FBC Jacksonville Dental/Bible Study

On February 12, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, NC arrived in Honduras. They came prepared to do two dental clinics in Choluteca. They came with two dentist, one dental hygientist, four translators and three new team members. They were only new for about an hour. This team came together as one from the very beginning. The prep work which is involved in the dental ministry is amazing. They got to Choluteca and unloaded many large suitcases full of dental supplies. That evening after supper they jumped in on the dental bags they were giving out to each patient. Overall that week they saw around 231 patients. They were very blessed with our dentist, Aleyda from Tegus. So with three dentist and many more hands involved God performed miracle after miracle this week. God gave them energy they did not know they had. The first couple of days they were blessed with a breeze blowing through the windows. But as their week went on it seemed to get hotter. One team member shared during share time one night, "felt we went in empty today but God filled us right back up". That is how God works. He never gives us more than we can do when we come together in His name to do His kingdom work. God bless you First Baptist Church Jacksonville.

Worship on Sunday

The team got up on Sunday morning to go worship with the first church they would be working out of, La Gero Blanco with Pastor Pedro. Todd was able to share his testimony and the team shared a hmyn that is international, Amazing Grace. This church has several men involved in it which is not very common down here. There is one family who is very talented. The father, mother and daughter sang a beautiful Honduran praise song. Pastor Pedro's oldest daughter got up and sang for the congreation. Our translator Egla was ask to do something with the children. Well First Baptist now has a new dance for the children of their church when they go back home, the Chicken Dance. Egla taught this to the church and the team. Let's just say we have some talented Americans on this team. We had alot of fun worshiping in God's house that Sunday. Thank you again Jacksonville for bringing such an amazing group of people to serve the Lord.

The start of the Dental Clinic

Our dental team from Jacksonville, NC went out on Sunday to access the two churches they would be working out of, La Gera Blanco and Santa Cruz de Moreovia both in the Choluteca area. La Gera Blanco had cleaned up their Sunday School Classrooms so beautifully and was working on getting electricity provided for the dental team. In Santa Cruz they found they would be working out of the sanctuary. They got up early on Monday and headed out to get ready for a day of many blessings. This team always amazes me with all they have to do just to see one patient. They were provided a generator to help run the equipment needed to clean, fill, repair and do the extractions. We had told the church before their arriving there were two dentists and eight assistances, dental hygienst to clean the teeth, several translators, two people to clean the instruments and of course Mrs. Alice brought a new twist to the ministry, bible study for the ladies(more of that later). Well we decided only 30 patients a day until the two dentist could feel out the situation. They were able to pray with and assist 4o plus patients each day. God is good all the time. During our "God moments" one night Carl, team leader and dentist shared he and Francis were getting ready to pray with one of the patients when he got up turned around and starting praying for the dental team and what they were doing for his community. Carl shared how he came to bless the people and in turn he is the one who received the blessings. Each day they were able to see 40 plus patients and saved alot teeth through filling teeth instead of pulling them. Of course Todd, other dentist wins the prize for pulling out the most teeth. He pulled eleven teeth out of one older man's mouth. Todd also had an opportunity with a little girl who had four teeth pulled and wasn't very happy until in the back of the church the group waiting along with Mrs. Alice started singing praise music and she calmed down for a short while. How beautiful is God and His work even with a dental clinic which is meeting inside His House. Susan brought a puppet named Julio who taught the people and children how to properly brush their teeth. The people so enjoyed Julio and how much he taught them about the care of their teeth. One afternoon one of the air compressors broke down because it got too hot so Mike and Susan and Pastor G got to working on it and got it back and running. This team had so many talented people serving the people of Honduras. They worked with such unity on getting set up and performing all the many different tasks it takes to perform the dental work out of a church in Honduras. To God be the glory for a job well done First Baptist Church, Jacksonville.

Hondruan Breakfast

How many teams are blessed with 3 1/2 Honduran women to cook breakfast and Sunday supper for them? For breakfast we had refried beans, sausage, eggs, creama, and flour tortillas. For supper on Sunday night the ladies had a lesson in how to make pupusas. Thank you Egla for the lesson. Egla is our wonderful translator we have been blessed with. She not only translates but cooks too. Egla and Rhonda stayed up late the night before making the flour tortillas. The next morning Francis, Egla, Aleyda(the Honudran dentist) and the 1/2 Honduran lady, Rhonda cooked the most delicious breakfast. This team has really enjoyed the cultures of Honduras. Thank you ladies for preparing such awesome extra Honduran dishes. Oh please do not get me wrong, Rosa Famosa is still the head cook of the kitchen. The team just got a couple of extra treats that week.

