In El Salvador

October 27, 2009

So here I am in El Salvador, exploring what life might be like here in this country. I have been visiting in particular a ministry called "La Casa de Mi Padre" (My Father´s House). It works with children who have been pulled from their homes by the government for various family situations. But not only does it give a home and therapy to the children, it also works with the parents to restore a relationship there and equip them so that there children can return to live with them. I have been very impressed thus far by what I have seen. They seem to do a great job in restoring the lives of the children. And so I am praying about whether I might be able to work with them for about a year and learn from how they do things. Yesterday I went with the missionary, Kathryn, to a home about an hour outside of the city. Habitat for Humanity had constructed a house for the mother there and she has been learning how to read and write as well as basic life skills.

Tomorrow I will visit another ministry in the mountains of El Salvador in a community that is dark because of spiritual oppression. After talking with the LAM ministries director who is also here, I think that La Casa de Mi Padre would be a much better fit than the this place I will go tomorrow. But we will see what the Lord wants to teach me through the experience and how he wants to work through me. Today I also visited a Christian deaf school. That is another language that I should learn. It seems as if everywhere I go I am seeing efforts to work with children and their parents and I think that this is so important. To help one without the other is incomplete and when the two come together again, much will be lost of what was taught or previously gained.

I am staying with an El Salvadorian family. The couple have 4 children who all attend a German Christian school so they are trilingual (more or less). The mother is a massage therapist so I may have to give in and get a massage for once in my life. She went to Mongolia last year with a missions team and so she has a worship CD in Mongol (or however you call the language). I am listening to it in hopes of picking up a few Mongolian words.

This morning I went on a short run in the neighborhood I am staying in -- a neighborhood that during the war was occupied by the military. Having been mostly sedintary for 3 days, it was good to get out again. In reality though I think that running will be even more difficult here than in San Pedro. The driving is more difficult too since San Salvador is such a large ctiy. I will wait and see what the Lord says to me as I wrap up this trip.

The Grace of God

October 23, 2009

The days fly by! This morning I experienced my first rain shower here but it was nothing like the real rainy days. Last night there was a near disaster here in the apartment when little Lisbeth pulled a bowl of hot soup off of the table and down over herself. Thankfully her burns were not bad but it was a scare for all of us. I am seeing God's hand of protection over myself and many others in these days.

Yesterday I received news that causes my heart to grieve. In Honduras there are a large number of “maquilas” or factories which are owned by persons from other countries. For example Hanes is here and many others. At this point the maquilas are waiting to see what happens with the governmental situation and if things do not improve and Honduras does not have the support of the international community, they will leave. And that would mean the loss of 100’s of 1000’s of jobs here in Honduras. In a country that is already struggling economically, I do not know how the people would survive. I pray that the maquilas do not pull out and create a huge vacuum.

Last night I had another near disaster when I almost swallowed perfume instead of mouthwash in the middle of the night when I skipped turning on the light. Thankfully the smell alerted me to my mistake before I committed to the swallow.

On another note, I would ask for prayer because my heart is heavy at the moment with the pain those around me are experiencing. I am in need of wisdom to know how to respond to several situations. Tomorrow I fly to Panama where I spend one night and then go on to El Salvador. I will probably try to a little sightseeing there but I may discover that more important is some solo time since I will not have much of that in these coming weeks. I am praying that my time in El Salvador will give me insight into further possibilities for the future and how I can learn the skills that I need to work with young children and single moms.

Honduras Again

October 21, 2009

So I am here in Honduras. I arrived yesterday with no problems in the travel. I arrived quite tired because of little sleep the night before due mostly to the early morning departure. Today Evelin, Lisbeth, and I came out to camp. I was able to hold one of the new babies, José, and visit with a couple of the others on camp. We will have some brownies a little later for one of the children’s birthdays, but right now I am trying to get on-line and it is not working. I can tell that internet communication could be a problem for a while. And the problem is that there are several things that I need to respond to and figure out.

I also have a long list of people to call and re-connect with. I am realizing that I do not have all that many days here and I am not sure when I can get together with everyone, pack, and move out of the apartment. It has been good to chat some with Evelin and to see Lisbeth. At first Lisbeth seemed angry with me (which makes sense – I disappeared for nearly 3 months) but she quickly warmed up to me.

