A new team and a new home

 

We want to welcome our first time team to Honduras, Longview Baptist Church out of Raleigh, North Carolina.  This are home folks and I even worked with a couple of the ladies in the Wake County School System.  Our world keeps getting smaller and smaller.  They were led by their Pastor, Randy Mckinney, who has been to Honduras four times prior to this trip.  Thank you Pastor Randy for returning to Honduras with an awesome and amazing team.  They came to build a home for a beautiful family in a community called Cedeno, Choluteca, Honduras.  Digno, strong Chritian leader of his home along beside his lovely wife, Esmaira and their three children, Nanze, Olmon and Sandra are getting a new home this week thanks to Longview Baptist who chose to come and serve the Lord in Honduras.  We have been blessed this week by Digno and his family as well as Longview Baptist.

 

"Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am among them."

Matthew 18:20

Brenda learns how to cook Honduran style

 

Brenda is an expert cook in her kitchen back home in North Carolina.  Nanzi and Sandra tried teaching her how to make tortillas.  Brenda did an amazing job after about her third try.  The girls enjoyed Brenda taking interest in their culture and how they cook here in Honduras.  Esmaira, wife and mother, allowed Brenda to stand back and watch her cook in her kitchen.  Brenda will definitely take home some new cooking tips from these beautiful ladies.

 

"Happy is the man/woman who finds wisdom, and the man/woman who finds understanding."

Proverbs 3:13

 

Preparing for the first block

 

This group of North Americans came in willing and ready to learn how to build this home of 800 blocks and 50 bags of cement.  One team member, Jake, shared when he saw all the material there awaiting their arrival, he said how are we going to do this in five days.  God had a plan and His plan always succeed.  At the end of the first day Jake said, "Wow, we did it all because of our obedience to Jesus Christ.  It takes about an hour to get ready for the first block.  Each cornerstone has to be put into place and the mortar(mescla) has to be mixed.  Also while all this is going on  someone is cutting the blocks, thanks Tim, job well done.  It takes the entire team working together to get ready for the first block.  Pastor G pulled Esmaira over to see where she wanted her doors for her new home.  As Pastor G marked the spot with a red pencil, Esmaira stood back with a huge smile upon her face.  This was one step closer to her receiving her new home.  God is good all the time.

 

"See I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in Him,

will never be put to shame.

1 Peter 2:6

The walls going up and so is the heat

 

Mike gave the team a lesson in laying block and they took off with it.  Each team member found his or her spot and got to work.  They were all very impressed as the morning progressed and the courses starting going up.  At the end of the day they stood back and said God can do all things through us.  As long as we are in God's will and being obedient to His calling his work will get done.  The team was so impressed by all who were pitching in to help their friend, Digno, get a home.  They saw a since of community among the Honduran neighbors which they were impressed with.  People in Honduras come together to help one another out and do not expect anything in return.  One man was going by one day and stopped to ask Digno did he need help.  Digno's son had to go to school to take a test and was not there one day to help his father with the mortar.  This man was passing by and saw a friend in need and helped him mix and carry buckets of mortar to the ones laying the blocks.  For those of you who do not know a bucket of mortar placed up on your should weighs about 50 or 60 pounds.  This man stopped to see if Digno needed help instead of passing on by and ignoring a friend in need.  What would Jesus do?   What an example for all of us who look the other way when someone is in need.  Especially hard physical manual labor.  What a godly example this man set for all of us this day.  I can honestly this was a big God moment for all of us.  How humbling it is to see such act of kindness.

 

"Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so at the proper time He may exalt you."

1 Peter 5:6 

God's blessings

 

After the cornerstones went in the team gathered around this precious family and Pastor Randy with the help of Meida, our translator, prayed a prayer of dedication on the construction of this home.  Each person touched someone else so we all were connected as one in the body of Christ.  It is so beautiful to see such a strong Christian family as what we saw in Digno and his family this week.  As Pastor Randy was praying Digno was also praying praises and thanksgiving to God along with the rest of his family.

 

"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."

