On September 7, I received this email from Ian:

Stevi,

Today has been a very difficult day for us here in Choluteca.  Keydi Paola died today at 3 pm.

She was admitted in to hospital on Friday and we have been shipping down medication from Tegucigalpa because they did not sell it here in Choluteca. She was really sick on Saturday but when we visited yesterday with Pastor Giovanny she seemed much better.

Sadly I received a call saying they needed more medication urgently at around 12 midday. The medication was due to get to Choluteca at 4pm. It would not have made much difference the doctor said because TB had set in and her defenses were so low.

Praise the Lord she accepted Christ with a Pastor from Cedar Creek Ohio and the CHV team had a chance to confirm here acceptance on Saturday, I was really privileged to be asked to pray for her around 5 minutes before she passed away.  She was peaceful when I told her God was there with her.

Thank you for your prayers and your support in all we do, our work here would be much harder than it is without your input. For us it has confirmed once again the importance of the support groups who have rallied around carrying out various things needed before and after Keydi’s death.

Blessings

Ian

Ian sent this along today:

"She was admitted in to hospital today having trouble breathing. She is currently on a drip and looks weak, she also has a fever and cough.

Please pray for a swift recovery. She has a really good, supportive family, praise the Lord."

Keydi is 15 and was born with HIV. She has been recovering from a recent bout with pneumonia, and had lost a lot of weight.  She was excited to return to school after her illness, so pray for encouragement for her during this difficult time.

You can read Keydi’s profile on the Casa Hogar Vida site.

• Father’s Day in Limon.
• The Rock’s Visit to Honduras.
• The Rock Central Methodist
• Yasaira’s new hair cut.
• Manualidades move to Casa Hogar.

We have all sorts of bags, purses and kitchen linens, ranging in price from $5 to $25.  Most purses and bags are $18. 

So if you’re in Columbia, stop by Middlebush Auditorium on Saturday at 7:07 and pick up something special hand-made by the ladies of Manualidades, benefitting Casa Hogar Vida.

Click each thumbnail to see the full-size image

You can see more pictures and diagrams at the Casa Hogar Vida site.

Luz Moved in her New Home
from GCLA Foundation in Action
The community “Esperanza” has new kids in the block. Luz moved with her children, and Ramon moved with his family. We were delayed due to water and sewer but now the systems are in, and soon more families will move. Read more.

Expansion in Choluteca
from GCLA Foundation in Action
The Choluteca church has been growing in attendance and in services to their community. Some weekends the church receives 300 or more people, but it fits only 250. The church is building an expansion to the Auditorium where now 550 people will seat comfortably. Read more.

Basic Utility Vehicle in Casa Hogar
from GCLA Foundation in Action
A US college student designed a type of cheap, hard working, efficient, utility vehicle that could be used for heavy tasks in places of community service such as Casa Hogar. These vehicle is made in Honduras. Now we are using it to move rocks, materials, re-bar, blocks, cement, trash, posts, anything. Read more.

Fencing Casa Hogar Vida
from GCLA Foundation in Action
One of the last requirements to receive the orphan HIV/AIDS children in Casa Hogar Vida was the fence, we are building it and it should be finished within a month. The Honduran children agency has already assigned 4-6 children that could come and live here. Read more.

Dear friends, I want to take this opportunity to introduce to you a new program we have started in Casa Hogar Vida to help people sustain their own families. Its name is Manualidades (Handcrafts) and at the moment employs two people: Luz who many of you know and Lilly.

The aim of Manualidades is to make things with a sewing machine such as handbags, table cloths, curtains and other things which can be sold.

We are looking for your support in two ways if this is possible. Firstly; by bringing or sending any material that you can which will reduce our costs, fewer costs means more people can have employment.

Secondly; if there are things in the brochure that you would like to purchase then again this will help sustain the ministry.
 
For your attention here in brief are Luz and Lilly’s stories:    
Luz
Luz is infected with HIV, she used to live in a tiny house made of mud with her three boys. When the father of her middle boy found out he was infected and had infected Luz he took his own life by hanging himself with the hammock. Luz struggled on but faced huge stigma and discrimination, even from her own family. Her mother would not let her eat from the same plate as anybody else and would not even let Luz touch her own son in her presence.

Luz went to the pastor of the church she was attending to try and get him to speak with her mother who also went to the same church. However, he told many people and told Luz it was her own fault, so Luz was alone. She said she felt like her family and God had turned their back on her and so she stopped attending church.  Two workers from the Casa Hogar Vida team managed to reconcile Luz to her family which is really important but most important is her reconciliation to God.

Luz now has a new home in Casa Hogar Vida and a regular job in Manualidades, which provides a source of income for her family. She also attends church every Saturday evening and is an active member in a fellowship group.
 
Lilly
Lilly’s husband died of an AIDS-related opportunist disease, leaving Lilly a widow. Shortly after his death Lilly was raped by a man who she later found out had a hereditary problem with his heart. Lilly soon found out she was pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy naming him Brian. However, Brian to had the hereditary problem and at the age of one year old sadly he died.                                                                                       

Manualidades is helping Lilly in many ways, financially, practically but above all spiritually. Every morning at 8 o’clock there is a devotional when issues are addressed, Lilly has many and still has a way to go but through God’s grace she will get there.

When we think of how far Luz has come spiritually in the year and a half that the team has known her then Lilly can do it to. She now attends church every Saturday and is soon to join a fellowship group.

 
Here is a list of things that are needed as of the 27th January 2009.
 
o    Stiffening both thick and thin
o    Embroidery silks, various colours
o    Navy zips and other colours various sizes
o    Fasteners for skirts
o    Various coloured cottons
o    Felt material
o    Ribbon all colours and width’s
o    Edging material, cotton and silk fringing
o    Imitation fur material
o    Filling for cushions etc.
o    Material with Aztec type patterns
o    Tapestry type material
o    Bag type material
o    Sued looking material
o    Leather looking material
o    Sequins
o    Transfers
o    Fabric glue
o    Ordinary glue
o    Glue sticks
o    Embroidery squares
o    felt