October Update

October Already! It's hard to believe we're in our third month here already!  It's also hard to believe it's the middle of October!  Outside everything is still green and very much alive, and the weather is still warm.  The nights are beautiful though . . . cool breezes of fresh air through the open windows, and frequent HUGE thunderstorms. The La Providencia students have exams this week, meaning the first quarter of school is finishing up.  Teaching is still a big challenge for Erin, but it is slowly getting better.  Heath and Ethan continue to enjoy their work on the buildings:  the new house is coming along well, and the most recent addition to the school is getting its finishing touches.  All four of our kids are doing well here, and homeschooling is going smoothly. A medical and dental team were here this past week.  The students at the school all received a dental cleaning, and many children from the community had important surgeries done.  La Providencia does a great job of reaching out into the community to help people, beyond just the students at the school. Our visa is only good for 90 days, so we have to leave the country every 90 days to renew it.  We have a few days off of school later this month, so we'll be driving to Belize to spend a few days.  Please keep us in prayer for a smooth trip . . . safety first of all, also problem-free border crossings, and a relaxing time as a family.  Thank you!  We could also use prayer for wisdom in planning the other trips we'll have to take.  We have to go two countries away each time (not to a country that borders Honduras), and travelling within Central America isn't as easy or cheap as we had been hoping. Orphan Sunday is coming up on November 8th!  Find out if your church has anything planned, and if not, maybe you could be the one to start something!  See www.orphansunday.org to see what it's all about! And don't forget to "like" La Providencia on facebook if you want to see more pictures and read more about things happening here!

September Update

School has started!   This has been a very busy month for everyone at La Providencia!  School started on August 19th, and most of what we've been working on has been related to that. Heath and Ethan and Jesse worked with the other men to finish the new administrative offices (which our very own Mountain View youth team worked on this summer!)  They also painted the new walls and repainted several old walls.  They also tore out the wall separating the library from the old administrative office.  (The ladies from our Mountain View team last spring spent many hours in the small library working on organizing it.  You would all be very excited about the expansion!!)  Now that the school building projects are finished, Heath and Ethan are spending most of the time working on building the new family home.  It is very hard physical work!  But even Ethan is working all day out there and enjoying his job.  He's going to be disappointed when we start our homeschool year and he has to take time out of his work day for that! I (Erin) have spent my time mainly in the school.  We had a couple of weeks to prepare . . . organizing the classrooms and planning lessons.  We've now had a week and a half of school.  I start teaching at 7:30 in the morning, and am finished at 11:45.  I'm teaching 2nd grade English every day, 2nd grade art once per week, and one music class per week for each of the 6 grades.  During the hours I'm not teaching, I work on organizing the library.  There are still hundreds of books to be cataloged!  The teaching load is more than I was expecting because there is so much lesson planning involved.  It's also overwhelming to try to manage a classroom full of children, especially the young ones who don't know much English yet!  But the second week has been better than the first, so I'm hopeful that it will get easier. We've figured out a schedule that works for our family.  Erin and Ethan ride to La Providencia with a friend at 7:00 every morning.  Heath brings the other kids over around 9:30.  They entertain themselves for about two hours.  Then, after we eat lunch, Erin takes the kids home, and the afternoons will be our homeschooling time.  Heath, and sometimes Ethan, finish the work day around 4:30 or 5 and ride home with the same friend that takes Erin in the morning.  It's a bit complicated, but seems to be working ok. We are making friends with many new people, and the La Providencia staff are all very welcoming and supportive as we get adjusted to this new culture.  We started Spanish lessons this week, and it's very exciting to be learning and understanding more and more of what's going on around us. One huge blessing for La Providencia is that all the money has been raised for building the 3rd home, which means the 4th home will be funded as well (because of a very generous donor)!  It is very exciting to see how God has provided, and to be a part of this exciting next step at La Providencia! It has been a trying month in many ways though.  In addition to all the differences we shared in the last newsletter, we have also had financial challenges, a minor car accident, frustrations with getting our shipment, and other things.  But we are thankful that God is faithful no matter what and that we have good friends (old and new, near and far) who are carrying us through.  We appreciate your prayer and encouragement so much! One immediate prayer request we have is for our shipment.  We sent a large amount of personal items, all our homeschool curriculum and supplies for the year, clothing and all the kids' toys, many of Heath's tools, as well as books and electric pianos for La Providencia by ship.  Our shipping costs were covered by those of you who have been financially supporting us.  We were told there would probably be no customs fees because it was personal items.  However, we have now been charged $1300 in customs, and our shipment has been "red stamped," which means they are going to open it and go through everything on Monday.  This will not be done in our presence, and we were told nonchalantly by our friend who's helping us through the process, that some of our things might not be there when we go to pick it up.  Theft is expected; bribery is not uncommon.  And it appears that there isn't really anyone to appeal to about it.  Please, please, please pray that a person of integrity inspects our shipment, and that all of our things make it.  Yes, it is just "stuff."  But it is "stuff" that people have donated for La Providencia, "stuff" that we need in order to educate our children, "stuff" that will enable Heath and the men to work more efficiently, "stuff" that we can't afford to replace and will make our time here much more manageable.  Please pray with us that it makes it!  Thank you! Thank you all for joining with us in this ministry! ~Heath, Erin, Ethan, Jesse, Tabitha, & Rayanna~