John 14:14

Ladies did many jobs

 

Thank you to Sondra, Bette, Brenda, Sandra, Glenda and LouAnn for getting in there laying blocks, filling in the joints, serving water to the Honduran workers and North Americans.  A special thank you to Bette for teaching my friend, Sondra how to get her white paints white as snow.  Now Bette and Sondra know the secret to getting clothes spotless without using Clorox and a washing machine.  These ladies were a blessing to all of us this week. Job well done ladies.

 

"The wisest of women build her house."

Proverbs 14:1a

Digno and family building their home

 

This was a beautiful time watching how strong Digno, Esmaira, Nanzi, Olman and Sandra were in working side by side to get their home built.  They all pitched in mixing mortar(mescla), cooking tortillas and meals for the Honduran workers.  They all pitched in and did what they could to help the North Americans.  They all took such pride in their new home.  It was a true blessing to work beside such a special family.  When Olman had to go to school to take the test, Nanzi and Sandra got out there to help mix the mortar(mescla) with their father.  Esmaira spent the entire morning along beside her mother, Francisca cooking breakfast and lunch for the workers.  One morning she came out during the teams break and served each of them a nice cold cup of coco-cola.  Sondra shared what a refreshing treat to receive outside of the water and Gatorade.  It gave the team a little boost to keep on keeping on.  This family exemplified what true hospitality means.  Thank you to this precious family for teaching us so much this week.  We were blessed as much as you were.

 

"The one who blesses others will be blessed abundantly, those who help others will be helped."

Proverbs 11:25

VBS brought the rubber band bracelets to Honduras

 

The ladies came well prepared for the children's VBS in Honduras.   All accept this was the first week of the children's break from school.  We planned for 100 and had many more.  But God always provides all we need.  The ladies made it work and enjoyed being with these beautiful children.  The ladies had several crafts each day and a bible story.  On the last day they provided a skit on The Good Samaritan.  The craft this day was a huge success and was taught to the older girls and mothers.  "THE RUBBER BAND BRACELETS".   They enjoyed learning how to make them and wearing them and fellowship with each other.  Thank you ladies for preparing and bringing a little bit of joy to God's children in Honduras.

 

Jesus said, " Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

Fish fry

 

On the second day the team did not have the usual sandwich and chips.  Digno and Esmaira served them a seafood luncheon.  On their plates came a "slow" fried fish, fried banana chips, chismo and tortillas.  Of course she brought out a ice cold cup of coke.

On the last day they celebrated with a bowl of seafood soup which consisted of shrimp, crabs, fish, juca, potatos and carrots.  Digno and Esmaira gave their best to say thank you for what the North Americans did for them.  Once again this is a true meaning of hospitality.  And all God's people said, "Amen"

 

"But the righteous give generously."

Proverbs 37:21b

Five Families Come To Serve

 

I have to honestly say this is the first time we have had five families at one time come and serve in Honduras.  What a beautiful statement.  I would like to welcome and introduce,  Riley and Sandra Massey, Jake and Sondra Finklea, Time and Bette Lassiter, Brenda Thomas and her grandson, Nate McLintock and Gene and Glenda Murray.  Thank each of you for coming here and serving beside us in Honduras.  We love when our families come and serve. 

 

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

Joshua 24:15

The Final Touches and Lunch

 

This was a unique week as they all are for us in Honduras.  The Presidential Election was being held on Sunday of this week.  So we were advised by many of our brothers and sisters to finish the house in four days.  We would have been traveling on Sunday to go back to Zamorano on Sunday. Instead we gave it all we had on Friday so we would be traveling on Saturday to get back to Zamorano, our home near Tegus. So on the fourth day this team gave God all they had and God gave them all they needed in energy, strength and perseverance to complete Digno and his family's home.   Every team member was busy doing something to get the kingdom work completed.  The North American men worked very hard by the Hondurans to mix the mortar for the floor while Mike and Pastor Carlos put on the roof.  In the background the women were playing with the children, keeping the men hydrated and cooking an amazing pot of seafood soup for our lunch.  This was an amazing day all in the name of Jesus.  Thank you to everyone who gave their all for the Lord.

 

"And whatever you do, whether in work or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus our Lord, giving thanks to God our Father through Him."