Well, considering the rather monumental task ahead of me, I think this is all for the moment. I will see about finding an internet connection and also organizing the Outdoor Education supplies here at camp.

(Yeah, I obviously connected to the internet and at least part one of my connection without Outlook is working which makes life much easier. I will work on part two later)

Travels Through North Carolina

October 15, 2009

Today is my final full day in North Carolina. It has been a good trip with various adventures. Getting to NC was the hardest part because I had to contend with Friday afternoon traffic between DC and Fredricksburg. Since I was driving a standard vehicle I did not feel like sitting in stop and go traffic for several hours on the freeway. I, therefore, decided to take some other roads which were of course way out of the way and I arrived at my destination late. I would have been better off finding a place to sit for a couple of hours until rush hour passed and then continued on my way.

Rain has been the constant of the past week with only a few days of sun. But during the sunshine I had some opportunities to hike with friends and the other days I visited with friends indoors or exploring various parts of the towns across the state. I have enjoyed reconnecting with friends and seeing a bit of their lives. Saturday evening I was able to attend a church service in Spanish and meet some Hondurans who live here in North Carolina.

Monday evening was an adventure since I ended up square dancing with a group of 55 plus. I enjoyed the chatting with the people more than making a fool of myself square dancing, but it was a good evening. Wednesday I got to see a bit of downtown Salem and also play with my friend's nephew. I have spent a lot of time on the road and tomorrow is the big day of travel from Asheville to Harrisburg. I am excited though because after reaching Harrisburg I will head north to a cabin with my family. And there I expect to see snow, possibly up to 10 inches. I would love it! And being October it is so exciting. We will see what actually happens though.

Then on Monday I head to DC before my flight out to Honduras on Tuesday. Lots and lots of travels.

A Lovely Day

October 7, 2009

What a beautiful day! I had spent the last few days down at Black Rock Retreat helping to hostess an Exploritas (formerly Elderhostel) group. While they were in lectures, I was usually working on my computer or doing homework for a class that I am taking. yesteday I accompanied them on their field trips and saw several familiar faces from when I had helped with that program over 8 years ago.

This morning I stole away from inside the retreat center to sit for a few minutes outside at a picnic table. I loved the scene that great me. The wind tore through the trees, sending leaves in a spiral dance towards the ground below. Acorns plummeted downward and I feared that perhaps one would find my head as its stopping place, but thankfully none came down on me. As I sat there with God, I found myself wanting to shout out, "Jesus I love you!" Somehow the wind swirling around me, spoke to me of God's presence. Even as I am back in Millersville this evening, I find myself wanting to take a late evening stroll in the wind. I have too long of a list of things to do to actually do so though. Friday I head out for a week visiting people in North Carolina and so I have much to do before that time. And the following week I leave for a few weeks in Honduras and Central America which means even more packing and preparation.

The other beautiful part of today was when I stopped by my sister's house for a few minutes and held my nephew Jack. It seemed as if he had grown a ton in just 3 days. Much to my delight he smiled at me for the first time -- intentionally. He is finally beginning to focus on people and not just some unknown spot on the wall. So cute! I suppose that I should post a picture soon.

And that was my lovely day. I have much to be thankful for.

When Honduras Comes to New Danville

September 24, 2009

Today I had a very fun surprise. My aunt called me this morning to inform me that a group from a school in San Pedro Sula, Honduras would be sharing in chapel (at New Danville Mennoite School) in just a few hours. My schedule was open so I quickly decided to go, especially because I hoped to see a teacher or the director who I had met from the school back in June. When I walked into the chapel area, I saw the group milling around on the stage. And immediately my eyes fell on a student who I knew. He had participated in a work team at Manantial de Vida, summer 2008. He saw me too and so we began chatting in Spanish which was fun. I stayed for the chapel in which the Honduran school shared songs in Spanish. I enjoyed singing one of my favorite praise songs in Spanish, "Eres Todopoderoso". It is also the song that little Lisbeth loves to worship with.

