First Baptist Church of Southern Pines- The Older Young People

On September 6, First Baptist Church of Southern Pines landed in Tegus with five new team members and some veterans. We headed down to Choluteca talking about their memories from last year and sharing with all the new men what they had to looked forward to. We always enjoy new people and their excitement and enthusiasm of serving the Lord in Honduras. Discussion was had on where the blocks would be when we got to the job sight. They were hoping and praying they would be inside the foundation. One word the teams learn when working in Honduras is flexibilty. We are in the rainy season now and there has been alot of heavy evening rains. As we getting closer to the answer of where the location of the blocks were there was a traffic jam. In Honduras the cattle have the right away and the highway is theirs. So we patiently waited for the cattle to cross and then we turned down the road which God had placed us for the next five days. As we appeared to the corner lot there were Hondurans eagerly awaiting our arrival to start a week of building a home for Nora but more building lasting friendships. There was several hugs from the prior year of working in Marcovia on another house. Some of the Hondurans who helped last year were also here to help build Nora's home. Oh back to the blocks, they were not in the foundation because the foundation had not been completed because of the heavy rains. Pastor G apologized for the floor of the foundation not being completed. As we always say every job is different, so flexibity was the word from the beginning. They were to work from the outside instead of the inside of the foundation. But before all the work was started we gathered all the people there to pray for the day and the week ahead. After the cornerstones were put in and the first block was to be laid Pastor G prayed over the first block and then off they went to build Nora's home. As the morning passed and the blocks were going up everyone found their place where they felt comfortable. There were many people, North Americans and Hondurans busy at work. Down the narrow dirt path came a huge dump truck carrying rock and sand to fill in the floor. This dump truck backed into the area right up to the foundation and dump out the rock and sand. Well this created another job to get done. The First Baptist team along with the Hondurans started leveling out the rock and sand while others continued to work. This did not slow down the process. Maybe an hour later, another dump truck arrived with the sand to mix the mortar. Once again it backed into a narrow spot and dumped out the sand for mortar. That corner lot had alot of activities going on and alot of outsiders standing watching as the North Americans learned to mix mortar, lay blocks, cut blocks, carry mortar and build relationships. The First Baptist team learned quickly the Honduran way to build a home. This was such a beautiful week. Everyone had a place and everyone worked very hard and I was in awe of all the activites going on the entire week. It was such an amazing flow of all people. You knew God was in the middle of all of it. The love of Jesus was definitely on that corner in the village of Santa Cruz. Nora's church family came forward and helped her build her home. Nora has always been there to help others when we have done numerous jobs in the Santa Cruz and Cedeno area. She is always there with a smile and joy for Jesus Christ in serving others. So now it was Nora's turn to be served and it was definitely evident on the week of Sept 6.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are MY disciples, you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

Dedication of Nora's home

The home was completed in four days. Day of the dedication had arrived. As I shared in another blog we have started having the dedication on the outside of the home where we are a witness to the entire community. Pastor David of Southern Pines shared words from God's word and presented her with a family bible for her and her son, Juan Carlos. At that time, Franz, Joy, Egla and John(who played the guitar) sang Amazing Grace in Spanish and English. Franz and Egla were singing in Spanish. What a beautiful sound of two languages coming together as one. God is good all the time. Nora with tears flowing down her cheeks shared how she thanked her GOD first for all he had done in her life, for his love for her and all he has given her. Then Pastor G said a few words thanking God first then his church family for coming out the last four days and helping Nora get a home . Joy presented her with the key to her home. Nora proceeded to go over and unlock the front door to her new home. Everyone applauded and Praised the Lord.

"For as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Joshua 21:15b

Sharing gifts sent by First Baptist Southern PInes

First Baptist Church of Southern Pines was busy long before September 6. During the year they have collected items for hygiene kits, soap and wash cloth, tooth brushes and toothpaste, beanie babies and onsies and blankets for the children and babies in the Choluteca hospital, and they came with one more new idem this year, dresses for little girls ages two to ten. One night as we were sharing what and how to distribute them items we decided to let the two ladie, Joy and Karen on the team to go and spend the morning with us and deliver some items. All was well with them going until the team leader, George, found out Egla was going too. Well George soon got over the fact we were taking his translator when he found out how many blessings we had that morning. So off we go. The first home we stopped at there were eight children and there were several of the girls who could wear the dresses. So we left this family with several dresses and gave each family member hygiene kits. Before we left we prayed with the family and received numerous hugs of gratitude for their gifts. Off we went yet to another home which we will be building in the fall to let her know she was getting a home. Joy and Karen also shared hygiene kits with this family and once again we prayed with the family. This family had just lost their pastor and she was in tears of their loss. So God put us their with hope for her in his timing and not ours. Thank you God for leading us there on that day at that time. God is good all the time. Off we go again to yet another family with eight children and shared some more dresses and hygiene kits. We had an appointment at the hospital at 10 so we quicky headed in that direction. Upon the arrival at the hospital the Administrator to the supply room, Neives, was waiting with a big smile on her face. She had taken the onesies and blankets we had delivered the day before and put them in a yellow or blue gift bag depending on the gendor. She had organized for the women to come who were there waiting to deliver or for a check up to receive their gifts. After this Joy and Karen and Egla headed to the C-section wing to hand out more gift bags and also beanie babies to the babies. They were allowed to go in where the new borns were located. They geared up in gowns and went with their gift bags and saw actually a baby who was only five minutes old. Then off to the Peds wing where there were numerous ages of children in the hospital with various things going on. This wing has actually just been remodeled and had rooms for seperate illnesses. This was so great to see. So as you see we had a very amazing morning sharing all the items First Baptist Southern Pines has collected and made. Karen shared each Wednesday night they would meet to work on the dresses and share fellowship together. Because of their time and effort many children were blessed. Thank you for your giving hearts those who could not be here but were here in spirit.

