Mission Team Updates - LOTS of 'EM!!

Hola todo el mundo! (Hello Everyone)

We are nine days from boarding the airplane to Tegucigalpa, Honduras!!  I can't believe its just about that time already!  There has been so much going on here and many preparations to complete, which is probably why it seems the time has gone by so quickly.  Being a team (co-) leader is quite a bit different than when we weren't "leading" on our first time to Honduras last year.  We have learned a lot and we hope that we've helped a lot.  It has been an interesting, enlightening and enriching experience. 

A few weeks ago, we had our final "team-building" activity.  These activities are designed to help a team work together, solve problems together and build a "team" relationship.  Our team has actually grown significantly since we began the Team Meetings at the beginning of this year.   

(One of our team-building activities included having all the team members to hold onto the ropes that were attached to the red bucket you see in the photo, which was filled with ping-pong balls.  The object was to work together to maneuver the ropes in such a way as to tip the bucket so that the balls went into the lower bucket.)

 

(None of the balls may touch the ground.  They have to go directly into the the lower bucket.)

 (Uh-Oh!)

 Initially, the team for our church consisted of twelve people.  This is considered a small team, not to eliminate our ability to serve in Honduras, however, we would be limited on our ministry opportunities, specifically, Optical would be reduced by 50% and Concrete would be eliminated.

 (On our second attempt, we did it!)

 

(On our third attempt, several of us had to be blindfolded and rely on the instructions of our peers!

We still were able to do it ... not too shabby!)

 After multiple questions were raised and several discussions later, it was agreed and decided that we would combine our team with the other church that would be serving in Honduras during the same week.  We are excited about the newly formed team and the greater opportunity that it presents.  It is not US and THEM ... it is WE ... and together, WE will serve OUR LORD as WE serve the people of Honduras.

(Our other activity was a bit more challenging ... especially for those of us who have a hard time with logic puzzles.  This one was like a logic puzzle. )

(There were a few guys who tackled the problem and came up with ideas how to complete the task.) 

(Colleen jumped right in to making the ideas work!) 

(I'm one of those people who is really bad at logic puzzles so I can't even begin to try to describe the goal of the task.  Hopefully, you sort of get a good idea from the progression of the photos.)

(Ultimately, we were able to complete the task, ... really on the first try.  There was lots of discussion, a few problem-solvers and the rest of the team members who followed the lead.  Great TEAM WORK!) 

(I just like this photo because it looks to me like my dear-sweet-husband is making me walk the plank!) 

Just last week, we had a "Pill-Packing-Palooza Party!"

We ordered nearly $5,000 of Medicines (Pills and various Ointments) and we got busy preparing them to be distributed in Honduras.

Here's one of our great team leaders, Brian, our trooper-of-a-team member, Deb, and our Super Enthusiastic and Invaluable Missions Director, Pam ... 

There were many hands for all the work that had to be done ... thanks so much to everyone who took the time to be there!!!

... very happy busy bees ... 

For those of you with heartburn and indigestion issues, is this a delightful site??  I'm just curious ... 'cuz that's a whole lot of antacid tablets! 

No, this is not candy they are counting ... they are ibuprofen pills ... REALLY! 

Most of the pills are counted out in quantities of "30" and put into portion-sized bags for disbursement to the people who need that particular medication. 

Here's Bob (trying not to lose count) and Becky (labeling the bags) ... having the time of their lives!!  LOL!

Leader Brian has become the designated "shoulder-masseuse", typically providing this service to our teammate, Deb, due to her recent shoulder surgery.  However, for those "other" tense, busy-bees, he shared the service because of their hard work!!  So, here's Deb's objection, stating, "Hey!  You're giving her MY shoulder massage!!"  

LOL ... all in good fun, Deb, ... we know ... YEP, this team sure knows how to have F-U-N!  Yippee, Jesus!! 

Next Up:  Trunk-Packing - the final rung on the ladder of our preparations!!!