Colossians 3:17 

THe Home Dedication/Worship Service

 

The home dedication made to a beautiful week in Cedeno, Choluteca, Honduras.  Pastor Rany led the service of dedication.  The most touching and moving moment was when Nancy shared with tears running down her cheeks how grateful she was first to God then to the North Americans for providing her family a home.  A home where they can lock the door at night, be dry in the rainy season and to share with others about Jesus Christ.  Nancy is only 16 years old but a strong Christian young lady who has a godly example through her father and mother.  There was tear everywhere on this day, but these were tears of joy and gratitude for us all.  How amazing it is to see our God and how big HE is in all details of life.  Thank you my God for allowing us to serve  you this week with such a godly family.

 

 

As I shared earlier we had to travel back on Saturday and cut our week a little shorter.  So on Sunday morning we got up and worshiped on the back porch of our home.  One of the ladies commented how awesome it was to be able to worship barefooted.  God takes us as we are as long as we are in His presence.  Pastor Randy read from Psalm 133 to open up the service.  This actually brought chills through me as I listened to the reading of God's word.  In many churches in Honduras that morning the very same scripture was being read.  How big is our GOD!!!!  Pastor Randy shared how Digno and his family pointed us all toward what true joy and for a renewal in our faith.

Our worship service titled was "New Testament Church".  The way we were worshiping on this day was how the New Testament Churches use to worship.  The homes were opened up to have worship and sharing in God's word.

But as the service came to an end Pastor Randy did  something amazing.  We shared in the Lord's Supper.  He started it and gave it to Tim and then shared the words  "This is my life broken for you and this is my blood shed for you, Do this in remembrance of Me."  Words cannot describe how amazing this moment was for all of us.  All God's people said "AMEN".

 

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "this is my body given, doing this in remembrance of me."

"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

 

Luke 22:19-20

 

Baby Bags and School Supplies

 

Thank you ladies for spending Sunday afternoon putting together 168 baby bags and over 100 school supplies for the children of Honduras. 

 

"For God so loved the world that they gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not  perish but have every lasting life."

John 3:16

North Carolina Baptist Dental Team

 

The dental team arrived on Saturday and we made our journey to Choluteca, Honduras.  Sunday morning we traveled to a wonderful community called Colonia Unidas where Pastor Dimis shared from God's word out of Matthew 7:13-14 "The Narrow and Wide Gates".  He shared with the people how we need to be much aware about the difference between the wide and narrow gate.  The wide gate is much easier to get through but the narrow gate is the one we want to go through as Christians.  We can go to church, serve as a deacon, serve on several committees in our church and even go on an international mission trip but if we do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and do all these things to glorify the kingdom of God then what gate will we be entering.  Pastor Dimis gave us a lot to ponder over and think about.  Why do we do the things we do?  For our on self gratification or to please man or do we do all these things for the glory of God.  Does God lead our every decision or do we lead our own way?  Thank you Pastor Dimis for presenting God's word in a mighty and powerful way.  As Pastor Dimis was sharing, he had a captive audience out in the streets of this community.  Several teen-age boys and adult men were listening to what Pastor Dimis was sharing.  So hopefully they will take God's word to heart and make the most important decision of their lives.  The young people of the church were very attentive to the preaching of God's word today.  It does my heart good to see how the young people in church have their bibles open and following along with every word that is being shared.  The young people are the future of the churches.  Thank you Pastor Dimis for providing the message on this Sunday morning.

 

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

Time for setting up

 

After worship on Sunday the team set up the clinic to start up at 8:00 AM on Monday morning.  This community and church came together to help the North American get their clinic ready for service.  They were able to use the two Sunday School classrooms behind the church for the dental clinic.  The sanctuary was used for the waiting area and for Mrs. Alice to share about "Moms in Prayer". The ladies of the church were selling fried bananas and beef tacos to help raise money for the church.  Who needed KFC when you were served this?  Thank you ladies for providing a snack for us as we worked on setting up. Jerry and Ken set up their room for cleaning the tools in one Sunday School Classroom while the three dentist, David, John and our Honduran dentist, Aleyda set up in the other Sunday School Classroom.  God provided a nice breeze for them as they worked getting the rooms ready.  There is alot of hard work which goes into getting a dental clinic ready for service as this team well knows.  They came prepared and organized as it did not take them long to put everything in place for their service to this beautiful community.

