Forgive me for not updating the blog for so long! I kept waiting to get my camera back from a friend who barrowed it, so I can post some really old pictures of a quincinera (15th birthday party), but haven't gotten it back.

In the month of May, we had a team from Trinity Western University come and live in Los Higos. The only picture I have of them is this tiny one that I copied off of one of their Facebook pages. The team lived with host families and worked in the preschool, the women's center and the club.

Last fall, when Andre left SI to begin full-time ministry in the church, under Mission Door, the club became a church ministry (rather than an SI ministry). The club has met once or twice a week since then, because Andre has had many other new responsabilities as pastor. This summer, however, SI is using the club as 'partner ministry', which means that the club isn't an SI ministry, but we will be sending students to work there when we have teams. So, two TWU students worked with the club (which is meeting 5 days a week during the summer). And an intern, Josh, has come down to work with the club for the rest of the summer, along with whichever students might come down on two-week teams.

In other random news, our sewing class got their first 'job'- take make 10 bags to sell in a local art gallery. Fire ants have moved into my worm composting area and we're trying to figure out how to get the ants out without killing the worms. Titi, the rabbit, is getting huge! The church starting a church plant in Hatillo, a neighboring community. The knitting class is making hats to donate to an orphanage. I could write a whole entry on any of these items, but will wait until I can get pictures to expand on these subjects.

coneja

I bought a bunny. We haven't named her, yet. She is living at the site and I hope to get another rabbit soon, so she won't get lonely.

costura

We have begun to sew again and the new class has two new members (Josefina, shown above, and Janieri) and one old (Sara). We also have one member and isn't very committed, but I could count her and say I have a total of four girls. I was hoping to get more ladies involved, but none-the-less am happy with this small group of young ladies.

Today they began their first project (up until now they have just been learning to pedal the machine and sew straight). They each made an oven mit (shown in the picture below) and I was happy to see how well they sewed around the curves and were able to successfully put the trim around the bottom.

I have also appreciated all the moments of community the sewing class has allowed us to have. About a week ago, about eight ladies were hanging out at the site while sewing class was going on, visiting and laughing. I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the coming and going of women. I pray that this new site will become a safe and inviting place for women to come.

Today, one lady's daughter was at the site during sewing class and she threw a fit because I asked her not to cut paper with the sewing scissors (a pet peeve of mine, because it ruins the scissors for cutting fabric). Anyway, the daughter said to the mom, "you don't love me," and the mom replied, "no, I don't love you, because you don't behave."

In the other room I mentioned to Maribel, the lady that helps teach the class, that we need to learn to tell our children that we love them even when they misbehave, and let them know that we don't allow bad behavior because of our love. Maribel, immediately walked back onto the schene and said in a loud voice, "We DO love you and that is why we won't let you misbehave!" It was one of those chances to speak truth that occurs when we all get together.

mercadito y centro de internet

The church took over the location where I used to have the agriculture site and where the church building is located. Since I moved out, they moved into the casita and the garden.

Just this week they turned the casita into a small vegetable market and internet cafe. They are selling vegetables, such as eggplant and cabbage, and some fruit.

The internet cafe isn't funcitoning, yet, because they are waiting to get electricity (as is most of Los Higos after two and half weeks without power). Joselito, pictured above, is going to work there in the mornings and Laura will work in the afternoons. The have four computers and will be using a satellite internet connection that Joselito installed in his house last fall. The church will split the cost for internet with Joselito.

My understanding is that the church is hoping to make some money with this venture while at the same time offering some services that the community needs. Many students (like Elvis in the picture above) have to make special trips into town to use the internet to do research for their schoolwork. Having an internet cafe in Los Higos will be more convenient and probably will save them money because they won't have to pay transportation for extra trips into town. In addition, it is often difficult to find fresh vegetables and fruit in Los Higos. This seems impossible, since it so easily grows here, but the truth is that people don't grow as much fruit as you would expect.

letrero

A few weeks ago the art site created a sign to put on my site. Nate hung it about a week ago. It really is a piece of art and totally encompasses what the site is about. Note that the cross is actually a tree trunk, and the arms of the cross form a hill, like we see in the green mountains all around Los Higos. The ball of yarn has plants growing out of it.

The Bible on the sign quotes Deuteronomy 30:19, "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live..." I truly desire that this verse would become true at our site- that women would be presented with choices and that they would choose life.

estudio con las muchachas

On Tuesday, we began a girls' Bible study. Nine girls, ages 12 to 17, had signed up, but only five came. The study will last two months and we will talk about dating, love, marriage, and boys.

One of the biggest problems that I see in Los Higos is that girls get 'married' (they move in together, often with his parents) very young to the first boy who ever decides he likes her. Usually they quit school when they get married. Often these relationships break apart after a few years, and the girl is left to raise a child without the father's help and with no skills, because she quit school.

This problem is overwhelming to me and I know it will take generations to change. I pray, however, that God transforms these girls in the same way He has transformed me and many of the girls who have come on teams to work with me. I see how he has changed my own view of who I am in light of who He is and changed much of my own thinking on relational topics. So, I know that the transformation I'm looking for can happen. Please pray that Jesus will begin the process in these girls: Wanda, Sara, Yesica, Natali, and Yoba.

baking with Lola

Over a year ago, I tried to help my friend, Lola, begin a small baking business from her house. It started out with a bang, but fizzled.

Lola took quite a while off without baking-- she went through a time last year when it seemed she didn't have ambition to do much of anything. Her stove wasn't working properly, anyway, and she didn't pursue getting it fixed.

But about a month ago, she decided she needed to give baking a shot again. It seems like there was a small breakthrough in her- she realized that sitting around, not working, wasn't getting her anywhere. I don't know if it was desperation or inspiration that hit her. She decided that she needed to do something, however, and got her oven fixed.

So, we began baking again. She is making banana bars and just last week learned to make white cake, to which she adds coconut (very yummy stuff!). Tomorrow I think we'll attempt chocolate cake. Because she doesn't read, she can't follow a recipe very easily. Lola depends on someone else to teach her each new recipe, which she commits to memory as she goes through the steps of making it.

I always struggle with Lola to know how much to help her and how much to let her help herself. She often says things to me like, "When you are around, I just feel so much better. I feel so sad when I'm home, but you help me to feel like everything is going to be okay." The last thing I want to do is allow Lola to become dependant on me, when her dependance should be placed on God. At the same time, I want to be her friend and help point her to Jesus. I don't want to abandon her, like she has been by so many others in her past. I pray that Jesus would help her to transfer her confidence and joy to Him- the only One who truly never leaves us.