Dear friends and family, 

We arrived back home on December 30th. It is so good to be at home again in the Merendon Mountains of Honduras. We've really grown accustomed to the tropical climate and 80 to 85 temps in the daytime. We found everyone doing well here. Toby talked to the ministers for an hour or two the night we arrived home and then over the next several days to catch up. We were happy to find Santos completely healed after having his appendix removed about a month ago. 

On Monday morning, we have 12 people going to a Christ in Youth Conference in Guatemala. For many of these kids it will be the first time out of the country. The ministers have been busy getting all the paperwork together so everyone can leave. They have had to get everyone's birth certificate, which has been quite a task. The other thing is legal permission from both parents to leave the country. It is unknown or difficult to get to several of the fathers. Everyone is really excited. 

Toby started off preaching again immediately. Juan has to leave the country for several days to renew his visa. Santos and Emilio have been running around getting the paperwork together for CIY. Yesterday, Toby found out at 3:30 p.m. that he had to go to La Union to preach for Juan and he had to leave within the hour.
It has been rainy and cold here (cold is in the 70's). I reopened the clinic on Friday Jan. 3 but the roads were so bad that hardly anyone could get out. The number of patients coming has slowly been growing. On Monday the 6th, I sent one baby to the hospital with cellulitis. He seemed better when I checked on him yesterday but will have several more days at the hospital. I have another baby that needs to go to the malnutrition clinic. The problem is that Rene's (a child we worked with before the trip home) mother and this mother are due to have another baby at any time so the malnutrition program probably won't accept them. We are going to try to get in touch with one of our friends who works with the program to see what we can do. 

Daniel, the boy who had surgery in Cincinnati last March, developed a bad case of bacterial dysentery while we were gone. He had diarrhea 15 times on the day they finally brought him to us. They waited 15 days to get him help. The diarrhea caused another urinary infection. Then last night they didn't show up for me to give him his injection. Please pray for Daniel and especially his parent's that they would do everything they can to keep him healthy. 

Emilio, one of our ministers, has a herniated disk. Yesterday, I started networking to see what doctor(s) can do the surgery. I will find out more information this coming week or next when we can do the surgery. It looks promising to have good surgery here. FAME is assisting with the cost of Emelio's and Santo's surgeries.

Yesterday we had a lunch meeting with Bill and Margy Hoff who run the Bible Institute just south of San Pedro Sula. We will have 9 men (3 of them married) attending the Bible Institute. Please pray that the funding will come in to send them. We will pay the cost for them to go and trust that God will provide. These young men and their wives will each have duties at the Institute as their contribution for being able to attend the classes. On the weekends, Toby will have the men preaching or doing something with the churches to use what they are learning as well as to get accustomed to being pastors. Anytime the Hoff's need labor the guys promptly and enthusiastically go out and do whatever is necessary to help out. They are really excited and enthusiastic about studying for ministry. Please pray that Daniel's Mom will allow his dad to attend. She is extremely reluctant to experience anything new and for Lucio to be away from the family.

Right before we came home two more people were baptized bringing the total to 22 people for 2002. We praise the Lord for that. We have several people interested in being married in the church but most of the ladies cannot afford a wedding dress. As you may know the economy of Honduras is in ruins and poverty and malnutrition are too present with us. If anyone is interested in helping with this please let us know. Many times previously owned wedding dresses can be found at second hand stores like Goodwill at a low cost in other outlets. We need sizes 3 through 10. We are working with the churches to provide the big meal that is customarily given after the wedding. Also we are helping the couples get their marriage licenses. 

We are excited that Cassandra is celebrating her 2nd birthday on Monday, January 13th. What a blessing she has been. It's been tough for her to adjust to being home and away from adoring grandparents and other family members, and the carpeted, comfortable homes in the states. She was able to experience snow for the first time while we were home. Our extended stay allowed us to finish the paper work for her birth certificate and passport. Fortunately we learned that there was a time frame for getting this done, but it also delayed our return home until December 30


Thank you for your prayers and support.

May God bless you,

Toby, Amy, and Cassandra Hill