Journey of Faith Karen and Mike Madsen in Honduras

Journey of Trust Update

7/5/2020

A formal update from the Madsen’s is long overdue. We still call Orphanage Emmanuel in Guaimaca, Honduras our home. March 10, 2020 marked the 6th anniversary of our move to Honduras where God called us to begin the Journey of Trust ministry.

Home Sweet Home Orphanage Emmanuel

Karen & Mike Madsen Orphanage Emmanuel

Vocational School a Reality

Providing the youth an opportunity to learn a viable trade through vocational training has become a reality. The Vocational School building was completed and classes were held for the first group of 20 boys and 4 girls to begin studies in 8th grade while learning and practicing introductory woodworking skills in the spring of 2019.

Vocational School

The second group of 8th graders began their studies in February 2020. Regrettably classes were shut down in March because of Covid-19 throughout HN. Although the lab classes are discontinued at this time, the groups are continuing academic work in their personal houses. There is a small group of boys working on projects with Mike in the lab to prepare for reopening the school when it is allowed.

Bridging to the Community

The Covid-19 virus has changed the world dramatically in the past few months but we are continuing to build bridges to Christ within and reaching outside the gates of the orphanage. The lab and classroom in the vocational school have been converted into a food storage and packaging area to help provide food for families in the surrounding communities who are unable to work and feed their families during this difficult time. The youth have prepared 6000 bags each containing enough beans, corn, rice, sugar, coffee, and seasonings for a family for two weeks. The collection and the distribution of the food is being coordinated by a Christian NGO group in Guaimaca.

Community Helping Communities

Counseling Available

We hired a psychologist from Guaimaca last summer to help provide evaluations and counseling for the children who are having the most difficult time adjusting to the circumstances that brought them to Emmanuel. Prior to Covid-19, she was recently helping as part of a team of psychologists to provide educational guidance programs for the staff and kids here. Unfortunately during the current shutdown in Guaimaca, only the one psychologist has been able to return. We are continuing to move ahead with our program but look forward to expanding when things open back up.

Learning Is a Priority

While homework is being completed by all the school age children, we are continuing to provide small group activities for the babies and toddlers with their caregivers. These activities encourage physical, social and intellectual development that will prepare them for starting school and moving up to the next house. I now have one of the mothers working with me to facilitate communication and help with preparation of the facility and activities.

Activities in the Baby/Toddler Chosa

Truly Blessed by God's Plan at Orphanage Emmanuel

It has been a privilege to have this opportunity to live among the children, youth and staff, to be able to encourage faith and bring hope by modeling Christian living.

Working together to provide fun learning

Providing help & transportation

Group projects

Vocational classroom

New school/feeding center up in the mountains

Encouragement in everyday life

Thanks for doing what you do to help!!!

Without the help of our sending agency Commission to Every Nation (CTEN) and the support of family, friends from many churches, the community of Gainesville United Methodist Church, and the mission teams at Orphanage Emmanuel in Guaimaca, we would not have been able to travel as far as we have on this journey. God is so faithful when we trust him with everything. Thank you for being a part of the Journey of Trust Ministry.

Prayer Requests and Praises

Continued health and safety for the children and staff
Food, necessary supplies, and donations to continue providing nutritional meals, clothing, education and programs
Vision to see more opportunities to share Christs love and hope
The safe return of mission teams to Orphanage Emmanuel
Safe passage back to Gainesville for our annual visit
Clear direction for the next phase of the Journey of Trust Ministry

Good health of the children and staff, no Covid-19 so far!
Youth stepped up to volunteer to fill food bags and write Bible Verses to share their faith in the community
Journey of Trust Programs are up and running
Young adults stepping up to help with the care of the younger children.
Christian discipleship program for older youth begun by Pastor Alexander who grew up here at Emmanuel

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Bendiciónes de los Madsens a Orfanato Emmanuel!

7/28/2016

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Greetings

It has been far too long since you have formally heard from the Madsens and we want to catch you up to date on what we have been doing in ministry in Honduras. There is never a lack of ways to minister to God’s children here at the orphanage. Mike and Karen, serving in two completely different programs, have been blessed to have the support of their congregation at Gainesville First United Methodist Church, congregational members from New Hope United Methodist Church in Gainesville, many friends, and family.

