Our First Medical and Evangelism Team

 

We would like to introduce our very first Medical and Evangelism Team to Honduras.  A few months back Mike, Pastor Carlos and I went up into the mountains about three or four miles passed Mt Horeb, the property NCBM has purchased to see if they would like a medical clinic.  We met with a gentlemen, Erasmo Elvir.  The name of the village is La Castana, district of Santa Cruz.  Erasmo shared he had lived in La Castana forty years and this village has never had medical care.  We asked him does the community have an active church family and church building.  He shared no that La Castana has not had a medical brigade since he has lived up in those beautiful mountains. This community was a Catholic community.  This was an open mission field to share the good news of Jesus Christ.  We made a commitment that day to provide his community with a five day medical clinic and evangelism as well.  This was our first time doing a combined mission of two different ministries which are always one in the eyes of God.  Any time we are down here doing anything we are about sharing the most precious gift of all Jesus Christ.  It may be through medical or even construction but we always are about sharing the greatest gift of all, Jesus.  So we went by the property on the first day because the bus cannot go up there.  The Land Rover was loaded down with all the medicines the team needed for the week.  Some of the team had to wait for the truck to come back and pick them up on the second round of going up into one of the most beautiful communities we have ever seen to meet some of the most precious folks here on this earth.  Thank you Pastor Carlos for introducing us to such a sweet, sweet place.

 

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

Mark 16:15

 

 

 

 

Setting up the Medical Clinic

 

As the truck went to pick up the second group of folks the others greeted their new found friends.  They did some small introductions and both Hondurans and North Americans started working side by side to start setting up the medical clinic.  Thank you to Bill and Kim who assisted Nicole, team leader, in setting up the pharmacy for the week.  The set up was perfect. Maida, translator was assigned to the pharmacy to assist Nichole throughout the week. They set up the clinic into one of the classrooms of the school.  Up the hill very close by was where they set up Dr. Brenda in her own little room to privately see her patients.  Orfilio and Lizzy where out on the porch of this building which was the old school they had abandoned years ago.  Orfilio and Lizzy would be checking in each patient, checking their blood pressure and taking their temperature to send along with the patient when they got to go see Dr. Brenda.  We are very grateful for all the help our Honduran staff gave this week to the medical clinic. During God moments one evening Nicole, team leader shared how beautiful it was to stand back and watch the Honduran staff helping tremendously with the clinic. Without you all the clinic would not have happened.  We are so blessed to have such committed staff in this ministry.  They work without complaining on a daily basis and jump in wherever needed to get the job done.  They teach us all what flexibility truly means.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

 

"Crowds also gathered around the towns from Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed."

Acts 5:16

Gathering to Pray and say Thank YOU

 

The team gathered on the porch to meet the ladies of the community who had put all this together which made their week coming in such an easy task.  Please be mindful this community has never had a medical team come here before.  The principal of the school shut down the school and orchestrated all the events for the week.  She had lined up women to cook for the Hondurans helping the medical clinic.  The entire week was prepared out to a tee by the Honduran folks.  They took so much pride in their new found friends and guests for the week.  They gave the North American a round of applause which we also have never had before.  It was a very humbling experience on that porch the first morning of our stay in La Castana.  They opened up their community with  open arms as the medical team introduced their team members and Dr. Brenda.  Dr. Brenda was their healing angel this week and they were very blessed and excited to have all of us up there in their community.  Please never take for granted how blessed you are and always I say always give God the glory for it all.  It was God's first and He is so gracious to share it with us.  Thank you God for all your many blessings you provide on a daily basis.

 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians

Not wasting time

 

While waiting on the second shuttle, Ken and Bobby went to work on the property helping Eber.  The two young men learned a new trade while waiting for their ride up the mountain to La Castansa.  Eber taught them how to wrap wire around the metal that goes into the dorms to provide a firm structure for the building.  They worked diligently for about forty five minutes which Eber appreciated.  Eber works on the property along side others.  This is one of the jobs Eber does on a daily basis and with a huge smile on his face.  Thank you God for our guys you have provided on the  property to assist in advancing your kingdom here on earth.

 

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:12

After pray still last minute details

 

After we were greeted the team waited for a few last minute details of the clinic.  Pastor Carlos was assessing the situation and gave the clinic a thumbs and God the glory for this huge blessing.  Nicole and David made friends with one of the little ladies of the community which was only the beginning for what lie ahead this week.  Once again there was another sign welcoming the team to their community.  Such a humbling gesture we could all learn from.  Be so grateful for all which is done for us.  Let others know how grateful we are for whatever it is being done for us.  There was plenty of shade to be found on this little mountain town.  Folks setting around waiting patiently to be able to see Dr. Brenda.  Nicole, Bill and Kim wanted to secure the pharmacy and make sure all items were placed for disbursement.  A lot of thought and time goes into setting up a medical clinic to give these folks the most affective care which can be given.  Once again thank you Kim and Bill for your assistance with Nicole in getting the medical clinic up and running.

 

"So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

I Corinthians 10:31

 

 

 

 

Where is Dr. Brenda?

