Women's Bible Conference 2012

 

November 15, 2012 God blesses us once again with another Bible Study for the women of Choluteca, Honduras.  We renamed it this year from Pastor Wives Retreat to Women's Bible Conference.  We added two new ladies who are not pastor's wives but play a huge role in the ministry of North Carolina Baptist Men and Women of Honduras, Rosa and Naomi, Orfilio's wife.  There were nine of us total.  Egla did the translating for the two hour bible study on Peace in Jesus.  The first week of November I passed out the bible studies to the women and asked them to study and answer the questions in their study.  We also did not meet in a public restaurant this year.  We met at Pastor Pedro's church in La Ere Blanca, Choluteca, Honduras.  We asked him earlier in October could nine ladies meet to have a bible study.  He was delighted to open up God's house for this event.  Mike, Egla and I arrived at the church with Pastor Pedro awaiting us.  He had put two tables together with ten chairs and the tables were covered with white tablecloths.  His thoughtfulness continued as he shared he place the tables under the fans and near the windows for fresh air.  With tears in my eyes I was overwhelmed with gratitude of the thoughtfulness placed in preparing the room for the bible study.  His huge smile lightened my spirit.  I was so nervous about doing this with these lovely ladies as Pastor Pedro was nervous about having everything just right.  We both laughed and continue to work together to get the rest of the room ready for the ladies arrival.  Once all the ladies arrived we opened with prayer and Egla and Rosa lead us in a song  "Joy joy joy, peace peace peace down in my heart".  We played a game where you whisper something in a person's ear and it goes all the way around till gets back to the person who said it.  This ice breaker had us all laughing because I said to Egla," Mike and I have been in Honduras for three years as of December 28."  It got back to me as Praise the Lord. As we continued laughing we were all relaxing and getting ready to began our study on peace.  I asked a question in the beginning "What is peace and where do you find it?"  Rosa immediately answered Jesus Christ.  Rosa open up the floor for others to comment and this continued for two hours.  There was a time of personal sharing on how during hardships we can still find peace in Jesus.  I learned so much that day from these lovely ladies.  After we completed the study I provided lunch for the ladies.  We had hamburgers, pasta salad and fruit salad with a cookie.  Ice tea and water was served as well.  Thank you Mike for assisting me in the preparations of the luncheon.  While I was finishing up the bible study my wonderful husband and best friend was setting out the food on the table.  We enjoyed lunch and talked about our families and how to apply peace in our lives.  Also one of the pastor's wives said she will host the next bible study at their church.  Thank you to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for peace that transcends all our understanding..  I was able to give each lady a gift bag with a 365 day devotional, a mug with Peace in espanol "Paz", crotchet crosses, lotions, notepads, chap sticks, body soap and Evagi-cubes to help them when they are sharing the gospel with others.  Thank you to my God first and thank you to everyone who helped make this day an eventful and one where God was glorified.

 

"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."  John 14:27  

First Baptist Church Southern Pines Renewal of Friendships and New Friendships

 

It is so awesome to see old friends reunite and bring in new friends to start another chain of friendships.  This is Southern Pines third trip to Honduras and each year they continue to make new friends.  They brought three new friends along this year.  We would like to welcome Ed, Maurice and Penny to this years family.  God is so good to bring new folks into Mike and my life through all the teams who come to Honduras.  We have such a large family from all over the world. When the Hondurans say they will pray for their friends from North America they are truly sincere in their words.  Thank you North American brothers and sisters for always praying for us here in Honduras.  We love you guys!!!

 

"A friend loves at all times."  Proverbs 17:17

The first day of being a blessing

 

Every job site is different.  This particular location did not have water on the property.  The future homeowner, Saul, paid to have water brought in and loaded the four barrels the first two days.  Afterwards a friend from church allowed the team to go to his home and load up the four barrels with water.  We were very blessed for Porphilio who allowed us to use water from his home.  Our team watched as the corner post were set up in preparation for the laying of the first block.  Once this was done the team taught their new friends how to lay block and the rest is history.  They were able to lay  five courses by the end of the first day.  This was becoming a very beautiful home for a very lovely couple,  Saul and Gabby.  Thank you my brothers and sisters for your hard work and dedication to complete this home at this time and place according to God's plan for all of us.

 

"Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Chief Cornerstone. In HIM the whole building is joined together and rises to become a Holy Temple in the Lord. And in HIM you too are being built together to become a dewelling in which God lives by his Spirit."  Ephesians 2:20-22

Saul and Gabby praying over their first block

 

This is almost like a fairy tale story.  Saul and Gabby have been sweethearts for seven years.  They were high school sweethearts.  Saul is a teller at a local bank, goes to school on Saturday to further his education and is a Sunday School teacher for the children of his church and leads the praise band in his church.  Gabby is going to beauty school and supports Saul in all he does.  This was a very special day for Saul and Gabby to dedicate the first block and the beginning of many years in their new home..  Please pray as they prepare to be married on December 1, 2012.  Mike and I are very blessed to be able to be apart of this special day.