 

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

 

On Monday and Tuesday the three dentists were able to serve 100 patients.  Our Honduran dentist, Aleyda was very gracious to assist with all the children.  Along with Aleyda, her assistant, Paloma, took extra good care of each child who came through their chair.  They were blessed one time with a family of five screaming cherubs who did not want to have their teeth checked.  Aleyda and Paloma did this with a smile on their face.  Thank you ladies for taking one for the team.  David serviced a young lady of 32 who had never seen a dentist.  All 32 of her teeth were severly damaged.  He only removed 7 of her teeth.  They were able to do 107 extractions and 73 fillings on their two day visit in Colonia Unidas.  John and Deborah were a team. Along beside David was  his long time assistant, Susan.  These people worked so very hard for the two days they were in this community.  Thank you Meida and Maria who assisted David and John with each patient.  It takes all the different gifts to get the job done.  To God be the glory.

 

"Now there are a varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are a varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are a varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given to the Spirit the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit."

 

I Corinthians 12:4-7

Mrs. Alice returns with Moms in Prayer

 

We are blessed once again to have Mrs. Alice returned energized for the Lord and ready to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to her brothers and sisters of Honduras.  Mrs. Alice is a retired Spanish teacher and when you look at her you would never think she speaks Spanish.  I enjoy the expression on the Honduran faces when Mrs. Alice starts speaking in Spanish.  One gentleman said to her, "Your Spanish is very good ma'am."  She smiled and said "Thank you".  It is beautiful how Mrs. Alice takes her career and serves the Lord through sharing the gospel to the Latino Community.  She comes prepared to lead a women's conference with topics such as "How to pray for your family".  She enjoys a captive audience.  But it was on Tuesday morning she was able to sit down with my dear friend Nelson and share the information with him.  He asked alot of questions and the two of them had a glorious time sharing the gospel with each other.  He asked if he could have one of her hand-outs for himself.  Mike and I were sitting in the sanctuary and I observed Nelson sharing and reading the hand-out to his girlfriend, Flora.  He wanted her to learn what he had just learned from chatting with Mrs. Alice.  Mrs. Alice was concerned about no one getting anything out of what she shared.  i shared with her no worries.  There was one young man, Nelson, who obviously got alot out of it to the point of sharing it with Flora, his girlfriend.  Sometimes it is not who we think that benefits from us serving but who God wants to benefit from our serving.  Thank you so much Mrs. Alice for coming and taking the time to share the gospel with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  This is always a delight to have you come along with the Dental Team.  We all learn so much from your ministry.

 

"Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like a water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street."

Lamentations 2:19

Thank you our Honduran ladies

 

One morning we were very blessed with a most scrumptious Honduran breakfast.  Aleyda, dentist, Meida, translator and Maria, our other translator got up at five o'clock to cook this team an amazing breakfast.   The dish is called baledias.  They are a soft shell which you may add scrabbled eggs, creama and re fried beans.  This is a favorite dish in Honduras which we all love to have from time to time. Thank you ladies for a job well done.  We caught Jose in the kitchen assisting the ladies or I might say supervising them.  Thank you Jose for your part in breakfast. 

 

"Is not the cup of one blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of one bread."

I Corinthians 10:16-17

Second location was in a school

 

This is the last week of school for the government run schools in Honduras.  We went about a month ago to the school to ask if we could serve a dental clinic out of the school.  This community does not have a physical church building.  The two teachers were more than gracious to allow us to work out of the classrooms for three days.  So let the setting up begin once again.  This time the team got set up in little under thirty minutes before they prepared to pray.  After the prayer people were already lined up waiting to be serviced.  People walked for miles to come to this dental clinic.  There was one lady who lost seven teeth within the first hour of the clinic.  There was alot of  patients with severly decayed teeth to the point of not being able to save them.  This dental team is about restoring not pulling out the teeth.  But there was so many they could not save. 

