MTW Newsletter

Mercy ministry is one of the primary things I do here.  One of our evaluators, when commenting on our final eval right before we were approved said to Mike and me, "Wherever you end up going, one thing is for sure.  You HAVE to go somewhere where Erin can use her medical mercy/compassion gifts.  This is such a part of her."  I have attached the end of the year MTW newsletter - it's an incredible read, and kind of neat that they included an event that happened at one of my weekly medical clinics.  You can read it here.

Christmas in Honduras

Christmas in Honduras is pretty much like Christmas in the States with a few large differences. First, most Hondurans celebrate on the 24th of December. When I was out in the village doing an Advent Calendar with the kids, and a count-down until Christmas, they ALL put the date on the 24th. I think this is primarily because they open presents at midnight on the 24th/25th. So for them, Christmas starts on the 24th. Because of this, the country shoots off fireworks starting around 11pm on the 24th and ending just past midnight (and sometimes later). Here in the Pettengill household, we held to our traditions. Big Christmas Eve dinner - with all of Team Honduras over. We potlucked it and the food was AMAZING! We each pulled names for a Secret Santa and shared the gifts, final advent calendar, and a celebration of Christmas through bible verses and Christmas carols. We ended the night with a Dance competition via Wii - fun had by all (except the party-pooper guys who couldn't get their whiteness on the dance floor) - but even the ladies were up dancing away!

Christmas day for the Pettengills is a quiet day. We start with a bible reading, then opening stockings, then Christmas presents. The remainder of the day is usually filled with playing games that we opened, watching movies, and just enjoying being a family. It was truly wonderful. This was a first of many first, however. First Christmas without my mom. And, my dad was staying at my step-sisters house, and unreachable, so not even a phone call to say hello. But my heart is healing, although I know there will always be a place in my heart where my mother holds dear and it will be there forever :-) Love you sweet mom! Merry Christmas!

Madison starting to open all her goodies

Mike enjoying his stocking goodies...

Gringo VBS In Honduras

Our mission team realized that while we serve the kids of Honduras every day our own kids are often neglected. In fact, some of our own children hadn't attended a vacation bible school (VBS) in almost four years. So Team Honduras organized a gringo VBS for the five kids of our mission team. The week before Christmas our own children were treated to daily bible studies, games, crafts and songs.

Watch this 3 minute and 30 second video to so our great VBS:

Christmas Celebration In Honduras

On December 20, 2011 our mission team treated five girls from the community of Armenia Bonito to a special Christmas celebration. The girls were served dinner, received a Christmas gift and attended a Christmas concert.

Watch this 2 minute and 10 second video to see the joy of Christmas:

Thank You Valley Springs Presbyterian Church

Thank you to Valley Springs Presbyterian Church (of Roseville, CA) for making 100 handmade gift bags and quilts. Those gifts were given to the needy people who live in Armenia Bonito in Honduras. This video is to show our appreciation to Valley Springs and the people there.

Watch this one minute THANK YOU video:

Kids Christmas Party 2011

On December 17, 2011 our mission team hosted our 4th annual Kids Christmas Party in the poor community of Armenia Bonito in La Ceiba, Honduras. Over 230 kids received games, Christmas songs, a Gospel presentation, a Christmas gift and a plate of food. This event was a great blessing.

Watch this 2 minutes and 10 second video to see the real Christmas spirit:

Madison and grades

So I love my kid...I think she's pretty cool. AND...she got her second quarter grades today - made Director's Honor Roll (the only kid in 10th grade to do this). And her teacher was sweet and told me how much she loves my kid - but not as much as I do :-) Pretty cool I might add that half her classes are in Spanish and half in English :-)

I love my girl.

Under The Mango Update - Winter 2011

We are constructing a Christian ministry center in downtown La Ceiba, Honduras. This facility will contain a high school, church, medical clinic, a theological seminary, a homeless child center and a two-story dorm.

Watch this 3 minute and 40 second video to see all the progress:

Armenia Bonito Ministry Center - Winter 2011 Update

Here is an update of the two acre ministry center we are constructing in Armenia Bonito, located in La Ceiba, Honduras. This facility will contain a high school, church, medical clinic and a multi-use building.

Watch this 3 minute and 40 second video to so all the great work:

Hymns in Spanish

I have a sweet friend who has dedicated the last few years putting together an incredible web site and resource for those working in Spanish speaking areas, or who work with Spanish speaking folks in the U.S. He and some fellow friends translated, put to music, and provide demos (and a CD) to 40 hymns. His web site is www.alabanzare.com If you click on the Himnario at the top of the web site it will direct you to all the hymns in Spanish. He has "okayed" me to pass this information on so you all can benefit from his hard work. Enjoy!

A Foundation Formed

3 1/2 years ago Mike, Madison and I arrived in La Ceiba, Honduras, with the idea that we were here to do God's work. Little did we realize what HE had in store for us!  First we applied and received our residency, while at the same time establishing a recognized church by the government.  The church couldn't be recognized until it's board members (Mike and I) were residents.  Once we received our residency, the church was officially recognized by the government of Honduras.  In the meantime we started building.  Building structures, and building an amazing team!  Two High Schools, two medical clinics, a seminary, Street Children (run by Kate DeFuniak.) and a single mom's house run by our team mate Shannon Innes, and the  construction and short-team hospitality overseen by our team mates the Clow's our team has been running non-stop.  We have more coming...The Troxell's will be working in another area of La Ceiba, The McLaughlin's will be joining us and the Cain's will be coming also.  And then...we needed a Foundation.  The Foundation has become Puerta de Esperanza (the door of hope).  This was inspired by Shannon and her women's house for high-risk pregnant and/or single mom's.  The Foundation's name and legal standing will oversee all of our other ministries that we start.  It's been a long time in coming...and little did Shannon know that when she chose the name, she would be choosing the name for our future Foundation.  But what a great message. Shannon chose this name because she was inspired from Hosea 2:14-20 (verse 15 refers to the Door of Hope)

The LORD’s Mercy on Israel

 ¹⁴"Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
   and bring her into the wilderness,
   and speak tenderly to her.
¹⁵And there I will give her her vineyards
   and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
   as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.

 ¹⁶"And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.' ¹⁷For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. ¹⁸And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. ¹⁹And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. ²⁰ I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.

To be consistent, there is a likelihood (although we shall see as time passes) to use "Puerta de Esperanza" and attach what the ministry is - "casa" - for the women's house, "hogar" - for the children's house - "clinica de salud" for the medical clinic...who knows...we shall see as the Lord leads where this will go.

Childbirth Classes

Jolie and her sweet baby wearing clothes she received from my class

I have posted before about the prenatal classes I am teaching in Armenia Bonito, and am now starting to see fruit from that.  Three moms who have attended my classes have all given birth, and to some extent all have used techniques they learned in my class.  They've also received tons of additional information about labor and delivery, and some free gifts for attending the class.  Soaring Oaks Church - my home church - held a baby shower for me when I was home.  A friend of mind, Annette C. had sent me an e-mail and asked if there was a way they could help out - and she set the whole thing up.  I would love to post pictures from the event, but on my way to the States my camera was stolen...sigh...so no pics.  The ladies at the church all turned out and I was OVERWHELMED at the love that poured forth from all of them.  The gifts they gave will go a long way to provide some much needed necessities for the very poor ladies in the village.  After the moms deliver, I take some pictures of their babies, print them out at home, laminate them and give them to the moms.  These are probably the only pictures they will ever have, and I feel privileged to be able to give this small gift to them.  I look forward to when our clinic opens, and I can offer more of these types of services!