Expanding the Library! Building Family Home #3!

August Update

Settling In We've been here for a week already!  Here's how it's been going . . . Our flight from home was uneventful.  All of our luggage made it (that's 22 pieces counting carry-ons)!  Our first couple of days were spent unpacking and setting up house a little.  During the week we continued our settling in process by getting phones, internet, finding out how to pay bills, grocery shopping, and all that fun stuff.  It's been interesting!  We are SO thankful for help from Katharine, who is the head of the English teachers at Academia La Providencia and all around Lifesaver for us foreigners!  Even if we knew Spanish, which we don't, I really don't think we could have done any of this without her!  Some differences in how things work between here and home . . . There are very few addresses or street names, so when you're telling the internet company how to find your house it requires a page of detailed notes, describing which block of which dirt road, and what color gate and how many dogs you pass on the way (kidding about that last part).  Tigo did manage to find the house and successfully get our internet working on Friday. Getting cell phone service requires someone with Honduran residency who is willing to sign their life away for you!  A few of us went together to get phone service, and we were there for about 3 hours! There are armed guards at grocery stores, banks, and many other places.  You are not allowed to use cell phones in banks, and you have to wait for a guard to open the door and let you in.   It's an interesting mix of city and country life where we are.  Our first night here we were awoken by many different sounds.  There were the usual (but strange for us country folk) city sounds like traffic, people, etc., and then some explosions which we later found out were fireworks which are used for celebrations of all kinds, often starting in the middle of the night.  But to balance out the city sounds, we also have dogs barking and fighting (SO MANY dogs here!), roosters crowing, and birds chirping (in Spanish evidently, since they sounded nothing like our birds at home), and to top it off--donkeys and cows being walked down the street!  It made for a fun first morning! Mopping and cleaning need to be done at least once, if not more than once, every day!  The dust from the dirt roads, and the fact that the windows need to be open almost 24/7, leave a lovely dust coating that constantly covers everything.  Everything!  Dishes, computers, slippery tile floors, dining room table, beds, feet, windows, screens, everything!  I chuckled when I heard that most people have a housekeeper, thinking they must be spoiled, but now I understand why and can't wait to hire someone to help with the overwhelming cleaning tasks! Geckos, lizards, and tarantulas.  Praise the Lord the only tarantula we've seen so far is a dead one Jesse found today.  The geckos and lizards are somewhat fascinating.  Fortunately, only one gecko has been found in the house so far (well, not counting the tiny baby one that was inside a pan I had planned to cook dinner in.  Plans changed that evening.)  And we saw a lizard outside the other day that I'm sure came from Jurassic Park . . . looked just like a baby dinosaur. Sunlight hours.  The sun is up from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm, and won't change much throughout the year.  There's also no daylight savings time.  That will be great in the winter!  Right now, it makes us feel like it's bedtime around 8 because we're used to it being light much later! Not everything is different though.  Our family relationships are about the same--for better and for worse! With the internet, it's almost like we're still close to you all, and we even have English TV which we did not have back at home!  (It was cheaper to get the internet with TV than without.)  