High School Teachers at Orphanage Emmanuel.

Karen has continued to work with the Youth Project on the Transition Program providing counseling information to help the youth learn about themselves and about relationship building. The Transition Team will be functioning until the end of July this year. Karla, the transition teacher and career coach, along with Carminda and Karen have been preparing the teachers to take on the Transition Classes in the five grades of High School at Emmanuel. Karla will remain until the end of the school year to facilitate a smooth transition to the new program using the awesome materials for instruction that have been developed by the Transition Team.

"Inside Out" Emotions in a new Sand Tray

With the aide of the Mission Market Place funds and donations from the Sunday School and Women’s Circle from New Hope, Karen has been able to add some much needed therapy items to her office i.e. sand trays, miniature figures for the sand trays, Spanish therapy games, craft supplies, a donated desktop computer and a new printer. God has made provisions for her office to have curtains, bookcases and filing cabinets through donations and work from the teams that come to Emmanuel to serve.

Taking a break for a snack

Through the donations of friends it was made possible for Mike and Karen to attend a Christian Alliance for Orphans conference in Orlando, Florida in May. There were many sessions to choose from but the most powerful information was shared by Back to Back Ministries who devote much of their work to helping caregivers become competent in helping children that come from hard places. All of our children at Orphanage Emmanuel come from difficult places so we were especially blessed with learning specifics about not only what we can do in our ministry but what churches in the states can do to help support and advocate for orphans. God had this conference in his plans because Karen has recently been asked to help the mothers and children in the infant and toddler houses.

One of the reading groups

After a stop and go beginning of the school year, Karen is continuing with the two reading groups begun in the past year, listening to thirty 5th graders and thirty 6th graders read in Spanish two mornings a week. While improving their reading and comprehension abilities, Karen has been improving her Spanish language acquisition and is now having conversations in Spanish. You may ask what this has to do with counseling? Through reading, children who have not had much encouragement or life experience are exposed to different ways of thinking and ways of learning. It is Mike and Karen’s hope to encourage these young learners to stay in school and participate in the new vocational program Mike will be initiating in the near future.

Site for the new building

That’s Right! Ground has been broken for the new vocational building to house the beginning of the Woodworking / Building Construction Vocational School! We are removing part of the hill, approximately an 80’ x 130’ flat area, between the existing Warehouse and the Woodworking Shop. Removal has been slow due to hard bedrock and the start of the rainy season but hopefully we are looking to complete the ground excavation and the retaining walls over the next few months. The metal building will be 50’ x 100’ and will house a classroom, tool & storage rooms, bathroom and open lab area. A benefactor from Georgia is providing the metal building for the site.

Excavating for the new vocational school building

The first year’s program will start with a Basic Hand Tool Woodworking program for the 8’th grade boys. The following year we plan to implement a new Building Construction program that will teach the boys the necessary skills in the fields of Electrical, Plumbing, Masonry, Carpentry and Cabinet Making over a 3 year certified program. Funding for ground breaking, utilities and concrete floor slab has been acquired. An additional amount will be needed for the front and back retaining walls to contain hill erosion, to complete the inside of the building for classroom, lab, tool room and to complete some exterior projects to have it ready to begin for the school year in February 2017. We all are excited to walk this journey with God on his plans for this program!

Mike has continued to help update the maintenance department of the orphanage and has been training young men to handle routine plumbing, electrical and maintenance issues. Two boys have been trained as of now with a third one starting shortly. With well over 200 toilets and sinks, 150 showers and above ground PVC tubing, prevention and routine maintenance are never ending vital tasks for the health of the orphanage. The boys are learning valuable skills that they will be able to use on the outside to provide an income for themselves and be able to support their family. The World Orphan Fund (WOF) is helping to provide more energy efficient toilets, shower heads and solar energy collectors to help offset the cost of electricity. Stay tuned for more to come.

God has been good to us and our prayer is that you have also been blessed in some way by the ministry of Journey of Trust. Every morning we start our day with devotions and prayer to the most gracious and loving father who never abandons us. He keeps his promises and we are grateful to him for placing in your heart the willingness and desire to participate in this ministry.

