Hello! As always, we hope this finds you well!
Opalaca Hands of Hope Update:
It is so awesome to see the chip bag ladies arrive with new things that they have created. Last week, they brought the first large purse with a handle. They also continue to get more and more creative with the earrings bringing squares, letters, and some that even look like Christmas trees. So much fun! You all know the love that I have for these ladies. It is so awesome to see God strengthening my love for the basket ladies, and changing my heart even more toward the chip bag ladies as I pray for them. It makes it that much harder to leave in a week. I will get to see the ladies on Friday for the last time in 2011. Please pray that God continues to strengthen them while I'm away. I pray daily that their faith would grow, and it's always cool to see that come to fruition!
Opalaca Coffee update:
I (Andy) got to spend two days with Francisco this past week. Francisco is my "go to" guy who lives in the Opalaca Mountians (San Pedrito). Not only is he taking the lead for our coffee project in the mountains, he also is one of our indigenous ordained pastors. I had the opportunity to take him to a large coffee farm and processing facility in Gracias. This proved to be a good time to get to know him a little better and to find out how committed he was to the improvement of the farmers' lives in the mountains. On Thursday I took him to San Pedro Sula to look at the equipment we are looking at purchasing for our processing facility. When he saw the equipment it was like a child receiving a big present at Christmas or a new puppy. I looked at him and asked if this would be a benefit to the farmers. His response was one that I did not expect. He said this is exactly what we need to help improve the quality of the coffee, and with the increase of price we will receive for the better coffee we will be able to re-pay the equipment. I love it, he is feeling empowered and is thinking of ways that they can improve the lives of the community.
Please pray for the meeting I have on Monday the 12th. I am meeting with a coffee exporter who is willing to walk us through and educate us in the export process. We have a buyer in the states that is willing to buy 2 containers of coffee. To process this order we will need an exporter whom we can trust to help process the order here in Honduras, I am praying that this meeting goes well and that Omar is the right exporter for us.
Plans are coming along for me to attend the Coffee Q Grader accreditation class. For me to attend this class I will need roughly $2500 by Oct. 1. ($1250 for the class + expenses). Would you please pray about this with us!?!?
Francisco confirmed the need for me getting the Q Grader accreditation. He said if someone with that status gives a report on our coffee, that will put us on the map as 'legitimate coffee producers'. I already love the coffee, with some improvements and receptivity, their coffee will go from good to great. These are a couple quotes I received recently regarding our coffee: "I drank some of my Opalaca Gold coffee this morning and it is soooo good! Thank you for helping it get to my coffee mug!" - Hannah & "Out of all the coffee I have had in my life my favorite is Opalaca Gold straight from the mountains in Honduras! Thanks Andy Warren for being my supplier." Lydia
Construction update:
Mercy International hosts around 20 teams a year, most of those teams are involved with some sort of construction project. This year this is an area that I have stepped into as the overseer. When the team season is over, that is the time that we take inventory of what we started and have not been able to finish for one reason or another. Brian Rothove and I have been diligently trying to work through a list of last minute work projects to close out our year. The last couple of weeks we have found ourselves wearing many hats. Installing doors, hanging molding, hanging monkey bars and swings in two different parks and building a roof for our new coffee production center in San Pedrito. Just for good measures we've also grouted tile in the coffee house and did some electrical re-wiring of one of our church buildings in Monte Verde. Needless to say we have not had much down time since the team season ended. Some of the joys I have in the construction projects is finishing the project and handing it over to whoever we are building for. The smiles and tears of joy and watching the kiddos swing on the swing sets we install gives me great joy and makes me want to keep going and start 50 more projects.
Makenzie's update:
She is getting super excited about heading to the United states. She just completed day #50 of 1st grade. When we asked her if she would like to do gymnastics again this year, she said "can I please do ballet?" I reluctantly told her that I would get in touch with someone and see if she could take. I prayed that if, because of our short time there, she could not take ballet, that God would prepare her heart. But, God sent someone to help us, and she will begin classes on the 20th. She is super excited to see her friends, but she has a lot of mixed emotions right now, and we would ask for prayer for her (and us) as we prepare for our upcoming furlough.
Furlough update:
We will arrive in Northwest Arkansas on Monday, September 19th, and will hit the ground running. We will be in the states through Christmas and plan to return to Honduras in January. We have lots of things on our schedule which is great, but we also have a lot of open time. If you, or anyone else you know, would like to visit with us, please write us. (Andy says coffee anyone?)
Praises:
God providing a place for us to stay while in Arkansas
Makenzie is able to take Ballet and Gymnastics while we are in the states, and other fun things for her
Our Health
Opalaca Coffee project - The things that need to happen are happening
$11,500 raised to go toward the purchase of a truck in Honduras
Prayer Requests:
For our families, we know that us being in the US adds some difficulties to their lives
For us, we have many mixed emotions with leaving our home here, but definitely want to be in the US with family and friends
For the Hands of Hope ladies, that they would continue to be challenged and blessed by God
For our transition as we head to the US
For funding to be available by Oct. 1 for Andy's Coffee Q Grader Accreditation ($1250 + Travel Expenses)
Be blessed, and we hope to get to see most of you soon!
Because of Him,
Andy, Corbett and Makenzie
Warren Family Adventures
Andy, Corbett and Makenzie
PO Box 10516
Fayetteville, AR 72703
Would you like to be a part of our ministry?
Donations can be made out to GRACE CHURCH and sent to our address above!
God bless you.
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