hard work, fellowship, market shopping, worship and a movie in Spanish

Here's more from Phil written on Monday night.  They are in route and should land in Nashville at 8:30 tonight.  I look forward to sharing an update with you tomorrow with some pictures and more stories after my buys land on American soil!!!  We are decorating the house and making signs. I have 4 little people very excited to see Davis and Phil.  

McCarn Mission 

Blog Post #4

2 July 2013

El Progresso, Honduras

Wow, the past couple of days have been whirlwinds…not in the sense that our lives are whirlwinds in the United States. We’ve just kept a busy schedule of hard work, service to the orphanage and great fellowship as a team. We did take a day of rest on Sunday, beginning with one of the most meaningful times of worship I’ve ever experienced on Sunday. The people in the village of Olivos were so thankful and worshiped our God with the most joy. It was incredible. We then heard the testimony of Raul. He is a friend of Sheldon, the 147 staff member who lives here in El Progresso. His story of losing his father, then the departure of his mother to the States leaving him to care for his brothers and sisters was so touching. He became a fighter…mostly for survival…and eventually rose to the ranks of Honduran featherweight champion in Mixed Martial Arts. He told the people of the village about how that type of “success” never completed him and how he had never felt peace until he recently accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. The life change described was one of those God stories that makes the gospel unquestionable. Raul told the villagers that it was service to them that showed him who Jesus really is and it was a 147 team member on the last trip that led him to Christ. He now knows his purpose is to serve his people. He continues to compete in fighting. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him become very well known one day. But instead of the fighting being his story, he now is using fighting to tell his story of how Jesus changed his life. The villagers were so appreciative and admire him so much. Such a powerful, powerful moment. The leader of the village, Tino, then preached and we were all amazed at how blessed these people feel. 

After church, the women of the village opened their “market”. The handmade crafts are amazing and they beamed with pride showing their wares. We all purchased souvenirs and Davis bought a crucifix necklace that he now wears with great pride. 

Sundy afternoon we did something I didn’t expect, we took the kids from the orphanage to the movies. Yes. We saw Monsters University in all Spanish. These kids were out of their minds with excitement over the movie and the candy that they were able to get. 

We worked hard again yesterday seeing the houses take shape. Davis played soccer for six straight hours and has become the poster boy for the “gringos” here. All of the kids his age and a bit older find him when we arrive and toss the ball out. He has made such good friends. 

Well, today is our last full day here. We are about to go to breakfast and do it all again. It’s funny how the Holy Spirit has given us energy that we didn’t even know we have. Our muscles are sore, we are a bit sleep deprived, but it is so worth it. There is nothing like showing love through service. We can’t wait to share more when we get home. 

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footings and fútbol

I got a little behind this weekend on e-mails  so here is the latest from Phil & Davis from Saturday!!

McCarn Mission 

Blog Post #3

29 June 2013

El Progresso, Honduras

Yesterday (day 3) we followed the same schedule as the day before. Breakfast at 7:30, then off to the village to continue work on the house that we started. The footings that we dug the day before were now ready for concrete. By the way, there are no cement mixing trucks. It was truly amazing to watch the cement mixing process that has been passed down from generation to generation…at least the ones fortunate enough to have the means to build homes. We started by shoveling dirt into two wheelbarrows and dumping them on the ground in a pile. They then poured out bags of cement on the dirt and repeated this. We then shoveled that pile into another pile in the shape of a mountain. We then dug out the center of the mountain to form a large crater in the middle of the pile. We then took buckets of water from the river and poured them into the center of the crater. We then would slowly start from the outside “walls” of the crater and shovel dirt into the center until the walls collapsed into the middle and we then mixed the cement with our shovels. We then formed two lines. Two or three men would shovel the wet cement into buckets and we would pass the buckets down the line to someone standing in the footings of the house. They would dump in the cement and send the empty buckets back down the other line. It took about 20 or 30 minutes to get all of the cement we had just mixed into the trenches for the footings. You can only imagine how many times this must be repeated to the all the footings poured for one house. The metals columns that Davis helped tie together the day before were set in to the corners and cemented in so that they would be secure for when the blocks were laid. The work ethic of these people still amazes me. I put in one of the hardest days of manual labor of my life. It’s amazing how God gives energy when serving others and the outcome of your work  means so much to others. 

