Team 121 Oakdale Baptist, Evangelism

Back in February God led a dental team to La Gero Blanco. But the church Gethsemane Baptist had just lost their pastor and a lay person, Pedro, had stepped forward to keep the church going and to have some sort of order to the church. About a month ago we knew we had an evangelism team coming down from Oakdale Baptist Church out of Rocky Mount, NC. This team was a new team and only one person on the team had been to Honduras before, Buie, the team leader. It has and always will be exciting to see new faces come and serve the Lord with us in Honduras. We did not have a solicitation for an evangelism team. The Lord placed on my heart Pastor Pedro. This church could use a revival so to speak, a renewing since the loss of their pastor. We made a phone call to Pastor Pedro and asked him would he like an evangelism team to come and go door to door visitation and do VBS. He was more than grateful and of course said yes. Well two days before Oakdale Baptist was suppose to arrive we met with Pastor Pedro to go over last minute details for the following week. With tears in his eyes he thanked God for this team who as we were preparing in Honduras was preparing in North Carolina to come and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people they had never met before. Pastor Pedro had worked so hard with every detail of what his church was going to do to help that week run smoothly. We also wanted to try a few new ideas to help the evangelism groups who went out to go smoothly. So Oakdale Baptist arrived on August 8 with excitement and lack of sleep in their eyes. The lack of sleep did not slow them down once we arrived in Choluteca. We had our chicken tacos and they adventured through the orientation and next thing I knew Buie had out his guitar and he and Egla, one of the three translators were singing praise music while the rest of the team members were getting ready for the next day. One item we added to the first morning of evangelism is we have juice and rosquettas as an ice breaker for the individual groups before going out door to door. Pastor Pedro also added something to the chain of events, introducing each person in his church who would be assisting in the week of events. It takes many people to make an evangelism team successful. Pastor Pedro may have been a new pastor but he had God at the center of his details. So each group broke up on the first day after their introductions and had a devotional, shared prayer requests, discussed their morning ahead and prayed for they hit the pavement and dirt paths of La Gero Blanco. Thank you God for bringing in new ideas from Pastor Pedro and from our end as well.

VBS

Oakdale Baptist also brought their own ideas to the table for VBS. As you know when we say VBS in Honduras there is going to be anywhere from seventy five to one hundred plus children. So we shared with Buie via emails he could count on two hundred children per Pastor Pedro. Oakdale Baptist did not let the large number keep them from doing what God had called them to do in Honduras, share Jesus with those beautiful children of Honduras. They had prepared three to four stations for each day. One station was the craft for the younger children, Lisa and Kay provided and Nancy, Emily and Maida, our translator assisted and there also was a craft station for the older boys, Thomas and Kelly provided, Clayton and Karla, our translator assisted, sports station consisted of learning the game of softball, played dodge ball and of course futbol provided by Boo, translator, Caroline and Adam, and the bible story/singing provided by Buie, Pastor Joe, Tony and Egla, our translator Each station elaborated on the bible story taught by Pastor Joe and Egla. Thomas brought in pennies, nickels and dimes he had placed on the train tracks back in Rocky Mount, once they were flatten the young men were able to make necklaces with the salvation beads on them. The ladies provided a salvation book one day for the children where they could read the plan of salvation as they colored the pictures in their book. Each night the entire team got around the tables in the mission house to prepare for the next day of VBS. As we shared God moments we were busily cutting strings, squares, etc to provide enough materials for the 170 children who came to VBS. As always we started with 130 and each day the numbers inched up to 170. But God is good all the time and he provided all they needed to provide an amazing week of VBS for the children. The children of the church and Egla taught the team the famous "El Pollo" dance. So that became an added attraction to the end of VBS each day. At the end of the three to four stations the whole group would get back together in the sanctuary to put closure on their afternoon by singing, offering acceptance of Christ and closing in prayer.

Pastor Pedro

I mentioned earlier all the time and effort Pastor Pedro provided to assist in making this week successful for all involved. Pastor Pedro is also a new daddy. His wife, Maria had a little girl, Estella, three weeks prior to Oakdale arriving. He also has five other children who were actively involved in the entire week. Maria and Estella did not come until the second night of worship. She arrived after walking at dusk two miles with Estella in her arms. Her smile as she approached the church brought joy and tears to our eyes. Thank you Pastor Pedro and family for welcoming us like family into your church and community. Your servant heart was humbling and contagious for all of us. To God be the glory.