Praises and Prayer Requests

Praises:
*For God’s generous blessings and protection as we continue the work he has set before us.

* For the gift of a patient teacher as we continue to learn the heart language of the children at Orphanage Emmanuel.

*For the encouragement God provides daily through his word, his answers to prayers and through the people he sends to work along side of us.

*For Debbie Bailey who has offered her assistance in posting news from us to our website

Requests:
*For all the children to experience the love of Christ in a way that brings them into a life changing relationship with him

*For healing of wounds of the hearts of children that come from hard places

*For the necessary funding to complete the vocational school

"...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God." Romans 12:2

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A Work In Progress

7/9/2015

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Can you believe it? We have been at Orphanage Emmanuel for 7 months!!! Check out our updated home page.

Although it sometimes seems like things move slowly, God has the best schedule of all and the most amazing plans. Mike and I have been going full tilt since we arrived in December and are really excited about the things that are happening. Mike has been busy organizing, supervising, and completing many maintenance projects that are ongoing to help keep the plumbing and electrical utilities functioning well. Can you guess how many toilets, sinks and showers it takes to serve the children and staff at Orphanage Emmanuel?

Future Plumbing/Electrical Lab

Mike has begun training two of the youth to take care of routine maintenance issues.

The new plumbing/electrical room will be a lab area as well as the hub for maintenance and repair for routine jobs. The teams that come to help will have a central location to access the tools and parts needed to keep everything functioning well.

Youth help maintain washers, dryers and hot water heaters

Office Space

Karen's Office

Karen has continued working with the young mothers and their children, meeting in the houses, chosas and other areas around Emmanuel. She has also worked jointly with the transition team and youth leaders to help provide youth, staff, and volunteer workshops. In the past month an office has been made available for Karen in the back of the church next to the office of the career counselor from the Transition Program.

Enough room for group meetings

Language learning is still a top priority for facilitating earning of trust and building relationships.

The "Temple" by Front Gate

Main Office

The Great Outdoors

Middle Girls Pavilion

High School Classroom

Elementary School Library

Praises and Prayer Requests

Praises:

For a safe transition from Copan Ruinis to Orphanage Emmanuel.
For safe travels and comfort of family and friends in the loss of Mike's dad in May
For continued financial support from committed partners
For special gifts of food, supplies and transportation of special requests
For visits from fellow believers who have encouraged and strengthened us by their fellowship
For technology that allows us to "see" family and friends across the miles

Requests:

For the children to find and know faith, hope, and the love of Christ as the central foundation for a sustainable life and a bright future as their country continues to develop
For strength and perseverance to continue the physical work required to live here
For continued language acquisition for both of us
For God's grace to live and love as Christ's disciples under all circumstances
For wisdom and discernment to follow God's will and direction in our lives
For our hearts and minds to be opened and renewed each day to discern ways we can share the love of Christ with the children and staff at Orphanage Emmanuel
For our upcoming visit to Georgia in September to seek additional financial support to meet the needs as our ministry at Orphanage Emmanuel continues to grow

We are grateful for all your prayers and feel blessed to be in a place to witness to God's faithfulness.

How great is the Lord, how deserving of Praise
Psalm 48:1a

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For I Know the Plans I Have For You

10/6/2014

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September, A Special Month

These are some of the future builders, athletes, electricians, plumbers, nurses, computer programers, lawyers, mothers and fathers of Honduras.

The first week in September, we traveled to Orphanage Emmanuel where we received a warm welcome from the staff and children. We spent some time firming up our plans to move into our home there. We are looking forward to beginning the next part of our journey the first week in December.

In Jeremiah 29:11, The Lord told Jeremiah "I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He also has plans for each one of us, offering us hope and a future filled with promise in a new life with Christ.

It is our prayer that by helping God's children at Orphanage Emmanuel prepare for their future through vocational training, guiding in counseling, teaching and modeling of Christian family values, we are honoring God's plan for our lives and are helping the children discover God's plan for them .

Children's Day

September 10, the day all of Honduras celebrates children. There are piñatas, balloons, candy, presents, and lots of attention. At the orphanage in Copan, each child was paired with an older student from the Mayatan Bi-lingual School for a huge party with games, prizes, pizza, cupcakes and soda. There was a surprise visit from a clown who painted faces.In Copan Ruinas, at central park, there was music, games, and more piñatas. Each school had their own celebration.

