"We have this moment to hold in our hands...."

Benton, white tshirt, leg extended

Winter is over. Spring has sprung in Honduras.  Think we may have dropped to 70 during rainy season!  Never halted the daily soccer games at the Children's Center.  Every day, same schedule. 3:30 arrives and all kids/ young people seem to head down to invade the Children's Center. 5:30 sees one of us head out in the truck and throws the bicycles in the back to save them the arduous trek up the mountain before the sun goes down and dinner gets served without them! Benton has played his last game with his Honduran friends- when we arrived in Tulsa for the visa trip last week, he  decided to stay instead of completing the school year in Honduras. He will begin a new public school next Monday.   We've seen many changes since he arrived 15 months ago- we pray for many more, and that he allows the Lord to complete the work thats been started.  We love you, B!
Eryn has just 3 months til completion of her 8th grade year, finishing strong in her online English course. She has made herself invaluable to our fellow missionary, Lisa, with her passion for the La Ceiba Dump. She's discovered she has a great gift for teaching little ones, as well as patching up boo-boos. We will hold tight to each day of these last 3 months she is with us in Honduras.

2 1/2 years ago, John got involved in the "Faith comes by Hearing" project, and several of our area people were trained to lead listening groups of the Proclaimer. Last weekend, we were blessed to be invited to a "graduation ceremony" of the 3 women ( of the original 14) who had completed listening to the New Testament in Garifuna.

John presenting a certificate of completion 

John doing what he does best!

A serious moment, always accompanied by a gentle touch.

John continues to meet outlying clinic OB needs and has grown the OB department to 12 deliveries a month at Hospital LDL. He deserves a standing ovation!!!!!

Failed Blog for Christmas

This is a test only, as a lengthy blog was just lost, refused to save to publish. Testing 1,2,3,4.

Possum Pinata/Pains

On the light side, I was awakened one night this week by our parrot making squawkings from his hanging cage on the patio outside the open bedroom window. Unusual, as he's silent after dark.  Fearing that someone was trying to steal him (although why anyone wants a non-talking parrot, I don't know!), I quickly went out the backdoor, grabbing the broom as I went, and switched on the light.  Not thinking how I was going to thwart the thief's plan with only a broom, nor  how he would respond to a viejita rapida (fast little old lady) in PJ's , I charged out without my glasses. I saw a big possum, harrassing John's little Cheekie.  I lifted my broom over my head, carefully using both hands to take better aim, and let him have it. I succeeded in putting the hanging cage into motion, swirling around, with the now totally catatonic possum frozen onto the side of the cage.  I made several more swings, not sure I hit him even once as the cage continued to elude me in its spiraling. On one of my attempts, I struck my pinkie knuckle against the cage and have a growing bruise as a battle scar.  About then, John had awakened because I have trouble battling in silence, and must shout like a he-man with every strike. He was able to rescue his parrot, and the, by now, braindamaged possum limped off after dropping from the cage into the small ravine below.

On the heavy side, seems it was that same day we received news from Eryn and Benton's mom, Kate, that their birth father, Delaney, had taken his life. Though he has not been in their lives for about 2 1/2 years, and then only for a short time,  it was a sad couple days for them as they visited back and forth online with family and processed death of a family member for the first time. Eryn was encouraged greatly by a friend here, Sarah, who interrupted her own busy school schedule to help Eryn prepare a brief music/foto memory to be shared at the memorial service.  The kids did not go back to the US, but have gotten a lot of support from the missionary community here.


Victoria was born with a cleftlip and palate. We met she and her mom at church and John quickly got them in to see him, and he began trying to locate help for Victoria. We were blessed to have Eryn being the Pusher to make it happen, and within a month, we put Victoria and her mom on the bus to go to San Pedro Sula to meet with a specialty brigade there for her first surgery.

On the way to the hospital

Eryn and Benton being artistic with their pumpkin-like squash.

Here is Victoria just a day after her repair, not yet quite healed.  She will return for the surgery on her palate in April.  Thanks for your support that allows us to help babies like this!  Eryn delights in being involved with such things. 

Aspiring Stars and smart chickens

 Last blog was over some of our noteworthy friends and how we see them excelling.Ttoday would like to introduce some faces that I hope will keep being topics of our blog as they exceed our expectations, which are high, in the coming years!
This smiling face is Yuri, whom I trained as a nurses' aide several years ago, but who was hired immediately to be a pharmacy tech and to help on the computer in Information.  She is a highschool graduate that never lacks a gracious smile, and carries herself professionally.  She has dreams of becoming an LPN.

 Meet Rosalinda.  She is in charge of our Information area where patients are first met and entered into the computer.  She takes their vital signs, and assigns them to a doctor for their consult. She has been a big part of her family support, and is known as a leader spiritually in nearby Lucinda. She is finishing highschool at a weekend school, and has aspirations of paying off school loans this year and heading for nursing school next. She will be getting some math tutoring to prepare her in the meantime.