We have Wendy's and Pizza Hut in our town (but the Honduran food is much better and cheaper).  The people are like people anywhere--beauty and flaws, varying personalities, walking the journey of life just like we do.  With the other Christians here, it is exciting to experience fellowship:  even if we don't speak the same langauge or share the same culture, we have the same basic goals and serve the same God.  That makes all the differences pale in comparison! What have we been doing with La Providencia so far? This picture was taken at the La Providencia celebration picnic at Pulhapanzak Falls.  Everyone enjoyed a day of celebrating the exciting things happening at La Providencia, and meeting the new people  The waterfall was beautiful! The rest of our work days have been getting things ready for school to start (on August 19th).  Heath has been doing a lot of painting in the school buildings, and has also been working with the crew who is building the new Family Home on campus.  Erin has been organizing the school library and a classroom, and having meetings with the other faculty to plan the year.  Ethan has been helping with a lot of the painting and cleaning as well.  Jesse, Tabitha, and Rayanna have pitched in too.  We have just over a week to go before school starts.  Still a lot to do to get ready! In addition to working, we've enjoyed meals with many of the La Providencia staff, church with some of the other new people, fellowship with our new neighbors, and meeting many new people!  The Hondurans are friendly and welcoming, and there is also a large network of American missionaries in the area.  We're certainly not alone down here! That being said, we do miss you all, and would love to have visits!  Our home is not quite as guest-friendly as we had thought.  We have three bedrooms, plus an extra "homeschool" room.  We don't have a bed for that room though, so we're not sure yet if we can accommodate guests in our house (assuming no one wants to sleep on the tile floor!)  Hotels are very inexpensive though, so there is definitely that option, if we're not able to host here at our house.  We do have an address to use for mail:  Heath & Erin Runkles; c/o Katharine Marrow; APDO#115; Siguatepeque, Honduras.  We've heard mixed things about the reliability of mail actually getting here, so send at your own risk! Thank you all so much for your prayer, financial support, and emotional encouragement.  We are so thankful for the part each of you play in our lives and in this ministry.  Keep in touch, and God bless! ~Heath, Erin, Ethan, Jesse, Tabitha, & Rayanna

The Lasts

Yesterday was the first day of our last full week here. As excited as we are for the adventure awaiting us, change is hard, and saying goodbye is even harder. The kids have begun having their last playdates with friends. We've already said goodbye to a few of them whom we won't be seeing again. They all seemed fine; I was the one getting teary-eyed. And I haven't even started saying goodbye to my own friends yet! I taught my last piano lessons here, and even played my piano for the last time, before it was sent to its “babysitter's” house. One of my sweet students who graduated this year, and whom I've taught since she was six years old, wrote me a precious letter that I will treasure always.

We're in the midst of a lot of mundane “lasts” as well: our last visits to the doctor and dentist, our last visit to the post office, the library, the bank, Walmart, and all those other places we go so often without giving it a second thought. We had our last trip to Greenbrier, the state park we go to every summer, our last pool party with the extended family, our last road trip to other states.  This next week and a half will also bring us through the last Sunday at our church, the last meeting with the orphan ministry, the last get-together with our friends, the last dinner with Heath's family. 