Independence Day

September 15 is Independence Day for Honduras, all the businesses are closed but the actual celebration begins on Friday night with a parade and the crowning of Princess Copan Ruinas. The parades continued throughout the weekend with the final one commencing around 10:00 on Monday morning. The rhythm of the drums reverberates throughout the town as the children process lined up by schools and grades. Teachers march along and parents either follow along on the sides or move from one vantage point to another to see their child pass by. There were a few dignitaries at the beginning, a couple of floats at the end. The park was packed full of families from Copan Ruinas and the surrounding villages and countryside. Venders sold food and drinks typical of this region. What a celebration!

Sustainability Conference

The last week in September we attended and participated in the annual Sustainable Honduras Conference (previously known as Project Honduras) a conference for NGOs to meet and share information. The focus this year was Collective Impact, in other words, How can we work together to make a difference not just in the lives of those we help, but in Honduras? During the three days of workshops and presentations, we met and talked to people from orphanages all over Honduras. We also made contacts with organizations that help orphanages connect with resources in Honduras such as help for special needs, government and non-government agencies, and legal advice. It was a very full, valuable three days.

The Rainy Season Is Here!

Waiting in the rain.

We were told that the rainy season lasts from May through July, but we have had little rain until August. It has rained almost every day since. The morning starts out clear and sunny. The dark clouds move in later in the afternoon, it pours, usually with thunder and lightening then often times will clear and the sun comes out again. At other times it begins in the late afternoon and continues raining hard most of the night.

The streets become like rivers and everything is
washed down to the Copan River.

Praises & Prayer Requests

Thank you for all your prayers and support. We would not be able to do this without them. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Prayer Praises:

For the faithful support we are receiving from friends and family.
For the good health we have enjoyed.
For safe travels and safe living in Copan Ruinas.
For teachers, new contacts and wisdom gained.
For a safe place to learn the language and culture of Honduras

Prayer Requests:

For the ability to learn and use the Spanish language
For wisdom and guidance as we begin to prepare for moving to Orphanage Emmanuel.
For preparation of the hearts and minds of the children and staff at Orphanage Emmanuel to receive us in December.
For our families and friends at home in the US.
For increased financial support

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Oh What A Journey It Is!

8/14/2014

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Half Way There

Karen & Oberly in central park Santa Rosa, Copan

We have reached the half way mark to the nine months we allotted for learning the Honduran Spanish. Just like "waiting" for a new baby, sometimes it seems as though we will never get there and at other times the days fly by and we wonder how we will be ready in time. As we look forward with anticipation to beginning work at Orphanage Emmanuel we thank God for continuing to bless us with this time in Copan Ruinas. We thank him for his grace and mercy. We thank him for sending us out with his light to guide our path. We thank him for the many people who have crossed our path on this journey. Each has been a gift that has made an impact on our time here. We serve an awesome God!

Everyone Is A Vender

Sitting in our classroom at La Escuela de Español Ixblanque, the market place comes to us through the open windows as the venders walk around town selling whatever they can: tortillas (usually corn), pan (“bread”), nances (small yellow cherry looking fruit), snow cones, wall hooks fashioned out of old pieces of metal, firewood gathered with a machete and carried on thin shoulders or horseback, and everywhere children selling dolls made from colorfully dyed cornhusks.

Brooms, Mops, Dustpans????

Corn Husk Dolls

Snow Cones

This particular hombre above reminds me of the Fuller Brush man who used to come door to door when I was a child. Every street has a dozen open doorways where families sell clothing, bottled water, odds and ends, snacks, eggs, tortillas or other necessary items. Every other doorway is a repair shop, internet shop or cellular phone store. Opportunities to buy are plentiful but few have Limpira (Honduran money) to spend.