Argentina was recommended to me several years ago when I began the first nurses' aide class. She had been singled out for a scholarship to her 6 years of "colegio" or Jr Hi-highschool, by the McKinney's. She faithfully hiked down the mountain trail from El Toro each day an hour, leading other little ones behind her.  She graduated high in her class. Our first day of learning to do a bedbath, I send Argentina to warm up a pitcher of water in the micro- and she never came back.  Another classmate went in search of her and found her in tears in front of the newfangled electronic device- there is no electricity where she lives.  She has excelled as a nurse's aide and been chosen for special training in computer entry to assist our nurses on weekends to enter the costs of patients. It has been a joy to see this scared rabbit grow into a confident and competent helper, with the goal of being a nurse. She has been saving diligently.
All this to say, we are excited to be able to help some such as these to realize their goals, and to prepare a source of LPN's for the hospital needs using local stars. If you are interested in donating to their scholarship funds, or want more details about how we will keep them accountability and not just be handing out $, please contact us at pennyalden@gmail.com .  We also have in mind 2 younger students, who will be graduating from 6th grade this month, a MAJOR WOW out here in the campo. We'd like to be able to encourage them to continue in school also.

On a lighter note, Eryn took this picture enroute home one afternoon in the midst of a downpour!  Love it!

Some of our Shining Stars

Anael (left) after a baptism in Rio Esteban

 Several years ago, John noted a young man that attended our church and remarked that he had potential- but had never had the chance to finish highschool.  We brought him to the attention of some visitors, and they have helped us scholarship Anael to finish highschool- he graduates next month!  He has worked off his scholarship at various times by helping at the hospital, helping at the farm, doing the church maintenance- all the time being a school leader and sharing teaching responsibilities at the church. He has a gift with young people, and can be found with little kids climbing him at all times.  He plans to work a year in the city and then apply to LPN school.

Xiomara (right) doing patient teaching

     Right after we arrived here 7 years ago, we hired a young lady from the community to work afternoons for us while she was attending morning highschool, to give her the funds to finish her education.  Xiomara has worked for John as his office assistant since she graduated, and we've had the joy of seeing her born again and married.  Last February she began LPN school on the weekends in the city, with plans to be our Labor and Delivery Nurse once she's done.  Other visitors who bonded to her have helped with a scholarship to make this possible.  She is continuing working most weeks with John while she is in school.

     3 years ago, Joni was a shaggy, scrawny rabbit, his head always cocked quizzically to one side. He held his reading material up to his nose to read, definitely not one to capture your attention. His grandparents were raising him, and the extended family lived in a grouping of mud huts. Joni learned to play guitar, was mentored and loved by our former Guatamalan pastor's family, and entered our lives. He has worked for us in his spare time since then, being mentored by our gardener, and has bonded to our family.  His work has given him an account from which to buy a pair of glasses, get haircuts and clothing, a friend donated a guitar for him, and we've seen him grow to be our church music leader. Last year, John became concerned that the public school was always on strike and made arrangements to scholarship Joni to a new bilingual school near him that we had some ties with. It meant he and his family had to agree for him to go back a year, to catch up on the English. They all agreed, and now, a year later, Joni converses with us in English, has begun to excel in his academics, and has led his school to victory in a biblical/musical/memory Olympics. He will graduate from 6th grade next month, and then work his vacation to earn money towards next year's school expenses. He spends time each weekend with us, especially now that  our grandson Benton is one of his best friends!  What a joy to see Joni blossom with lots of love and input!
     As we look at sustainability here, John and I are feeling its best to invest in the education of promising young leaders that live in the campo and that are likely to stay here. Next blog will focus on a few more up-and-coming young people that we have had our eyes on for a few years!

FOLLOWUP ON PAST BLOGS!  The twins, Adam and Eve, were in clinic this week and are slowly gaining weight. They sit unassisted, are beginning to crawl. They turned 1 on July 28!

Miguel Angel, excited about his first soccer ball, with Benton and mom

Miguel Angel, the newborn who almost died a year ago, celebrated his first birthday in the mountains 2 weeks ago.  Our team from Oregon was able to go up the mountain with us to bring a pinata and a picnic and soccer ball up to celebrate this miracle. God is good!

Alden Family Update......

Thought I'd jot some thoughts before more than 2 months had passed, and I'm close now! We spent 5 weeks of that time in the USA, partly in the NW doing needed upkeep on the home we own there and enjoying our neighbors and family there. The weather was perfect, the clematis in full bloom in honor of our homecoming, and all the work went smoothly. A highlight of that time was a weekend bicycle trip from Spokane to Couer d 'alene with Penny's sister and husband- such memories! Guess part of  "making every day a masterpiece" is relishing the small things.

Deb and Penny in Leavenworth-touristing!

     We also had the privilege of hosting John's sister and her husband from Portland, OR for the first time and enjoying some leisure time on the awesome back patio that John and a fellow missionary constructed awhile back. Our neighbors from Honduras, the Greene's, also found time to give us a 2 night visit in the midst of all they are going thru as a family so all in all, our NW time was a blessing.