Dental Teams Second Location

 

Our dental team spent there last three days in Las Cabasas.  They gathered around to pray for the three days of ministry.  Pastor G arrived to be the supporting pastor for Las Cabasas.  Those of you who followed our last team's blog, Pastor G has been sending one of his disciples out to Las Cabasas to minister to the people.  We were blessed with his opening prayer over the next three days.  We also had another visitor at the dental clinic.  Welcome back Juilio, Susan's puppet who teaches the children how to brush their teeth. Each evening the team prepares bags of goodies, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss.  Also the team was blessed with 300 hygiene kits from the last team.  God's provision is so amazing.  Thank you to all you donated all the items for the dental team so they can serve the people of Las Cabasas.

 

"I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,"

Ephesians 1:16

 

 

Six new brothers and sisters in Christ

 

 

 

Last week we built Teodoro and Ingrid a home in Las Cabasas.  We shared how Pastor G asked them how their church was doing. Well it was not doing much of anything.  So Pastor G had one of his disciples, Aurielle, come out to preach last Sunday.  Monday night he was there doing a bible study.  We asked where the bible study was held.  Ingrid spoke up and said in our new home.  Teodoro and Ingrid has opened up their brand new home for the start of their new church.  They have not moved into their new home as of yet.  Also Ingrid and five other people have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  She shared this today with me with tears of joy in her eyes.  Teodoro has not received Christ yet but he is giving his new home to be used for worship.  Pray for Teodoro soon to become a brother in Christ.  In this picture is my sister, Amarciela who is a new sister in Christ.  She received a bible to read on a daily basis.  We had one of the team members share about how many bibles we have laying around in our homes and alot of folks around the world, like here in Las Cabasas, do not have God's Holy Word.  Thank you Teodoro and Ingrid for opening up your new home for your community to have church three times a week.  What a humbling act of servant hood.

Mrs. Alice shared God's word with several of the ladies in Las Cabasas.  She is involved with Moms in Prayer.  God continued to bless Las Cabasas with God's word.  Dimas said on the last day he was able to talk to Teodoro about receiving Christ as his Lord and Savior.  Dimas shared he is so close.  As I said earlier please pray with us for all the lost people around the world, even right next door to  you or a co-worker.  Everyone needs Jesus.  And all God's people said AMEN!!!

 

"I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6

 

A rainy day but God's work is getting done

 

On the last day it rained as the team diligently worked on each patient with the love of Jesus.  Each dentist prayed for their patients before performing the task needed.  Thanks to God's raindrops the day was somewhat cooler than the others.  At the end of the last day the dental team had assisted 238 patients which consisted of 185 fillings, 284 extractions and 6 cleanings.  Thank you dental team for a job well done.  There is alot of hard work goes into orchestrating a dental team to come here.  We are blessed with this team who has been faithfully coming for the last ten years. They come well prepared and ready to do what they can to make a physical difference in the Honduran people but most of all they are here to bring the love of Jesus Christ to each one of them.

 

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things."

Romans 8:32 

What a God moment!

 

As the team prepared to depart we all gathered in a circle.  Please not the children in the middle of the circle.  Once we prayed they bowed their heads and held hands as Pastor G prayed.  We thanked the community for allowing us to be with them for the last three days.  We thanked the school for shutting down their last three days of school this school year for the dental clinic to have a place to work.  This was a very emotional ending to an amazing two weeks in this community.  God is truly at work here and more and more people are coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Aleydia's son shared how blessed Las Cabasas was to have Pastor G's church helping them establish a church in their community.  Words cannot describe the circle of friends, families and brothers and sisters in Christ that gathered to say thank you to each other and to give God all the praise and honor.  We were experiencing a little bit of heaven on this very special day.  Thank you God for providing all we need to further your kingdom.

 

"First I thank God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world."