Surrounding Copan Ruinas

Recently we visited La Pintada, one of many Chorti Maya villages, located above the Copan River on the side of a mountain outside Copan Ruinas. It is only accessible by hiking or by horseback. La Pintada, like most of the Chorti villages, is a subsistence, farming village growing mainly corn and beans in small plots of ground cleared, cultivated and harvested by hand. They supplement their meager income by selling colorful manteles (table runners, placemats, tortilla cloths), bufandas (scarfs), and other simply woven articles (bracelets, belts, purses etc.) as well as the colorful cornhusk dolls made by the women and children. Frequent summers of droughts and low tourism have made their survival marginal. In some villages, where it is not possible to grow crops, the men and boys walk for hours to work for others, usually receiving food for payment. Houses are made from tin and wood, some with thatched palm roofs. There is a government built public school (with electricity) in the village staffed by three government provided teachers. Many people here have less than a sixth grade education. The children learn early that to eat, one must first work.

This particular village is directly across the river from the Mayan Ruins in Copan and has stellaes (monuments erected by Mayan royalty to show power and to mark the boundaries of their territory). If you look closely, you can still see the features of a frog, an ancient fertility god, in this 2000-year-old stone carving.

We Have Moved, But Not Very Far

looking off our balcony

As our language skills and knowledge of the area have increased, we have taken another step in immersion, lliving more independently. We recently moved from living in one room of a family’s home on the outskirts of town to living in a two-room apartment above a family in town. With the help of our maestras (instructors/friends) we have settled in to doing our own shopping for food, cooking, laundry, etc. Our new family consists of Señora Rosita and her husband Señor Rudolfo, their daughter Gilda, her son Christian, and a new addition, Frodo (a one month old puppy). Rosita and Rudolfo cater partys and gatherings of many kinds. Gilda teaches kindergarten at the Mayan Bilingual School where her son will attend 4th grade starting in two weeks. We have the opportunity to practice our Spanish every day as we walk through their main living area to go in and out of the house. Even though we live in town now, water is still rationed every three days and electricity comes and goes as it does all over Honduras.

our kitchen

the other side of our kitchen

our bedroom

the other side of our bedroom

More and More

We continue to study Spanish and the Honduran culture in as many different arenas as possible. The market place, church, the orphanage, new friends, local school and community events, and especially the central park all offer opportunities to practice and learn.

the churches local industry helping new friends

community events the market place feeding the children

Prayer Praises and Requests

Praises: Please join us in praising God for all the blessings he brings as we strive to be obedient to his will.

We thank God for the new and continuing support we are receiving from partners in the United States
We thank God for our fellow disciples who continue to share the story of the children at Orphanage Emmanuel to raise support for his ministry.
We thank God for continued good health, strength and endurance
We thank God for the support, encouragement, and time with our first family in Copan Ruinas
We thank God for the new family who welcomed us into their home
We thank God for his continued mercies and grace for us as we learn this new language.

Requests: Please keep us in your prayers

for rain to help the farmers grow their crops so their families can have food and fresh water
for rain so that electricity can be provided
for the children of Honduras that they may experience and know God's love
for our discernment of the Holy Spirit's leading to be examples of God’s love in all we do and say
for continued physical health and for increased physical strength to enable us to continue working
that God will bless our efforts to learn this language and discern how to use it for his glory
for the power of the Holy Spirit to be evident in our lives so that our actions speak only of God's love
for the continued faithfulness of our financial and spiritual partners and raising up of additional support

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Copan Ruinas, Copan Honduras

7/6/2014

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Copan Honduras

Copan Ruinas

Departemento
de Copan is one of 18 areas (states) in Honduras. Copan Ruinas is a small town in Copan, nestled in a river valley, about 10 miles from the Guatemala border. It has a rich history that dates back to 400 AD when the Mayans inhabited the forest and created an advanced society.

Mayan Ruins

We spent one afternoon at the ruins discovering roots of the Hondurans
in this area. It is amazing to think that the Christian Church was already thriving in a place on the other side of the world, unknown to the Mayans who worshiped many gods. Many replicas of the different gods are found throughout the area, including in the central park.

Pupuseri Altolera Licha

Our studies are continuing with daily classes weekday mornings, which include trips to the local businesses to increase our vocabulary, practice our pronunciation and our comprehension. Orbely and Sara, our hard working maestras (teachers) help us understand the culture and practices of the people in Honduras.