This evening I met up with a Hispanic woman in Lancaster and another girl and we went into a neighborhood downtown to share with some children. Most of the children were not around but we prayed with two young children and shared the story of Joseph. The woman took the opportunity though to pray and share with several young adults milling around the area. I was touched as she shared her testimony and how God had brought redemption to her life. Her story was one that the young people could relate too because she had been in their shoes. It hit home with one young man who had just been released from prison. It was exciting to see the timing of the encounter and the woman's boldness in sharing Christ with any and every person she saw. She was ready to pray with each one, even from the car as they walked past. I hope that I can visit the city again with her and join in ministry to those in Lancaster.

Still Following the Footprints

September 22, 2009

Here I sit in Lancaster, PA while chaos errupts again in Honduras. Eversince Zelaya, the former Honduran president (who was removed from power the end of June) managed to sneak back into the country and make an appearance from the Brasilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa yesterday, things have gotten ugly again. His supporters were celebrating while others were protesting Zelaya's return. The new government is asking the embassy to turn Zelaya over to them so that he can be arrested and tried. Meanwhile there has been an almost 24 hour curfew in effect in Honduras. From what I understand it is in all of the country and has only been lifted on one of the islands where tourism abounds. I must say that it is much more comfortable being here in PA than closed in an apartment waiting to see what happens. But my heart goes out to my friends there who can do nothing but wait ... and pray (the latter of which is definitely not "nothing").


I find myself marveling at how God's hand seems to be directing my steps and the timing of events, even though I cannot see it at the time. For a long while I was considering flying back to Honduras on September 20 to do some exploring of ministries with a couple and to participate in a missionary retreat. I kept waiting for direction from the Lord as to whether I should go or not and heard nothing. As the days passed, I let go of the idea of traveling over this time and figured that unless He made it very clear that now was the time to travel, I would keep waiting. And today as I consider what is happening again in Honduras, I am glad that I am waiting. I almost get chills down my back when I think of how many times God has orchestrated such timing in my life these past 2 months. I guess that I just wish I was more aware of how He is directing me each moment instead of just after the fact. Even so I am very thankful that He is at work and that I can see His hand.

Footprints through the Sea

September 18, 2009

As this week comes to a close, I am encouraged by the way I have seen God at work. I have continued to visit various ministries here in Lancaster County and find it exciting to see so many people with a desire to serve God. My latest visit was to House of His Creation in Lititz, a ministry to teenage mothers and their young children. The program director and I actually went to college together for a few years and shared the same double major. I found it interesting how the Lord has brought us both around to a place that is not quite in the field that we studied. It is related, but more on the social work side. Not that I am actually in that field yet, but the pull continues to be there. The more I meet with people and interact with young children, the more I want to love them and make a difference in their life. I find myself still waiting though – waiting for the pieces to come together revealing what God is doing in my life. If my life was a jigsaw puzzle, I am not sure if the edge pieces would be in place or not. I will have to think on that analogy more.

Anyway in my waiting, I have been excited to see how in the seemingly little things and decisions on when to visit different people or organizations and when to stay home, I have chosen well. Although I never specifically heard the Lord telling me to stick around Lancaster for the day, I stayed put and later on it became clear that I was supposed to be here. It reminds me of a verse I read this morning from Psalm 77 speaking of the Lord’s hand in the lives of the Israelites. “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.” (vs. 19) I want to continue to be in tune with His Spirit so that I know where to be when.

It Was Not Just Me

September 12, 2009

I am back in Lancaster after almost a week of traveling. As it turns out, there was indeed a problem with the car and it was not my fault. On Wednesday morning when I tried to start the car it would not start and this time I decided it needed fixed. Thankfully I got a ride to the college and from there was able to walk and visit friends and professors.

Being back in Houghton was good but caused me to do some reflecting. It was interesting walking the campus and seeing how the students looked so much younger than I felt that I was 10 years ago. I was able to do a few of my favorite runs which was fun. I also spent a lot time re-connecting with professors, especially those in the psychology department. I found myself having lots of questions for them as I think about the area of counseling and just where God might be direcing me. I left Houghton with lots of "homework" or research to do and have been attempting to find my way through it all.

