We are very sad. We just returned to Danli from a short trip to Miami. We come home to find out that it rained for twelve straight hours on Sunday night/Monday morning. Even more neighborhoods have been destroyed, including the homes of some of our co-workers. 

Here is what we know. We know that our church building still stands. It has been cleaned as best as it can on the inside, and is waiting to get fumigated and disinfected by the public health people. We know that it is still too wet to clean up anything on the outside of the church. We know that forty five members of our church lost all of their belongings. We know at least one family is without a home. We know that we will be helping them everyday, cleaning when we can, bringing coffee, cookies, prayers and love when we can’t clean. 

We know that if you can donate money to the church by sending checks to:

Lighthouse Missions Post Office Box 621. Mandan, ND 58554 Please put Neinast/Flood Relief in the memo line.

We know that you can donate items by sending them to:

JD Neinast

Apostado Postal #15

Danli, El Paraiso, Honduras CA

Items needed:

Money

Clothes: Mens, Womens, Childrens, all sizes

Medicine: Pain Reliever, cream for foot fungus (lots of people are working without rubber boots), anti-itch cream for mosquitoes, bug spray

Children’s Books

Bibles (in Spanish)

Children’s Toys

Here is what we believe. We believe God is sovereign. He was not surprised when the waters rose. He knew it was coming, and He will provide. We know He is good. We know He holds our tears in His hands. We know that while we may weep here on earth, our treasure is in heaven. We know that God has called on us to help those who are in need. He has given us a voice for the voiceless, and He will be glorified in this, somehow. We will continue to call His name blessed, we will continue to call upon Him, and sing His praises. He has not abandoned us, or Danli. He has not forgotten the children, men, and women, who are without clothes. He is good. Now and forever.

I have never seen anything like this before. I have seen flooding on the news, I have seen it in movies, and I have seen some of the after affects, but this what unlike anything I have ever seen. There was mud everywhere. We picked it up with shovels, we pushed it out the doors with pieces of wood, we used brooms. The water rose up about five feet. It destroyed everything in the church. All of the sound equipment is gone. All of the toys and children’s things are gone. No more books. The Sunday School curriculum is gone. The computers are gone. All of the crafts and supplies Hillside and Tennessee brought us…gone. All of it. We pushed the mud out of the doors, and it should have gone down the stairs, but the stairs were buried under more mud. The fence is completely ruined, broken. Roger, the worship pastor, who also guards the church at night, well, his motorcycle is destroyed. He may not be able to afford another one for quite a while, as he is quite poor.

This will take many months to clean up, if not an entire year. 

I am frustrated. I am sad. All of the work that has been done. The blood, sweat, and tears of this church body and so many others, all just gone. I am trying to look on the upside. The building is still there. None of the new construction was destroyed. We may have managed to salvage the seats, at least some of them. 

It has been reminding me of the song about how the wise man built his house upon the rock. The rain came down and the flood came up, but the house it did not fall. So, we know that God is in charge of everything. We know that God planned this to happen right before JD and I are to leave for Miami. We know He saw this coming. We know He is good. So, we may not know why, or how we will rebuild, but we know He is faithful and sovereign to care for His children. 

We are unsure right now of the best way to get supplies and aid here. We will let you know as soon as we can how you can help. But for right now, pray. 

It’s the rainy season here. That means it rains almost every single day. For hours. The last two days it has rained really hard. Last night it rained for about seven hours straight, hard rain. Last night, we got a call about 9 that the church was flooding, and there was lots of water on that side of town. This morning, when I was running, I saw four or five businesses who outer walls had collapsed. I saw one school that had flooded out. When I got home, JD called our principal and she told us there was no school today because of the floods. 

We are going to the church in about an hour to help clean up the destruction and we will know more about the situation once we get there. My main hope and prayer is that the music equipment was not destroyed and that the building was not knocked down or destroyed in any way. 

This news comes as we find out that no teachers will be paid for the month of August. We will continue to be paid because we teach at private school, but the pastor of our church, Arturo, and his wife Ruth will not be getting paid this month. They have not had school for almost two weeks now and are unsure of when they will return. The government recently made the decision to take away the retirement fund for the teachers and that all the funds they had earned up until now will no longer exist, there are also some other payment issues, but we are a little unclear as to what they are. This means that many of the families who tithe at church will not be getting paid as we have many teachers who attend our church. 

Please pray. Please pray for peace for Arturo. Please pray for the safety of Danli, for protection for those who have lost their homes, for protection from the disease that flood and rain water bring. Please pray that this flood will not bring further heart ache to Danli and to Honduras.

I have been thinking a lot about our orphanage in the past few weeks. In specific, I have been trying to picture who will be there. What will these boys be like? How old will they be? What will they have experienced? Will they love us as we love them? What kinds of problems will they have? Will they be the “outdoors/sports/wrestle” type, or the “read/artsy/introspective” type? 