Davis and the local village kids did find some time to play a game of pick up soccer. He and his new friend Caleb (traveling with us on the team) began kicking a ball around with two or three of the boys after lunch. It’s amazing how they completed organized a game of two-on-two soccer, made makeshift goals with rocks and sticks and kept score, called out of bounds, etc. It was as if they spoke the same language.  They did have a translator come over to help them exchange pleasantries and the awesome hugs and handshakes after a hard fought, hour-long game were second nature to everyone who played. 

We also did our first VBS classes at both the village and the orphanage. It was awesome watching these kids who have nothing worship Jesus. They sang to the king in Spanish and heard a great story about prayer and how they can remember certain attributes of Jesus by remembering what certain colors stand for. 

The night ended with something that I did not expect. Sheldon, our leader and guide here in Honduras, invited all who wanted to go to play basketball of all things in a gym owned by the city of El Progresso. He was a former high school and collegiate basketball and football player and loves to shoot hoops. We played in a gym that had a roof but no door. The floor was concrete but the goals were good quality with glass backboards, etc. We played half court four-on-four and, needless to say, I am quite sore this morning. If I’m not careful between the hard work and play here, I am going to end up getting in shape in Honduras. It’s nice to work hard and play hard. 

Davis and I finished the night by sharing leftover pizza with the group in the hotel lobby and then we showered and went off to bed. Today we work for a half day and then take the kids at the orphanage swimming. Davis is loving it. He did asked last night about home and may be getting the first inklings of some home sickness. He misses his mom, his brothers and sister. But he is having a complete ball here. His work ethic has been buyoued by the people here. He was the hardest worker on his team building the reinforcement columns yesterday. He finished his lunch early and wanted to get right back to work. 

He and his buddy, little Wilbur, were always looking for each other yesterday. Wilbur’s mom found us before the buses left the village so that Wilbur could have one more hug. Mario is now the newest friend. He is closer to Davis’ age and was part of the soccer game. 

Much love to give here today. Blessed to be here. 

work hard, play hard, love well

I have a great update from Phil and some sweet pictures. For those of you who know me well, I am not much of a technology gal. I could live without a television and got my first computer last year. However, after this trip I don't think I will ever view it the same. I am so thankful to get the quick updates and pictures of my guys.   Look at this little treasure that Christopher found today and brought to me to ask me who it was........

Davis, age 21/2 (with red hair)


a lot has changed since then............................

Davis and his new friend Wilbur

From Phil

Tuesday night, first hours in Honduras

Well, we’re here. Honduras. What an incredible journey to this point…and we’ve only just begun. 

This trip, this whole experience, has already been full of so many blessings. From the moment our first dear friend pulled up to support our first fundraiser, to the many awesome moments of true humility when we would open the mailbox to find that God had worked through dear friends and families to provide the resources needed to make the trip. There was one aspect, however, that I didn’t quite expect. 

We drove to Nashville, hit the hotel, ordered pizza and took in a movie. The wake up call came at 2:30 a.m. just in time for Davis’ first flight. He handled it like a champ…an answer to consistent prayer that began when we decided to do this trip over a year ago. After about six hours of travel through Houston and on to San Pedro Sula, the team had arrived. Once there, we loaded three vans for the short drive to El Progresso. Wow. What a startling change of venue.

