feet of sidewalks up on the children's end of the campus.  Much needed sidewalks!  The path in the grass gets very slippery and dangerous when wet and at night.  Teresa found that out the hard way a few months ago.  With a sidewalk now between cottages 7 and 8, it will be much safer to get to cottage 8.  A path, a solid path and marked out "this is the way to walk" path, will make it much better.  Sometimes we bemoan that life has no such path.  How nice it would be if there was such a life sidewalk to follow?  There is of course such a sidewalk (path).  God's will does that for us - leads us, gives us solid footing to walk upon and keeps us from falling in the dark.  Find God's sidewalk for your life this week and see where it leads you!  Rodney

February 12, 2009 9p (day 260)

Sometimes I think better in the middle of the night.  I don't always like that, but sometimes it is true.  I want my mind to shut off but it just keeps thinking.  Last night I was awake in the night thinking about many things.  Thinking about God's grace and marveling how God uses us very ordinary people.  As I reflected on the past day, I really did not get done what I had hoped.  I did a lot.  I accomplished a lot, but in the back of my mind was this nagging thought that somehow I should have done more.  I am not sure how but more.  As I thought and prayed, it was not so much about doing more but about what I did.  Yes, the team needed help on several important FH projects.  Yes, I was busy all day, but as I thought about all that I did, I knew...I knew that much of what I did was not why God led Teresa and I to this spot in the world.  I know that God gives us the time to do what we are supposed to do.  Today, I was not out and around people at least for several hours.  I worked on two very important projects that will influence the future of FH.  I worked and I prayed.  I knew there was a lot going on out there, but for these hours, God was speaking and I knew that I had to listen and work.  When I was done, I headed out to just spend some time with the children.  They are getting to know us and that is so important.  I spent an hour or so with different ones.  Things were clearer today.  May be I won't have to think so much tonight.  Rodney

February 8, 2009 7:37p (day 256)

Today, Sunday, the best day of the week!  About 8am, the power went off.  Thankfully, it did finally come back on at 4pm, but this is not a blog about my love of electricity.  Neither is about how one should not wait so long to get ready for church because you just might have to go to church without drying your hair because the power went out (Teresa should have gotten around sooner).  I don't think that it is about how waiting in the airport can be (not always) interesting to watch the travelers walk by with some rather tired and worn looks.  After church, we headed straight to the airport to pick up another team.  It is not about how I have decided that iced coffee is really rather tasty!   This is about how some days really do not have anything spectacular happen.  I like these days.  The pace seems slower.  We went to church; we picked up the team; we spent the afternoon talking; we are now resting in the residence.  It was a good day.  Thanks Lord, Rodney

February 4, 2009 2:45p (day 252)

The team is in SPS for their day off, so things are quieter here at the moment.  Teresa and I had to take Josephina into SPS this morning.  By the time we returned the team was out and about.  Honestly, I am not a huge guamalito person, so I was not all that upset about missing the bus (literally).  Plenty here to get done before they return to host a hot dog party in the dining hall for the children at 4:30 this afternoon.

One of the things that we have been working on is tightening gate security.  After a meeting with everyone who works at the gate, I put a nice walkie talkie in the new guard shack.  Within minutes, Hernan (the house dad in the transition house) keyed up the mic, "Hermano Rodney, Hermano Rodney," and then there was this long silence. He finally released the mic and I was able to respond.  It worked great, especially now that I know a little Spanish!  Hernan was excited to talk with me via walkie talkie.  "All I have to do he said is touch this and talk," he said.  It is that easy.  Nothing complicated (okay, you do have to key the mic to talk and then let off the button to hear, but not that complicated) about it.  You talk, and the person on the other end responds.  Ever stop to wonder how many times we key up the mic in prayer with God but don't release it?  God is ready to respond, but we don't release mic.  This week I want to work on that.  I want to call out to God, but then I want to make sure that I release the button so that God can talk back to me.  Rodney

Posted January 29, 2009 5:35pm (day 246)

For the older ones, do you remember the beginning of the Beverly Hillbillies where the song mentions black gold and Texas tea?  We in Honduras have black snow (not yellow snow, but black).  Snow is a fitting topic as so many in the Midwest are dealing with white snow.  Black snow is falling heavily from the skies right now.  Black snow comes every year about this time.  Black snow is really the ash from the sugar cane fields.  Each year before harvest they burn the fields.  I have heard several reasons why they do that, but for this blog it doesn't matter.   Black snow is not all that pleasant.  It doesn't leave the countryside looking pristine and beautiful.  Black snow makes a mess!  I've been trying to think of some great insight or metaphor for black snow, but ... nothing.  At least the temperatures here are above freezing (upper 80's today).