Serving in Copan Ruinas

Sara introduced us to an orphanage where God has blessed us with the opportunity to assist the children in the transition to a different facility. The orphanage is combined with a day care center that helps single moms parent their children and learn new relationship skills. The children and staff are so helpful and forgiving as we practice our newly learned language. Mike will have the opportunity to use his building skills, the "Honduran way" and Karen will offer help to the staff psychologist.

Good News!

Sawyer, Alicia, Joe & Eli

We have a healthy new addition to our family in Wisconsin. Eli Ryder Hanson arrived Tuesday, June 3rd at 7:49 am, 6 lbs 14 oz. My mother, Eris, and I (Karen) were able to spend a week with Alicia and her family. I made a quick stop in Gainesville to pick up a few things then met Mike back in Tegucigalpa to complete special residency paperwork that will allow us to stay in Honduras without having to leave the country every three months. Yeah!

Plumbing Preparations

While I was with my daughter, Mike traveled to Orphanage Emmanuel where he worked with the staff taking care of some maintenance issues and taking initial steps preparing for our work there.

Pastor Alvin in Tegus

Mike spent several days with the transition youth exploring life in Tegus. He and Catherine accompanied the youth as they helped Pastor Alvin distribute food to the hungry on the streets and in the mountains.

Praises

Please pray with us in thanksgiving for the many blessings God has given:

We thank God for the safe arrival of our new grandson and pray for the family's quick adjustment to the newest addition.
We thank God for safety and good health as we have traveled in and out of the country.
We thank God for the support of friends and family from the USA
We thank God for his faithfulness
We thank God that he has a perfect plan for all his children and praise him for allowing us the opportunity to be a part of his plan

Requests

Please lift us and this country up before God with confidence that he hears our petitions and answers faithfully. May his will be done:

Pouring out of the Holy Spirit to bring forward Honduraneans willing to share God's love with the orphans here in Copan by caring for them as their own
Continued strength to persevere when trials become overwhelming
Clarity of vision for following Christ's example to love our neighbors
We ask that ability to learn and retain the Spanish Language
Support for the children a OE who are in the transition program that they may know the hope that comes from trusting in the Lord
We pray that Christian leaders will hear God's call and step forward in this country

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Learning Spanish

4/24/2014

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Can you believe it has been six weeks already? We are immersed and saturated in the Honduran culture of Copan Ruinas. God has been good to us. He teaches us daily lessons in love, patience, and kindness, generosity, humility and gratefulness, simplicity, patience and trust, obedience, hope and faith. Did I mention patience? That's what it takes to teach these old dogs new tricks. Each day is a blessing from God as we study, experience, learn and share with our hosts.

Estudiamos en la biblioteca

1 Spanish phrase book, 2 gringos and an Honduran restaurant = are we having fun yet?

Every day is a new day, a new beginning, a blessing from our God! We are thankful for the opportunity to serve here. We are reminded daily that we so often take his mercies for granted.

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

During Holy week, many Hondurans take time to visit with family, enjoy meals together and take a break from the work they do. Some places, like the schools, are closed for the entire week. The banks and other businesses close for the entire day on Thursday and Friday.

Enjoying God's gifts all around us.

First you pick a picnic spot along the river. Next you machete a clearing in the shade, carry rocks to make a stove. Then you jump in! It was a beautiful time learning new language, customs of others and about the family God has placed in our life.

Skipping stones, a universal language among men.

Our family spent the day at the river complete with a campfire lunch, dip in the river and relaxing fun for all.

Sharing a meal.

Roasting chicken on an open fire.

Good Friday

The Catholic church in Copan annually prepares the only religious observance of this special time of the Christian Church. Many hands prepare the decorative designs on the street leading up to the Catholic Church on the square. First, a layer of sawdust is tamped down on the cobblestone street. Then coloured sawdust is added on top to form the background and designs. Stencils and additional black sawdust are used to outline the figures and pictures on the colored layer. Then the design is filled in with additional colors to complete the pictures and symbols of the last week of Christ's life among us.

Stations of the cross

Jesus crucified

Waiting with anticipation!

A procession for the stations of the cross occurs on Good Friday in the morning. The procession in the evening tells the story of Christ crucified and processes down the colored carpet to the Catholic Church. The final procession depicts the ultimate event, the resurrection of our Lord.

He is not here!

He is risen! Alleluia! He is risen indeed!

