Three Week Update

Wow. I have been in Helene for three weeks. It feels like I just arrived a couple of days ago.  My time so far has been very enjoyable but it has also been a lot of work. There are so many projects going on around the clinic. Some involve adding on to existing facilities but many are regular maintenance that are very labor intensive and require a lot of time. Many do not require skilled labor but just the manpower to do it. The amount of things that need maintenance around here amazes me. The heat and humidity really put a toll on the buildings.

In the past I have always felt like I am serving the most when I am talking to people about God or building relationships. But over the last few weeks my view of what serving really is, has grown.  I have been doing a lot more building projects then I thought I would be doing. By doing these time consuming tasks I have helped to enable other team Helene staff to work on the big projects, such as, Joe working on the battery bank. I have also assisted in those projects such as helping Joe hang the new inverter for the second battery bank and moving 12 batteries from temporary storage to the bank. While these activities may not require talking about God, they are helping to further His glory.

While I have been here I have realized that I involve God so much more in my daily life when I am here in Helene than I do at home. That is not the way it should be. I should involve God just as much at home as I am forced to do here. And there lays the key, NEED, when you are in a third world country life presents itself as much more uncertain then back in the states. We need God just as much in the States or Honduras, the key is letting him in our life wherever we are. Admitting our weaknesses at letting Christ be strong though them. Instead of us trying, and ultimately failing to help ourselves. God has offered us complete assistance, and left it up to us if we will take it. My goal for when I return home is to use that assistance and not try and do it on my own.

Being here on staff is much different than on a team. I think I am just starting to get used to that. I need to create opportunities for fellowship that were created for me when I was on a short term team. I have been hanging out a lot with Ewings and getting to know him. He is a really cool guy and you can see God's love pouring out through him. He constantly pushes against the overwhelming negative culture on the island and strives for Christ.

Everyday I see another way in which God blesses this island. I feel honored to be a part of His love pouring out through Alternative Missions.  The school is such a great example of His love.  These kids yearn for someone to love them and to teach them. And even though they can be very disruptive it is very evident that they really enjoy being there. Because of what God is doing though the clinic and what he is doing though people who donate their, time, money and materials these children have access to books, puzzles, games and people who love them.

Praise God,
Paul Frazier