The Lord has given us the vision to help boys. In Honduras, no one wants boys. Orphanages won’t take them, so they usually just end up back on the streets or in an institution. No one wants them because they cause trouble. They fight, they steal, they abuse others, they join gangs, commit crimes, ect. These children struggle. We want to help them, teach them. 

My heart is heavy for these boys, because these boys will grow up to be men. I really believe that the health and well being of a person is dependent on two things…how God works in their life and how their father is used by God in their life. Sometimes I get so angry at men who sleep with women and leave them pregnant and alone. I get angry at dads who leave families. Men do not take seriously the responsibility that they have as men. And, so, we do not want to help these boys escape Honduras, we want to grow Pillars of Faith. We want to pray fervently for the Lord to save these boys, grow these boys, and give these boys a passion to love the Lord more than they love the things of this earth. 

So, when you think of us, think of these boys. We have not met them yet, but we know the God is working in their lives already. He as already chosen who will be a part of this orphanage. So, we pray for these boys, we pray for this place, we pray for our hearts, we pray for provision. Will you join us?

I will be honest, I haven’t felt inspired to blog lately. There really isn’t much going on here, so here come the bullet points.

• We are getting ready for the Independence Day Parade, which will happen on September 15. I am in charge of the ribbon dancers and pom-pom girls. Thrilling. Jd is in charge of all the kids who have a medical reason why they cannot participate in the parade (i.e. lazy spoiled kids). 

• We also will be visiting Miami next Friday for three days. We are excited about this, as it will be our last break from Danli until December. We plan on hitting all the hot spots. Wal-Mart, Target, Jason’s Deli, Old Navy, the mall, any bookstore we can find. We are nerdy, and I am okay with that. My dad and stepmom will be joining us for a few days, and it will be nice to see them, as we have not seen my dad since May and my stepmom since we moved here.

• We have not gone to view the land yet. Arturo is supposed to take us, but he had a birthday this past weekend and they are going out of town tomorrow, so I don’t think it’s going to happen this week. It’s not like things sell quickly here in Honduras, so I am sure whenever we get there, it will still be for sale. No worries. 

• Arturo and Ruth bought a new car on Saturday. It’s a Kia something or other. It’s four door and teeny tiny. They sold their motorcycle. Arturo has a friend who had a bad moto accident last week and had amnesia for about a day. I think it scared him, so the moto is now gone. 

• The National Corn Festival is coming to Danli in two weeks. It is a big deal. People come from all over Central America to experience it. I am really excited because it means that there will be something to do in Danli, everyday for TEN WHOLE DAYS! This means more action than we have seen in seven months. Even though I am not a corn fan, or a drinker, I think it will be fun.

• There is a tradition in Honduras at birthday parties that I like. After we sing “Happy Birthday”, we pray for whomever’s birthday it is. Even at school, we do this. I like this tradition.

• Last week, we went out to eat with our friend Nathan. He is a Peace Corps volunteer here, and he will finish up his time here in two weeks. He wants us to come to his house next week to take all the things he has that we want. I am excited about this, seeing as how we do not own much. Everything that is in our house belongs to Ruth and Arturo, with the exception of five plastic bins, a fridge, and DVD player, and one fan. We need some things, obviously. Nathan is a very easy guy to talk to, and I was content to sit and chat for three hours with him and JD, until they started talking fantasy football, then I got bored. Really Bored. 

• Jd and I have been watching “Man vs. Food” on Fox Life here. We think this show is amazing. This guy goes around and takes all these crazy food challenges. Considering the pasts of me and Jd, I am not surprised that we both enjoy this show about ridiculous amounts of food and the people who eat it. 

• There is a kid in my first grade class whose skin on the tip of his fingers is peeling off! Gross! And I am very concerned. He told me his mom puts medicine on it, but what the heck causes that to happen?

• I have begun the “Twilight” series. I don’t like this Edward guy. He is really lame. He’s not funny, he’s boring, and he sparkles. Sparkles?!?! Really?!?! No real man sparkles. 

• I really miss our dog, Coco. She lives at our old house in backyard, my stepsister and her husband feed her, so I know someone is taking care of her. But I just hope she knows we still want her. We are not sure when she can join us here. I vote Christmas, Jd votes whenever we build an orphanage. He also suggested that maybe she would have a better life is maybe we gave her away. This thought almost makes me cry. She will come to Honduras. She will. 

Until Later. Love you. Miss You.

If you are at all curious about Hillside’s Mission Trip two weeks ago, look here. 

