October 08/yr. 3
in Honduras
Janet Alcántara

“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name; for you have done —Isaiah 25:1wonderful things!” 


Women of Faith and Political Involvement

Five daughters of Zelophehad

This month in the ICLH we held three regional workshops on «Women of Faith and Political Involvement» to prepare women to participate responsibly in decision-making in the upcoming annual Assembly in November. I traveled to the one in San Pedro Sula (upper photo) and participated as well in Tegucigalpa. Through the participative Bible studies I prepared, we learned from the five daughters of Zelophehad (left) techniques (like valuing diversity, organizing and working together, following through, modifying plans, etc.) for effective participation to cause lasting change.

A big chunk of this month went to developing materials for a staff training on report-writing, teaching the day-long workshop, and subsequently editing staff’s Quarterly Reports and individually helping them to rework their material according to the new guidelines. All part of Leadership Training!

It’s finally here! I searched fruitlessly for five months, but now God (with the generous donations of three ELCA churches) provided just what I was looking for--but far newer! Thanks be to God.

In faith and service in Christ—janet,

Suzuki 2003 Jimny God Provided

Deaconess Janet Russell Alcántara/Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras/ dcsjanet@hotmail.com

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RAIN
The rainy season started early this year and would usually have stopped--or at least be tapering off--by October; but this month we continue with daily rains of the blinding, fabled “tropical downpour” sort. All the extra moisture raises the humidity, making it seem hotter than the thermometer reading.

Worse, with our mountainous terrain, flooding in the valleys cuts off parts of the country from each other. (Eva, from La Ceiba, has been stranded in Tegus for a week as roads are flooded in Comayagua and El Progreso). We are worried about safely transporting delegates to our annual Assembly, November 7-9, on the north coast, since predictions are for continued tropical storms throughout November.

The sodden ground tips hillsides onto homes and roads, and homes down hillsides, leaving behind a rising number of dead, injured, and homeless. Farmers lament the loss of crops in underwater fields. Emergency measures prevail in much of the country.

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Broken ankle update:

Great news! I graduated mid-month from physio-therapy. I’m about 97% back to normal. I imagine it will take a full year or more to attain perfect flexibility. Swelling continues to be a concern, but I am now strong enough to manage the pre-injury workload.
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Janet Alcántara
Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras
Apdo. 2861, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, C.A.