Dear Friends and PAHS Family,

As temperatures begin to cool up north, extra heavy rainfalls are causing trouble in Honduras. Although lots of rain regularly falls in this beautiful tropical country, the loss of too many large trees to recent development activities on our mountain, added to the extra rainfall from passing tropical storms and hurricanes have sent torrents of water to places it shouldn’t be. A torrential river moving huge rocks overflowed, uncovering, and smashing the PVC pipes that bring our water supply to the campus; this has happened five times in the last six weeks.

The unusual rainfall led to widespread flooding all over. Adding to this upheaval, an earthquake of 5.1 magnitude shook up the Sula Valley recently. These seem to be signs of the times reminding us that Jesus is coming back soon! We praise God we have a reserve water tank for our kitchen and childcare areas and that here on our campus we have all remained safe. The lack of water in the rest of our campus faucets, at times, has reminded us of our need for an updated water system not so vulnerable to the whims of nature.

Monse and Isaias

As we deal with these waters rushing around us, our hearts break especially for the tragedy of one humble mountain family whose malnourished child is in our rehabilitation program; sweet little Monse’s mother drowned on Mother’s Day trying to cross the Rio Grande illegally into the USA. Grandmother Maria tearfully told us the story, emphasizing that she had not wanted her daughter to go on that treacherous journey, “I told her that I raised her and her siblings making just a little money cleaning houses and eating very simply with beans and rice. I told her she could do that too! But she wouldn’t listen. Her children’s father had left, and she was worried about feeding them, and about my health too. She thought she could make money to help me and herself. I didn’t want her to go… Oh, how I wish she would have listened to me! How am I going to raise her two little girls with my legs in this condition?” she asked, pointing at painful varicose veins. Monse’s big sister, 4-year-old Leticia, looked on stoically as her Grandmother wept.

Sixty years ago, as our campus was taking shape, a visitor reminded us that each person who walks the two-blocks from the road toward the clinic is accompanied by a guardian angel hoping they will feel the love of God and hear words that will give them hope on their pathway to Eternity. For decades now, this has been our prayer: May each person who comes feel the love of Jesus shining from the hearts of our staff. The task humbles us as God has placed us strategically where many hurting people can come for support in times of crisis. Grandmother Maria and her two little girls’ tragic situation reinforces the need to redouble efforts to provide this generation of young people with hope … hope that there is a way to a brighter future right here in this country without leaving home, exposing themselves to grave dangers on a journey north; a journey that ends tragically for too many, leaving thousands of children without parents and robbing Honduras of many of its best and brightest minds.

It’s a joy to watch lethargic malnourished children transform into happy healthy little ones! Over the last year we have come to love sweet Isaias. For 15 months now Isaias has been giving lessons in kindness and inclusivity. This sweet boy had debilitating diarrhea for 2 years before he came to us with his hemoglobin dangerously low. All the money the family could scrape together had been used taking him to one doctor after another and for purchasing the formula and medicine they prescribed.Nothing had helped his diarrhea. His increasing malnutrition was overlooked until a local clinic sent the family to us.

From his first day, even though Isaias was weak and thin, he exhibited kindness and was uttering words that seemed too mature from a tiny boy. And even though he was “the new kid” he still included others; when asked if he wanted to eat, he chirped: “She does too”, pointing at the child sitting next to him. Often, he seeks out the sad or lonely, and if one starts to cry he is the first to reach them with a comforting gesture.

Isaias’ eyes sparkle with joy when talking to us, and they shine as he asks questions. His thoughtfulness is endearing. He sports a quick smile and now has enough energy to run around with a little posse of friends seeking out new adventures on the playground or in the ward. Both his uncle and mother come regularly to visit.

Thank you for providing for Isaias and his friends as they gain strength and vigor to return home, where their parents are preparing to receive them. Our staff teach parents, among other things, how to prepare nourishing meals from the foods available to them.

All of us are grateful to have the wonderful partnership of your kind hearts which makes us able to help families who reach out for support. We wish you could hear children and staff as they lift you up before God! It is a blessed and joyful experience to hear their gratitude expressed in prayers. And we now pass it along to you.

With Love,