Weekend in Indy

Ronnie and I spent his first weekend in town with the McCullough's, my second family. We had a great time!

Sun and Snow

Yesterday was a beautiful day. It was cold yet sunny and the snow gently floated down in big fluffy flakes all around campus. Of course, I didnt even notice. I was too busy thinking of all the stuff that I HAD to get done before I could go to Indy for the weekend to hang out with my second family and my amazing boyfriend. As I was in line for a quick lunch after chapel, I felt my phone buzz (NON STOP) in my pocket. I finally dropped all of my lunch onto a table and set down my backpack. I called Ronnie back.

"I cant really talk right now. What do you need."
"Um, where's 92nd st?"
"I dont know.... why?"
"never mind. are you wearing a polka-dot snow hat?"
"What?" I quickly looked around.

Yup, Ronnie was standing right behind me. It was an amazing surprise. I was swept off my feet and forced out of my business mode. It has been a great weekend :)

Anni

Yesterday was the 8 month anniversary of when Ronnie and I started dating. I cannot believe how fast 8 months has flown by. It feels like so recently we were in Honduras sharing our first few days as a couple taking walks to the beach and up to the water tower. *sigh*

Thank you, Ronnie for an amazing 8 months.

I'm Officially....

OLD!!!
Yup, I'm now 20.... the big 2-0.... no longer a teen... *sigh*

But on a happier note, My birthday was a blast! It was jam packed full of things to do (most not birthday related) and lots of friends. My suite came into my room at midnight on the 12th to sing me a wild and crazy loud version of "Happy Birthday." Nope, I wasnt asleep yet...

I had three classes on my birthday; bio, chem, and world changers. I know, I know, i should have taken the whole day off but duty calls. I also had a Kem Hall meeting, a unit meeting, and a chem study session. :-P We had a unit dinner too! Home cooked by Katy Bullman, our RA. It was delicious but I couldnt eat with them because of my chem study session (test the next day to study for).

I got lots of surprises for my birthday! The girls in my suite got icecream for us all to enjoy and i got presents from a few friends and packages from my parents and aunt. My new bed set from gma and pawpaw even came in the mail. It was thrilling. :-D

Here are just a few pics from the big day...

Update from Honduras-- Urgent Need

Hello, Everyone,

Just wanted to give you an update on what's been happening here. After 4 days of heavy rain, flooding, and power outages our electricity was restored on Friday night. Local people walked miles in the pouring rain and crossed rivers at flood stage in order to work together with the power company crew and one of our own missionaries to get new poles and wires up. Even so, the hope was to have it back on by today. But incredibly, even in the midst of a heavy downpour and well after dark on Friday night, it was restored and has stayed on despite the nasty weather since then. We are rejoicing to be able to wash our wet and muddy clothes, cook, and keep refrigerated food at home again.

We've had many maintenance issues at the hospital and in the homes with water leaks, mudslides threatening the stability of our roads, bursting pipes due to too much pressure from flowing rain water, lack of fresh water supply in some homes and the Children's Center, etc, but nothing compared with what the local people are suffering in their villages. There has been much flooding, the worst of which was in Balfate where the hydroelectric dam opened their gates all at once and without warning, sending a wall of water down river, as I described in my previous e-mail. Four people drowned as a result of that event. All the local people are still dealing with lots of water and mud in their homes, no clean dry clothes to put on, no dry blankets with which to warm themselves, and now, lack of food. The rain hasn't let up long enough for the crews to even think about coming in and beginning to make needed repairs to roads or bridges, therefore food is in short supply. We hear that it may be another week or more before there's enough dry dirt to repair the bridges. Fortunately, it was fairly dry for the better part of the day today, which allowed government helicopters to fly food in to some of the more remote areas. They were flying back and forth overhead all day delivering packages of rice, beans, and corn, but unfortunately none were dropped in Balfate or the other towns around the hospital who also desperately need it.

Local church leaders are calling and asking for help, but we have very limited resources with which to respond. The hospital is already low on food for our patients and Children's Center, however we are doing what we can to meet the most pressing needs, especially for our Honduran staff members and their families. Today the hospital brought in 200 pounds each of rice, beans, and Maseca (used to make corn tortillas), as well as 100 bars of soap for washing clothes, which were transported across the rivers by canoe and by foot. Once at the hospital, it was all measured out into 5 pound allotments and these were put into the hands of the local schools and churches for distribution to the neediest families. Our desire is to do much more in the days and weeks ahead, but that will only be possible if we have others willing to stand with us and help in this effort.