Let's move on.  This week we took the children with January birthdays out to eat.  This is a change.  Teresa thought the children would like it plus give us an opportunity to spend some time with them.  If the first groups are any indication, she was right (just don't tell her I said that!).  We took Dixon, Yessy and Fani to Pizza Hut in San Pedro Sula, those three ate a LARGE stuff crust pizza and then had ice-cream for desert.  Then a couple of days later, we took the two transition (teenage) girls out to eat.  We thought they might like a place like Applebee's, but guess what, they too picked Pizza Hut.  This time we went to El Progreso.  They ate not quite as much as the little ones but almost.  Both outings were so much fun.  This is a tough job and someone has to do it!   Rodney

(top photo: Dixon, Yessy and Fani; bottom photo: Ingrid and Evangelina)

Posted January 26, 2009 (day 243)

Today, Sid Smith and I headed off to town.  We both had several stops to make and for the most part we were headed in the same direction, so we decided to save a little fuel and keep each other company.  About 12:30pm, we stopped at Popeye's to get a quick bite of lunch.  As we were finishing, Sid told me to turn around.  He said there was a young girl behind me.  When I did, I saw a 10 or 11 year old girl sitting alone at the table and taking small sips from a small sized drink.  She looked sad.  Her clothes were not clean, and there she sat alone.  She looked hungry, and so I just gently asked if she was hungry, and she said, "Yes," as big ole alligator tears formed in her eyes.  We took her to the counter and let her order a meal.  She said thanks several times all along with tears in her eyes.  I know that one meal today will not keep her from being hungry tomorrow, but at least for today (night now), I know she has a full stomach.  Truth is I just cannot get her face out of my mind.  I am thinking a lot about the many children that need somewhere to call home.  They need somewhere to find faith and love.  So many children need to be at Faith Home.  I have been praying that God would open the door for some more children this year, and I can tell you that after today, my prayers have a new intensity.  Will you pray with me that God will open the doors (financially) so that more children can come to a place where they do not have to worry about where their next meal will come from?  With alligator tears in my eyes!  Rodney

Posted January 23, 2009 7:37am (day 240)

A total of 132 people (all the children, all the house parents, the team and most of the missionaries) traveled just on the other side of El Progreso for a pool party outing.  The Yarborough team began this a few years ago and without doubt it remains a hit with the children and house parents.  Logistically, it is an effort to get everyone there (two trips in the team bus and the green Van), and can you imagine having 78 children at a pool swimming, playing, sometimes running (until Teresa would put a stop to that) and having to get them all through the food line? 

A lot going on for sure, but what a day and the children had a blast!  It is a nice place and the people there were gracious and helpful.  Every time you go out and come back without any problems, it is a good day and thanks be to God!  We made it back with all the children (that was a priority) and except for a couple of minor injuries all went perfect.  The children were worn out.  They went hard for the whole time they were there!

Just after lunch, one of the boys came up and grabbed Teresa's hand and motioned for her to come.  He took her to Olvin (7 year old Olvin) who was sitting and holding one foot.  When Teresa knelt down and took hold of his foot, she had blood all over her hand.  A little first aid later, she found a cut between his toes that was not that deep.  Olvin was done.  He climbed up on Teresa's lap and spent the next hour there.  I doubt Olvin gets that kind of personalized attention daily.  I know he had fun at the pool, but I think he enjoyed sitting there on her lap more!  I know Teresa enjoyed it.  Blessings come in many ways.  Being able to bandage a cut or being able to provide a lap.  Both are ways that Teresa shares the love of Christ with the children.  Rodney

Posted January 19, 2009 8:15pm (day 236)

Life is moving quickly this week.  Our second short term mission team arrived Saturday night.  This team of 25 has hit the ground running with a variety of projects underway.  We are appreciative of their efforts in the school, vo-tech construction and medical areas.  Teams provide so much for FH.  They bring in supplies to us.  They are a source of encouragement to us.  They work on projects with intensity for a week because they know they leave in a week.  They keep us moving.  Blessings on all who pray for us and come and visit us!  I hope you have your reservations made already, but if not, contact GB International Missions and get signed up!  I have added a new page to the web site.  For each team, I will post a few pictures and put a description of what the team did while here.  Rodney

Posted January 17, 2009 3;15pm (day 234)

This is the second day of light rain and the third day without sunshine, but to my Midwestern friends at least the temperatures have not dropped out of the 60's at night (sorry, I just had to say it). 