 

"And the two will become one flesh so they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Mark 10:8-9 

Many beautiful faces serving the Lord

 

God put so many different folks from different backgrounds together this week to serve HIM.  It is amazing how awesome our God is to put together just who HE wants and the time HE wants it to happen.  They worked as one in Christ and did not ever let the language barrier become a hindrance.  How beautiful is God's masterpiece when we are submissive to HIS calling.  Thank you to so many more folks than the ones above for making this such an awesome and amazing week.  God is good all the time.

 

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

 

Galatians 3: 28

Many different hats

 

This team was full of many talented leaders and people wanting to learn all they could.  Where do I began.  Let's start with the BLUE HAT.  This young man's name was George.  He worked amazingly hard all week taking care of his team and their construction of the home. As well as many other jobs he was responsible for each and every day.  Thank you George for a job well done.  Thank you Joy for keeping George straight and leading your team in many areas.  Your willingness to keep them safe and hydrated was a blessing to all of them.  Thank you for organizing the onsies and blankets to help out the hospital.  It takes so much to get a team here and you did an outstanding job.  And there is my friend Penny.  She came with enthusiasm and excitement to learn all she could about the ladies of Honduras.  She was able to help Francisca in the makings of tortillas for lunch one day.  She found out quickly what hard work this was and Francisca did this every day for the Honduran workers on the job site.  Francisca's patience with all of us ladies in her kitchen was a God moment.  She had so much work do to this day and she took the time to allow Penny to learn a little about a day in a Honduran lady's kitchen. 

 

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

 

Colossians 3:23-24

Other activites besides building a home

 

Each week presents many different activities other than building a home. One day Joy made Mike a banana pudding just because she wanted to.  Thank you Joy for spoiling my husband that evening.  One day Mike spoiled all the workers with two delicious watermelons on one of their afternoon breaks.  On the fourth day, George, Karen, Joy and Penny along side Orfilio and his daughter Lizzy, as translators, headed up to the church and within five hours were able to give some hope to many who could not see to read their bibles or even thread a needle.  The oldest patient was 89 years old.  But the most amazing story was the very first patient who was the same age as George.  George gave her the needle and thread and ask her to thread the needle while wearing a pair of readers he provided for her.  It took her about a minute and she had the needle threaded.  Everyone applauded her and praised the Lord for her seeing to thread the needle.  How beautiful is our God to provide this ministry this week for one hundred folks. We were able to worship one evening in church with Saul and his church family.  Thank you Maurice and Franz for sharing your testimony and your love for your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Thank you for challenging all of us if we did not know Jesus Christ do not let this day pass without receiving Jesus into our lives.

 

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life."

 

John 3:16

All good things have to come to an end

 

On the last day Orfilio wore his First Baptist Church of Southern Pines t-shirt to the job site.  I am not sure Orfilio knew what his shirt said but God knew. Ed and Larry worked diligently providing the materials for the completion of the floor.  While Orfilio and Maurice carried Pastor Carlos, Franz and Penny the roof materials.  What a blessing to see the final touches go up on this absolutely gorgeous and perfectly made home in the name of Jesus Christ.  Job well done my brothers and sisters in Christ from North Carolina and Choluteca, Honduras.  You perservered until every last detail was completed.  We all gathered around the home of Saul and Gabby to present the home dedication.  Joy presented the lovely couple with their family bible and key to their new home.  At this time we laid hands on the home and the team shared in a prayer over the home. Saul was encouraged by family and friends to kiss his future bride.  Saul's mother was generous to provide cake for everyone present.  Thank you to all who shared in this special day.

Be on the look out for the blog on Saul and Gabby's wedding in December.

 

"Bless this house oh Lord we pray make it safe by night and day.

Bless these walls so firm and stout

Keeping want and trouble out.

 

Bless the roof and chimney tall.

Let thy peace lay over all.

Bless this door that it may prove,

Ever open to joy and love.

 

Bless these windows shining bright

Letting in God's heavenly light

Bless the hearth a blazing there

With smoke ascending like a prayer.

 

Bless the people here within

Keep them pure and free from sin

Bless us all that we may be

Fit oh Lord to dwell with Thee

Bless us all that one day we may dwell

Oh Lord we pray.

 

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, let's be mindful of all we have. 

Thank you God, Amen