The story here is amazing. Our leader, Rhonda, is with the 147 Million Orphans organization. She has been coming here for three years. Her son, Sheldon, moved here a year ago to run things on the ground in Honduras. Following a major hurricane three years ago, they learned of a community of locals that had lost everything. They nearly starved to death before being discovered and the rest is truly a miracle of God. Rhonda and her team have been coming here for three years to build a neighborhood from the ground up. They started with a well…the only water in Honduras that has tested pure enough to drink. God has provided in many ways. Now there are 20+ block houses and a school where, for the first time, the children of this community are getting an education.  It was a truly unbelievable scene when our vans pulled up and the entire village came running to greet us with hugs, smiles, laughter and even some tears. It was amazing. Our first mission this week is to build the next house. What a blessing to be the hands and feet of our God.

Our second mission is to love the kids at a local orphanage, teach them through bible school and, well, just play. Davis watched for a while when getting there to discover that soccer (or futbol) is a way of life here. He finally entered the game and, before we knew it, kids from two very different parts of the world were enthralled in the universal language…sports!

We shared at our closing dinner tonight why we are on this trip. I shared that it was my wife, Gina, who’s heart breaks for orphans all over the world, that had discovered 147 and this kid-friendly trip. She has been the hands and feet of this mission. She planned fundraisers, worked tirelessly on the details and over the past week has made it her number one priority to prepare us well for this journey. I can say this, Davis McCarn misses his mom. We both do. But I can’t tell you how many times we’ve looked at each other when we discovered we had just the right thing at just the right time…snacks, bug spray, water bottles, etc…and one of us would say, “I love mom.” God has blessed me with an incredible wife and Davis with an incredible mother. I know she is full of mixed emotions back home. I know her heart is here in Honduras.

Sorry for the long post. I’m new at this so I pray my ramblings will be informative and in some way descriptive. Thanks to all who made this possible. God is stirring something in both Davis and I that I can’t fully explain. It’s 8:05 pm right now in Honduras…10:05 on the east coast of the U.S. Davis and I are tired…really tired and about to crash in our hotel We are anxious to get started bright and early on the construction site tomorrow. After meeting the families tonight, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Davis so excited wake up early to do hard labor. God is good. Our hearts are full.  Thanks for your prayers. 

the well

the house they are building

Wednesday, Day 2 in Honduras

Today began bright and early with breakfast at 7:30 am. We took the vans to the village and began work digging footings for the next new house. It is humbling working alongside the man who’s family will inhabit this place. They have waited patiently and lived in makeshift housing while many of their fellow villagers have moved in one by one. 

We were told about the extreme heat and the usual warnings about hydration, sunscreen, not overdoing it, etc. I can say this, I hit a wall around lunchtime. The heat is staggering and the bugs aren’t friendly. I drank more water today that I can ever remember. The smiles keep you going, though. Davis worked harder than I have ever seen a kid work. He and his new friend Caleb, age 8 and part of the team from Nashville, teamed up on tying together rubarb that will eventually reinforce the columns of the block houses we are building. 

In between work shifts, there was plenty of play. The kids there are constantly wanting us to pick them up, give piggy back rides, play tag and just talk…in as much broken Spanish as we can muster. Davis and I were taking a break at one point and noticed a little boy, likely not more than three years old, standing alone crying. We weren’t sure what was wrong, but we did the only thing we new to do…pick him up and hold him tight. We found Ms. Rhonda…our awesome team leader…and she told us his name is Wilbur. Wilbur, Davis and I are now friends for life. The rest of the day he came looking for us and we for him. His mom beamed with pride that we took such interest in this little guy. Little did she know that we beamed with delight that one of the kids would warm our hearts so. Davis rode him on his back, played with him in the dirt and gave him a big hug every time we passed him by. We later met his brother, Jose, and we became fast friends as well. 

Mario also became a good friend. He looked to be about 6 or 7 and I noticed that his feet (on which he had no shoes) were bleeding badly from sores that looked awfully painful. Ms. Rhonda came to the rescue with supplies from the medical kit. He promised to keep his “zapatos” on his feet. We found some socks and put those on to hold in the meds. Then he just wanted us to flip him around. Such joy in these children. 