Nightly Devotions

Each morning and evening the dental team shared a devotional and a "God moment". A "God moment" is something we started with the ministry sometime last year. It gives the team a chance to share about a part of their day that really stood out to them. The team had some very amazing and awesome "God moments". Some could not wait to share they were so excited on the events of their day. Above pictures was from Valentine's Day. We were asked to describe what love is to each of us and write it on the heart. There was some amazing responses, commitment, joy, compassion, family, my wife, hope, my children and many more. The team blessed one another each day with the time spent on sharing God's word and a "God moment". We could definitely feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord from who are blessings flow.

Mrs. Alice's Bible Study for the ladies and the children

The Dental team took a different twist to their ministry this year. Mrs. Alice ask if she could share a bible study with the ladies of the church. So each day she gathered the ladies waiting to get their teeth checked in the santuary to share God's word. The children came around in the afternoon so our translator, Egla, took the children and sang songs and share the plan of salvation with them. She used an evangilizing cube(visual) for the children to hear the plan of salvation. Mrs. Alice ladies listened and shared attentively as they heard God's word and how to raise a godly family. Each day she would have more ladies come and listen to what this sweet godly woman had to share from North America. Thank you Mrs. Alice for sharing the gospel and adding a little extra to the dental clinic this year. To God be the glory for all things.

FBC Raleigh Team #2 Sunday School Classrooms/Home

On February 2, the second team of First Baptist Church Raleigh arrived prepared to finish the Sunday School Classrooms which the first team started. All that was left was the roof and the floors. The second team jumped in on their first day some were working on the Sunday School Classrooms and the rest of the team went down the hill to start on the home of Myran and his family. The Honduran people pitched in and help get the job completed. On Sunday the children shared some music with our translator Egla and the Pastor shared some words as well. John and Jeremy shared a few words. After this the children were dismissed to go to their new Sunday School Classrooms. They literally ran out of the church to go see their new classrooms. There is about fifty children who go to church at Colonial Unidas. They have been meeting outside under a tree and have been praying for these classrooms for three year. Pastor Amado is such a godly man and this church is so blessed to have him their to disicple the flock. He and the church faithfully prayed for these classrooms. God is good all the time. The children have two awesome Sunday School teachers, Saul and Nelson. They are two very talented young men in the church who allow God to use their gifts in many ways. After their Sunday School time Mike and Pastor Amado both shared words and dedication of prayers. As they prayed the children repeated every word they prayed. It was such an emotional morning for all who attended. The mothers of the children where in their classrooms praying with them as tears rolled down their cheeks. Once again God is good all the time.

More Beauitful Children

The children of Honduras are such sweet and lovely children. They are always full of joy and love for others and especially for Jesus. You can see Jesus in each and every beautiful face. They are so hungry to learn all they can. We are so blessed to have the education we have for our own children. But these children are also blessed with their ability to help their families with the chores of the day and to help the Americans when they come down to build homes and churches. They are so eager to please and share what they have with the American people. Thank you God for putting the children of Honduras in our lives. As our bus driver, Jose says the children are our future. They are so precious in the eyes of Jesus. As Jesus says, "Let the little children to come unto me forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God." Mark 10:14

Building Relationships

It is always so beautiful how in such a short time the Americans and Hondurans built life long friendships and relationships. The love the Hondurans show for our people is undescribable. We are truly more blessed by their compassion than we can imagine possible. The Hondurans are patient teachers. They teach our American people how to lay block mix mortar and make the job of building a home easier. We always receive so much more than we give. Thank you our Honduran brothers and sisters for teaching the true meaning of being a humble servant.

House Construction/Dedication

While a few of the men along with the Honduran men working finishing up the roof and floor on the Sunday School Classrooms the rest of the team dived in and started on the house for Myran and his wife and daughter, Hazel. Myran's mother worked as hard as all the men to help build her son a home. This was very special for a young man of 21 to be married and involved in the community church. Myran also worked hard to help build the Sunday School Classrooms. We had several new North Americans on this team this year but after the first hour of labor they were laying block or doing whatever needed to get the job done. It is always amazing how God can place a team together from all walks of life and get His work done. One night during their share time Sterling, a contruction man by tradeshared how in awe he was with the way they got out of their comfort zones and help build this family a home. I believe some of them will be adding built block homes to their resume. They worked hard as a team and built relationships with their Honduran brothers and sisters as well as building the home. As well as with the first team the leftover blocks had to be moved from the Sunday School classrooms to the home which was being built. They all pitched in and loaded up the truck and took the blocks where they needed to go. When the house was completed the team did a home dedication where Pastor Amado shared some words and we laid hands on the house while he prayed for the future of this beautiful couple and their new home.

