Campus jobs

It takes many various forms. John’s truck has been in great demand and has been greatly appreciated. He has hauled many people both inside and in the bed and he has hauled supplies both large and small. Probably the largest as yet was several loads of roofing tiles for the director of the Prophetic School of Music and Worship, Charles. John, himself, has been in great demand to repair water systems, washing machines, pumps, etc and to rid houses of swarming bees and bats. Bro. Alan Buster of Kansas City, who traveled down with us, was a great help those first three weeks. John so enjoyed his company, fellowship, and work partnership. Now, John’s work is taking a new turn. He has agreed to temporarily adopt an American young man to mentor and instruct and Chris will help John in Spanish communication. Pray that John will be able to learn the language through him as he really desires.


My work has been mostly hospitality with lots of baking and some sewing on the side. We have both enjoyed having an open door at a place where many guests can come and go throughout the day. We have met a lot of people in a short time in this manner. Not sure what the days ahead will hold but everyday is a big adventure and usually as full as it can be. We are full of God’s joy and hope to spread it to everyone we meet.

Medical Outreach

We felt very privileged to be invited by the medical clinic director to take a weekend trip with them and their visiting medical personnel. There is a husband/wife doctor team with their interpreter who come every year from New York for three months. In addition to that, there are 7-8 health care students from a New York’s Elim Bible School studying, observing, and participating for 6 weeks. Along with a pastor, his wife who is the cook, and several interpreters for Spanish to Mixteco, the Indian dialect, we made quite a caravan in four large vehicles going up the mountain. The last two hours of road became the worse we have ever driven for such a length of time. Words can’t adequately describe them but to give some understanding let us just say we could only drive 3-5mph in clouds of dust those two hours. We were only too happy to arrive at our destination, unload, and begin setting up tents while the cook prepared a hearty and hot meal.

Yes, we enjoyed the luxury of tents with air mattresses and sleeping bags under the beautiful starry nights, shower stalls with cold water and sheets for doors, and a bathroom with a bucket flush…you fill the bucket and you flush. We also had an early morning wake-up call by a donkey whose bray would challenge the roosters of the surrounding area to reply, which they did well into the next hour.

The local people are 4 ½ - 5 foot tall and are descendents of the ancient Aztec peoples. The older generations still wear a different costume. The men wear white pantaloons with a loose white top, banded by a white or black tie belt. The women are topless but wear a white shawl for public dress that covers them most of the time. The younger generations are wearing modern clothes and are learning the Spanish language.

We were in three villages over the weekend. Every day we would have to pack everything, including the mattresses and sleeping bags and lock them inside the clinic only to drag them back out again at night and set up camp. The first village, El Mosco, had a growing church and somewhat prospering family farm. A missionary from Roca Blanca had taught them tree grafting and talapia fish farming. Still patients were plenty and came from all the surrounding areas on foot. These people are used to walking 1-2 hours anywhere they need to go. There were 40 consultations that first afternoon which is quite astonishing when you consider most every consultation required two interpretations to be made. John was busy driving to pick up more interpreters and I spent the time praying over the people individually with Pastor Jesus (Haysoos). They were required to see the pastor between their consultation and pharmacy pick-up. Many agreed to pray a prayer of acceptance of Jesus Christ.

The second village was poverty stricken. We had to build makeshift consultation rooms by hanging a tarp from trees and dividing it with sheets. The people were hungry and thirsty so most of their complaints were of head and stomach pain. The day ended with the nurses and students crying over our inability to truly help them.

The outhouse was the highlight of that day. It was built for these very short people and so we were struggling to get in and out while straddling the little hole in the ground. John look like he was literally going to wear the whole outhouse when he came out or at least tear it to the ground. We were all thankful to reach that cement outhouse with the bucket flush later in the day. The driving was very tiring that day for John as he had to go on several other trips in outlying areas. One patient he endeavored to take home finally had to walk the last portion because there was no more road and the path became too narrow for the big truck. His highlight was being able to preach the Word on Sunday morning. Many seeds were planted in the hearts of the people those four days. Many prayers are needed for the watering and growing of those seeds. We were very thankful for the experiences and believe there will be more opportunities ahead to teach and preach there and in the surrounding areas. Please pray for the grace of God to be with us and for the endurance of our truck as we travel.

Moving In!

