June 15, 2010 In My Spare Time (what a joke) I Am Designing Skirts and Shirts From Recycled Fabrics

In my spare time, which I really don't have much of, I stay busy doing the things I love to do. Baking, studying my Bible, writing (I am on my 3rd book but still waiting for the 1st one to be published), crafts and playing with fabrics are my favorite things to do. Some day when I have my dream secretary/accountant then I will have more time. Somewhere out there the Lord has someone who can keep my books and do my paperwork where I can do what I love most, teach the Word, work with my hands and help people.


Both of the skirts below were made from old pairs of blue jeans and new and old fabrics. They look much better on a person than just hanging on a hanger. I will try to get a model and post some better photos later.


I have this huge pile of fabrics, well to tell the truth it is a huge pile of used clothes with holes in them or stains on them which I have purchased at "bundle stores" here in Honduras. Every once in a while I pull them out, match up a few fabrics and play. I work around the holes and the stains and I always look for wonderful textures, laces and shiny fabrics....

I add sequins, which are hard to see in the photos.  I add beads... paint... old earrings...pieces of jewelry...



I am considering selling them at Valle de Angeles the local handicraft spot in Honduras.  So far I have been giving them away.


I am also mulling over the concept of making napkins and tablecloths.  I love pretty shiny things!

June 13, 2010 Wheelchair Giveaways

We found her laying in her bed...
Family members lifted her into her new wheelchair...
She was happy to have her new wheels!

Thank you to Free Wheelchair Mission and to the Michael Martin family for their donation which helped me pay for gas to get these wheelchairs to people who desperately needed them. Thank you also to Jose Benavides and to SEPUDO for helping put the chairs together.

June 12, 2010 Cubulero, Alianza, Valle Cornmeal Giveaway After Flooding

The flood waters raged through Cubulero, Alianza knocking down houses, fences, washing away cows, people, cmtaries, etc.  You can see here that the water covered the upper fence line.

On the left you see what looks like a really wide ladder.  That is part of the roof of this house.  The adobe washed away and the roof collapsed, the tiles slid down and this is how the house looks a week later.

This man is moving a microwave...  we gave him a sack of corn meal.  

The microwave looks flooded and dead to me.

See how far up the fence line the dirt and leaves are?

Everything outside trying to dry it out.

The water rushed through here with such force, it washed the adobe out from between the wood.  

Now they have a see through house.  We also gave them some cornmeal.

The roof stayed on but the walls became see through.

This is a path which goes down to the river.  As the water receded, it took trash with it.

Chepe, Jose Benavides, giving away cornmeal.

These people were on lower ground and their adobe was washed away clear up to their ceiling.

Repairing the house, first the rocks go in and then it is covered with mud.

Not sure I would want to sleep on this after it flooded, but some people have no choice.

Jose Benavides giving away more cornmeal.  Thank you to Ernie and Robin Breaux for the donation where we could help others.

This entire house crumbled.

All the local ladies showed up for some cornmeal.  Today we gave away 2,000 pounds in the flood area.

June 10, 2010 Jose's Graduation From Law School

Jose is sworn in as an attorney and takes his oath.

Jose had two witnesses to watch his swearing in... One of which was Benjamin Valledares photo left.



















Jose Benavides, left.. Teresa Searcy center and attorney and family member, Juan Angel Benavides on the right.






Jose and 5 of his classmates, all attorneys.

Jose all dressed up in his toga and ready to face the world as a first class attorney. It has been a long road which started in the fall of 1999. Jose was a COBRA police special forces guy who had only completed 9 years of school. I convinced him to return to school and he finished high school in night classes. Then he entered Law School at Jose Cecilio de Valle University in Tegucigalpa while still a COBRA. The first year he fell asleep in classes after working for 24 hours and then going to class, but he worked hard and he made it through. Congratulations Chepe!

June 8, 2010 Wheelchair Giveaway Made It Into The Newspaper

June 6, 2010 Amor Viviente Church In Danli and What Happens To Donated Toys

When people donate toys they many times have NO IDEA where they go and what happens to them. This is just one example of used donated toys which were collected by Gloria and Dale Leiniger. This is the children's after school room at the church in Danli, where they have 315 very poor children attend classes AFTER school.

If you or your Sunday School Class, Girl Scout Group, Rotary Club Group or any other group have an interest in gathering toys and shoes and children's clothing... PLEASE CONTACT ME.

June 5, 2010 Wheelchair Giveaway in Danli Amor Viviente Church

June 3, 2010 Jose Benavides Sworn In As An Attorney

In 1998 this skinny COBRA was assigned to me to pass out food to hurricane victims after Hurricane Mitch.  This is him in his repelling gear.  He has just jumped off a 4 story building and hasn't even broken a sweat.  

He saved my life and became like family.  But he only had a 9th grade education... So I put him in night classes in high school and he finished and then I asked if he wanted to get a University Degree and he said, "Yes!"  So I put him in university and now....

He has a law degree and today he was sworn in as an attorney...

He has gained a few pounds...

But doesn't he look nice in his suit?

Now he can practice law...

I am proud of you Jose Beltran Benavides Bonilla!  You did good!

Jose with a friend after the ceremony.

These are the kinds of things which make it worth it to be a missionary.  

Results!

Good results!

People's lives changed and for the better.