We have been told that the Hospital finances are extremely limited right now and that we will only be able to make this response if there are sufficient funds being offered to Cornerstone to cover the costs the hospital will incur in purchasing these supplies. We have been asked to call on our home churches, friends, and families to help in this relief effort. If you are willing and able to help, please send donations directly to the Cornerstone Foundation office as soon as possible, and designate them for the "flood relief effort". Your money will go directly to help many of our neighbors and friends who are in great need.

The address is as follows:

Cornerstone Foundation

18384 W, Lake Dr.

Saucier, MS 39574

On a more personal note, the Concepcions (and Katy, too!) are all doing fine. With rainy season approaching we were already stocked up with plenty of food in the pantry and freezer for such a time as this. The missionary community has really pulled together and pooled food and resources where needed, and is working together to make necessary repairs to the hospital property and homes. But our main concern is to try to meet the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. That's why we're asking for your help at this time. Thanks for your prayers and notes of encouragement. They are keeping us going!

For the only cause that matters,

Margo, for all of us

The Concepcions are serving with Latin America Mission at Hospital Loma de Luz in Balfate, Honduras

"However, I consider my life nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Field Address:
La Familia Concepcion
Apartado 94
La Ceiba, Honduras
Central America

www.LAM.org www.crstone.org

Support for the Concepcions may be sent to:
Latin America Mission
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, FL 33152-7900

**Please enclose a note designating the funds for the "Concepcion support account". Our names should not appear on the check itself for tax purposes. Thanks!

Honduras Update

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update. From what I know, Balfate, Honduras has electricity again but the bridges are still out. Supplies such as food have been air lifted into the community and left for the hospital to distribute. Clean up has been the main focus in spite of the continuing rain. Many homes have been flooded with up to 4 feet of muddy water causing damage to not only the home, but furniture, appliances, and other belongings. Please pray for the displaced people of the community and for the safety of those who reach out to them.The Catholic Church in the center of townFlooded roads

Urgent Prayer Request from Honduras

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to update you on a situation that has arisen here on the north coast of Honduras. Although there has been much rain and flooding in the interior of Honduras for the last 2 weeks associated with Tropical storm 16, up until last night our area hadn't experienced much of a problem. We've had rain almost everyday, but nothing like the interior. Well, all of that changed last night. The rain started around 7 pm, and it rained heavily and steadily with lots of wind all night long and all day today. The result has been lots of flooding, washed out roads and bridges, and widespread power outages. The town of Balfate was under water for most of the day, with many homes overwhelmed by the flood, including the homes of 2 of our own missionary families. Two bridges along the road on our route to the city have been washed out, leaving 30 foot gaps between where the road ends and the concrete bridge begins. In the other direction, the rivers are not crossable, so we'll be cut off for awhile. Probably the worst of it for us is that around 300 feet of power lines were washed out near the rivers along with the bridges. This means we may be without power for up to a week until crews can get out here and fix the bridges, then the power lines. This afternoon, with a little break in the rain, we've been able to get back online temporarily with our satellite internet connection which is allowing us communication with you. We're using what's left of the daylight to move freezers and refrigerators to the hospital where we have a large diesel generator which has about 500 gallons of fuel in in, enough to last for quite awhile (it runs about an hour per gallon of fuel). That will help to preserve our perishable food supply. We're also working to clean up some of the destruction in Balfate before the sun sets (between 5 and 5:30 pm) and the rains start again. Rain is predicted to continue for the next several days, so please pray for the storm to divert and go back out to sea, and that we'll be able to get crews out quickly to repair the bridges and restore power. Also, we only have 2 inpatients right now, but one is a pregnant woman having complications. Her hematocrit is dropping and she needs to get to the big hospital in the city for more advanced medical care. We're doing what we can for her, but she needs your prayers.

The reports here in Honduras are saying that the flooding and destruction from this tropical storm has been even worse than that caused by Hurricane Mitch, several years back. Some of our friends who live in the mountains in the interior of the country have attested to the widespread destruction, sense of loss, and hopelessness. At least 5 more days of rain are predicted in those areas as well, so please pray!

Thanks so much for holding our community and all of Honduras up in prayer with us during this crisis.

Margo, for all of us

Coffee!

My littlest sister Cori emailed me today and was very excited to tell me that she now likes coffee. Apparently it has been a lifelong dream of hers.

The whole thing reminded me of the other day. I will preface the story by saying that I don't really like coffee....

It has been REALLY cold here lately. So the other day I had a huge craving for some nice, warm coffee. So, I went to McConn Coffee and bought a cup. With every sip, i cringed. It was awful, but for some odd reason i couldn't help but drink it. I drank the whole cup of nasty stuff, loving and hating every drop. I don't know if it was the caffeine that kept me going or the warmth. hmmm....

Ronnie's Visit to Indy!

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a few to express just how much fun we had. :)

MY FIRST PACKAGE!!!!

Thanks José and Melanie!
You guys are so sweet!