FBC Raleigh Team 103 Sunday Classroom Construction

Welcome to North Carolina Baptist Men and Women of Honduras 2011. We are excited about our new year in serving the Lord. Our year started out with a group from First Baptist Church Raleigh on January 25. They arrived at the airport ready to get down to Choluteca. This was an all men team and one new team member, Dudley Neal. Welcome Dudley!! We traveled through the beautiful mountains of Honduras to the mission house in Choluteca. They were up early the next morning with a wake up call from the team leader, Bob. This has become a tradition for this team. When they arrived at the job site their first opportunity was awaiting them. The blocks had not arrived. So the men got busy doing the corners of the foundation, unloading the tools, and water coolers. They waited patiently and eagerly for the blocks to arrive. After about an hour up the steep rocky road came 300 of their 1200 blocks. The men and the children were so glad to see the truck come up the hill. The truck was backed up to the church and the Hondurans and Americans started unloading the first set of blocks. We asked when more were coming and we were told they were having trouble finding block. So we prayed and continued about the morning with what we had. We have started something new with the construction of a home. At the time of laying the first block either the pastor or homeowner lays the first block and at that time we pray over the block. We give God the glory for the work which is about to take place. The laying of the first 300 started. Well these men were laying some blocks and the stack was getting lower and lower. They were just about to run out when 500 more were brought later that afternoon. Once again the Hondurans and Americans unloaded the block and continued with the construction of the Sunday School classrooms. God was working through these men that day because we never heard anyone complain about the blocks They waited for the blocks with a cheerful spirit. To God be the glory. Finally the rest of the block arrived and they were good to go. The name of this lovely community they served in was Colonia Unidas in the outskirts of Choluteca. They people there worked very hard beside our American brothers. Both group of men developed some amazing realtionships that week as well as the developing of Sunday School Classrooms for some very excited children. The Americans got all of the job done except the roof and floor. They worked very hard even through the delay of the block. They did more than lay block, they mixed the mortar, cut the blocks, and took time at lunch to play futbol with the Honduran men who were helping them. As the week went on the circle at lunch would get bigger and bigger. The two different groups of men soon became one. One in the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Serving the Lord in many ways

As well as building two Sunday School classrooms and playing futbol there were many other activites going on to make their week successful. These men got in there washed their dishes and fixed their lunches. Each day some of them stopped long enough to assist Bob, the team leader and Egla, our amazing translator do Vacation Bible School. Several days while the men were working on the Sunday School Classrooms the children were learning how to sing "God is So Good in English. They were able to sing it perfectly by the end of the week. Egla was an awesome teacher for these children that week. The children came to love her very much. The Americans learned a new dance called the Chicken Dance. The Honduran children as well as the adults participated in this activity. They even got the pastor of the church and Jose, our bus driver to do it with them. The young men who were mixing the mortar thought it was funny so guess who got to do the Chicken Dance as well. Yes, our Honduran teen-ages who were once laughing. And of course they were very good. The children of Honduras love to sing and enjoyed Bob playing his guitar with them. As the others were working on the children's Sunday School Classrooms they could hear the beautiful sound of those children singing songs about Jesus. Just had to be there to fill the presence of the Lord. It gave the American men goosebumps as one of them shared one night during their share time. Each evening the teams have a devotional/share time to reflect on their day. There was some very amazing stories and scriputures shared during the week. But there was a most beautiful sight shared during their dedication time and it was when Steve and Wiley two of the team members served the Honduran men and women a drink. This is what Jesus would do. The expression on those ladies faces when they were served a drink words truly cannot express. The ladies had cooked all week for the Honduran workers. They traveled quiet a ways to bring the lunch each day. So it was their turn to be served. Thank you guys for your humbleness and selfless act of service. To God be the glory.

People and Children of Honduras

The people and the children of Honduras are absolutely beautiful people. We as Americans always leaved more blessed than we can ever imagine. They enjoy life and work very hard. We are so grateful to be able to serve our Lord Jesus Christ in Honduras where we learn who Jesus truly is. Thank you Honduran brothers and sisters in Christ for showing us Jesus continously. You are our blessings.