Helene is surprisingly dynamic
Twelve months ago, I was in Helene. On my return this week, I expected very little to change in this sleepy unknown island. I was wrong. Helene is surprisingly dynamic. Some examples of recent changes....
The Methodists Church has added a new building as large as their church. They use it for church camps and conferences. Daniel, has Youth Night twice a week. There are over thirty islanders in attendance. It is wonderful to hear the praise songs coming from that new building.
Helene is increasing bi lingual. In a Sunday night service, the song leader, Tanya, switched from English to Spanish when two Honduran man entered the church. It seems in comparison to last year that our island guides speak more Spanish to their Honduran friends as we pass them on the trail.
There are more new houses and sheds on Helene than I expected. Albert, one of our island guides was telling me that he is building a concrete brick house. He knows five other families that are rebuilding with concrete.
Classroom Two is no longer piers and a newly built floor. It is an active classroom for 21 students in fourth though six grades. I volunteered to assist there for three afternoons. We studied math, spelling, reading skills, and Bible knowledge. My favorite part of the afternoon was the students singing along to Christian CDs as they worked on a Bible Time line project. Blessings to everyone who helped make Classroom Two a reality.
A nearby island recently installed a cell tower. Helene now has cell phone reception. Everyone here is buying a new cell phone. Even, Teddy and Willis have them. Even out here, there are those annoying ring tones!
Earlier this week, I saw surveyors from the mainland making surveyors marks and maps of the island. There is talk of investors wanting to purchase parcels of land. Very big changes are ahead for Helene in the next few years.
We visited John Bowman at his shanty by the sea in Seco. He is dying. He is being carefully monitored by the staff of the Clinic. He was smiling and glowing with praise as he talked about his vision for Clean Sweep and his walk with Christ. He has been receiving a lot of love back from those villages that he has been sweeping the past three years. We went to encourage him and we ended up being the ones blessed by John. John is a testimonial what one man can do with a God vision and a broom. Please continue to pray for John, his wife, and his two young children
OK? Alright!
posted by Scott in Helene, July 8, 2006
The Methodists Church has added a new building as large as their church. They use it for church camps and conferences. Daniel, has Youth Night twice a week. There are over thirty islanders in attendance. It is wonderful to hear the praise songs coming from that new building.
Helene is increasing bi lingual. In a Sunday night service, the song leader, Tanya, switched from English to Spanish when two Honduran man entered the church. It seems in comparison to last year that our island guides speak more Spanish to their Honduran friends as we pass them on the trail.
There are more new houses and sheds on Helene than I expected. Albert, one of our island guides was telling me that he is building a concrete brick house. He knows five other families that are rebuilding with concrete.
Classroom Two is no longer piers and a newly built floor. It is an active classroom for 21 students in fourth though six grades. I volunteered to assist there for three afternoons. We studied math, spelling, reading skills, and Bible knowledge. My favorite part of the afternoon was the students singing along to Christian CDs as they worked on a Bible Time line project. Blessings to everyone who helped make Classroom Two a reality.
A nearby island recently installed a cell tower. Helene now has cell phone reception. Everyone here is buying a new cell phone. Even, Teddy and Willis have them. Even out here, there are those annoying ring tones!
Earlier this week, I saw surveyors from the mainland making surveyors marks and maps of the island. There is talk of investors wanting to purchase parcels of land. Very big changes are ahead for Helene in the next few years.
We visited John Bowman at his shanty by the sea in Seco. He is dying. He is being carefully monitored by the staff of the Clinic. He was smiling and glowing with praise as he talked about his vision for Clean Sweep and his walk with Christ. He has been receiving a lot of love back from those villages that he has been sweeping the past three years. We went to encourage him and we ended up being the ones blessed by John. John is a testimonial what one man can do with a God vision and a broom. Please continue to pray for John, his wife, and his two young children
OK? Alright!
posted by Scott in Helene, July 8, 2006
posted by Friends of Helene @ 1:03 PM
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home