Night Service

As dusk was approaching the evening the church bus arrived with the thirty plus children on the back of it. Dark clouds were surrounding the church as the people arrived. One night a storm came upon us before the service was to begin. Some of us got inside before the storm began. The church was half full and the church members continue to come in the rain. Please understand they did not drive up in the cars or trucks. They came on foot from miles around. The storm did not stop the Honduran congregation from coming to worship the Lord. Pastor Pedro had a guest pastor come the first night and share the Word of God, Pastor Carlos. We did not know all he said but we knew the Holy Spirit was with us. The night Pastor Joe preached was an amazingly beautiful evening in the house of the Lord. For once again we had a storm come up and we waited for the church to fill up before we started worship. The North Americans sang a beautiful hymn with guitar and harmonica which requested an encore from the Honduran congregation. Una mos por favor. Well this was the only hymn they had prepared for so they sang it again for the church. But while they were singing I believe this was when the power went out and never came back on until the very end of the service. Pastor Joe preached in the dark with a few flashlights glowing in different parts of the church. This was an amazing time in the house of the Lord. On the last night Pastor G brought his praise band from Santa Cruz to share in the worship service while God's creation shown over the skies of Honduras. There was standing room only. So many of us where outside on the porch of the church looking in while God provided us with a full moon shining down upon us. During one night of worship there was an older lady brought in by her daughter in a wheelchair. She was thin, frail and her color was pale. About middle of the service she fell over in her chair. Mike, Buie and Boo helped get her out of the church and they took her to home. Her daughter shared they were waiting for her to die. She was afraid that was what happen to her mother that night. Buie carried the limp body into the hut and placed her in her hammock and turned to see her coffin beside her. She did not die that night. Buie prayed with the family only words God could provide as Egla translated. Egla also ask the lady about her salvation per Buie. The lady said she was ready to go home. If you were to die today are you ready to go home and be with our Father and his most precious Jesus. I pray today as you read this and you are not sure of your salvation, today could be your day for a homecoming with Jesus. Do not go another day without knowing when you die where you will be.

The Bible in different languages but one God

i

God's word was shared during the door to door evangilism each day. The team started the morning out with a devotional in God's word through their small group. We had a devotional in the evening from God's word. We as a country are so blessed to have God's word in our homes and probably have more than one of them sitting around. Oakdale found out from visiting, even the Christians did not own a bible. They gave out bibles to those who accepted Christ or did not have one in their home. We have a bible and how many times do we not sit down and be still and read God's word was shared one night during our sharing times. As usual we took away so much from working beside our brothers and sisters of Honudras. Pastor Pedro had a bible but his wife, Maria did not own one. So our prayer is to provide bibles for more of the people of Honduras. As Oakdale expereinced and shared we out of Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Thank you Oakdale for making this scripture real for the people of La Gero Blanco. In the scripture it said baptizing them, well during share time one night one of our own, Boo, had accepted Christ but had never been baptized. We baptized Boo in the Pacific Ocean after worship on Sunday morning. And we sang, "We Have Decided to Follow Jesus" No turning back no turning back on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Thank you Lord for your love, grace and mercy.

Tony

There was three groups who went out door to door. This group consisted of Tony, Lisa, Kay, Boo, Emily, Pastor Pedro, Fanny, Navin, Joclelyn, Little Pedro, Maida(translator), Valentine(from El Carrizo) and Aurielle(from El Carrizo). Pastor Pedro grouped three members from his church with each group, two adults and one youth. The churches of Honduras start their young adults, ages 14 and up with leadership roles in their churches. So Pastor Pedro put one youth in each of the three groups for training in evangelism. Each morning the people met at the church around 8, sang hymns and broke up into their groups. The groups as I said earlier did a devotional, shared prayer requests, talk about where they were going that day and then closed in prayer. Off they went out into the streets, paths, and up into the mountains of this community. They may have visited one two or more homes each day. They took as long as was needed according to the need of the families at each home. We had ask the team to share a God moment from their week and this is the one this group shared. They were in awe when they approached a home and they were welcomed in by the families. They always thanked the North Americans for taking the time to come and share Jesus Christ with them. They had three to recommit their lives to Jesus Christ, one to ask Jesus in their heart and so many seeds were planted. We pray the words shared that week with each person will impact their lives to come to Jesus Christ. The "God Moment" for this group was a family who had recently lost their seven year old son to a tumor which was located near his heart. His mother shared with the team when people heard he was dying they would cry and say I am sooo sorry for you and your family. The little boy would tell them, "please do not cry for me because when I die Jesus is going to carry me away!" What an awesome testimony for all of us, at the age of seven this young man knew when he died where he was going, home with Jesus. So on this day the team was the one blessed not giving out the blessing. We never know when we are sharing the gospel how God will use this time to give us a "God moment" and teach us something. Today this little boy is gone home to be with Jesus which has left his mother with peace knowing one day they will be together again. How awesome is our God!!