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Acclimating to our surroundings

4/7/2014

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Iglesia = Church

Attending church with our family has been a unique experience each time. There is much singing of praises to God, much praying by different members of the congregation and enthusiastic preaching by Señor Neptali and other worship leaders.

Sharing a special song.

March 18 is father's day in Honduras. A special tribute was given on Sunday in worship. A whole minute of applause was given to all the fathers. At the end of the service, after a sermon on the responsibilities God gives to fathers, all the fathers present stood in front and received hugs, kisses and blessings from the entire congregation.

Celebration of Father's Day

A special skit.

Casa = House

Servicio Domestico = Cleaning, Cooking and Laundry Help

Wish everyone could meet Gladys! She is awesome. Not only does she proudly keep our clothes clean, fix many of our meals and clean our room, she also takes great delight in teaching us Spanish, correcting our grammar and instructing us in the proper use of table manners. Gladys has a husband and two children. She works here every day.

Gladys making ticucos.

Prayer Praises and Requests

We praise and thank God for his many blessings.

A team at GFUMC who is supporting us in so many ways.
A safe place to live and learn about Honduras
A place to learn the language and culture from people who love God.
A family who is proud to help care for us and believes we can help the children at Orphanage Emmanuel
A month of good health
A steady growth in financial support

We ask for God's guidance and protection, for

Wisdom to recognise our need to rely solely on his strength and power over everything
Courage to risk making mistakes as we strive to love others as Christ has shown us
Humility to acknowledge our vulnerability and to accept help from others
Ability to learn a new language and to share Christ's love through our learning
Growth in our relationships with Orphanage Emmanuel,our sponsors and those placed in our lives here in Copan.

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Our Journey Continues . . . .

3/20/2014

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Departure Date: Monday, 3/10/2014

Happy Birthday Michael Madsen!
Bright and early Monday morning at the Atlanta International Airport. One way tickets to Tegucigalpa, Honduras!

Arrive safely through customs
Apply for Missionary residency status
Taxi ride to Orphanage Emmanuel

Friday, 3/14/2014 on to Copan Ruinas

A quick visit at Orphanage Emmanuel
B us ride through the country
C opan Ruinas, a new home
D imas, Amanda, and David, our family
E scuela, our favorite place to be!

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God Provides Many Opportunities at Orphanage Emmanuel

8/1/2013

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Our hearts overflow with joy when we visit with Zelenes and her son Jefferson. Jefferson will be two years old in September. We have been sponsoring them for the past year. Zelenes was reluctent at first to get to know us because everyone in her life has abandoned her and she doesn't want to be hurt anymore. The time I was able to share with her was precious to me. She has grown in her faith and has become a good mother.

Sponsor opportunities: love and nurture

Exchanging cultural differences in cooking cuisine is a mutual delight for Hondurans and their visitors. There's nothing like fresh fried tortillas!

New Friends--residents, volunteers and babies

It takes many hands and feet to bring Jesus' love to life for 550 children and young adults. Young college women like Emily, from Washington State, volunteer to serve alongside permanent staff and help young mothers like Martha take care of thier own children as well as other babies in the Infant and Toddler Houses. Male and female volunteers spend from a week to several years helping the staff and young adults feed and care for the younger children in the small, medium, and big, girl and boy houses while helping on the farm, in the school, in the yards, and throughout the orphanage.

Opportunities for Learning new skills: Making tortillas with the expert

The 15 minute walk to the center of Guaimaca for groceries provides the opportunity to get to know the other volunteers, especially ones who are fluent in Spanish. It also provides a close-up look at how Hondurans live everyday life without the comforts we take for granted like floors, doors, widows, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and sanitary conditions. The flowers bloom in bright reds, oranges and purples. The mangos and bananas hang, rippening on the trees waiting to be picked and eaten. The have and the have-nots live together separated by decorative iron bars, coiled barbed wire, and glass topped concrete walls.

Experiencing the local neighborhood

Opportunities abound to learn from the children we desire to serve. Trips are made into Guaimaca by the Discipleship group to share the food and clothes that are received by the orphanage. The older children are given the opportunity to learn how to help others out of gratitude for what they receive. When taken to the store in the center of the orphanage for a treat the children often save what they are given to take back to their house to share with their friends.

