Still more feathered friends

A few days ago we heard a more raucous than usual squawking coming from some trees near our home. Upon investigation we caught a glimpse of a flock of some sort of bird just before they flew away. 

A couple of days later we heard it again and I got out the binoculars and camera to try to get a better look. 

Well, both the binoculars and the camera's zoom have their limitations and our vocal visitors were quite far away. But...I did manage a couple of shots. Bear in mind that these were taken with the zoom and even the digital zoom at their max. But the long and the short of it is that we're pretty sure they're parrots. Parrots in our backyard. Who'da thunk?

Which may explain another of Ellyn's recent finds.

The State of the Union

"So how are things at church?" I'm glad you asked.
It is kind of funny that while the church was the reason that we moved to Honduras, I really never wrote a great deal about the church.
Here are some recent highlights.

• After last year's major project of installing the new roof over the sanctuary, this year we took up a couple of smaller projects. A room was converted into a new and improved nursery. We installed drop ceiling and new lighting in the foyer. We've painted a few rooms. (We did an exterior job on the electrical which was much needed but not very compelling.)

• Just a couple of weeks ago we rolled out a new church logo. Or perhaps I should just say "a church logo" because the church really didn't have one to speak of. If you're one of those facebooky people you've already seen it perhaps. Along with that we got a new church sign and new bulletins. The work was done by a young woman in the church with her own graphic design business.
• We didn't lose too many people at the end of the school year. That was a plus. Often June is a time of good-byes. This year only a few people moved back to the states.
• Two couples from the congregation got married over the summer and then returned to Honduras. I had the privilege of performing one of the weddings.
• We've gained quite a few people recently. Late-summer is a time when many 'new' people are coming into the country for work with the embassies or schools. We've gained a couple of embassy families with children. In fact, after last year when often the only child in Jr. church was Ellyn, this past Sunday there were 15 kids! It probably won't stay that large, but there has clearly been a growth in that area.
• There are several expectant mothers in the congregation at the moment. In fact, between now and March there could be 4 new babies around. Guess we got that nursery done just in time!
• We've been making a concerted effort to get more people involved and connected. Connecting is such a significant part of what the church exists to do. We've recently installed some church mailboxes so that we can connect with one another even better. 
• I preached through 1 Peter during the late winter and spring (by US reckoning). This summer I preached a variety of Psalms. Currently I'm preaching our 'new' mission statement: "Equipping the saints for the work of ministry." Ephesians 4:12. Perhaps more on that later.

All in all things are going well enough. At this point in the year the main challenge is to stay ahead of it all!