Pastor Joe

The next group who went out door to door daily consisted of Pastor Joe, Adam, Caroline, Kelly, Stella(elder of the church), Hilario, Carmen, Jefferson, Karla(translator), Mauda, Jose(our bus driver), Darwin(El Carrizo) and Jesus(El Carrizo. The as well met with a devotional, prayer requests, plans for the morning and prayer for the hit the pavement and dirt paths of Le Gero Blanco. This group's most memorable witnessing experience was on their second day. They got the chance to share the gospel with a couple who were struggling with addiction and abuse. Although we hared the message of love with them and shared the gift of eternal life, they were still unsure of the decision they were making. We asked them if they would like to accept Christ and they said that they would, but we left feeling as if they still were not at peace with the decision. They to church on Friday night and came forward for prayer, and we could tell they still were wrestling inside. On Saturday night, Karl had the opportunity to speak to the woman. She came in tears saying that her boyfriend had returned to drinking and she was restless and looking for peace. Karla shared the gospel with her again and she accepted Christ, finally understanding the decision she was making. Our gracious God was to give Karla one more opportunity to share the plan of salvation with this young lady. We must pray for the young man and many others who that week did not receive eternal through Jesus Christ.

Buie

This team consisted consisted of Buie, team leader, Clayton, Thomas, Nancy, Martha, Daniel, Martin, Moses and Egla our translator. Their God moment appeared on their first day. They shared this was all new for them, there was newness of excitement and nervousness of being in a country where they could not speak the language. But how God had provided three awesome young ladies who did their translating. They had visited a couple of homes and as I shared earlier were welcomed with open arms and smiles. But as they came upon their third home the young man on the porch smiled and welcomed us but there was something wrong something did not feel exactly right. The people there on the porch shared with the team, the lady's son is very sick and was acting out and could not calm down. So the team gathers around the child and lays hands on him. Martin, a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church starting praying. Praying hard and fervently and praying without ceasing. The kind of praying which did not need to be translated and understood but praying which Martin was doing was to our God and maker of our universe to heal the body of this young boy and to give him peace which only God could give him. As Martin was saying AMEN, the young boy relaxed and was calmed. "We say God answer our prayer right before our eyes", Buie said. We later learn the young boy has autism. His family shared how he has those attacks which causes him suffering as well as his family. The team experienced a situation they did not understand, but God showed them through an opportunity his power and compassion. They knew then it was going to be an amazing week and they continued to see God answer prayers throughout the rest of the week.

Relationships/Dedication

As with all teams Oakdale developed many life long relationships with this church family and community. On Sunday morning which was their last day with their new found friends, they taught Sunday School for the younger children and Tony taught Sunday School for the adults. We were blessed to have 30 plus adults in Sunday School that morning, which is the most adults in Sunday School at Gethsemane in a while. The amazing part was there was four young men from Pastor G's church who spent the night in the church with the young people and two of the young men, Aurielle and Jesus, taught Sunday School outside under a tree to forty five young people. What a beautiful sight that was. As we left that day there was a huge discussion on building on the young people which came that week and hopefully start a youth program with the help of Pastor G's church. So please pray God will provide the means for this to take place. Egla our translator while we are home on vacation visiting family ask could she please go back and teach the ladies who are the Sunday School teachers of the young children how to use the materials Oakdale left behind. There is so much to do to build the kindgom of God in Honduras. Thank you Oakdale Baptist Church for planting so many seeds this past week and hopefully there will be many fruits produced one day. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR ALL DETAILS THIS PAST WEEK.

Team 120 Jacksonville, Home Construction

On July 27 First Baptist Church of Jacksonville arrived for their tenth time to Honduras. They arrived as if it was their first time. Their excitement was contagious as we road through the mountains of Honduras towards our destination, Choluteca where our mission house is located. We headed toward a town called Cedena where we built a home for a lady named Edelma, her husband, her daughter and four grandchildren. The four grandchildren's mother passed away two years ago so Ms. Edelma is raising her four grandchildren. Each morning the team had a devotional before heading out to the job site and prayed. They also shared their "God moments" in the evening after their evening devotional. The team consisted of seven women and two men and alot of Honduran brothers and sisters. This was definitely a "family and community" project. The sense of family was definitely on that corner while the home was being built. They built the new home up against the existing home and put one of the doors going into the existing home. Ms. Edelma will continue to use the old home for her kitchen area. They had to take part of the roof off at the front of the old struture down so they could build the newer one. The team stayed right on schedule the entire week with five courses on the first day and each day the courses continue to get higher and higher. Pastor G had to assist in driving the kia a few days because Jose had recently lost his mother. So Pastor G offered to come to the house for three days to drive back out to Cedena. We are so blessed with such dedicated employees. They all are so willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. This team perservered to get their task at hand completed. Job well done First Baptist Jacksonville.