Home Sweet Home: Sewing Projects

Opportunities to experience boredom do not exist unless one is just plain lazy. Curtains for the Infant House need shortening, cushions for the elementary library reading corner need stitching. A project yet to be tackled, new terry cloth bibs for the Infant house.

Celebrations of accomplishments

Teenagers in Honduras and teenagers in America both struggle with discovering who they care and what they want to do with their life. These girls are children of God. They deserve to know how special they are and to have the opportunity to know whose they are. They are silly and boy-crazy and love to have attention. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to share time getting to know their dreams and fears, their frustrations and desires. We celebrated their specialness with a balloon, cake and ice cream party in their honor. They were not allowed to help with the serving and clean-up (a difficult task for them). There was lots of giggling, laughing and balloon popping.

Honduras is ruggedly beautiful, sunny and rainy, full of rainbows.

Teaching new tasks: Learning to eat with a spoon and drink from a cup

There are many special needs children at Orphanage Emmanuel who can benefit from one on one attention and care. It is amazing to me to see how they blossom each time someone shares by being Christ's hands and feet.

Breaking bread together as international family and friends

Zoe, Mike's niece from Canada, spent the past two weeks as a volunteer with me in the Infant House as part of an International Baccalaurate Program from her school to learn more about global issues. Norman is the taxi driver who frequently makes trips back and forth between the airport and the orphanage. He joined us for a Chinese dinner with Katja (from Denmark) her husband, Max, from Honduras and their three children. Who would have thought, authentic Chinese chop suey and sweet and sour chicken in the middle of Honduras! It was delicious!

4th of July Celebration with staff and volunteers

Danes, Hondurans, Americans, volunteers and staff alike enjoyed the celebration on the fourth with hot dogs, apple pie and fireworks! I even made jello jigglers for the kids who enjoyed them immensely. The inflated castle was also a big hit. A joint effort by all produced a great opportunity for fun and fellowship after a hard days work.

Enjoying the little things in life like babies and snacks

Finger foods are a favorite treat in the Infant House where oatmeal, rice and beans, and noodles with vegetables are the staple source of nourishment. Favorites are Goldfish Crackers, Cheese Balls, Cheerios, granola bars and saltines.

Community opportunities to be Christ's hands and feet

There are rows on rows of houses in Tegucigalpa the capital of Honduras. Some better built than others. As they get closer together and higher up on the sides of the mountains, the less well built and smaller they are. It is hard and sad to know that 35% of the population is under the age of 14 and that there is 55% unemployment.

Opportunities to bring Hope, Love, and Laughter to Children of Orphanage Emmanuel

Time to leave for now, but not the end of our journey.

Welcome home support as we return to Hartsfield International

Tegucilgapa Airport

Still smiling as we reflect on the past two months and begin to anticipate the opportunities in store for us as we trust in the Lord. What an awesome opportunity we have experienced at Orphanage Emmanuel. We are hopeful that you will continue to be interested and supportive of our calling to the mission field. Check back with us soon to see where our journey is taking us. Join us as you are able and become God's hands and feet.

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Vocational School a Reality

Bridging to the Community

Community Helping Communities

Counseling Available

Learning Is a Priority

Activities in the Baby/Toddler Chosa

Truly Blessed by God's Plan at Orphanage Emmanuel

Thanks for doing what you do to help!!!

Prayer Requests and Praises

﻿Future Plumbing/Electrical Lab﻿

Office Space

Praises and Prayer Requests

﻿The Rainy Season Is Here!﻿﻿

Praises & Prayer Requests

Half Way There

Everyone Is A Vend﻿er

Surrounding Copan Ruinas

We Have Moved, But Not Very Far

More and More

Prayer Praises and Requests

Copan Honduras

Mayan Ruins

Pupuseri Altolera Licha

Serving in Copan Ruinas

Good News!

Praises

Requests

Semana Santa ﻿(Holy Week)﻿

Good Friday

He is risen! Alleluia! He is risen indeed!

Iglesia = Church

Casa = House

Prayer Praises and Requests

Departure Date: Monday, 3/10/2014

Friday, 3/14/2014 on to Copan Ruinas

Michael & Karen Madsen

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