Here at FH you cannot just fill a vacancy with anyone.  Because of vacations (which are being covered by a great couple) when Minda our regular fill-in house parent had to go to the hospital that leaves us very short handed.  After doing a lot of juggling, I thought that I could cover it.  Minda was scheduled to fill in at Cottage 4 for Javier and Maria, so they could have their regular 4 days off for January.  It was going to mean several moves, but we could do it.  Javier is also one of three drivers that we use here at FH.  The other two were already gone (one on vacation and the other needed a couple of months off to finish his mechanics degree).  With Javier gone, I have to pick up the slack.   I went out to talk with Javier to tell him that we had everything worked out.  He listened patiently as I told him the plan in my broken Spanish.  When I finished, he said that Maria would go but that he was staying.  I told him that I wanted him to go and take his time, but he kept saying no.  He knew that FH was short handed and he did not want the children moving even temporarily into another cottage.  Truth is.  He looks at those children as his children.  He believes that he is where God wants him. 

I am touched by that kind of care.  I told him that I was concerned that he did not get his break, and he told me that he was more concerned for me and the children than his time off.  I thank God for that kind of commitment to God and to the children.  Javier made it easier for me to then focus on the dozen other issues that also needed attention.  Pray for Javier and Maria today!  Thank God that they are here watching and showing the children of FH what it means to be good Christian people.  Rodney

Posted January 13, 2009 7:30pm

I began early to get my devotions and prayer time done before the day started rolling.  I had several financial book keeping issues to handle along with contacting an individual stateside about questions concerning the construction of the chapel platform.  A team is here this week working on that project.  After making a quick turn of the chapel and checking on the team, I helped David Willis change a water value at one of the casas.  Then it was off to lunch.  Before finishing (I guess I did finish because I never went back to finish), I talked with a local Honduran contractor named Domingo.  When that was over, another person was at the door, and by then, it was time to meet with a couple about becoming house parents in our boys transition house.  Afterwards we had major sewer issues at the girls transition house and we had to dig out part of the sewer line to remove tree roots.  While doing that, an unnamed individual (it really was not me) accidently cut the main water line going into the house and instant geyser.  It was nearly 6:30pm when I got in the door.  The children's worship service starts at 6:30pm.  I dropped Teresa off, and then turned the water back on at the transition house and ... some showers just feel better than others.  When I checked my email a few minutes ago, I had 19 new messages waiting.  All in all it was a good day.  Ministry takes many forms.  Today, several hours of ministry meant clogging around in a ditch.  I sure hope I can get that MUD (I sure hope it's mud) off my shoes.  Keep the prayers coming, Rodney

Posted January 9, 2009 at 1pm (day 226)

The phone rang but I did not recognize the number.   It was Jorge.  Jorge was one of the first children at FH.  Now he is a fine young 17 year old man.  In his broken English and my broken Spanish, I understood that he injured his foot at soccer practice.  He was back at FH, but wanted Teresa to come to look at it as soon as we returned.  We did, and Teresa quickly knew that we needed x-rays.  Jorge could not put any weight on the foot at all.  Teresa, Hernan (Jorge's house parent), Allan (his brother) and I headed out the gate of FH around 8pm for El Progreso.  X-rays confirmed what Teresa suspected.  Jorge had a broken bone in his foot.   Because Jorge plays soccer, the team was responsible to pay for the cast.  The doctor at the hospital told us to have the team take care of getting the cast on his foot in the morning.  Jorge used my cell phone and was told to be at the team facility at 10am the next day.   Photo: Hernan, Jorge, Allan, Teresa entering El Progreso hospital.