The first week was hectic. We were living out of suitcases while we sewed curtains, installed appliances, repaired water leaks, and made numerous long trips to town just to get everyone settled in. Roca Blanca is located against a small village, Cacalotte, but the nearest shopping town is Puerto Escondido, 35-40 minutes away and we weren’t real sure where anything was or how to ask for it.

John & I were given a room on the ground floor of the hotel near a large kitchen. People would be at the door by 7:30am asking John for help and he would be gone most of the day. Others would stop by to visit or be revived with cold drinks and fruit or desserts. We got to know everyone pretty quickly in this manner.

Bro Duane had a heart attack just before our arrival and he was out of commission. Sue, his wife, was trying to keep up with everything and at the same time oversee the construction of a cottage further up in the mountains where they could get away to allow him to recuperate quietly. Major transition was being made daily when we stepped onto the Base.

After the first week, we had 12 distinguished American guests planning to arrive so all hands were called on to overhaul, repair, and deep clean the hotel. John & I were taught to run the coffee Barista and I was commissioned to bake lots of goodies. Wow! We still didn’t know our way around town but somehow found the supplies and parts we needed to get our jobs done. They were great guests and we had some lovely fellowship and connecting times with them. I’m sure my daughters will be excited to know we met the owner of NBC (½ of ½ price store). He was just one of our guests and he plans to return.

The beach and ocean is just out our door but it was the second week before we could even take a simple walk along it and we have yet to actually go swimming. Now that is just crazy.

Roca Blanca is a virtual garden with well planned landscaping. Animal life is wonderful here. Lots of birds, bees that have swarmed into a nearby pipe (oops! John didn’t get them all out of there), and bugs galore. Sundown finds us running for the mosquito spray. We have sighted some whales and dolphins from the fourth floor of the hotel where the Barista and guest dining is situated. Sorry our cameras aren’t strong enough to capture a picture of them but you are welcome to come down and see them.

While our business guests were here, we drove them into town and lunched at a local Italian restaurant while we enjoyed a wonderful testimony of how Franco, the owner, was transformed from being a druggy new ager and warlock to a divine saint of Jesus Christ. We also visited a small local children’s home. Their small band performed welcoming tunes for us after which we played some games with them and gifts were distributed.

Fours days to Roca Blanca

Whew! What a trip we had to Roca Blanca. It took four full days of travel but was a pleasure all along the way. Let me start at the beginning. Wednesday in Springfield, we met Alan Buster, a farmer from Kansas City, who was going to travel down with us. That day, our first leg of journey was only to Tulsa, Okla. where we were to meet the Olsons. They are a family of four, James, Cassie, their daughter Saralynn, who is 10 years old and Andy, who is 7. They are the new administrators in training at Roca Blanca. It was a foggy and rainy day. Just before reaching Tulsa, we saw a horrible accident with an eighteen wheeler and car. The car exploded into bits and pieces and burned. . We stopped but realized if we didn’t leave quickly, medical and police would keep us backed up for hours. Other vehicles and persons ahead of us were already attending the needs of the scene so we went on and arrived at Joyce’s cousin Sharon’s house on time as planned. While there, we picked up 7 sewing machines a ladies’ group were donating to the Base. We dumped out a couple of containers of truck and tool stuff into the truck bed to insure enough space. A cousin of Joyce, Sharon Honeyman, blessed us with a dinner, a bed to sleep in, and a hearty breakfast next morning before we headed out.



We reached Laredo, Texas the first night and slept well. Wake-up was 5:30am and after finding coffee, we began the border crossing about 7am, finishing around 10 am with a breakfast of muffins in between waiting periods. We paid customs on the sewing machines and the 7 computer towers we were carrying but they didn’t search or harass us. The Lord be praised. So, we pushed on to reach Delores Hildago, Mexico by night.

We chose to take the Mexican toll roads up to where we turned off to go to this village just north of Mexico City as we wished to bypass the capital city with its busy streets. They were very good roads, the drivers were very careful and considerate, and travel was easy. Once we turned off the toll roads, we still had good roads for the most part but we also had topes, big speed bumps. They are at every village before, in between, and after. You had better find them and slow down or suffer pain and sorrow both to your body and your vehicle. We also had a secondary reason for going to Delores Hildago and that was to pick up boxes and boxes of ceramic tile, a sink, and accessories for bathroom and kitchen. Oh my! We somehow got 20 plus boxes in among our already full truck bed and still closed the cover. We want to stop right here to praise the Lord for the truck He truly blessed us with. Even with such a heavy load, it didn’t show anywhere and therefore, even when we later passed several check points of police and/or military, we were never searched. To God be the glory because He knows all things…ahead of time.