 

Dr. Brenda was busy up in her little world setting up her room to bless these folks with her gift of healing through medicine but also through home remedies.  Dr. Brenda loves and adores serving the Lord through North Carolina Baptist Men.  She is grateful for the work and does it with such compassion and joy.  Dr. Brenda's patients are more than a number, they are a human being who needs to be touched and loved through the care of medicine.  Can you imagine being up in age and have never seen a medical doctor?  This community was so grateful for Dr. Brenda and what all she brought to the table this week.  Dr. Brenda will prescribe them meds for the most urgent need and then proceed to share with each patient a home remedy for this condition and their other needs as well.  This beautiful folks do not have means of getting more meds once the medical team leaves so Dr. Brenda educates them on what they may have around their home which could help them a little.  Dr. Brenda has seen well over two hundred patients in five days with the help of all her colleagues on board.  The week has flowed beautifully.  The village put up signs to welcome the medical and thanking them for taking their time to come and serve them.

 

"I thank my God every time I think of you."

Philippians 4:3

Marty shares God's word

 

The Medical/Evangelism Team shared in worship with a sister church.  A few years back Nicole learned a song in Spanish and was able to sing it with Ezekiel one of our brothers in Christ.  God used words Marty had prepared in advance to share with the people of Honduras.  He thanked them for having us and for allowing us to come serve in their beautiful country.  Marty shared God's word is a book of joy and promises.  We need to always have our eyes open to bringing people back to church.  Your vision is to teach others about Christ and serving the Lord should be a joy for all of us.  Our heart should be giving us the vision for Christ.  Out of Hebrews 11:1 faith is the biggest part of our vision.  God equips us to serve HIM.  We serve a big GOD and we should have a big vision.  Our vision is to the key to our future.  Future lies within my.  What is my/our vision?  Let's put our feet to our prayers.  Jesus said I must be about my Father's business. 

 

 In the center of the bible lies a verse, Psalm 118:8 "Trust in the Lord instead of confidence in man."

Sharing the good news

 

While the medical clinic was taking place, three friends were sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the folks waiting their turn to see Dr. Brenda.  We have two new friends to Honduras, welcome Annie and David who came along with Marty which they thought was going to be door to door evangelism.  It turned out all their prospects for Christ came to them.  They never had to walk off the property of the school to evangelize.  Annie shared one evening how she connected with an older lady. She found this kind of odd since she enjoys children so much. But this was God's plan for Annie this day.  The lady was a Christian and by the looks of her bible Annie said she knew she read God's word on a daily basis.  The little old lady asked Annie could she please have a new bible so she could continue reading it.  Annie with tears of joy  gave her new friend a brand new full King James bible to take home to read.  There were many more stories just like Annie's but Annie has a story of her own.  Annie is a born again Christian since March of this year.  She had accepted Christ but did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  She shared with me how she knew Him but did not know Him.  There are so many folks who know Jesus but truly do not know him.  Once Annie rededicated her life for Christ she found the hunger and desire to share this with others.  This is her first international mission trip and she came not knowing what to expect.  She had many fears coming into this but God removed them all and used her to share his good news with others who some had never heard of Jesus. Thank you for stepping out of your box, out of your comfort zone and sharing with these folks your story and leading many to Christ this week. 

 

 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.

Acts 20:24

Frist Worship Service on Mt.Horeb

 

 

The team got up and started their day with a big breakfast.  We were told to be there by 9:30 and j9:45.   Worship would begin around 10 am.  Off we go and arrived with only the guys on the property.  We asked Pastor Carlos where the bus of folks were.  He shared they were on their way.  Pastor Carlos got a bus to go and pick up his church congregation and the folks where the medical clinic was held this week.  So we found us a spot and chilled.  Enjoying the quietness and freshness of the morning.  The day was beautiful.  We could hear birds singing and a breeze was blowing.  It was simply a beautiful morning.  We were able to relax and be still which we had not done all week.  Let me share one small detail.  Rainy season has kicked in finally and it has rained all week long a lot.  Around 11 we asked Pastor Carlos where the bus was.  He said it is coming.  Finally we got word from the bus driver he picked up the first group from Pastor Carlos' church in Las Uvas but could not get to the other village.  The road was washed away.  So the bus had to back out of the mountain and get turned around to come back out of the mountain.  These folks had been on the bus for quite a while and was determined to get to Mt. Horeb for worship.  At one o'clock the bus arrived safely with about 80 excited folks ready to hear their pastor preach for the first time at Mt. Horeb.  As the bus came over the horizon tears rolled down my cheeks and several others as they arrived safely and the excitement they had for being at Mt. Horeb.  The bus quickly unloaded people and chairs and set up the sanctuary for worship.  By 1:30 Pastor Carlos was sharing about how we are the light of the world. We need to let our light shine daily for Jesus Christ.  We need to make our light shine in our hearts.  There was amens and amens continuously throughout the service.  We chose not to let Maida, our translator help today and let this be about the Honduran congregation.  There was songs sang and praises shouted throughout the mountains.  The music sounded beautiful coming through the multi-purpose building.  The acoustics were perfect for worship.  As I sat back and looked at each brick that was laid in this place in the last six months how humbling this was to know how much sweat equity was placed here for many generations to come.  The hard work daily by many committed men who give there all for the name of Jesus.  The pride these men take in working on Mt. Horeb is a blessing to Mike and me.  We are grateful for these gentlemen.

After worship the children were allowed to have two pinatas for Day of the Children.  This is a church tradition each year.  They recognize and acknowledge the children on Sept 10.  But all churches recognize them on the Sunday afterwards.  This day was a special day in so many ways.  God allowed his grace and mercy to shine upon this place.  Thank you God for allowing us to worship you in a mighty way.

 

35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. 

 

John 12:35-36