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June 07
in Honduras
--Janet Alcántara
“…there were thunders and lightnings and thick cloud…” —Exodus 19:16
“I have…hidden you in the shadow of my hand.” —Isaiah 51: 16
CHANGING WEATHER. As the choking, dusty heat of Dry Season meets the cooler, wetter fronts of Rainy Season, we get impressive electrical storms. This month God answered prayer by holding back the weather. Daughter Keitlyn worried that flights for her long-weekend visit here would be grounded due to predicted thunderstorms…and that could make her miss exams at the U. of Washington. But God is kind, and despite forecasts, there were no storms until the night after she left.
In three of our Caribbean coast communities (Bonitillo, Búfalo, and Chacalapa), the tiny homes are too small to host meetings. Instead, we gather under a tree. In both Búfalo and Chacalapa, the sky darkened with rain while lightning, thunder and wind threatened to end our Bible studies and prayer. But God allowed us to finish. Later, one of the Chacalapa leaders approached me to find out how to put together a project proposal for constructing a simple roof to meet under. “Because now that it is rainy season,” he observed, “there will be times when it is raining when we need to meet.”
(Above) Búfalo's "sanctuary".
(Right) Church "building" in Chacalapa; should we name it "Tree of Life Lutheran?"
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"Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money-not even an extra tunic .."—Luke 9:3
CARGO. How lightly the early disciples traveled! Unlike them, I go forth heavily laden. Check the list on the right to see what I pack and carry each time I am out on the road.
In faith and service in Christ, --janet
Deaconess Janet Russell Alcántara/Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras/ dcsjanet@hotmail.com
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Ambiance
When I travel, an oversized market bag carries--in addition to a pillow and bedding--teaching and worship materials: paper, pens, markers, tape, teaching notes, papers to hand out, Bibles, a Libro de Liturgia y Cántico, a candle and matches, a parament for the altar, a stole, and communion wine. Sometimes song books. Because of all the books and papers, the bag weighs a ton and seems to gain weight the further I have to walk! Now with cold weather in the mountains, I have to add, somehow, a sleeping bag… Had I room, I’d take my guitar and alb, too.
The backpack compresses two skirts, clean tops and undies for each day out (apparently in Jesus’ day, smelling sweaty did not repel folks…), toiletries, a light towel, sleeping clothes, mini-flashlight, cell phone charger, portable reading light, a couple of books (including crossword puzzles), insect repellant, and water.
My shoulder bag must carry the wallet with travel funds and receipt book (every Lempira must be accounted for, to the chagrin of taxi and bus drivers) and pen; my personal wallet, agenda, cell phone, CD player and collection of CDs (for the long hours on the buses) and earbuds; sun glasses, sun hat, tissues, lip balm, nail clipper for broken nails, and…more water.
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Feel free to write. Email responses are quicker.
Regular mail takes 2-4 weeks.
Janet Alcántara,
I.C.L.H., Apartado. 2861,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, C.A.
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