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Newsletters & Stories / Reports
November 2009 Newsletter
Winter 2009-2010 Newsletter
October 2009 Monthly Report
September 2009 Monthly Report
Our Fall 2009 Newsletter
Our Summer 2009 Newsletter
Quarterly Report on Little Hands, Big Hearts (Fall 2008)
As our leaves fall and charge color in the U.S., we know winter is not far behind. Likewise, in Honduras when we celebrate El dia del Niño (the Day of the Child) we know that the year is nearing an end. We wish to thank and acknowledge the support of all of our churches, families and individuals who support this ministry as monthly ministry partners. The faithful support of these people keep us operating and serving God and His people in Honduras. Because of the consistent support of these ministry partners we have been able to accomplish much this year. Let us use this report to provide you with information so that you might see how your support is needed and used in Trujillo.
On September 11 we celebrated El dia del Niño at the Family Development Center in Trujillo. More than 100 children and families gathered with us to honor our children. We celebrated with games, piñatas, cake, and little gift bags filled with candy, small toys, bandaids, and other useful things. Many of the children who attended participate in our twice a week neighborhood children’s Bible Hour class held on the patio at the FDC. Now many other children and families have been exposed to Jesus’ love! Speaking of children, let us give you the latest word we have on a couple of our children – Alexandra and baby Carlos. Alexandra was not a child served by LH but needed medical attention for tumors she had all over her body. Our missionaries, Brian and Sara Bilodeau, reached out in love to this needy family. God’s hand was at work in getting the right people together at the right time. While standing in line to clear immigration, Brian met a man who turned out to be a surgeon named Dr. Jeff. It turned out that Dr. Jeff was coming into Honduras to work with a medical team at the children’s hospital in San Pedro Sula. Things worked out and Brian took Alexandra and her mother, Sandra, to the hospital in our new truck (more about that later) and checked them into the Ronald McDonald House. The surgery was performed a couple of days later and the largest tumor in her armpit was removed. Several smaller ones on her arm and fingers will be dealt with later. Pray that the Lord will continue to heal Alexandra and this ordeal will be a testimony of God’s love for her parents, Sandra and Selvin.
Please visit the Bilodeau’s blog at www.bilodeaufamily.blogspot.com to keep up with a number of happenings in Honduras, but one that many have followed is that of "baby Carlos". Baby Carlos and his 15 year-old mother were brought to the FDC for help with a medical condition later diagnosed as pyloric stenosis. The stomach becomes distended with lots of air and the child is constantly hungry and tired from throwing up and crying all of the time. Carlos was very near death before he got the help needed with assistance from LHBH for an ambulance ride to San Pedro Sula where he had the urgent surgery. A number of us met Carlos in June and he already was showing signs of improvement. Now, reports say that he has gained weight daily and his coloring and disposition are much improved. Carlos’ mother and father are very grateful for LHBH and the help we could provide at a time of desperate need. Our prayer is that baby Carlos will continue to grow and that the Lord will use this opportunity to help others like his parents know Jesus.
We wish to thank the Ezell Foundation of Nashville, Tennessee and Bob and Bobi Spence of Eprhata, WA for their persistent help in gathering funds to purchase a much-needed new truck for LHBH. For several years we have sought a good used diesel 4x4 truck with a double cab and air conditioning to use in taking mothers and their children to the hospital in San Pedro Sula, a 6-hour one way trip. Dozens of others have joined in this campaign over the years. Already this truck has proven to be a blessing in the life and work of this mission.
Progress on the perimeter wall around the Family Development Center has been slow but steady as phase III continues. Large drive-through and passageway gates have been ordered and are being made in Trujillo. Supports on both sides of the gates have been built and a track laid for the large rolling gate. The footings for the 180 foot length of the driveway have been poured and blocks are being laid. Our goal is to get the gates hung and blocks laid four high down the driveway before the rainy season begins in November. We thank the Simi Valley Church (CA) and Bob & Bobi Spence of Ephrata, WA for their contributions toward the perimeter wall. Also, it was decided that $1,000 of the proceeds from the benefit auction held at the Summit View Church would go toward the wall.
Our daughter, Amber Figueroa and her two sons spent three weeks on vacation in Trujillo. She is a family physician who has a heart for Hondurans. She worked with our missionaries, Sara and Alissa, in conducting medical clinics in four barrios – Cristales, Jericó at the FDC, at the health center in Guadalupe Carney, and at the Misión del Caribe church in Honduras Aguan. She saw hundreds of patients in 4 days and distributed lots of medicine to the needy. In addition to examining needy people in the barrios, she checked on the conditions of numerous children served by Little Hands, among them Josué and Samuel who we’ve been so concerned about. We thank Amber for this "workation" where she gave so freely of her time and medical skills. Upon returning to Honduras after a 10-day stay back in New Hampshire, our missionaries, Brian and Sara, asked their four children "what they thought about their time at home and living in Honduras?" They said they had to fight back tears as their children each responded. A few weeks earlier they had feared that their children were getting short-changed and might feel bitter and angry that they were dragged to Honduras. Now each of them shared how much "they missed Honduras". Even little Andrew said when opening up the truck door into the hot and humid heat, "now that feels like Honduras!" Sara said that they talked about their huge house in the States compared to the three rooms they share in Trujillo. Jonathan remarked, "I like to be all cramped!" The kids told about how they have to be each others best friends here, and they liked that too. All we can add, Brian and Sara…..you are great servants of God and your children will be better off for your time and experiences in Honduras. God has blessed others through you and your children!
We are in the final stages of making a 7-minute video that "tells the Little Hands story" and almost ready to print our first color brochure which describes the mission. These two projects have been launched by the LHBH Foundation in an effort to allow more people to understand the purpose for the Little Hands mission in Honduras. If you would like to schedule a time for us to visit you, your family, or your church in 2009, now is the time to let us know. We’d love to share these new visual aids with old friends and introduce new friends to this life-changing ministry.
In closing, we wish to thank those generous donors who responded to two recent requests to help meet exceptional medical needs for Samuel and Josué and to help meet the Alissa’s living expenses in Trujillo for the next three months. Once again, God has blessed this ministry, the children and families it serves, its missionaries, and its benefactors. Thank you for your partnership in this mission of mercy and love. Blessed to be His servants,
Mark and Brenda Young, Founders
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