This will be our last full week as a “normal” family. (I know some of you will debate whether we were ever normal, but you know what I mean.) Until now, only the girls had lived in another country, and that was when they were too young to remember it. But after this we will be a truly international family, having lived in another country, hopefully speaking two languages, having experienced life on the mission field and on missionary support.

Not knowing whether or not we'll live in this house again (since the renters might want to buy it next year), we may be experiencing our last EVERYTHING here. The last birthday party, the last play date, the last sleepover, the last dinner with friends. And in the next 11 days . . . the last moments in the family room with the fireplace and skylights I love so much, the last time to sleep in these bedrooms, the last time the kids play on the tree swing or build in the woods, the last hike down and up the driveway to get the mail, the last meal cooked in this kitchen, and (Hallelujah, bless the Lord) the last time cleaning each bathroom and every nook and cranny. Somehow, even that makes me sad.

And I know, it's only for a year, not for life. And with modern technology we'll still be in touch with everybody, probably even more than usual. And I'm excited to go! But, still, there's a grief in leaving so much of the familiar behind. And I'm only recently realizing this. When we decided to do go, it was all excitement and just a few questions about practical matters. But now I'm feeling the emotional weight of it all. And I realize it's going to be a lot harder to leave than I thought. Then again, I'll probably feel the same way about coming back!

I'm so thankful that God is the constant through all of life's changes. He is with us wherever we are, and He is close to the broken hearted. So no matter how hard it is to say goodbye, or how difficult next year might be, His mercies are new every morning, and His love is never ending.   

Our Baby's Baby Tooth

Our sweet baby isn't a baby anymore!  Rayanna lost her first tooth today.  She's been so funny, wiggling it and telling everyone about it.  She asked Daddy to pull it out yesterday, but it wasn't quite ready.  Tonight before bed she asked again, and out it came!  Her reaction was not what I expected.  She was stunned into silence.  No cry, no gasp, no shout of excitement.  Just stunned silence.  I guess she's glad it's out, but I think maybe the whole thing creeped her out a bit.  I know how she feels . . . the thought of parts of a child's body being ripped out of their mouth is rather creepy indeed.

But I guess this means I'm officially not a Mom of Little Kids anymore.  I've sensed it for awhile now.  Over the past few years, my conversations with other moms have changed--from being about topics like sleeping through the night, diapers, potty training, and the like--into discussions about youth group and video games and school struggles and relationships.  It's good that they're growing.  Other than the sweet smell of a newborn and the snuggling with little ones, I don't think I'll miss all the exhausting tasks of young motherhood.  But I already miss the precious memories of my babies--when they were just my babies . . . no pressures, no responsibilities, no outside influences, no bad attitudes, no fighting with siblings, no agenda beyond meals and naps.   

But this wasn't supposed to be a deeply thoughtful post, just a record of our last baby losing her first baby tooth.  Congrats, Rayanna.

Overwhelmed

I thought I'd post a little update on how things are going as we prepare for Honduras. Right now I'm feeling overwhelmed! It's not that I'm really that busy, but there are 10 million things whirling around inside my head that need to be done.   And it feels like a vicious cycle… I can't do THIS until THAT's taken care of but I can't take care of THAT until this other thing (which is dependent on someone else's response) is done,  and so on and so on and so on.  It certainly doesn't help that our Internet is not working at home. About 90% of the things that need to be done involve the Internet in some way!  (Do you know how difficult it is to update this blog using my phone?!!!)

In addition to my (admittedly very first-world) internet problems, we'd appreciate prayer for some other things that are beyond our control. We still need a buyer or renter for our house, and we're getting nervously close to our departure date.   We are also working on figuring out how to get Tabitha's medical supplies while we're there. It's looking like we might have to pay out-of-pocket in order to get them all, so please be praying about that as well.  We have about half of our needed monthly support pledged already! That is a huge blessing for which we are very thankful!

Beyond those items, my biggest prayer request is for peace and joy during the next several weeks. There's a lot to do, but I don't want to stress out our family by being stressed myself or by rushing through these days  and ignoring the kids while I try to get stuff done.  I need the Lord to keep me focused on Him, one step at a time, in the midst of all the busyness.

