The beginning of an awesome week

On Wednesday July 11 Floyd's Creek Baptist out of Forest City, North Carolina made their 11th or more annual trip to Choluteca Honduras to serve the Lord.  They landed wired and ready to go to work.  We arrived safely at the mission house to sit down for a meal of chicken tacos.  The team requested a double batch for next year.  They loved the Honduran cuisine.  After dinner they had a devotional on Philippians 2: 14-18 on being unified in Christ.  There is a language barrier and they were out of their comfort zone but Pastor Robert encouraged them to come to serve and not be served. They were very gracious to bring some onsies and blankets to help out the hospital.  Angela, Rachel, Christina, Ashley and Michael made up the bags for the hospital that night before retiring for bed.  This team hit the paving working for the Lord.  Angela said they were here to serve the Lord in whatever way HE saw for them to do.  My Burgess girls and Jamie got up the next morning made the lunches while Paw Paw and Michael made the gatorade and water coolers.  Gregg, Mark, Joel, Steve, Boyce, Phil, and Robert loaded the supplies onto the back of the kia.  They headed out to the jobsite down this very treacherous rocky ravine of a road to a village called Pitas de Linaca.  Upon arriving they were surrounded by the most gorgeous mountains.  Sitting on the back corner on a hill was the Baptist Church without a roof.  Floyd's Creek had come to replace a 10 year old roof which was leaking and ruining the inside of the sanctuary.  They gathered around with the people of the village who were there to serve the Lord as well.  They introduced each other and opened with a word of prayer led by team leader, Gregg.  After the prayer everyone disbursed into different areas to get this project underway.  Some of the ladies painted the beams.  Michael and Taylor took off to the soccer field where children eagerly awaited their week of endless futbol.  The team should be proud of their accomplishment at the completion of day one.  Along with the North Americans there were at least ten Hondurans, including in that number four pastors helping each other out re-roofing the church. This large group of people became unified in Christ on the onset of this day.  God is good all the time.

"You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way let your light shine before others, that thy may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." 

Matthew 5:14-6

Team 118 Floyd's Creek, Roof Replacement

 The activities of the roof continued.  The ladies continued painting beams. The scaffolding was put up.   The men were walking across the rooftop like gymnists.  They were preparing the outside border of the roof for the laying of the beams.   There were several team members building a pilla for the lady of the church.  There was cooking going on in the kitchen for the Honduran workers. While all this was going on Mike, Orfilio and I went to Pastor G's church to pick up the trusses which were welded by men in Pastor G's church.  As the week progressed, the trusses were put into place which was an amazing feat in itself.  It was amazing to watch how they got each one of the beams in place.  They tied the beams to a rope and ousted each one up individually.  Unbelievable workmanship was taking place on this roof.  Once the beams were in place they laid a course of blocks in between the trusses.  The mortar was being mixed inside the sanctuary of the church.  Thank you Boyce who cleaned up the mortar after the completion of the course of block.  One sheet of tin at a time began to make this whole become a roof.  Job well done good and faithful.

"Just as a body, though has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free and we were given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one body but of many."

I Corinthians 12: 12-14

Playing Futbol

The week is progressing with the roof going up and  a pilla being built the young people made time for the children.  There were endless hours of futbol, kickball and jump rope being played by all ages.  God provided this team with a huge field with plenty of room for lots of hours of fun and games.  As you can tell some of our friends took a much needed siesta during their lunch break.  This field was sitting out with absolutely no trees for shade unless you went to the edge of the field.  The Honduran children enjoyed their guest for the week.  Relationships were built which will never be forgotten.  Thank you young people of Floyd's Creek for making this a very special week for the children of Pitas de Linaca.

"For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:20

Church

Because of the location of the project we were unable to worship there at night.  So Pastor Robert asked could they go back and visit the church in Colonia Unidas.  So on Friday night the team worshiped and sang unto the Lord.  I failed to share on the first night after bagging up the baby bags, Mark had the team practicing in Espanol "Celebrate Jesus Celebrate".  By Friday night they sounded amazingly beautiful.  It was awesome to see a team work so hard to sing this song in Espanol for the people of the church.  Thank you Floyd Creek.  Beautiful in so many ways.  A new team member, Joel, got up there and sang and played on his guitar "Amazing Grace".  Mark shared his testimony of how he grew up in church and knew his bible but did he truly know who Jesus Christ was.  Thank you Mark for making us all realize it is not okay just to know who Jesus is but to have an intimate relationship with the living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Pastor Robert got up and shared from God's word on being faithful to God.  It seems we heard about being faithful throughout the entire week.  How awesome is our God to show us how to be true and faithful to HIS calling in our lives. 