Cooking from two different Cultures

This week there was alot of cooking going on at the job site and at the mission house. We had a few ladies who knew how to cook Hondruan dishes and we enjoyed some baleadas for breakfast one morning. We enjoyed bacon, eggs and grits each morning before heading out to the job site. But once they got to the job site they had the priviledge of watching and learing how to truly cook Honduran style. The Honduran workers were fed extra good this week. Like I said the community came together as well with the cooking as the construction. It reminded me of how the Amish people come together to help each other out when building a home. There may have been two different cultures cooking but it was all good eating that week. Thank you Honudran sisters and North American sisters for all the great and delicious meals. God is good all the time, even in the kitchen. It is really awesome to experience the culture in Honduras and learn more about how they prepare cook and clean up after feeding so many people. The Honduran ladies spent the entire morning preparing for there noon meal. They enjoyed each others fellowship. We never saw them in a rush or how perfect it had to be. They truly enjoyed preparing their meals with laughter and singing of hymns occassionly. The true presence of the Lord was in this place. The humble and dedicated servants we saw in the ladies of Cedena was breathtaking. As always we learn so much from our Honduran brothers and sisters and this time especially from the ladies. Such giving and serving hearts were in that place.

Church Service

On Sunday we had the priviledge for the first time to visit Pastor Carlos' church family. It was a beautiful church sitting on a beautiful lot and some amazing dedicated SS school teachers. Of course the team noticed how well behaved the children were as they made their crafts and heard their bible story. They learned a bible verse and returned to worship to recite the verse they learned. While Ray, Janet, Samantha and Katrina were teaching the children's SS, Ronda was teaching the adult SS lesson on Matt 6:25-34. Jesus teaches us about worry. Thank you Ronda for teaching in such a way we all could benefit from the lesson. The Honduran ladies were taking notes and wanting copies of the six reasons why not to worry about life. Praise the Lord for our Heavenly Father who takes such good care of us if we only let him and how worrying takes away from HIS mighty work which He can do through each and every one of us. We all serve the same God and the language barrier does not hinder the word of God from going to all nations. Later in the service, Donna gave her testimony and then we sang hymns of praise and worship. Pastor Carlos shared a little about how he became a Christian. His brother in Christ Pastor G is the tool God used to lead Pastor Carlos into the ministry. How blessed we are when others take the time to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with us and encourage us to go and serve Him.

Building Relationships and dedication of Home

Through out the week there was other things going on as the walls were going up. Praise the Lord for Joey who was tall enough to help when the job got taller and tougher. Joey was a big man with a quiet and gentle spirit. He also took the time to teach some of our new friends, Kristen, Donna and Samantha how to lay the blocks. This team was blessed with a cozy area with shade to go and take their breaks each day. During these days of building relationships there was a hair salon set up where Katrina and Samantha both got their hair cut. While hair was being cut there was fun time with the children of the family with bubbles and key chains being made. Everyone was wanting to make key chains, children and adults alike. Someone made a keychain to go with the new key to the home, Honudran colors, blue and white, of course. After lunch one day Jose G one of the volunteers from the local church brought out a guitar and he and Nora sang Christian hymns of praise to the Lord. What a beautiful way to spend a lunch break and an afternoon, Praising the Lord. Finally the day come when the home was completed. We decided to have the dedication outside the house and lock the front door and present Ms. Edelma the key to her home so she could be the first one to open the door. Thank you Orfilio for that suggestion. It was a beautiful gesture to add to the dedication. Ray did an awesome job sharing thoughts from his heart and reading from God's word. As the dedication came to a close everyone placed their hands on the wall of the house and a prayer was prayed over the home and the family. It is such an amazing witness for Christ when you have outsiders standing watching from the road and surrounding homes while the dedication is taking place. Hopefully others heard the word of God who may not have every heard it. Pray someone found Jesus that day during the dedication of Ms. Edelma's home.