The men of the village are such unbelievably hard workers. They didn’t slowed down a bit. All of the team were absolutely dragging by the end of the day. The men of the village still had hours of work to finish when we left and headed for the hotel. 

Davis and I enjoyed a quick dip in the pool, showered and headed to the orphanage for more fellowship and soccer…Davis is getting quite good! He had a ball. 

We then went into town and dined at “Power Chicken”. It looked like a fast food restaurant but served rice, chicken, fish and all kinds of great sides. Davis ate his weight in steak strips. We then came back to the hotel for devotions and lights out. It’s 9:19 pm here and Davis and I are absolutely beat. It’s the “good” kind of tired, though. So rewarding. We just hope we can hang in the heat again tomorrow!

We are blessed to have you checking in on the blog and covet your prayers. Much sorrow here, but much more joy than you can imagine. God is good. Good night…or as we are learning to say “Buenos noches”. 

Davis and his new friend, Wilbur

Davis and his new friend Caleb

Mario, Wilbur and Davis

Davis and Caleb on the work site

On the ground in Honduras!

Everything went so smoothly today from their arrival at the airport in Nashville to touching down in Honduras. We had a lot of communication until they left Houston.  Phil texted me to let me know they landed. We even got to skype for a few minutes tonight to say good night as we were all headed to bed and they were headed to dinner and worship.  I can't wait to hear all the details of their first day. Phil said the airport in Honduras went really well. Enjoy some sweet smiles. Scroll to the bottom to hear the stateside update!!! Tomorrow is their first day in the village. Pray for connections and bless the hands that will serve tomorrow.  You can also follow on FB by searching 147 Million Orphans and/or Hearts2Honduras. 

Skyping before bed time. 

Meeting the team at the airport in Nashville at 4 a.m.

This was a big deal. He's never flown. It was a major fear for him. He has battled fears since he was a little tyke. He's outgrown so many but there are still quite a few that creep in his mind.  

He got the window seat. He told me later that he loved flying in the clouds and seeing everything look so tiny during landing. 

Fear conquered. Flight to Houston successful. Ready for Honduras. 

Stateside.....

So on Monday morning,  I got a call from one of the many entities overseeing DFSS/foster care informing me our home had been randomly selected for a state audit and they would be here Wednesday morning. WHAT?????  Can I just tell you that our home was in no place to be audited?  Someone has been puking around here for the last 2 weeks. Five of our 7 crew to be exact.  Phil or I were up many of these nights cleaning up puke. I walked around with resolve in one hand and clorox wipes in the other. We washed sheets and towels like there were 20 people living here. We had sleeping pallets made on all 3 floors. I couldn't tell if you outlets had covers because the vacuum cleaner had been used just as much.  Did you remember the AC was broken and 2 cars were broken down? During one of these periods, I had no car for several days and you can only imagine what ensued during those days with us all being stuck here.  So as soon as Phil pulled out yesterday, I started cleaning. I cleaned until 10 p.m. I was literally throwing away the last paper towel 30 seconds before the auditor pulled up to our home this morning. Her name was "Mrs. Morrow" (Morrow was my maiden name).  She was all smiles and even offered encouragement. I think we got an At in the auditing world.  She was here 15 minutes. We said good bye and literally crashed!!!  Then we got a wild hair and decided to hit the Duluth Fountains. It was exactly what we needed. I sat on a park bench  chugging Diet Coke and photographing some of the sweetest moments we have had since the puke, car drama, AC malfunctioning and mission trip packing began.   

Carter is probably the most out of sorts. He and Davis share a room and play together all day long.  He's been checking the time all day and asking for updates.  He barely stayed awake to Skype tonight and I think it was just the thing he needed to let go and fall asleep and the 3 books Lily read to him. 

Then there is her.  I am in absolute awe every day how God has created her. She has such a servant heart. She loves helping out with the boys.  Her greatest gift is being able to understand the boys.  All 3 have speech delays and when they are tired, I just sometimes can't figure it out and she cracks the code almost 100% of the time.  