The past few days in Lancaster can be summed up with one word - RAIN. I feel as if I am back in Honduras. I enjoy the rain for a while but I am hoping for some sunshine tomorrow. It looks as if I will be in this area next week and not traveling again until ... who knows when? I wish that I could plan ahead farther but I am always waiting on unknown details and in the end trips seem to come about last minute. I am still praying about what will be the best time for returning to Honduras to close my apartment. Vamos a ver.

Maybe It Is Me

September 7, 2009
I am beginning to think that maybe the car problems have to do with me and not the cars themselves. For my journey to Pittsburg, Ohio, and Houghton I decided to drive my parent’s mustang because it should be more reliable than my sister’s Honda that has nearly 250,000 miles on it. Well, this morning I went out to start the car and head over to Houghton and much to my surprise, the car would not turn on and stay on. After conversation with my dad and he with a Ford dealer it sounds as if the problem is probably an air idle valve or something of the sort. And so here I am sitting on the front porch of my friend’s house waiting for a mechanic to come by. Perhaps my Thursday departure from here will not happen after all. It is sad to be so close to Houghton and yet so far away. Hopefully I will get there within the hour and begin connecting again with professors. I am glad that from where I am sitting here on the porch I can see a tall, stately maple tree that is beginning to change color. I saw a few such trees on my drive from Sandusky, Ohio to western NY yesterday.

Usually when I travel I try to move quickly from point A to point B but on this trip I have been taking my time. Last night I got a bit lost as I tried to find the highway in Olean to then get to Belfast. It has been over 10 years since I traversed Olean during my college days. In the end I found my way, though it was the longer way.

**Well, the mechanic came and of course the car started with no problem. I give up on cars!

On Lake Erie

My time in Ohio was spent with friends on Lake Erie. It was a relaxing and fun time as we sat on the shore of the lake, speeded through the waters on jet skies, or rode the waters on water skies. My friend’s three boys are adorable, especially the youngest with his blue eyes and blond curls. On Sunday we were sitting on the boat waiting for our “pilot” so that we could take off. Little Simon, who is 2 years old, was standing on the back of the boat with his little life jacket. His dad was beside him but he was holding the 5 year old and I was on the seat just behind Simon. All of a sudden Simon stumbled and began a headlong tumble towards the shallow waters. I had been alert in case such a stumble might occur and so I dove for him and thanks to his life jacket, was able to grab hold of him. He came up unharmed and dry, but scared. I am glad that I play sports where I have to work on my reaction time and have spent much of my life spotting which also is a moment when you have to be alert and ready for a fall.

Simon was not too scarred by the experience because he had no qualms about heading out on the waters when his uncle arrived to drive the boat. I enjoyed the opportunity to ski again and tried to take some risk and try new things such as going over the wakes. Too often I get content in what I am able to do without much effort and hesitate to take risks. I know that in my life beyond water skiing, God wants to teach me lessons in that area.

On the Road Again

September 4, 2009

In a few minutes I will hit the road again and begin travels to Pittsburgh, Ohio, and then up to Houghton. It should be a good time of connecting with friends but lots of miles put in. I am hoping that the Labor Day traffic is not too bad. I do not have time to write much, but I wanted to mention that my sister and nephew are out of the hospital and doing well. They went home on Wednesday. We are thankful that everyone is doing well. So that's all for the moment.

God at Work

August 30, 2009

I think this is an apt title for this entry because I have several things to highlight from the past week which show how God has been at work. First of all, my nephew Jack is doing much better. We went in after church today and when Shana, my mom, and I got down to the NIC-U, the nurse said that Jack could try eating and that they would be soon removing the IV of sugar water. He also no longer had the pressurized air and was breathing completely on his own. How exciting! He was more awake today too and though he rarely opened both eyes, he did some winking.

As for other events in this past week, last Sunday Evelin had called me and I was attempting to carry on a conversation over the phone in Spanish and it was not going well. The connection was bad and I could not make out most of her words. I have run into the same problem with talking to my sister in Brazil but at least that is in English and I can get by. Evelin was sure I was forgetting my Spanish but I knew that was not the problem. Anyway, she was not doing well and I could not communicate with her which was incredibly frustrating to me. She did not seem receptive to my suggestion that she call someone from the church there or a friend to talk and pray with. I hung up from the conversation frustrated but also wondering if the Lord did not want me to be able to communicate with her because He wanted her to find help elsewhere.

