Tsunami Baptisms

What do you do when its at the end of your dry season and the rivers are dry and there is a tsunami warning… Baptize of course. Actually the warning was last week and the beaches were hammered and lost a lot of frontage. When the church arrived, the waves were heavy. When it came time to baptize the 8 folks waters went calm for just the time needed… Amen! It was a double service Honduran fathers day preaching at 8am followed by baptisms then lunch more preaching at 2pm then free time of fellowship. In all, a great day in the LORD. Since there were not enough seats some of the guys hung their hammocks for service
La Cruz Baptist rented a bus, packed it and took the whole church with a few extra cars. I could not bring our family due to our transportation issue… The KIA is at the dealer being assessed and prayerfully fixed this week. We loaded it on the trailer and a friend towed it up the mountain 3 hours. Amen! Broke the axle on the trailer and lost a tire but made it back. Our well pump died again Sat night and in the process of pulling it up it broke off and fell down the well …again. We have 2 days in retrieving it and still no joy.

The car we borrowed blew the radiator this morning, It got fixed after I dropped the kids off. Then proceeded to pick up 100+ gal of drinking water + 8gals of Juice in a jeep… Which is what I started out doing 6 hours earlier. 2 steps forward 3 back some days…
Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour,
Barry

Here is a story Lisa posted about the day…


I must first say that I gave the kids Albendezol 2 days ago.
(pills to clean out intestinal parasites) as we do every 6 months.
Also, as seems to be typical here, (for us anyway) our well pump decided to quit running on a Sunday. To make it ...even more fun and challanging, the pump came lose from the security cable and fell
all the way down into the well, thats 270 feet...oops. (Jr. wanted to go fishing anyway, ha ha) To make it even more exciting, that's when the kids decided to clean our pila (small above ground water storage tank) because it seemed dirty to them, IE: they drained
all the water out of it. So, we have not had water since yesterday.
So, no way to flush toilets, do laundry, take showers or wash the
dishes for more than 24 hours now. Yes, that's right..I know what you are thinking. Phew!!! Well, with all that background laid out..lets get to the horror story: I was in the kitchen preparing soup for lunch when I heard our great danes, Liberty and Justice barking from the bathroom. I didn't think much of it because they probably got shut in there again. (the door only swings in) I went to let them out
and noticed they were jumping and barking at the toilet. My typical response was, "no Justice and Liberty you can't drink out of the toilet." I pulled them out of the bathroom only to have them run back and continue the jumping and barking at the toilet. Then....my eyes caught something...under the lid of the toilet seat...I could see movement..."ooohhhh--- noooo" is what I was thinking, this cannot be good. Do you know how may tropical type of creatures can get into a toilet bowl? LOTS!!! With the kids surrounding me trembling in fear, I said "hey Toño (13 years old), go see what's in the toilet bowl!" He said in a very macho way, "I'm not looking in there!" I laughed and proceed into the bathroom to lift the toilet seat....!!!Ahhhhhhh!!! I jump back and every kid runs from the bathroom as very long and fat intestinal round worms started to leap out of the toilet bowl at us
and falling to the floor. What to do....what to do...we have no water,
the dogs are going nuts, the kids are screaming, there is a fountain of worms coming out of the boys bathroom toilet and I can't flush'em. Ok, lets try the broom and dust pan...Well, that didn't work. It's like trying to pick up spaghetti with a spoon. Ok, the shovel...nope,
same results. I tried to step on them but it seemed they just wouldn't die. I did the only thing I could do, even though it was extemely scarey and gross. Again, I know what you are thinking...NO, SHE DIDN"T! Yes, I did, I picked up the worms with my hands and threw them back into the toilet and took one of our last 5 gallon jugs of drinking water and flushed them down the toilet. Yeah!!!! Success.
But then....wait a minute...I just picked up intestinal worms with my hands...I have no water...I can't wash my hands, !!!!Ahhhhhhh!!!. I laughed and said to the kids as I headed to get my anti-microbial
betadine surgical scrub soap someone sent me...WHO WANTS A HUG!!!!! Can you believe they all ran???? Well, that's gratitude for you. To answer your question, The round worms were a result of the
medicine I gave them to....It seems to be working. Also, I cleaned my hands with the above said soap and used a few bags of drinking water to rinse them. To make double sure, I poured rubbing alcohol on them too. Sitting down after that incident a particular passage of scripture came to mind, Mark 9: 39-50....to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, ...