On Sunday morning we adventured down that treacherous ravine of a road to the church where we worshiped in hymns and heard from God's word.  The church was not completed so we met under the shade trees next to the church building.  God provided a brisk cool breeze throughout the worship service.  Pastor Robert preached on Matthew 24: 36-39 and Genesis 7.  How faithful Noah was to follow and listen to what God called him to do. He  built an ark when there was no rain.  While others were living their lives for the moment.  We need to always be faithful to God and what He has for us to do.  Be faithful to your church and to the ministry God has called all Christians to.  Sharing the love of Jesus with others through our devout faith and trust in HIM, like our brother Noah.

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be a the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing about what was to happen until the flood came and took them all away.  That is how it will be at the coming of the son of Man."

Matthew 24:36-39 

Families

As this year progresses we see more and more families coming down to Honduras to participate in missions together.  I know this makes God so proud.  This week we had four different families representing Floyds Creek Baptist Church.  I would like to thank Gregg, Anna, Patty and Taylor Burgess, Robert, Angela and Rachel Carnell, Phil and Catherine Murray, and Steve and Christina Scruggs families for spending one week together serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  This will be memories you will all cherish for a life time. 

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Proverbs 22:6

Fellowship

During the week their was plenty of work to be done but also plenty of time for fellowship with each other.  The team had the perfect spot around those trees to sit and share with each other. They took the time to get to know each other in many ways.  Thank you Maida and Egla for assisting them in their relationship building so there would not be a language barrier.  Smiles and laughter are sometimes all you need to communicate as well.  God is good all the time.

"There is neither Jew or Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ."

Galatians 3:28 

The Washing of the Disciples Feet

One evening Mark shared the devotional. He pulled from John 13:1-19.  Before Floyds Creek came down to Honduras Pastor Robert met with the team to prepare, finalize and pray for their trip.  Well he added a special little touch to their gathering.  Pastor Robert washed each one of the team members feet.  But at that time no one washed his feet.  So Mark chose the devotional out of John 13 and shared how Jesus washed his disciples feet.  Later in his devotional he shared about how Pastor Robert had done this to each of them but he did not get his washed.  Each team member that night individually went and bowed down at the basin and washed Pastor Roberts feet and prayed for him.  While others were waiting their turn they prayed.  It was a touching moment in our week which once again brought this team more unified as a team.  Thank you Pastor Robert for the leadership you provide your church family. 

John 13:1-19

Roof Completion and Dedication

The completion of the project was coming to an end.  The last of the tin was going up.  The ladies of the church along with some of the North Americans were washing the floor of the sanctuary.  The team members were placing all the furniture back inside the church. There was a couple of ladies washing down the door of the church after all items were placed inside.  They were taking such pride in their church home.  I was wondering where Egla was located during all this.  I look down at the futbol field and she was sharing a bible story with a group of the children.  They were nesteled under the shade of several trees.  Everything was coming to a close and the entire week there was not a drop of rain during this rainy season.  Pastor G, Pastor Carlos, Pastor Amado and Orfilio were putting on the final touches of the front porch roof of the church with the generator running vigorously.  At that point it was time for the dedication, so the pastors and Orfilio put their final touches to a halt and Robert began the commencement of the dedication of the roof.  As he started to speak there came a rain shower.  God is good all the time.  For the first time the roof was not leaking and the inside of the church was dry.  Robert was able to finish the dedication and the pastors and Orfilio were able to put the final touches on the front porch.  Our God is an amazing and awesome God.  He reigns from Heaven above.  Our God is an awesome God.  To HIM be the glory for this entire week of service to HIM and His Kingdom.

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."

Romans 12:4-6

Before/After

God's house.