Yesterday when I talked with Evelin again and she was doing much better. She made a statement which confirmed in me that I am not to be her source of support. She said it was good I could not understand her because after our time on the phone she went and had a sweet time of prayer and fellowship with Jesus. And after that she was good. Time with Jesus was what she needed, much more than any words of encouragement from me. God showed me my place and revealed to Evelin that she has to depend on Him.

The other exciting event of the week was conversation with a couple who has interest in Honduras and in working in some way with women and children. I have no idea how God might work out the details and if we can work together or not but it is exciting to see Him at least opening some windows for me to glance through at the possibilities.

I know that does not exhaust the list of what God is doing but for now that is all I can recall and I am heading off to get some sleep.

I'm An Aunt!

August 29, 2009 10:52PM

Well, it has been a long day and not quite what I had expected. Shana had to have a C-section because she was not progressing in the labor and the doctor suspected that it could not be a regular delivery. It turns out that my nephew, Jack Benjamin, was 9lbs 6oz. According to one nurse he was probably "overdone." There had been contention as to his due date among the doctors and it seems like he may have been a little late.

Anyway Little Jack (which is really Big Jack) is in the NIC-Unit (he is probably 2-3 times the size of every other baby there) because he had a lot of mucus on the lungs. Apparently passing through the birth canal often expels much of the fluid and since he did not, his lungs have to absorb the extra fluid. He needed oxygen too because he was struggling a little with the breathing. By this evening he was receiving pressurized room air instead of oxygen because he still needs some extra help in strengthening his lungs.

I went back to the hospital after meeting up with a couple of friends for a little bit this evening and was able to go with Shana and Jason to the NIC-U. At long last I was able to see them holding Jack, and I was able to hold him though we found out after the fact that only the parents are allowed to hold him while he is there. That has been the hardest part of the day -- unmet expectations of being able to hold my nephew and see everyone together. He will likely be in NIC-U for longer than Shana will be in the hospital (and that will proably be 3-4 days) so it will be an adjustment. I think I will be spending a lot more time at the hospital these next few days than I had expected. I am just so glad that I am here in Lancaster and not traveling or even in Honduras.

The Waiting Room

August 29, 2009 2:10PM

Today marks a memorable day in the life of the Hesses. Little baby Stauffer is soon to enter the world. My sister called early this morning from Women’s and Babies Hospital to say that she was in labor. She never was able to sleep last night and around 1:00AM made Jason get up and go on a walk around Millersville. A policeman pulled up and asked if everything was alright and she said that she was in labor. The policeman was relieved because he thought that she was a drunk college student.

I am currently in the waiting room of the hospital because after long hours of contractions, things were not progressing and Shana was exhausted so the doctor recommended a C-section. She did not have the strength to contest. And so as I sit here in the lobby, she is in surgery. We are praying that all goes well and that she recovers well.

Long Overdue

August 17, 2009

This is a very overdue entry. I just have been struggling to sit down at the computer and write. I guess that over the last week I have been visiting with lots of people and so I do not take the computer time that I maybe should. Anyway, I did make it safely from Wellsville to the cabin on Pine Creek the other Sunday. It ended up being a very long drive since downed trees on the roads and a powerline on Rt. 6 forced me to take an alternate route -- the windy, but beautiful Rt. 44. In reflecting on the trip later I realized a lesson even with the storm. I was anxious to set out for the cabin so I did almost as soon as the rain let up. I made it to the cabin but in almost double the amount of time it should take. Had I waited a little while longer in the beginning the roads may have been cleared that I could have taken the direct route. During my time there in the mountains of seeking God's face and His direction, waiting was one of the themes. God seems to be nudging me in a direction but slowly, no rushing allowed. As I move He will confirm or close doors. I am working on a more thorough update so more details will follow.

I was so glad though for the chance to be alone with God. The one morning I got up early and climbed a trail to a mountain peak. What a beautiful place to meet with God! I think I did see a bear running downhill (far from the trail thankfully -- though still disconcerting), a buck, and a turkey so I was not exactly alone. Throughout the time God had lessons to teach me from His creation. I hope that I never stop learning. So that is all for my brief catch up.

