Hello Missionary Travelers,

It's been a while since updating our MTI site, but so much has been happening in the mission field. As many of you already know, we've started a small multilevel elementary school at our Outpost in Honduras. This is our second year, and though the enrolment seems small, (only 10 students), we have a very special group of children in our care. Classes are Sunday through Thursday from 8am to 3pm. You should see them

walking up to the Outpost; They're beautiful!!! You can hear them coming long before you see them.

They sing Christian songs (in English!!!) as they walk the 3/4 mile stretch to school.

One very important part of their training is agriculture; Not only gardening, but planting flowers, caring for the trees and plants and learning how to enrich the soil. Fortunately, a young man from Colombia, S.A. just arrived to volunteer with us for a year or two, and his specialty is agriculture and health food preparation. He'll be working closely with the M.I.C.E.. Oh yea, we call our kids MICE. It stands for Maranatha Institute of Christian Education. Kind-of cute huh?

There is a beautiful book entitled "The Desire Of Ages", and in this book is written these words:

"Parents, in the training of your children, study the lessons that God has given in nature. If you would train a pink, or rose, or lily, how would you do it? Ask the gardener by what process he makes every branch and leaf to flourish so beautifully, and to develop in symmetry and loveliness. He will tell you that it was by no rude touch, no violent effort; for this would only break the delicate stems. It was by little attentions, often repeated. He moistened the soil, and protected the growing plants from the fierce blasts and from the scorching sun, and God caused them to flourish and to blossom into loveliness. In dealing with your children, follow the method of the gardener. By gentle touches, by loving ministrations, seek to fashion their characters after the pattern of the character of Christ.....

Teach the children to see Christ in nature. Take them out into the open air, under the nobel trees, into the garden; and in all the wonderful works of creation teach them to see an expression of His love. Teach them that He made the laws which govern all living things, that He has made laws for us, and that these laws are for our happiness and joy." D.A. pg. 516

Aside from teaching our M.I.C.E., the routine activities at the clinic continue. Elsa is not only teaching many of the classes in school, but she also does treatments and consultations. Here, she is treating a woman with ulcers on both feet. As you can see, there is gross deformity in the foot due to years of infection and scaring. Much of this woman's problem stems from her poor diet. Toxins have built up in her system causing the ulcers in her feet. Elsa gives the woman healthy juices to cleanse her system, and places her on a strict diet. Every morning she soaks the woman's feet in Goldenseal water. Sunlight plays a very important part in the healing process; 15-20 minutes of indirect sunlight does wonders. Though this woman will never regain full function of her feet, she is in the healing process; And if she is faithful in continuing her health regime, the ulcers will heal in time.

I hope you have enjoyed this months report. If you wish to comment on any of our MTI reports, please contact me at - missionarytraveler@yahoo.com.  Until next time...

Maranatha,  Joe & Elsa

                                                        Don't forget to pray,...always

Report #1

Hi Missionary Friends,

This is a mission report from one of our volunteers who recently worked with us in the mountains of Honduras. Hope you enjoy the report.

** If you would like to receive our mission reports regularly, just click the subscribe tab on the front page. we'd love to have you as a Missionary Traveler.

*********************************************************

One afternoon at our Clinic Outpost in the mountains of Santa Barbara, Honduras, a young man came carrying a boy about the age of 5 years old. Apparently, he had fallen and knocked out all of his front teeth; at least that's what we thought at first glance. After closer examination, we learned that the teeth had been actually been forced up into the gum; and some had broken off in the gum. The inside of his lips had been cut by the teeth during the fall as well.

This poor family didn't have the money to take him to the hospital in town (nearly 5 miles away). They had heard that we are missionaries;missionaries who don't charge the poor for medical services. Well, they came to the right place. we were in the middle of a training session, and it was an excellent opportunity to show our volunteers how to care for this young boy.      

Upon examination, I saw that the teeth which had been broken and pressed into the gums needed to be removed, and the gums needed suturing.  

I asked the boy what his name was; He answered, "mi nombre es Henry". Well Henry, we're going to fix you right up.

Little Henry was such a brave boy. He didn't cry or fight us at all. Even though I numbed his gums real well, I knew he was feeling some pain. After what seemed like hours, i finally removed the last bit of broken tooth from inside his gums. Now it was time to suture. This was going to be the tricky part,...so I thought.

Actually, suturing little Hrnry was much easier than working on adults. I still remember him looking at me with those big brown eyes as if to say, "I trust you". How could you not do all you could to help such a one in need.

The surgery was a success, thank the Lord; Little Henry lost all of his front teeth, but the good news is,...he will get a new set coming in very soon. We never did see Henry again, but we were informed that his mouth healed perfectly, and his new set was coming in straight.

Of course, our volunteers spent most of the day talking about the event. The most exciting part of it all, is knowing that you're helping someone else.

People around the world are so busy working to please and satisfy themselves; They think they're happy. Little do they know that true happiness is giving of yourself, to help others.

If you like reading our missionary travelers stories, please drop us a line and tell us what you think. we'd love hearing from you. 

Until next time ............. Maranatha

                                                   Missionary Doc