Thanks for your prayer and support.  As we get closer to leaving I'm starting to get emotional about the people we won't see for a year. So PLEASE keep in touch!!!!!  We'll miss you all a lot!  Tonight and tomorrow we'll be sharing in the church services. Slightly terrified about that but excited to share about La Providencia.

Time to get ready for our final day of the yard sale.  Until next time . . .

We're Really Going To Go!

 May 7, 2015

Dear Friends,

As you've probably heard by now, we are preparing for a year of ministry in Honduras! Since returning from our second week-long trip to La Providencia this March, we have felt called to go for a longer time, and we plan to move down there during the last week of July and return home next summer.

If you're not already familiar with La Providencia, it is a Christian ministry and a “best-practice, family-based community of care for orphans and at-risk children in Honduras.” Their vision is more than just meeting the immediate needs of orphans. They provide a family setting for these children, excellent education and medical care, and a long-term plan for their future. Right now they have two homes on the campus and are getting ready to build a third home and welcome a new couple and new children into the La Providencia family. In addition to providing homes for orphans, La Providencia extends its reach into the community, providing opportunities for urgent help as well as long-term change. The high-quality, bilingual Christian school provides education for almost 100 children and employs many local people as well. The medical clinic provides important surgeries for children from surrounding areas. La Providencia has long-term plans that not only benefit the La Providencia family, but the Honduran community as a whole. You can learn more about this amazing ministry at their website: providenceworld.com/la-providencia.

We are honored and excited to be temporarily joining the work at La Providencia. Heath will be working with the building and maintenance staff, most likely helping to build the next family home on the campus, as well as smaller projects as they come up. Erin will be teaching music classes and piano lessons, and working in the library at the school.

God has already worked out so many of the details, and we are excited to see how He continues to lead us. If you would join us in prayer we would appreciate it!

Some of the blessings we're thankful for are:

• God giving both of us the desire to do this!
• our children being excited about (or at least OK with) the idea
• the amazing encouragement we've had from friends, family, and church leadership as we've shared about this
• a furnished rental house in a safe community, where we'll “just happen” to live next door to the leading GI doctor of the area (and this was set up without us ever mentioning Tabitha's medical needs to anyone!)
• that homeschooling allows us to leave for a year without disrupting our kids' education

Some of the requests we're praying for are:

• continued peace about such a big change
• sale or rental of our house here
• financial provision for the move and ongoing monthly support
• a good deal on a vehicle (we have to buy one in Honduras)
• wisdom for all the aspects of preparation
• ability to get all of Tabitha's medical supplies and medications there, and no health complications for her (or any of us)

In addition to praying with us, the other needs we have are mainly financial. Moving and the related expenses will probably cost around $5,000; in addition, we have to buy a vehicle once we get there which will be around another $8,000. Our monthly costs will be about $2500. If you are able to help us with these expenses, we would love to have you join our team of supporters! All gifts are tax deductible, and you can give a one-time gift and/or sign up for monthly support. Here is the link for giving:

https://providenceworld.com/app/invest/items/runkles-family.

Some other things that would be helpful:

• a full-size electric piano with built-in speakers (either to borrow for the year or to leave with La Providencia) because moving our piano down there isn't feasible
• gift cards to Amazon or Rainbow Resource for homeschool books (since we won't be able to rely on the public library like we do at home)
• plastic storage bins

If any of you would like to visit while we're there, we'd love to have you come! You could set up an official missions trip through the La Providencia website, or you could just come visit us as friends. Either way we'd love to see you and show you this wonderful ministry first hand!

Thank you in advance for your support for our family and the work God is doing through La Providencia. We are so excited to be going, and so thankful to have you involved in this ministry with us! God bless!

~Heath & Erin Runkles

Ethan, Jesse, Tabitha, and Rayanna