Women's Conference

On the last morning of our work day with these beautiful people Sandy had prepared a morning just for the ladies of the community.  We did not know how many ladies would show up or how it was all going to play out. But God already knew how He was going to orchestrate the morning.  The roof was all that was left to go up so Sandy had decided to have the conference over at the driveway in the shade and away from the project.  The morning progressed and wheels started turning.  Her sweet husband Pastor Larry said, "Why don't you have inside the house once the roof goes up?"  That is just what she did.  Pastor Larry started setting blocks and boards up for sitting.  Edwin once again brought out the pulpit for Mrs. Sandy to use for her display table.  The other men on the team saw them in their working hard and they joined in to get a table made up for the ladies to work off of while during their craft.  A lot of love went into the first organized women's conference in Tapitoca. Slowly women came from different paths of the neighborhood.  One lady named Rosa and her daughter whose name is also Rosa walked one mile to come to this women's conference, bible study as most of us would call it.  They came in their Sunday best ready to learn about Jesus.  They all received a bible as well.  We began to joke about the bibles multiplying each day.  At the end of the week there was still a few left. 

As the ladies settled in Meida introduced the North American ladies to the Honduran ladies.  They opened up with prayer led by Sandy.  They started the morning off by team member Rita sharing how to use the bible.  How to be able to find the scripture in the bible by the books, then the chapter and then the verse.  Rita was very precise and detailed with these explanations.  These ladies had never own or seen a bible to our knowledge.  They eagerly listened and learn about this new book placed in their hands.  They did an activity led by Sand where you tied a rope to two of you and you use one hand to untie each other.  This was a great ice breaker for the ladies who giggled as they worked hard to get each other untied.  Rita and her partner were struggling but with the great amount of team member they were successful.

Sandy borrowed some fruit from Mike for her display.  She was told to be sure and take good care of that fruit.  The papaya was donated to the family at the end of the bible study.  Any way Sandy ask to describe what does this piece of fruit to for us?  How is it effective in our lives?  She asked them to describe to her what it is and if it is good or not?  This took a while for the ladies to openly share with Sandy but they finally opened up with their thoughts.  They shared how it was great to the taste, awesome medicine for sickness and many more thoughts of how this fruit was important for their daily lives.  Just like this fruit Jesus is more important for us in our daily lives.  Without Jesus there is not a life worth living.  Jesus is the fruit of the spirit.  Jesus is love, joy, peace, forbearance, gentleness and self-control.

Sandy led the ladies in a craft of a fruit of the spirit bracelet.  There were numerous beads threaded through a wire and each colored bead represented one of the fruit of the spirits.  Sandy gave explicit details about each fruit.  What an amazing time these ladies had while learning about Jesus.  Thank you Sandy, Rita, Julie and Donna the childcare provider for an amazing first women's conference in Tapitoca.  Virgilia was very proud to allow us to use her new home to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with her neighbors.