An Extended Stay

August 9, 2009

Well, my plans for the day appear to be changing. Yesterday I went to a family reunion near Lewisburg and from there proceeded north to a cabin on Pine Creek. This morning I drove almost 2 hours more north to visit the church I use to attend during college in Wellsville, NY. After church I ate lunch with a family at the part in town. And now I am ready to journey back to the cabin for some solo time, but the weather outside is a little frightful and no it is not snow. It is a good thing I decided to make a restroom stop at the Dunkin Donuts because I should not be driving in this weather. For a little while the wind was blowing the deck chairs across the patio. The rain was pelting against the window panes and there are cracks of lightning every few seconds. I heard rumor of tornados in other parts of the county. I wish I had not left all of my reading books in the car. It is right out front, but an exit to get them will leave me drenched even with my rain jacket. The storm actually reminds me of Honduran rains -- intense with flooded roads afterwards. Well, I am thankful for shelter ... and for coffee while I wait.

Off to the Mountains

August 7, 2009

Just as Jesus often went on the hillsides to pray, I find that it is time for me to head to the mountains. I have so many things rolling around in my head and they need processed and prayed about. I have been back in the States for about a week and a half with most of that time in Florida. It has been great to converse with people from LAM and also friends and family. But now it is time to converse more deeply with the Lord and listen intently for some direction. And so after a family reunion in central PA tomorrow, I will head farther north for a few days. I just have to be sure God's beautiful creation does not distract me. I love being outside, but sometimes I get distracted. Then I will return to society to continue traveling and connecting with people. Psalm 121:1-2 comes to mind, "I lift my eyes up to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth."

Travel Plans Asunder

August 3, 2009

I think "asunder" is the right word choice but maybe not. How wonderful it is when travel delays work out to one's benefit! Of course, I have not left Sarasota yet, so I may yet be disappointed. I was scheduled to fly from Sarasota to Atlanta and the to Harrisburg tonight with only a 30 minute layover in Atlanta, a city notorious for delays. Well, I arrived at the Sarasota airport only to discover that my plane is delayed from here by two hours. And from Atlanta there is one flight daily to Harrisburg -- 8:45PM. Just over the weekend I discovered that I could have traveled with my cousin and his family to Atlanta tomorrow and flown from there, allowing myself a few days to visit family. Jokingly I told him that who knows, maybe I would still see him there in Atlanta. Now I have the opportunity to send the day in Atlanta without having to drive there or pay a fee to change my flights. I even got a small voucher for my next flight with AirTran. For me, it could hardly have worked out better but I know that many others are suffering because of the delay. I am sitting here in the airport though with the fear that I am missing the flight because I am not sitting at the gate and the food court area is vacant. I still have an hour and a half to kill though according to the tv monitor. An irrational fear it would seem.

The Faces Behind Immigration Laws

On Tuesday night I flew into BWI airport and was saddened by a scene that I witnessed. We had just landed and everyone was in the aisle, ready to disembark when someone came onto the loud speaker asking that a certain passenger identify herself. A woman just behind me with a young daughter raised her hand. A minute later a Maryland State trooper began to make his way down the aisle and told her that she needed to follow him and should leave her bag with someone else – her younger brother it turned out. She also left the little girl with the teenage brother. The young girl had just awoken from sleep and so she cried at the separation. The rest of the passengers all looked at each other and wondered what was going on, our hearts going out to the mother and daughter. She certainly looked innocent.

As I exited the plane the woman was standing with three policemen and her brother was a little farther down the hallway. I heard him say something to her about having thought her green card was okay. And so it seems as if the detainment has to do with immigration and incorrect paperwork. I wonder how she made it into and out of Houston airport without being detained there. I went downstairs to pick up my luggage and one of the pieces was missing. I had to go to the desk and request that they track it. I was told it would be delivered to Lancaster the next day. Meanwhile the woman’s brother came to the desk in search of all of their bags which had never even made it to Houston from Trinidad. What a bad day for them! As I walked out I told him that I would pray that everything would work out. I did not know what else to say to him. His sister is detained and they have no luggage. I hope that their story ends well and that the woman was able to renew whatever expired visa she had. I realized at that moment that my one missing bag was really nothing.