Please refill the prescription

We brought Elmer home Thursday under strange circumstances. The Hospital we were in is suppose to be one of the best socialized hospitals here for children. (Wont waste space on my opinion but most Americans would request another hospital if the ambulance brought them here after an accident) But it is also the training school for new doctors… Hence why I felt there were a lot of very young Doctors. They rotate shifts, so in the 4 days Elmer was there, he had at least 12 doctors who only have the paperwork from the previous doctor(which the patient is responsible to keep). No way to search out a serious issue. When we began to inquire more diligently doors began to shut and things became more difficult (even a nurse and Doctor making derogatory comments I wont repeat here) till finally they said there was nothing more they could do. They then technically transferred him to our local hospital which has none of the equipment or testing we need. So if we are to pursue this medical issue we must be able to make routine trips to the capital and afford the private pay hospital care. I believe he needs to see a neurologist and get a scan. For now he is slightly feverish…(After entering the hospital) and we have him on antibiotics. He is not quit himself yet Not sure if we have issues from the seizures or he is just still sick. After 4 frantic days we still know nothing… And still have a little boy in need of ….? Prayers I think have been the best medicine so far… Please refill the prescription..

Amen and Thank You...Keep praying

Wanted to add this from the facebook page...


Elmer is up and alert. Played and ate. Photo...Giving thanks for his food... He did not know prayer before coming to the Lighthouse... He spiked a low fever and has a high white blood cell count now, different than when we started.. But I think the Doctors are making headway and the prayers are being heard. It is a far different picture than what everyone feared Sunday...amen!

btw the prayer was spontaneous not requested of him... kinda puts a lump in my throat considering the last few days... amen! THANK YOU LORD for your ministering Saints. We still do not know what we are dealing with but appearances and hope is much higher.

Prayers heard...

Prayers heard amid a world of turmoil. We awoke Sunday to find Elmer our youngest boy in seizures. The motor had gone bad in our Kia Saturday night going to preach, so panic was setting in as we tried to find a way to the city hospital. Many calls made till finally a friend of a friend brought a friends truck with a blown head gasket. We made it to the local hospital where anti seizure meds we given in an IV. But we were told we needed to get him to the capital quickly so more test could be run. Incase it was caused by a head injury like a stroke or tumor or? Time was critical struggling to find transportation while the doctor gave more meds yet he continued seizing till almost 3pm when we arrived at the Children’s Hospital in the capital 6+ hours later. A heartbreaking ride up as he would scream on occasion or begin uncontrolled biting or repeating the word bird over and over for several minutes. As we arrived to a very crowed emergency room once the doctor saw me standing there with and IV bag in my mouth and papers from the Choluteca hospital we were admitted right away… To begin the long waits. Finally with a little pushing they took him for an ultra scan after hours. We rewarded the med techs with pizza afterward for appeasing us. The Hospitals here are different than the USA. The family must care for the patient, change linens, clothes, help to the bathroom, sometimes even go to the local pharmacy to by the prescribed drugs. No need to worry about hospital food here there is none. This hospital is one of the premier socialized hospitals in the country, the doctors work very hard…and see a vast more patients than even an inner city emergency room in the USA. Most seem very young (or am I just getting old and my perception is changing). But things still cost, tests, supplies, meds ect, must be purchased as used, no billing for later. I stayed the night but had to return the next day because of the borrowed car we had. Jr stayed behind with what cash I had, till we can make other arrangements. Elmer has since woke up for short intervals and we were allowed to feed him some baby food Monday afternoon. While awake he asked about mommy Lisa and his siblings colored a moment then back to sleep. One of our church families also went up to relived Jr as needed. The doctors did x-rays on him today as well as a chemical test and a lumbar exam. So far no big red flags as to what this is. The MRI showed slight brain swelling but inconclusive. Our communications with the doctors are as much. Unless I follow them to lunch and stand there so they cant eat I don’t get a lot of info. Jr said they are nicer since they moved him to a observation room. So its not as bad as we feared it looked like (we think) but we are still not out of the wood yet, and still don’t know what caused this kind of reaction nor the true extent of damage, if any, since it is hard to tell while drugged.
They are now taking him for an EEG brain scan as I write...