Romans 1:8

What a blessed family First Baptist Southern Pines Adult Served

 

Words cannot truly describe what an amazing family is hidden on this long dirt and rocky road in a village called Las Cabasas.  Teodoro, Ingrid and their five beautiful children radiate your day with their beautiful smiles.  God blessed our ministry when He introduced us to their second daughter and child four years ago.  At the time we were not aware of Caroline's family and how precious they were.  We met Caroline and fell in love with her beautiful smile and come to love her sweet spirit.  One day God blessed us with the rest of her family.  First Baptist Southern Pines was blessed to get to meet these beautiful people.  Teodoro took great pride in all he did to get ready for the team.  He is one of the few families who paid for their own foundation and this is something to be very proud of.  He took several months of saving his money to provide the funds to complete his perfect foundation.  Not many families can afford to do this.  Honestly Teodoro cannot afford it either.  But he worked very hard and had more than enough funds to pay for his foundation.  God provides when we go out on faith and trust in God's provision. 

Another one of God's provision was the ride the team had each day.  They road down this rocky and dirt road with mountains surrounding their path.  This is one of the most beautiful areas in Choluteca.  The road goes on and on and on but the beauty of God's creation is all around you.  How great is our God.  He provides us with so much if only we would just look around us.  Thank you First Baptist Southern Pines for taking this journey this week in such a precious village. 

 

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God Reigns'."

Isaiah 52:7

Praying over the first block

 

All the children of Teodoro and Ingrid were either working or in school.  The only one there with Teodoro and Ingrid was their three year old David.  So at four o'clock the  morning of the first day of construction on their new home, David woke up his entire family.  He said we are getting a new house today.  Ingrid shared this with us while sharing a cup of coffee.  David was so excited to be getting himself a new home.  A new home with a door on it and it will also have a lock.  Team member, George, shared the first night how he noticed their existing home did not have a door.  George was exactly right.  The existing home is beautifully kept.  Ingrid takes great pride in what she has.  We cannot wait to see how beautiful her new home will be once she moves in.

Teodoro, Ingrid and little David laid their three sets of hands upon the first block as Pastor David said the prayer of commitment of this home to the Lord.  Everyone connected with the family by touching someone with their hands.  We were unified in the Spirit at this time and place in Las Cabasas, Choluteca, Honduras.  The breeze brushed through this moment as the prayer was lifted up.

Thank you God for your power of prayer.

 

Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

 

 

This team did more than build a home

 

This group from First Baptist Southern Pines Adults  hit the ground ready to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Yes, through the 800 blocks, 50 bags of cement, 20 pieces of rebar, concrete floor and 12 piece aluminum roof which it takes to build  a home they came to do so much more.   There was so much more on Emily and Nelda's mind this first morning.  After the dedication of the first block they adventured out into the neighborhood heading to the school to invite the children to VBS on their second afternoon there.  Along the way they stop at Amercilla's home which is where the VBS took place.  She welcomed  the ladies into her home and after their brief visit they headed up the path to the school.  They introduced themselves to the teachers and children.  The children were at recess so it was perfect timing. We did not interrupt their academic time of class.  They sang Jesus Loves Me, and Emily shared about a great and powerful man named Jesus.  She asked them a few questions about Jesus and who they thought he was.  The Son of Mary was one of the answers. They closed their visit in prayer. The children ran off after their visit from the North American ladies to get a quick game of futbol in before going back to school.

As the ladies visited the blocks were going up and the heat was coming down.  God was so good to provide a breeze ever so often.  Gray shared how he never once got hot while working on the house. God kept His protection over us with a gentle breeze when we needed it.  After the ladies returned from their visit they proceeded to assist the men in the block laying.  I caught Emily, Penny and Karen on one corner of the house laying blocks and singing hymns.  As the walls was going up I caught a glimpse of those beautiful mountains through a bed of trees and thanked God for His beauty and majesty in this little rural village called Las Cabasas.  Wow what a mighty God we serve.