Also, we have a prayer request. A friend of Arturo (our pastor/guy we live with) has a friend who is selling some land on the outskirts of Danli. It’s 2 Manzanas (about 6 acres), and he has priced it at around $24,000. We are going to look at it next week. Please be praying that the Lord would show us if He wants us to pursue this land, and also that we would be able to raise the money.  We would eventually build a house or a few houses on this land, plus farm some fruits and vegetables for our use. 

One thing I have never done is hide my feelings. (okay, maybe not never, but since beginning recovery for anorexia/bulimia, so the past almost ten years).  I don’t really tell people what they want to hear, I tell them the truth. And, so, on this blog, you will hear the truth of missionary life. And, I know that some people will think we don’t love God enough because we struggle, or that we are miserable here. Neither of those things are true. We love God, and by His grace we love Him in spite of our struggles. And we are not miserable here, just sometimes Texas sounds nice. Are you miserable on earth? But sometimes, Heaven sounds nice, right? Same kind of thing. So, if you read this blog, you will read some truth. You will read honestly what our lives are like. I just thought I would preface this blog with that, because sometimes things need a preface so we can know what we are getting into.

Well, today was a testy day for me. I have been quite moody the last two or three days, and this morning it was not good. I was in the middle of my daily Tae-bo session, and Jd came in to ask me about his hair. Let me preface this by saying Jd cut all his hair off yesterday and now it is back to looking like it did when we got married, and I am quite pleased. Anyway, it seems in those three years, he has forgotten how to fix his hair. So, he comes out with this faux-hawk thing, and I say he just needs to “muss” it up. I showed him how to do it last night. While he comes out and asks me, in the middle of a round-house kick, I get super annoyed. I am thinking “Crap, Jd, how old are you that I need to fix your hair?!?!” So, this pissed me off, who knows why. And then, about ten minutes later, he says, it’s almost time to go, and I said “I know what time it is, and I am still going to exercise”. And then, I got in the shower, thinking to myself “How the crap can I manage to get the heck out of Honduras? Maybe if someone dies, or maybe if I get a bad disease only US doctors can treat, or, even better, maybe the Honduran government will decide they don’t want us and make us leave!” I know, awful. 

It’s hard to be a missionary. There are times when it is super fun to live in a foreign place, I won’t deny that. I also won’t deny that it is hard. Sometimes I just want my old life back, but this is my life now. It is the life God has called me to, and I don’t remember Him ever saying in the Bible that every time we obey Him it is going to be super fun. I think He said something along the lines of “Pick up your cross and follow me.”, and crosses aren’t fun. They are heavy, but He is our helper in all of our times of distress, and as I sit here thinking about this, I remember that I do love Honduras. Sometimes, I don’t like it, but for some reason, God has placed an ache in my heart for this place. 

Well, I haven’t been feeling well lately, so our blog has gotten neglected. There are many things to share, so I will share them in a series of random bullet points. Please, enjoy the following presentation.

• Jd was really sick yesterday, and I was really bored. I was also feeling very nauseous, which has been happening everyday for about the past two or three weeks. Jd is feeling better, and I am too. Still nauseous, but not allergy/headache/cold sick anymore. I am tired of us getting sick. I feel like one of us is sick at least every week. We take our vitamins, exercise, get plenty of fresh air, eat well, and drink lots of water. We would really covet your prayers in regards to our health. We cannot minister well, and love the people of Danli well if we cannot leave the house and need to rest. 

• Honduras will celebrate it’s Independence from Spain on September the 15th. So, in honor of Independence Day, every school organizes a parade and all the school parade together all around the whole city. I have heard this parade can last anywhere from five to eight hours. So, I was asked what I wanted to do for the parade, so I am thinking, “Well, wear my Honduras shirt and throw candy”. Right? Isn’t that what people do at parades? Um, apparently not here. I was put in charge of the people who wanted to do “Ribbon Dancing”. What my luck, I happen to be a champion ribbon dancer. Not. Stay tuned to hear more as we begin to practice and as the delightful event unfolds. 

• A few weeks ago, we went to this youth event thing at this church in Danli. It was the rich people’s church, and I could tell because no one there had BO, and they had air conditioning, oh and a flat screen TV. Our church, on the other hand, is in a very poor area, and well, sometimes a random homeless BO guy comes. And, no, we do not have a flat screen. We don’t even have a screen. Of any sort. Anyway, it was interesting and this guy came from San Pedro Sula to talk and he was funny. On the last night, JD was being prayed over and God revealed to him that He brought us here to start an orphanage. So, this is the official announcement, we are beginning to fundraise for our orphanage, and hope to open in 2011. I mean, first we have to become residents, which will happen in January/February 2011, and then we can begin the building process. We will begin to scout out property in the next few months, as well as get the plans for the house ready. Please also be in prayer for us concerning the orphanage.

• My translator has officially left my class. He has moved on to begin college. Today was my first day in four months without a translator. It went really well! I was shocked at how much the kids really had learned. They are really learning to speak and it seems as though I am not the horrible teacher I thought I was. Praise the Lord!!!!

