Honduras Missions

The Ritchie Family / Children's Lighthouse

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Praying for a dull moment?... naaw


Still moving along in spite of everything being throw at us. The corn we thought was getting a free ride to Honduras has turned into a nightmare. In customs now for near 3 weeks.($50 per day storage) They insisted we needed a new license to import it(ie more $$), then insisted it be fumigated(ie more $$) to fumigate and inspect it by the health department it must be moved(ie more $$). We got so fed up we asked if they would allow us to throw the corn away. Sure, now thy say is has bugs and only they can dispose of it… for $12,000 dollars! Our lawyer says it is because of the new government/president needs money to pay for all the new programs/project and the fact we are tax exempt so they look for other ways to make money…


The school asked if they could have a class at the Children’s Lighthouse property. Some how that changed and we got volunteered into a whole day with the whole school and feed them too. I think it was our kids “helping” in the communication department…Lisa is still down, so it was me and the kids. Alba cooked for all 100+. But we needed water up there. The Kia was in the capital getting transmission work so all we had was the datsun, a 1200cc motor datsun. It has been hauling the water daily to the property but does not have enough power to get up the hill with 1800lbs of water for the special school day. So we hooked the 4 wheeler to it as well Alba driving the 4 wheeler and me driving the datsun, almost made it; Till Nancy got her leg smashed between the 4 wheeler and the tank. Only bruised up and hurting but a for a few moments we thought she broke it. (The old ford van has a broken bell housing so it is out of commission.) We winched it the last 100 feet. The children all arrived and I shuttled them up on the train trailers and the 4wheeler. The day with all the school kids went well, no real issues and it was a blessing. Actually gave a glimpse of what the Lighthouse would be like full. They had classes in the woods, on the wall ect. Last was a competition in all the grades for the best nature drawing, so the children climbed all over looking for the “best view”. After we served up lunch. You could tell many live in a hungry state all the time. They liked the 10 gallons of hearty soup Alba made. I would do it all the time if we had a steady supply of food and support. Lisa has imparted quite a bit already to the girls. Late in the day the kia makes it back from the dealer, same time, more bad news on the container. I had to run to town to make calls and return. As I pulled in the kids all jumped up and knocked over the one cabinet we have; ensuing a late night rush to the doctor to have stitches put in Julies head. Wee.


Wednesday’s Church service I surprised Carlos and the church. I taught about how the Apostles appointed elders in the churches and the qualifications. Then I asked who here meets these qualifications? The whole church pointed to Carlos. I then asked who would want such a man as their pastor, again every hand raised. Carlos was about in tears. It was a good night. Amen.With all the headaches, heartaches, and hardships, we deal with almost daily here they all fade away in an instant when the Holy Spirit is at work. As I was sitting in the lone chair in the Living room talking to the LORD this morning, Patricia awoke and came and sat on my lap to give me a hug.(she is the one I nicknamed “mine” and we are seeking to adopt officially) The boys were next to me still asleep we talked and prayed a while. I then asked jokingly, “Which is more important, that I am yours or you are mine?” She quickly returned “its more important that you’re my papi!” That spoke volumes to my heart. The LORD knows just how and when to give a cool drink of water to the soul. Amen!
Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour,
Barry Ritchie

Monday, April 20, 2009

A Day in the Life


A Day in the life of our kids here at the Children’s Lighthouse.

Lisa is still very under the weather with pneumonia. To allow her to rest I have been caring for all the kids we have taken in (18) alone on our unfinished Children’s Lighthouse property (when finished it will house 100+) For now we are in the 20’x30’ apartment that has electric. It is currently without water(well went dry last month), only a 1 cubic foot ref and a single burner hotplate.. and no stores. Washing all the school uniforms every day, as well as play clothes by hand... with the 250 gal of water I have to put in the truck and bring out to the property every day, plus wash the kids and dishes too.... With the donated corn we are making about 120 tortilla a day...and eat all of them. Everyone must help in some way. The youngest pick up mangos and feed the horse, other care for the little ones, older help younger in school work, some wash, some cook, some clean. How do you get 9 boys on one 2 inch thick twin mattress and a hammock? The picture shows how. The heat is stifling, going to be 105 all week I hear. Yet even with all the heat, inconvenience, and hard work, the children voice over and over they prefer staying at the Lighthouse property rather stuck in the house in the city…Not getting much else accomplished; But having a time doing it.


Unworthy servant to a worthy Saviour,
Barry Ritchie

Sunday, April 12, 2009

"Son" Rise Sunday


Son Rise Easter service. Our church has had some sunset services, but this was a first. A sunrise predawn 6am service with a surprise breakfast put on by Lisa and the girls. Lisa is still very under the weather, doing a little better day by day on the meds. The girls have been helping a lot and jumped in to help make a rather large undertaking of a breakfast. It was Lisa’s idea so how could I say no? Coffee, juice, muffins, fruit salad, potatoes, sausages, eggs in other words, the works. They prepared it til near 1:00 am only to awake at 4 am to set up. I was pleased to see 80 or so folks show up at 6am. The breakfast was a welcome surprise for the early risers. As we all were praying the sun came up over the house tops to shine on everyone. With full hearts full bellies and empty minds, Carlos began a near 2 hour message on the importance of the resurrection, strong and well done with hands raised all around afterward drawing closer to Christ. It was a wonderful morning to say the least. As of this writing Lisa and the Girls are asleep…in the middle of the day go figure. I think they earned it.


Unworthy servant to a Worthy Resurrected Saviour,
Barry

Monday, April 6, 2009

Hot!


Its just plain hot right now. Stifling hot, add to that drinking water is scarce this week do to it being a holiday week and everyone is closed. We have been rationing drinking water to the kids. Church was really hot under the tent with out a hint of a breeze. Lisa and the kids bagged up corn and mangos from the property to give out in church here in the city. Carlos and Omar bagged up some for Colonia, as well as the clothes held back by Lisa for them to also distribute. Major layoffs in the farms here have left many hurting. The young school teacher we hired came over to visit and stayed around several hours and even helped the girls make tortillas and supper at the Lighthouse property. The boys have been venturing out and searching out the property more and more. Barry Jr is cutting a trail to walk or drive the tractor around the property for security.


Pray for Lisa, she is in another bout with pneumonia. The doctor said the respiratory allergic reaction a while back and lack of rest probably set it off. I have been keeping most of the kids with me at the property this week allowing her more time to rest. This too is stressful and difficult for all. Heat and lack of water to drink, wash, bathe and flush only aggravate a difficult situation. This past week we had a man with a riffle hidding in one of the buildings. The kids yelled there was a man in the woods and I rush up and scared him off but as I was heading down the kids screamed again and the second man ran out of the building with rifle in hand. Looking to get a big dog and motion sensor lights...and need a little prayer. Someone resently asked "Does it all seem a little overwhelming?". "No not all the time, just 23 and a half hours a day." Commited till the trump sounds. Amen!
Pray the LORD opens the door for a well to go in, ability to purchase the church property in San Geronimo, and build the church here in the city. Pick up Pastor Enemesio another motorcycle to allow him to easily get to the church in the mountain. All seem to be at the forefront right now. Our new prayer cards should arrive this week they look nice.


Thank You all

Barry


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