Bargain shopping with the best!!

So we started the day with breakfast at the hotel with our driver Nando, our interpreter Lola, and the Presidente’ of Mounte Olivos Tino.  Now let me describe each of these precious people to you so you can understand how special our day began:

Nando…he is a man filled with Christ ….joy overflowing..he laughs all the time and loves driving for us!! He even wants to learn English now so he can understand all of our jokes!! Haha!

Lola…she is a lady who is also filled with Christ and loves Americans and the work they do here.  She would love to interpret fulltime…but it is seasonal..we are lucky because she is in school and will be on break this summer…we have hired her to help us on all of our trips…she is very helpful getting around in El Progreso and is a joy to hang out with.

Then there is Tino…oh how to describe a man who is so sweet but has had no advantages in life.  He is a hard worker and loves the Lord.  Ty, my brother, brought a few REALLY nice leather spanish Bibles…he gave Tino one this morning..and it was one of those aha moments…Tino was so happy..we called him pastor after that! He shared with us that a group was planning to donate supplies so they can build a church at Mounte Olivos!!

Being with him this week has been an absolute blessing and watching him get so excited everytime we purchased supplies for the well…(but not until he was sure we were getting the lowest possible price!) was something to behold!!

Tino and Nando make sure you do not overspend..even if you have to go to 5 different stores…they will not let you spend more than you should for a part or supplies!! I would get tickled as we would get out of the car…go into a store…speak a little Spanish..they would look at us and say “no good”! And we would head to the next store!! I watched my brother’s jaw twitch as we were both thinking….a couple of dollars is not a big deal..isn’t time worth something?..but it is their culture and we have to love that!! So we patiently allowed them to find the BEST POSSIBLE PRICE for the money that was donated for the well…In the end…the money we brought was a perfect amount!! (of course..only God knew exactly what was needed..and as usual..He supplied it with the help of our budget shoppers Nando and Tino!!!) Tino was so excited that he not only watched every supply being loaded  onto the delivery truck…he jumped in there and road with them back to Mounte Olivos!! He is a very happy man right now!!

We purchased supplies to repair the bus for Copprome and we will be using the bus this summer for our mission trips!! So get excited Hearts2honduras mission teams….you will get to truly experience Honduran transportation…no air conditioning…just windows down and a great breeze to brush through you hair!! You gotta love it!!

We had a fantastic meeting with the staff at Copprome Orphanage about the projects

 we are going to do this summer…they are so sweet and so excited that we are really coming to work!! We told them that all of our mission teams would fall in love with the kids and the staff just as we have….they were teary and sweet as they shook their heads in awe…they are a special group of people with hearts full of love….serving “The Kingdom” with them is an honor and a blessing!! I can hardly wait until we return!!

We asked what the major concerns for the kids were…one needed school shoes because the soles were almost off and one of the new boys needed a uniform and books….we said DONE…and happily donated to those needs…which resulted in yet another shopping spree!

We were also able to go and buy LOTS of groceries for Copprome thanks to our partners 147 Million Orphans and also some individual families who donated food this month!!

The money exchange here is so funny….it is $1 for 19 Lempira…when you exchange it you feel like you have so much!! It is like monopoly money….but when you spend it…the prices seem so huge!! But then you do the math and realize the actual cost! For an accountant like me, it is crazy…and so confusing!!

All in all…this has been an amazing trip!! We accomplished a lot and are SO READY for the summer missions to begin!!! Please pray with us for the money to complete the projects that have been placed before us!!

Blessings to all of you….

Rhonda and Ty