 

"Go therefore, making disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Matthew 28:19

Coming together to feed the multitudes

 

Each day Ingrid provided lunch for all the Honduran workers.  Each day as they were fed the children were coming home from school and dropping by Ingrid's home for their lunch as well.  Ingrid not only fed her own children but the other chiildren who lived around her home.  We shared earlier how there was not a door on their existing home.  Well I see why now.  Her home is where everyone came to gather.  People were in and out all day every day we were there.  She greeted every  one with her beautiful smile.  One of the lunches was chicken and rice which my friend Karen thoroughly enjoyed.  There was another great meal which consisted of rabbit and rice.  Teodoro went out the evening before and killed two rabbits to feed the workers the next day.  The children had rice and milk for their lunch.  Ingrid was the lady of hospitality.  Ingrid had other ladies of the community who assisted her in the kitchen each morning.  The community came together to get all the jobs on this project completed.

 

 

 

 

 

This community needs a church

 

Four years ago God introduced us to this beautiful village called Las Cabasas.  They did not have a church at this time so we prayed God will provide one.  As time passed a local pastor said they would go out and plant a church but found out another church had beat them to it.  So as time passed this church was not developing members and through Pastor G this week found out the village could not count on the other church to  fulfill their spiritual needs.  Pastor G asked could he send one of his disciples out to help them get a church started.  The people welcomed the idea.  So on Sunday instead of  North American Pastor David preaching Arielle from Santa Cruz came out and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ to a very captive audience.  He had the full attention of all the young children and young adults in the village.  So please pray with us as Arielle has committed to going out there three times a week to evangelize and minister to the village.  Arielle is 22 years old and has been a Christian for four years.  When you hear him share the gospel you know it is the Holy Spirit speaking through him.  There is not a language barrier when he presents the Word of God.  Ways you can pray is for his endurance, perseverance, guidance of the Holy Spirit and travel mercies,  He will have to travel well over one hour and one half one way to minister to this village.  We go where God sends us.  No matter how close or how far.  Thank you Arielle for answering this call from God to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

"He said, 'Go into all the nations and preach the gospel.'"

Mark 16:15

Welcome our new sisters, Glenda and Araceli

 

As I shared ealier this team did more than build a house.  Emily and Nelda reached out to the ladies of the community by home visits and through VBS.  On the next to the last day Glenda and Araceli accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Yes this community needs a church family established.  These two ladies are always there to help as needed.  Now they will be helping in the name of Jesus Christ.  Please pray for these two new sisters in Christ as they grow in their walk with Christ.  The young lady, Evette, on the left did not accept Christ this week along with many others.  They have heard the good news and the seed has been planted.  Let's pray for their salvation to come as well.

 

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Visit to property then put together 300 hygiene kits and 268 baby bags

 

Saturday afternoon the team got back to the mission house and wanted to go see the property.  They were blessed with a Honduran treat called tomalies, made out of the corn on the property.  They took a tour of the dam and the prayer rock which quiet an adventure for them all.  They enjoyed the beauty of God's creation all around them.  The mountains and the beginning of a sunset behind the mountains. 

Once they returned to the mission house they worked on the hygiene kits and completed them.  Later in the week they put together baby bags for the hospital.  Thank you to all who provided all these items to help with the needs of the hospital.  The hygiene kits will be distributed next week at a dental clinic we are providing for the village. 

God is good all the time.

 

"But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drink rain from the Heaven. It is a land your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God  are continually on it from the beginning of the year to the end of it."

Deuteronomy 11:11-12

The Celebration of a Great Week

 

As Pastor G is putting the roof on and the team and Teodoro is putting the floor down, Emily and Karen are helping pluck and clean three chickens for lunch.  Teodoro and Ingrid killed three of their chickens to provide a delicious chicken soup for the North Americans and all the Hondurans who helped build their homes.  Ingrid and neighbors put yucca and potatoes and added tortillas to go with this most scrumptious lunch. God truly blessed us all in many ways this week by all the Honduran hospitality which came our way.  The team gave of their time and money but Teodoro and Ingrid gave all they had to feed and show their gratitude towards the North American team.  It reminds me of the woman in the bible who gave all she had.  Do we give God all we have like Teodoro and Ingrid did with their three chickens?  Thank you God for showing all of us how to give sacrificially from our hearts.  Thank you Teodoro and Ingrid for giving us so much more than we could ever give you.  God bless your dear sweet family.

 

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were being put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she put everything she had to live on.'"

Mark 12:41-44