The next morning we arrived at the facility a little early.  Jorge's appointment time came and went.  An hour after his appointment, he called and was told that the man would be there in 20 minutes.  Forty minutes later he still was not there.  When Jorge called him back, he said that he was at work and could not see us until sometime around 3:30pm.  That was it.  We were going to get this taken care of now whether the team paid or not.  An hour and a half later, the cast was on (God can work things out.  The doctor that put the cast on did not charge us a penny.  He didn't even charge for the cast material.  Thank you doctor Amaya!).   Photo: Rodney signing Jorge's cast

When we were back at the transition house, one of them said something to Teresa and she replied, "Because Jorge is our son."  The girls in the house looked at her and Teresa said, "He looks just like us," and all laughed.  He doesn't look just like us, but what she said was true.  Jorge is OUR son, not just Teresa and me, but all of us as GB's who have followed God on this journey called Faith Home.  It takes a lot of money and sacrifice to raise these children that God has entrusted us with, but it is all worth.   So, take a look at the picture and see if Jorge doesn't resemble you!  It is exciting to be a part of what God is doing.

Rodney and Teresa Walls

Posted January 4, 2009 5pm (day 221) (addendum added at 6:45pm)

For a long time now, I have looked forward to Sundays.  As a pastor, Sunday was the day to worship and preach God's word (a day to enjoy).  I no longer pastor, but I still enjoy Sundays.  At FH, Sundays are a bit more laid back.  For the most part, the house parents do not come to us unless it is important.   On Sundays the doorbell is silent.  Today, the doorbell rang a little after 7am.   Javier was here with is 5 year old son who was sick.  Teresa was able to give him some medicine and loving and they were on their way.

We soon headed to San Pedro Sula with all the other missionaries for church.  The service is held at a local hotel conference room.  We pray; we sing; we read the Bible; we experience the power of Holy Communion; and the word is preached.  We worship.  I have found that I miss some of the typical icons in most sanctuaries.  I know that these symbols do not have to be present to worship, but I also know that for me these symbols add depth to worship.  Icons point beyond themselves to a higher reality-to God.  Holy things are holy because they are God things.  Next week soak it all in-look fresh at the cross that adorns the sanctuary that you have taken for granted.  Reflect on the candles on the communion altar, and speaking of the altar, think about the last time you laid your life on it before God.  Enjoy the beauty of your sanctuary!

After lunch, we went to the grocery store for supplies.  It just seems like the thing to do.  We are there and it beats driving into town again.  Then back to FH and then an enjoyable afternoon jog and walk around campus.  It will soon be dark and hopefully we can rest and relax some more because Monday...Monday things will be much busier.  I am glad for Sundays.  Rodney

Addendum.  Less than 10 minutes after posting the blog about how nice it was on Sundays with less things going on the doorbell rang.  It was Jorge our night watchman.  He had a problem last night with one of our teenage boys and needed to talk.  After we talked, it was time to head to the transition house to find this young man.  The boy did not deny anything, but I still wonder why they do some of the things they do.  I sent him to his room and to bed early and early in the morning; we will talk before he gets some machete work.  This is never enjoyable, but over the last couple of years with all the transition our children have also suffered.  It will take time to show them we love and that is what we will do.  I still hope for a quiet end to this day, but...we shall see.

Posted January 1, 2009 noon (day 218)

With the quietness of the morning (just a couple of door bells this morning), I spent it doing a lot of cleaning and small repairs around the house that I have not had time to do.  Last night, all the missionaires received a special invitation to dinner at the Transition House (the teenagers).  The girls wanted to prepare us all special meal.  We arrived a little before 6:30pm and the place looked great.  They had cleaned it and decorated it and the food smelled great.  After a moving prayer by Gloria the house mother, they loaded our plates full (chicken or turkey, potato salad, rice with vegetables and for desert ice-cream).  I was on my second helping of rice and almost done when...when I noticed that a spice (maybe a pepper flake) has dancing with my fork.  As I looked a bit closer, I realized that the spice was alive, and it had friends.  I was glad that I was almost finished (I think).  Of course, I did not say anything.  They had worked so hard and had treated us like kings and queens.  I wonder how many special spices I ate last night? It happens everywhere.  Out to eat and you find a hair or a special friend shows up in the potato salad during the picnic.

Apparently, it was no big deal because I had not adverse side affects.  I admit I didn't eat much after that, but the love that filled that house last night was special.  During and after the meal, we laughed and joked and just had fun together.  Over the months, I had many special times with the transition boys and girls (special times sounds better than discipline), so it is so sweet to spend this kind of time with them. 

Hey 2009 is going to be an adventure.  Following God always is!  Lets pray for faith and courage and accept God's grace and make a difference for the Kingdom of Christ.  Feliz Ano Nuevo (Happy New Year).  Rodney