"God loves a cheerful giver." 2Corinthians 9:7b

It is more than building a home

There is so much more than building a home when teams come down to Honduras. They get to enjoy the culture of the Honduran men and women. Well while the house was going up the ladies were in the background cooking for the Honudran workers. They are busy gathering their sticks for cooking, collecting water from the well, making the mixture for tortillas. There is a famous phrase in our Baptist Men's Manual which we all learn while working for five days with the people. "Americans have the clock and the Hondurans have the time." About mid morning everyday the Honduran ladies walked around with a tray of catraches for the Honduran workers. They would stop working go and sit down under the shade tree, eat their catraches, talk, laugh and enjoy fellowship together. So the North Americans stopped along side them to take a break as well. One gentlemen said, "How long are we going to break?" I said probably 15 minutes or so. We can learn so much from these people on how to stop and smell the roses so to speak. As the week went on the North Americans were figuring it out. John took time one day to sing to Nora with her guitar. And one day Nora was singing with Joy, Karen and Egla. Joy and Karen got to learn how to make tortillas one day. It was so nice to see the team of First Baptist sitting under the tree along side their brothers and sisters of Honduras. They enjoyed laughter and songs and it was all from two different languages. With God there is only one language: His son, Jesus Christ.

Honduras Children's Day and Worship

On Sept 10 while First Baptist Southern Pines was here was Children's Day. So after the completion of the home we had a pinata, Sponge Bob, for the children full of candy. They allowed all the children or most all the children to participate in hitting the pinata. As time went on though the size of the children changed drastically. They seemed to have gotten bigger. Pastor David, George and Mike were out there hitting Sponge Bob. Finally Mike knocked poor old Sponge Bob one hard time and candy flew everywhere. Adults and children alike were scampering for the candy. On the next morning we went to Sunday church with Pastor G and Nora. Pastor David led the message from Ephesians 4:1-7 and 11-16 Commitments to Jesus Christ. Pastor David read from John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Pastor David shared Jesus is the Lord of our life. In Christ is life and light. We are one body, people of God. My hope is in Jesus Christ and to then be encouragers to others. Pastor G then did a follow up of Pastor David's sermon simply saying "Go and make disciples of all nations, take up your cross daily and follow me." Wow this was a powerful message coming from two different pastors but the same God. Once again we enjoyed hearing Franz, Egla, Joy and John(playing the guitar) singing Amazing Grace. Once again on Sunday the church had provided over 120 children with a chicken wing and slaw for Children's Day. They also had a pinata as well. I felled to share with you all First Baptist had a special guest, Flat Kylie from Forest City, North Carolina. She is seen in serveral of the pictures throughout the blog. We always welcome special guests to Honduras.

Disaster Relief at Cedeno

First Baptist Southern Pines was able to finish their construction in four days. But God was not finish with them yet. Some of the teams like to go to the beach after church on Sunday for a seafood lunch and some chilling time. Mike and I had gotten word there was a bad storm that had come through back in August. So we rode out to the beach during the construction of Nora's home to see what was going on. NO FEMA ASSISTANCE here. Pastor Carlos took us out to the beach but a different way. The road to the beach was washed out due to 20 foot waves that hit landfall. So off we go a different way. Upon arrival at the Baptist Camp of Honduras there was devastation everywhere. The outside chapel's roof was partially gone. The apartment which the pastor and his wife and two small girls lived in was at least three to four feet in beach sand. The rooms where people come to stay and have retreats was in the same shape. Mike and I said we cannot feel good coming out here and eating a fish plate when there is debris and devastaion everywhere. We went back to the mission house that night and shared what we had experienced and ask if the team would like to spend Monday doing some good all North Carolina Baptist Men Disaster Relief. Well the rest is history. On Monday morning along with Pastor G and his congregation and Pastor Carlos from the area and First Baptist we went to shovel beach sand and clean up the best we could what the storm tore down. The ladies were busily in the kitchen preparing lunch, fish and shrimp plates and seafood soup. As lunch time and quitting time was approaching we had an idea. The Hondurans are always serving us with such gracious hearts, so today we decided to serve them. We said our blessing and ask if they would all go and be seated to be served their lunch. The hands and feet of God are so beautitful when serving others. Tears came to my eyes as I saw the beauty of service being shared on the beach that day. Pastor Hector was very appreciative for the hard labors of all. Now his family came move back into their home and hopefully continue to rebuild the Baptist Camp.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fevor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:10-13