Meet the Costillo Family

On July 3rd Salemburg Baptist Church traveled to a village called Colonia Wiliams in Choluteca, Honduras.  Upon arriving they were introduced to the most precious family, the Costillos.  The Costillo family consist of Benito, father and Irma, mother, following six beautiful and amazing children.  Their ages ranged from 13 years old down to two years old.  Salemburg realized right away what an amazing week they were getting ready to have.  The lives of the Costillos were going to be transformed in a matter of fives.  They literally went to nothing to having a home with a door and lock and place to stay dry during the rainy season.  Benito received his most important home this week, eternity.  Benito accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during the process of building his home.  This is why teams come and go to Honduras to bring the lost to Jesus Christ.  Thank you God for allowing Salemburg to add one more brother in Christ to their family.

"I love those who love ME, and those who seek ME diligently will find me."

Proverbs 8:17

Team 117 Salemburg Baptist Church

Salemburg arrived getting immediately to work removing the remains of the old home.  There were poles from inside the former needing to be removed.  Several of the team members took care while other team members helped Pastor G set up the four corners.  Jose, our bus driver, and Benito started the process of mixing the mortar.  I am fairly certain while Jose and Benito were working side by side, our brother Jose was asking him  about his relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jose uses his opportunities when assisting with the mortar to evangelise with the men of the communties.  There was  probably were the first seed was planted towoards Benito to life in Christ.  The team worked under some gorgeous and huge trees covered in a fruit called hickaro.  God blessed them truly with at least one half of their day working in shade.  The ladies next door helped prepare food for the Honduran workers and Mike the entire week.  We were blessed to have Pastor Carlos as well helping with the construction of the home.  As the week progressed you could witness the excitement and amazement of the children as they watched each block becoming a home.  This was a first time trip for several of the team members from Salemburg.  But the newness wore off quickly as each team member found their place in making the 800 blocks a home.  They were diligently side by side and did whatever it took to get their job done.  During their lunch break they spent time playing with the children and talking to nearby neighbors who came curious of what was taking place in their neighborhood.  God worked many miracles on this property.  God is good all the time.

So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Acts 16:31

Costillo Children

The children were around the job site the duration of the week watching their home go up. The older children worked along side their father to help with whatever task was at hand.  Everyday for lunch they set up a table for the Honduran workers. The two youngest children were extremely shy and unsure of these strangers who came to their home and began interaction with them.  As the week progressed they soon learned they could trust and love the North Americans.  They quickly made new friends which will last a life time for the children as well as the North Americans.  This is how good our Father in Heaven works.  He uses us and the Hondurans in so many different ways to bring each other together as one. One afternoon after finishing up their day the children took everyone to the river and the children enjoyed swimming and laughing as their new friends sat back and watched with joy in their hearts.

"Let the little children come unto me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." 

Matthew 19:14

VBS

On the last two work days some of the team members broke off and went to the children to provide Vacation Bible School for over a 100 children.  They learned the famous "Chicken Dance" and did crafts and learned about their Savior Jesus.  The children were amazing and a joy to serve as always.  We really enjoy when teams come and share the gospel with the children and prepare activities for them to enjoy.  Most of the children here in Honduras do not get this chance unless a team comes and shares their gifts and talents with these precious children.  A Sunday morning for the children consist of a bible story, memorizing a bible verse from their story and singing songs.  So when the North Americans take their time to prepare a craft or activity for them even if it is only coloring a picture the children as all so grateful.

"That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing HIM, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Colossians 1:10

Home dedication

The home was completed on Saturday afternoon.  But the home dedication was delayed until Sunday morning before church so those who worked could attend.  The church members sang hymns during the home dedication and the Pastor John shared a few words and challenged the family to create this into a home for the Lord.  They laying of hands upon the home was done as Pastor John prayed over this new home created in the name of Jesus.  The Costillos family was presented with their lock and key and a family bible.  The team presented the Costillo family a photo taken in front of their former home and Pastor John discussed how we put away our old and become new in Christ.  This picture will remind them they are all new in Christ and Christ Jesus gave them this godly home to raise their family.

"As for me and my family we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

New Home

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.  ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD.

DIOS ES BUENO TODO ES TIEMPO.  TODO ES TIEMPO DIOS ES BUENO.