Before I begin, I must apologize profusely for the fact that this blog will be picture-free. I thought I would take a moment to recount our time with Hillside before new things happen and I forget what all happened while Hillside was here. So, here is my day by day recount of my experiences these last few weeks.

Thursday, July 15: Jd and I go to school, and leave early, around 8:15.  I want to go home and fix my hair before we leave to get Hillside in Teguc. We go up to the church, and Jim asks us to ride with him and Arturo. We get in the car, and realize that Jim only wanted us to ride with him because he has job for us. He hands us a bag full of money and says “Split this into 33 equal groups to hand out. It should beabout 380 limps a person”. So, 380 is a easy number. Geez. Even though we had air conditioning, I am now lamenting the idea to forgo the bus. We pick up Hillside, and Jd sees a guy he knows from many years ago at The Village, his name is Mark and he and his wife now go to Hillside. We ride back, I and I enjoy talking and sharing with people on the bus. That night, our church had a welcome service for the Hillside group, then soccer until 11:00 at night. I rarely see 11 at night, since I get up at 5 for school, so I was ready to go home. 

Friday July 16: The Hillside gang visits our school! We are having game day where we are playing traditional games in elementary school. The high school guys play soccer and hear a bit about Jesus, and some women go to hang out with the high school girls, fixing hair and nails and all that girly stuff. Another group visits downstairs, participating in a sack race, and hanging with the kids in the classrooms. On Friday night, we had a youth event at church where Kelly and Chris (crap forgot the name) shared their testimonies. We had a good turnout, despite the rain and downpour that happened in the afternoon.

Saturday July 17: We get up early to have VBS at church, we play with the kids for a few hours and then, in the afternoon, go shopping. I get to hang out with Kelly, Kendra, Mark, and Conner, and show them some places in town. We share delicious cake and just hang out for a while. That night, we have church. I sing a song with Jill Bream, and then my head begins to hurt, my eyes itch, and it happens again. Every time I am near the church or near my school, my eyes itch and I get sick. I go home and Jd goes to a students birthday party.

Sunday July 18: We get up early, again, for another round of construction and VBS. After VBS, the Honduran girls play soccer against the Hillside girls. We lose. I informed the other Honduran girls that we will be practicing for a rematch. We will win, watch out. After, that, we hang out downtown, while some groups go to see the area near the church and some play basketball downtown. We eat dinner out with everyone, sharing in the Lord’s Supper. It was a good time. 

Monday July 19, Tuesday July 20: Jd and I have school, but in the morning Hillside visits some schools. In the evening, there is a men’s conference and a women’s conference. On Tuesday, we visit the school for street kids and hang with them. It is a good time, and I always enjoy visiting that school.

Wednesday July 21: In the morning, Hillside visits some schools, and in the afternoon, we go to the community of people who live in and near the trash dump. We take them food, clothes, and share the gospel. It is always a humbling experience to visit the trash dump. It never fails to make me sad and angry at the cycle of poverty, at sin, and at people who won’t help themselves do something better. Sometimes these people make me angry because they just want the handout, they don’t want to work, or attend church. Arturo has tried, people have tried. They just want the stuff. In the evening, it is the last night of the women’s conference. It is hot as hell as I work in the three year old room with Gabby, Dave, Chris, Alli and others. Gabby fans us with a piece of paper. When the evening ends, I say goodbye to my Hillside friends and go home to go to bed.

Thursday July 22: The hillside group goes home. We begin to miss them, but are glad to return to our regular schedule. It’s pretty crazy when groups are here. 

Thanks Hillside, for coming, for loving Danli, for loving Honduras. This place has been forever changed because of your work, and we are so grateful for it! See you next year!

It has been a while since we updated, and for the I apologize profusely. Hillside Community Church from Keller, TX arrived on Thursday, July 15, and left on Thursday, July 22. It was a whirlwind of a week. I will post a whole blog on that, and I know you will all be waiting with baited breath. 

This past week, Honduras celebrated the “Day of Lempira” or Indian Day. Lempira was an indian who fought against the Spanish settlement of Honduras. Because of his efforts, and his martyrdom, Honduras was able to retain many of it’s original traditions. The Honduran people are indebted to this historical figure, and he is renown in Honduras a their national hero. To celebrate this day, children all over Honduras dress as indians and traditional Hondurenos, and perform traditional dances, jokes, and songs at school. There is also an “Indian Bonita” and “Indian Bonito” at most schools, “Beautiful Indian”, where the children vote for their favorite of a few contestants. The children also bring traditional food to share with their classmates. One of the things I love most about Hondurans is how much they love their culture. They celebrate all things Honduras, all things Catracho, and they are so dang festive. It is such a sight to see!