Introducing the little boys to a McCarn family tradition. 

And this was their idea... this was not a photo pose.....

Duluth Fountains!!!

THIS moment is a milestone.  When we met these two 4 1/2 months ago, I think what broke our hearts the most was witnessing the strain in their relationship. After being at the fountains for an hour, Christopher grabbed Xavier's hand and said "let's run!". They giggled and squealed and splashed and laughed. It caught us so off guard that even Lily and Carter said, "Mommy, hurry, grab your camera. Look at the boys."  It's been so humbling to watch the healing taking place in each of them.  

And they are off......

Phil and Davis left for Nashville today to meet the other members of the 147 Million Orphan team & Hearts to Honduras team. Packing became humurous over the last few days. There isn't much you really need in a 3rd world country but all the same, we managed to pack each back right to the weight limit.  They have to be at the airport at 4 a.m. and leave for Honduras at 6 a.m. They should arrive in Honduras around noon (2 p.m. our time)!

Thank you for writing letters and coming to pray on Sunday night.  I discovered today that many of you did not receive my e-mail inviting you to pray with us on Sunday. I don't know what happened other than it's lost somewhere in cyber world and probably because we had 2 cars brake down in 10 days, the A/C go out and over 1/2 our 7 family members have been sick with the stomach bug for more than a week.  I have managed to dodge it and pray I have missed it all together.  I have included some pictures from Sunday.  It was a very special evening. It meant the world to our family especially Davis and Phil. They took their letters on their trip.They are tucked away in Davis' back pack.

Sharon Moye was Davis', Lily and Carter's Kindergarten teacher. It was so cool to hear her wisdom and to charge Davis to use his gifts. The notebook and ball she brought him home from her mission trip to Guatemala remains in his bedside table from 4 years ago. My children adore her. She helped plant a seed in their hearts to go and serve!!!

The younger ones were a bit distracted by the tree, mosquitos and popsicles. 

Mike & Sharon Moye led our prayer time.  Sharon is my discipleship leader. She and Mike have mentored and shepherded our family since Davis entered her Kindergarten class in Dec, 2008. 

Phil, Christopher (our foster son) and Davis. Gods' timing.... who knew we would be loving on 2 orphans here while Phil and Davis went to serve orphans in Honduras?  HIS timing is perfect because I think it was the very thing that helped Davis prepare. He has a different self confidence about him since they arrived in our home. He's quick to jump in and play or help dry a tear or two. He's also pretty quick to engage the boys in a game of ball!

The prayer and fellowship time meant the world to these two. 

Xavier (our foster son) and Brett Pittman.  Xavier spent most of the prayer time hopping from open arm to open arm, eating popsicles and trying to run out in the street.  Brett grabbed him giving us time to finish our prayers. 

My post is actually moving backwards. I have started with todya's departure and moved back to Sunday night's prayer time. Now I am sharing some shots from our fundraising.  About a year ago, Phil and I started discussing the idea of he and Davis going on a mission trip. Many of you have asked why we chose 147 Million Orphans and Hearts 2 Honduras.  We spent  a great deal of time reading on mission trips. Our goal was to be family friendly and the opportunity to serve in a variety of ways. Timing was another priority. We wanted a trip that gave Davis time to rest after summer break began and plenty of time to rest before school start back. We found exactly what we were looking for in September! We began fundraising in November and finished in early June.  We hosted Hot Dogs for Honduras, Hot Chocolate for Honduras, Hotcakes for Honduras, sold wrist bands, a garage sale in Lexington, NC given by Phil's sister Angie, a letter campaign and 31 Gifts Party hosted by Jennifer Stephens. I can honestly say I am glad we had to fund raise for this trip. It was very time consuming and challenging to manage at times but ohhhhh so worth it.  It gave us the chance to connect with old friends to get to know new friends better and to share the mission of this amazing trip to Honduras. Many of you have taken the time to encourage and be the hands and feet in this journey. We are blessed and so grateful.  We have purchased a puzzle of the world and each of your names will be placed on a puzzle piece.  There are 600 pieces and 100 of them belong to this trip.  We will continue to fill those pieces with trips to come as well as those of you stepping in to help us love on Xavier and Christopher!  Thank you and enjoy the pictures of our fundraising.

