April Update

HELENE HAPPENINGS

April 2006

SEMANA SANTA

Sunrise Easter Services haven't really inspired me much in the past--until I came to Helene. Now a Sunrise Service is the highlight of my year here.

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, begins with Palm Sunday, on which many of the people come to church bearing palm branches to commemorate Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The drama of the events of the life of Jesus build up to Maundy Thursday, when Jesus met with disciples and instituted the Last Supper, and then to Good Friday, that fateful day when He was crucified in my place; and finally, to Easter, or Resurrection Day, when He rose again from the grave, defeating death once and for all.

Good Friday is traditionally the biggest holiday of the year in the Bay Islands. Here on Helene, everyone goes to the beach on the Northside for barbecue (since coming to Helene, I have learned that "barbecue" is a noun, not a verb!), "bathing in the sea," and--unfortunately--drinking. What starts out to be a family day often erupts into senseless fighting.

But this year was different. For the past few years, the Church of God on the Northside has started Good Friday with a prayer meeting, asking God for safety on that day. And each year has become increasingly more peaceful. This year's Good Friday was noted for the children playing on beach toys in the surf, and for families visiting back and forth as they ate together on the beach. God truly hears prayers!

The Sunrise Service on the municipal dock was a time of rejoicing as we stood facing the east, watching the sun rise up out of the sea, this year lining the clouds with silver. Such an experience gives new meaning to, "The Son is risen--He is risen indeed!" Whereas only a handful of women, reminiscent of the women at the cross, usually are on hand for the sunrise celebration, this year many more were present, as well as many of the children who stood in awe to watch the beauty. And Dina and Heslo, in true island fashion, pulled up in their dory alongside the dock just in time for Helso to pull out his guitar and lead us in psalms of praise as the sun rose.

No matter where I am on subsequent Easters, the impact of Semana Santa has left its mark on my heart. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

COMING HOME

On Saturday, April 29, I am flying out of Roatan for Seattle, arriving at 11:15 p.m . that night. I plan to be in the area until June 10, visiting friends and family, taking care of business details, and telling the story
of Helene whenever and wherever I can. I am looking to be able to take every opportunity to tell as many people as I can about the great work God is doing in this little insignificant (to us, but not to Him!) corner of the world.

March Update

HELENE HAPPENINGS

March 2006

 

Spring has come to Helene, and the rainy season has passed.  We have been blessed with cooler weather than usual.  I just took my blanket off my bed and am sleeping under a sheet; usually the blanket goes before January is over.

 

I miss the tulips and the daffodils of spring in Washington, but we have a profusion of hibiscus, billy-goats (rather like our phlox), and ten-o'clocks (a bachelor-buttonlike plant that blossoms early in the day, then closes up as it gets hotter in the afternoon).

 

Not only is the island coming alive with color, but the churches are coming alive.  Read on:

 

REVIVAL!

 

God is at work in the Methodist Church next door to the clinic. Brother Labor, a circuit preacher who comes to Helene once a month, visited recently and preached one Sunday evening.  When he gave the invitation at the end of his message to respond to Christ, fourteen young people came forward. 

 

But this is not a one-time thing.  A few months back, Shorlyn Bodden came back to Helene from the Caymanns where she had been working, and distinctly felt the need to work in the Sunday School.  What had a few children of the faithful coming every
Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. now mushroomed into a church filled with exuberant kids excited to come and learn how to celebrate God's goodness.  Shorlyn has also taken leadership of the youth group which meets on Tuesday and Friday nights, and, along with Daniel Belcares who supplies music at the keyboard, encourages the young people of the island to "rejoice in the Lord."

 

This Saturday afternoon, three of our Helene Team members are starting a Bible study with some of the youth who have indicated a desire to grow up in their faith.

 

From all evidence, the church of tomorrow in Helene is alive and well.

 

DENTAL CLINIC    

 

Prospects for the dental clinic for this year look good.  Dr. Perry, a dentist from Pennsylvania who has a house in Helene, has just finished two months here on the island in which he has opened the dental clinic every Thursday for the people of Helene to get care.  His wife, Kay, a dental hygienist, was here for the month of February, cleaning teeth and instructing the people in good dental care.

 

We have another dentist, Dr. Tim from Tucson, coming in with a team early in April.  Dr. Tim has been to Helene several times, and the people always look forward to his visits.  Then, later in April, a dental hygienist, Phaedra Alton, will open the clinic for cleanings and other treatment.

 

During this time, Marjie Rich, a young island woman, has been training to assist and to clean teeth.  We have arranged our schedule for Marjie to come to clean teeth one day a week starting in April.  This will expedite the dentists' treatment of patients, since their teeth will already be cleaned, as well as enhancing the dental health of the island.

 

An interesting side-note is that Marjie has started "college" (secondary school) that has opened on the island for the first time, and was in need of money for tuition.  Working at the dental clinic will supply funds for her to attend.

 

 

GUANAJA

 

Larry Benson and Joe Morris have just returned from a fact-finding tour of Guanaja, the island sixteen miles east of Helene.  We have been offered property that is being vacated by another mission group, and the purpose of the trip was to assess the feasibility of using this tract for ministry there.  Two islanders, Bobby Dilbert and Willis Gordon, accompanied Larry and Joe from Team Helene, and were invaluable in bridging the language gap (many Guanajans speak Spanish) as well as operating as tour guides.

 

The needs of the main island of Guanaja (the majority of the islanders live on Low Key, off the main island) are for medical and dental care, which would give an inroad to share the Gospel.  We are currently evaluating what resources are needed to put such a clinic in place--finances, logistics, and personnel.

 

We sense "a great door for effective work" has opened to us.  We need to determine now when to walk through that door, and what and who to take with us.

 

 

Thank you for your interest in Helene.  We are privileged to represent the Body of Christ here, and are so encouraged by your concern for our island and our people.

 

As the proverb says, "Alone, I can go fast; together, we can go far."

 

Let's go for the distance!

 

Marjie Thompson, RN

Helene Clinic

Roatan, Honduras, C. A.