Sharon and I hope that you are well. During January and February we continued to study Spanish and work through our sabbatical material. They both have their challenges!
As you may recall from our last update one of our best friends, Kathryn Grifo, has been bedbound since November. After hearing more details from Scott, her husband, our hearts were breaking over her medical condition and the immense and immediate needs that their family of five was facing. So we began discussing and praying about the possibility of going to help them. On the same day we decided we were supposed to offer them our help, we received a message for Scott asking if there was any possibility we could come to California and help! It was such miraculous timing. We arrived there at the end of February and we stayed for six weeks. Sharon was of particular help as a nurse and nurse practitioner in caring for Kathryn’s needs and those of their daughter Mia who suffers from a serious medical condition. I did a lot of dishes, carpooling, dog walking, shopping, errands and small projects. Our days were very busy! We also visited our California church, Christian Life Center, and met with the pastor and missions board to give them an in-person update. It was so encouraging and wonderful to be with all of these friends again despite the difficult circumstances. Kathryn is doing slightly better now, but each day is still incredibly hard.
We returned to Honduras on April 9th and are continuing our Spanish classes. We are making progress, but to be honest, it feels very incremental. The biggest bright spot for us is that we absolutely love our Spanish teachers and that goes a long way in helping us to persevere in our study of the EIGHTEEN verb tenses…God help us! :)
Sharon is also working two days a week in a ministry called Salt & Light Clinic about an hour from Siguatepeque. She has really enjoyed nursing again and it is especially wonderful because we know the Honduran doctor that works there! His name is Lesbin Javier and he grew up in one of the villages on the road where we live. He was my student for four years at IER and our relationship spans more than 25 years! From patient to student to friend and now coworker (and boss 🙂! It is truly remarkable and brings us a special joy! When Lesbin was young we saw something unique in Lesbin and not just because Sharon sewed him up after a machete cut (see bandage in old photo:). What sets him apart is that even with his many natural gifts he has maintained a deep sense of humility and gratefulness and prioritizes his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We are so proud of him!
In addition to our studies, we are visiting ministries in Honduras that work in healthcare and/or education. We are almost certain we will be changing ministries as we move forward with serving in Honduras. We have discussed this with our friends Jason and Sarah Furrow of Give Hope 2 Kids and they have been incredibly gracious towards us and whatever God has next for us. If we can find one ministry that does both and is a good fit that would be great, but we are also open to working for different ministries as long as they are relatively near to each other. We often joke that we have two of the most needed jobs on the planet. Please pray that we would know with clarity where God wants us to serve in Honduras.
We are grateful for:
- A seven week period of less painful migraines for Sharon.
- The opportunity to be caregivers to friends whom we love.
- Our friend and brother in Christ, Dr. Lesbin Javier!
- The opportunity to meet and work with Sharon’s cousin Mary Dawn!
Please pray for:
- Kathryn’s health and for the entire family during this difficult time (Scott, Mia, Grant, Cole)
- Us to be guided by the Holy Spirit as we look into different mission opportunities.
- Sharon’s headaches getting worse again and lack of sleep.
- Our brains to absorb Spanish grammar like a sponge instead of a rock!