As far as the bad motor in the kia we will know more after we tow it to the kia dealer. I talked to the dealer Monday and they said it could be as high as $4000 depending on what was needed. I had a few moments today to look at it and got it to turn over, but the sounds its makes hint at internal damage. So it to is not as bad as I feared but still a major overhaul plus some major parts. Head and pistons in frame overhaul maybe? Need prayer on many fronts that have been temporary overshadowed.

We are planning for several more baptisms in the ocean this Sunday for La Cruz Baptist... Since the rivers are dry... and need a vehicle
Thank you all for every prayer and remembrance.

Thankfully the rewards outweight the pains...

Been busy as usual. Had a preaching weekend in New Jerusalem Baptist church. The first night we ran the lights and PA off the kia inverter, but had a hum in the speakers from the new alternator. So the next night a generator was used and about 150 people visited the only light on the mountian. During the evening times it was open house and the church invited the community to hear Carlos preach(by flashlight to read your Bible). Our Lighthouse kids sang a special as well. At night the members from the local catholic church came to hear. Also the pastor and a few members from the Church of Christ came to hear. Carlos preached exactly what the LORD told him to with boldness. I think the LORD was pleased and many were under conviction. In the AM service we loaded the KIA with church folks and went to a mountain river to baptize in a beautiful early church type setting. It was a time of preaching on the riverbank and the baptisms were simply as the LORD led. Not predetermined, so we did not know if anyone would choose to enter the water. As I stood in the water, a few more deeply felt questions were asked by those considering, then the first person came forward wanting to follow Christ in a believers baptism. Amen.
Since I had baptized 12 folks in the AM service, a baptism message became very poignant considering the visitors we had.

Yesterday the school teachers were on strike so we opted to make a drive to the capital with everyone and visit an interactive child science museum called Chiminike. It was right up my alley for those that know me. A little sparse by US standards but well done and the guides made it a wonderful time for the kids. I was very impressed when I walked in to see a real moon rock as the first exhibit. Donated to Honduras by Nixon in 72…Stolen in 1984 but found in a bank sting in the USA about 10 years ago, sent back to nasa then returned to Honduras in 2007. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_and_missing_moon_rocks ) The big nose that sneezes when all the children tickle the inside. Got a picture of Jenny coming out the giant digestive system… She fought me playfully and wanted the camera to delete the picture when I turned her around to see what she came out of… Hilarious reaction as her brain light came on and figured out what the photo was of. They laid me on a bed of nails, electrocuted me and the kids with a tesla coil, played on the life size operation game, sniffed the smell machine that copies body smells with amazing accuracy and strength. Here kids put your nose here and poof the worse smells possible right up the nose, even your tongue is trying to distance itself from your nose…yuck. A neat model of the hydrologic cycle that was interactive with all kinds of water wheel, pumps and ways to make floods to wash out the houses on the river or fish ect. A working radio and tv broadcast area operated by the children, Banking weights, pulley and levers and a wacky playground rope tree outside of the inverted house where things role uphill. It was 6 hours of driving for a 3 hour visit but worth it from the smiles of the kids. Not bad for $2 per child. Much better than regular ol “school”