You will wish to kick us for not taking more pictures at DH. We arrived late and were tired and had to wind through very narrow streets to find our hotel for the night. John was about to come unglued as he sometimes had to try 2-3 times before he could maneuver a turn. Its not the thing you feel like doing after driving new roads for 13 hours. But the town was wonderfully quaint and we were right on the square next to their beautiful Catholic church. We headed out for a late supper watching the locals strolling leisurely around the square socializing here and there. The first true Spanish town, meal, and culture was exciting to experience even as tired we were. The heavy dark wood furniture as old as could be, the big ceramic vases so full of color, the stucco walls brightly painted, and everything decorated for Valentine Day too. John and I enjoyed our first fish tacos, restaurant style, with mango juice.



Early next morning we were ready to leave and realized there was no one to open the locked front door, the parking lot wasn’t open, and we were going nowhere until after at least 7:30am. So, we waited then went to where we picked up the tile. Awesome, handmade tile and sinks and accessories. Hope you can view the picture well enough to get a good idea of the beauty and craftsmanship. ‘We left DH around 10am after coffee and the last of the large banana muffins. Sure was glad to have them along. Stopped mid-day for a lunch on the tailgate of the truck with sandwiches, chips, cookies and whatever other offerings could be added. That day we went through San Miguel de Ayendo which is an exquisite town of fascinating shops, many tourists, and many retirees from many countries. If we have spelled this correctly, you can probably find it online and view it more in depth. We are all desirous of going back through there and stopping a day to see it. We again stopped late in the evening, found some dinner and went to bed. I especially enjoyed the red snapper soup that evening with hot rolls.



The fourth day, we found our coffee and pushed hard all day with little stopping so that we might reach Roca Blanca by 6:30pm where a lovely dinner was waiting us. We and Alan were given rooms on the bottom floor of the hotel with access to a large kitchen and so far, here we have remained. Thank you so much for your prayers for our travels.

Sunday to Sunday

Last Sunday, John and I sensed a wonderful victory in our spirits.  We rejoiced greatly throughout the day, lingering into Monday. Tuesday, doubts and fears assailed us from every side. We were miserable part of the day until we took authority in prayer.  Wednesday, the Word encouraged us from different angles and we lifted our heads and hearts in praise.  The rest of the week, we continued to prepare for our journey and to trust fully in the Lord.  This Sunday, we receive a phone call that gave us two answers to prayer.  1) A young American man had rented a 4 bedroom house in the village nearby the base and now he is moving out.  He had already rented a room to the national dentist and her husband that work on the missions base and the other rooms to two students that stay 2-3 nights out of the week.  So, we have a house available that already has other renters to help pay rent!   Because the renters are nationals, they will help us learn the language and understand the way of life quicker.  2) A Kansas farmer wishes to ride down with us.  In talking to him, he insisted on paying the fuel cost going down as his church has been setting aside an amount for his going.  Wow!  That is a huge blessing...we don't have to haul a trailer and because of our nice large vehicle, we can take a traveler and his gear too!  To God be the glory.  What next?  Keep watching and reading!

Tuperware to go!

Joyce's mother/sister-in-law had a benefit tuperware party for her.  Before we went to India, Joyce had sold virtually all her tuperware and it had been her most heartfelt loss.  Eula wanted to bless her with a bunch of new tuperware and especially some to put in the new trailer going to Mexico. This lightweight product will carry easy and keep out the many bugs and moisture of the beach area we will live in.  Friends and family came to the party and those who couldn't come sent in monies with gracious notes to help purchase the list of needs.  That list was met and more besides.  She is truly benefited and blessed...both by the tuperware she loves and by the family and friends that show their love to her.  Thank you everyone!

Clouse Christmas dinner in January

Christmas isn't over till the Clouses get together.  We had a great gathering of family from near and far with additional relatives and friends present to help us enjoy a great time.  It was really interesting to see the large group of young people present, many who had brought girlfriends with them.  Hm!  Many of our young people are male.  That made for a really big group of us.  There was tons of good food, photo shootings, friendly banter, fellowship, and exchange of nonsensical gifts.  We met in the local senior citizen building so when it was almost 10pm, there was a quick shuffle of everyone present to get everything cleaned up-FAST.  What a blessing to have a loving, godly, family that works together, prays together, stays together.