Difficult Times

As always, Chris and I (Sharon) are behind in getting our update out and a lot has transpired in the last couple months. We appreciate your patience as this has been an extremely difficult letter to write.

Most of you know that I have dreamed of returning to work at the Jungle Hospital as a nurse practitioner for almost a decade. I helped Dr. Martin and his wife Wendy open the Jungle Hospital in 2007 and worked there with them for two and a half years, before Chris and I returned to the United States in 2009. I returned to university to get my master’s degree and become a certified Family Nurse Practitioner with the sole intention of using it in Honduras to serve the rural poor. So, when I returned to Honduras in 2021, I thought that my long-held dream was finally coming into fruition. The plan was that I would work at the Jungle Hospital with Dr. Martin, gaining experience and confidence in my new role as a nurse practitioner, and in a few years, open a satellite clinic in Urraco where Chris and I live, as a joint venture between the Jungle Hospital and Give Hope 2 Kids. Well…all things change.

It is truly with a broken heart that I write to tell you all, that I no longer work at the Jungle Hospital. It has been a rocky road since my return to work there in August of last year, but I never doubted, not even once, that we would be able to work it out. In early March, at the end of the work week, Martin asked me to not return to work again until we (Martin, Wendy & myself) could have a meeting. I was very taken aback! They set a date for 10 days out. That gave me a little time to think and mourn and pray. It was during this time that it first occurred to me that we might not be able to work together after all. I sought encouragement and wise counsel and literally had an army of prayer warriors praying on behalf of the situation. Our meeting in mid-March was very short and to the point. They told me they were “releasing me.” No specific reasons were given for my release, other than that “things are not working.” Dr. Martin, Wendy, Chris and I desire to maintain our friendship. Our shared heart for the people in this river valley to know Jesus and have their lives transformed is something we can all agree on, despite our differences.

I am sure you can imagine that these last weeks have been very difficult for me. I have been sad to my core. I have been questioning myself. The dream that I had had for SO long, that I had worked toward for years, and was so sure God had put in me, of working alongside Dr. Martin and with the Jungle Hospital was no more. I felt so lost. Had I been wrong? Was this not God’s plan for me? My heart is healing, and though I continue to question, I no longer feel quite so lost. I am diligently seeking God and His next steps for me. I still believe that the long-term goal of opening a clinic here in Urraco will eventually come to fruition, how and when that will come about, I do not know. I am asking the Lord to show me my next practical steps. Chris and I do not doubt God’s call here, but this really has been and continues to be a very challenging time for us both. Please pray for us. I am seeking and desperately desire to do whatever it is that God is calling me to do next! I am day by day more ready for the Lord’s next steps for me.

From here, I (Chris) will be sharing other happenings from the past months…

The first thing we tried to do upon returning was to get our Honduran driver’s licenses. It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Just go and get it. Well, that’s not how the system works here. I will say the process required is not for the faint of heart and we commented many times how it makes our complaints about the DMV in the US laughable. Just one example of the convoluted system…we were required to be in line at the DMV over an hour before it opened just to make an appointment…for the NEXT day! In all, we think Sharon spent more than 30 hours in the quest to get her driver’s license. There were some happy moments as well…like when a young man saw that we didn’t have a motorcycle with us to do the test and offered us the use of his! People can be so generous. The story ends well, we both got our driver’s licenses!

After that ordeal the start of the school year was a breeze! Just kidding. It was easier than last year, but still a lot of work. The biggest difference this year compared to last year is how much more administration work I am doing. About 30% of my time is spent in teaching duties and 70% as principal. I am excited about how much more I can do to help the other teachers succeed in their classes. However, it is still a very new role for me, and I have a lot to learn.

Give Hope 2 Kids ministry has a new volunteer this year who is teaching at the school. Her name is Noel and she arrived in January from West Virginia. She is teaching English class, helping individual students who struggle and acting as librarian. All these roles she has taken on have allowed me the time necessary to be a principal. She has truly jumped in with both feet to life and work in Honduras! Her plan is to spend two years volunteering here before returning to the States to pursue a graduate degree. We are so glad she is here!

We also lost a volunteer this year. No, we didn’t misplace him. Haakan returned to the States in early March. We miss his positive attitude and helpful spirit. His time went by too quickly and we miss him.

We did find time for something fun. Everyone on the property went on an excursion to the beach! A beautiful spot where a mountain river escapes into the ocean. It was a day full of fun, sun, food, and fellowship. And the next day, sunburns!

And one last little announcement…we got two kittens! Medianoche (Midnight) and Medialuna (Half Moon) – though we just call them ‘Noche’ and ‘Luna’. They are very cute, but don’t take my word for it, just look at the pictures!

We are thankful for:

• Receiving our driver’s licenses
• New, full-time volunteer Noel and the spirit of service she has shown
• The love, support, encouragement and “mourning with” of such faithful friends during a difficult time
• Sharon’s heart slowly healing

Please pray for:

• God’s direction and guidance for Sharon’s next steps
• Healing for Chris (fractured cheek and damaged nerve…will expound in the next letter)
• A reliable, used 4×4 for a reasonable price
• The Give Hope 2 Kids and Jungle Hospital ministries

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8