Ellie: "I'll take these socks, thank you!"

     The remaining 2 weeks John spent in Tulsa catching up with church, kids, doctors, and getting supplies for the hospital.  Penny had been gifted a ticket to go see our daughter Sarah in PN, so spent just 4 days there enjoying her and Jaie and baby Ellie. Ended all too quickly... 

     We returned home to Honduras with Eryn and Benton on august 5, a smooth transition compared to our departure in which John's backpack had been stolen in the airport and we were delayed 3 days in Dallas (which time was spent with old Wycliffe friends, so turned out to be a real blessing).  Smooth entry...but 4 days later, our pickup that was parked in the carport slipped out of gear and rolled across the neighbors lawn, back onto the road, and headed across the main steep road to partially disappear over the bank. Pretty horrifying to hear it slip and run out to helplessly watch it! No one was hurt, thankfully, and about 9 men responded STAT to have it look like nothing had happened less than an 1- 1/2 hr later.   That was 2 1/2 

weeks ago and we hear our insurance here is covering it well...supposedly repairs have begun in La Ceiba, and we're just borrowing vehicles to do the necessary til its done. Several are out of the country right now and have generously allowed us to use their vehicles. We pray its fixed by the time our next team arrives mid September!

     August 10, Hannah Lundsford from VA arrived to be a homeschool helper for this school year for Eryn and Benton.  We began school just over a week ago, so working out the kinks before Eryn begins an online class the second week of September. Hannah will help me 3 days a week, allowing me to work in the hospital without feeling as tho I am wearing 2 hats at the same time and doing neither well. Pray for Hannah, please! She is one of 8 kids, so probably knows all their tricks, as well as a homeschooler herself. She added piano to her teaching responsibilities this week so the kids will have this additional blessing . 

     Well, this has been mostly a personal family update! Will update you on other areas next time!  

How hard can it be to leave the country?

We had an uneventful departure from the hospital Monday, albeit 4 hours later than planned, as John had forgotten to clear his schedule of patients!  Kids finished their Iowa tests and rejoiced in "ending" the school year officially, tho they will continue doing their math all summer. We made it to our hotel not too far from the San Pedro Airport with time to go to the mall for everyone to enjoy their favorite at the foodcourt before bedding down in midst of a fierce rain storm that was rather lulling. After an early AM swim and breakfast at Dunkin Donuts, we left our pickup in the keeping of Hector for our 5 weeks out of Honduras, and headed for the airport with plenty of time to spare. Enjoyed visiting the large team that had been with us at the hospital, as they were headed out on the same flight as we were.  We enjoyed our last hour in the food court of the airport, playing chess and Bananagrams with the kids and visiting.  We got up to go to our gate...and discovered that we were short John's backpack, in which he carries everything but the kitchen sink, like a good Scout master.  In the ensuing delay of contacting airport security and reviewing the security camera video, we missed our flight. Marvin and Sharon Lopez had brought the large team in, and willing waited during our delay and even helped a lot with the police visiting. They graciously drove us to another motel to spend the night, as Continental was unable to get us out til the following day.  In the stress of the theft and making contingency plans, we forgot til much later to check and verify that our flight from Dallas to Spokane had also been revised to reflect the lost day....and found it had been overlooked.  Hours on the internet and phone from the hotel yielded no available flights, and then a big storm coming in took out the internet for the rest of our time. So John left for the airport on the first shuttle to try to plead for help.  Because the flight had been made by Continental but using United, they could not help us, so John was finally able to get a flight out on Saturday night...stranded in Dallas for 3 days and nights!  The July 4th holiday had all flights booked full and very costly. 
Many calls back and forth with our FWF (Foul Weather Friend) in Tulsa, much prayer by the LDL community and Tulsa Bible Church...and the Lord brought to mind fellow missionaries, the Kenworthy's, Wycliffe, who live in Dallas. With the need to close all our accounts and reopen new ones, finances are in a  bit of an upheaval as we seek to prevent any of the financial information stolen being used wrongly. Having a place to rest our heads for the 3 days we must be laid over in Dallas is a great blessing.  
So how have the Wild Things tolerated this unforeseen delay, as they have been counting down days and then hours til they again were in their mom's arms?  Amazingly well.  We are so proud of them!  They both congratulated John at supper last night and gave him an A+ on how well he'd handled the crisis. They have used the extra time to swim to their hearts content, to play games, were blessed to be bumped up to a first class seat for the flight to Houston,and are now both watching individual movies in the luxury of the USO here in the Houston Airport during a 5 hr layover. Its been an inconvenience for their mom, to be on hold in Dallas an extra night, but only a few more hours for them and they'll all be together.
John was robbed of his mini laptop, his cell phone, and all our financial paperwork. Please pray that the thief will only take out the sellable items and trash all the paperwork!  One day we'll see why the LONG delay in getting to the NW has served some unseen purpose. Thanks for your prayers and concern.