Lily and her friend, Ava, had a hot cocoa stand one Sunday afternoon in January. 

Lily running the table at Hotcakes for Honduras. 

How did he get so tall? It was tough to say good bye to him today. I have never been away from him for more than a night or two since he was born!  He giggled when he found the stash of sour patch kids I snuck in his back pack.  I craved them like crazy when I was pregnant with Lily and Carter.  Even though he was 1 and 2 and the time, he has hung on to that little connection. 

Jim Sencen served our family by being the pacake artist at Hotcakes for Honduras. The kids loved all his creations.  When he retired for the day, Kelly Pittman decided to step up to the griddle and give it a try.  Per usual, we giggled until we cried. 

Thirty One Gifts party.  Those muffins were devoured once all the kids started arriving at lunch time. The table was  pretty for long enough to make the moms feel a little like a girl.  It was the morning after Lily's dance recital. It was a very busy time for everyone with end of the school year activities but I fought back many tears as I watched our house fill with buyers to support my guys!  

Sweet friends from Hot Dogs from Honduras. 

Phil and Davis hope to find time each day to journal a little something and hopefully share some pictures.  We decided quality photography was a low priority for the trip so they will get a few shots on Phil's phone. You can also keep up with pictures from their work on Facebook (search for Hearts2Honduras). If you can't find it, I can share it on your page.

You can join us in praying for a smooth trip tomorrow.  This is Davis' first time flying. We have heard the airport in Honduras is mayhem. Davis and Phil have both been fighting a stomach bug for a week. We are praying for strength and continued healing.  Pray for all the families serving with 147/Hearts2Honduras this week and the families stateside. Thank you for loving us.


In the name of the ONE who says to "ACT justly, LOVE mercy and to WALK humbly..."

McCarn Letter of Support

Atlanta, 18 March 2013

As you know, my son, Davis, and I will be traveling to El Progreso, Honduras June 26 – July 3 on a mission trip with the “Hearts 2 Honduras” organization based in Franklin, TN.

The heart of “Hearts 2 Honduras” is to provide much needed food, shelter, education and love to children who have been abandoned or are at risk due to the extreme poverty of their families. Their passion is to bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ and a brighter future to the poorest of the poor in Honduras.

We will be building houses in Mount Olivos, a small village approximately seven miles outside of El Progreso. We will also be leading Vacation Bible School, soccer games and other fun activities.

It’s amazing to hear the stories of how God uses these opportunities for serving others to shape our own hearts. Gina and I feel strongly that this experience will provide an incredible perspective for Davis as he turns 10 and begins to enter the next season of his young life. I, too, look forward to the opportunity to serve the least of these and to the growth that is sure to come as a result. Doing so alongside my oldest son will be an experience I pray that we will both remember forever.

I am writing to ask for your support. The primary way to help us is with your prayers. We covet your prayers on our behalf for a successful trip and true change in the hearts and lives of those we will be blessed to serve in Honduras. Of course, we would also appreciate your financial support if you are able and feel led. Our trip will cost a total of $3,500. We were blessed to raise the initial $1000 we needed for our deposit by hosting a “Hot Dogs for Honduras” and “Hotcakes for Honduras” events in our home this year. Should you wish to contribute, checks can be mailed to my attention at 5875 Millwick Drive, Alpharetta, GA, 30005. Checks can be made payable to me directly or to “147 Million Orphans” the organization of which Hearts2Honduras is a part.

Thank you so much for your love and support of the McCarns.

Sincerely,

Phil