La Tardeada

Mari Elena, a friend of ours and a former volunteer here at the Finca for a number of years, came to visit for the 41st anniversary. Her education included children's ministry and she always has great ideas and things to do with the kids. While she was here this time she organized a "tardeada" or afternoon of fun and games. These events inevitably include a lot of water! And we also need food treats, as well. While there were events and contests for all ages, the youngest kids are always so cute trying their hardest to win and that's what I took pictures of this time... :)




























Everyone waiting to receive their tokens so they can "buy" some treats.













Come and get it...
































Trying out the double water fountain invented for and donated to the Finca.

It's Buch time...

Our friends, Jon, Kendra, Lauren and Jordan Buch, visited us from April 21st until the 28th. It was great having them here and they also blessed us with their help in getting ready for the Finca's 41st anniversary. We also visited Picacho Park, La Cumbre, and the river at Cantarranas. We all loved being able to share and spend time with our friends.

La Finca's 41st anniversary

The festivities started around 3:30 on Saturday, April 24th, in the church.













the choir sang...















some presented an interpretive dance...

















and some put on a play about Jesus and Jarius' daughter.






There were many visitors: former residents of the Finca, friends of the Finca from Tegucigalpa and Valle, pastors from various churches in the area, even Claudia, the new mayor of Valle, came and presented a gift to Ernest and Doris Soady and thanked everyone for the part the Finca has in helping the community.






Then it was time for everyone to see the new comedor, have a ribbon cutting ceremony and enjoy a meal together.





































































































We thank God for the 41 years he has given the Finca. We pray that God gives new vision and new strength for the plans he has for the futures of the children at la Finca de los Ninos. May God bless all who give of their time, their energy and their finances to help with the work here in Honduras. May God raise up more workers to help carry on the work that has been started and renewed strength for those already involved. May God's peace, joy and love flow out to the children and through the children to touch all of Honduras and the world.

Getting ready for the 41st anniversary

Many different people pitched in to help have the comedor project ready for the anniversary. All the workers who have been working hard from the beginning kept at it and put in several late evenings, as well. Also, Maria Elena came from Mexico to help sew curtains, make party favors, decorate the comedor, etc. Jon and Kendra Buch and family came from PA to visit us for a week and helped with electrical work, painting and food prep. Many of the finca kids helped paint, clean up, decorate, make food, etc. Ernest and Doris Soady and Doris' sister, Margery McDonald, also came for a week to join in the celebration.















Cleaning up construction debris...




















painting...
















finishing touches inside comedor...
















washing tables and chairs for 200 people, and preparing food for that many, as well. The menu was chili con carne, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, carrots, apple crisp and ice cream.




















peeling and slicing carrots...

















chopping tomatoes...
















greasing ten large pans for apple crisp...

















peeling and coring the 150 apples.

Next post... the big day.

Random Happenings

Do you see that little head at the top of the mango tree? Yeah, that's our Ali...

























Hanging out with some visitors from Texas... we thank God for so many people who come to share with us here at the Finca.

















Celebrating Easter with some friends... Angelica's holding the cake she made in the shape of a cross.
















Who needs a rototiller? :)

















We recently visited the river at Cantarranas, a town in the next valley, where Ali and Zack swam,














Angelica and Zack looked for little frogs,






























and Harlan fished.




















The fruit of Harlan's labor...





















Angelica took some simple, but beautiful photos of the nature around us.





































And a shot of Ali, Zack and friends treed by Nuco.
He eventually moved on much to Zack's relief. :)

FREE

FREE

Free to soar 'cuz I'm sure

of your love.

Free to flow 'cuz I know

your Spirit.

Free of hands, grasping, hurting

Free of all sin and burden.

Free to fly, to soar, to know

Free because of your blood, your love.

Free.