First Hour of Work on Missionary House

 

First Baptist of Raleigh came back for their eleventh year to serve the Lord in Choluteca, Honduras.  God had a different plan for this group with they signed up in July.  They always are able to bring two teams each year but God had different plans for this group of folks.  They combined the two teams to become one team of fourteen.  They were then given the option of building a home or working on the ministry campus, Mt. Horeb.  After much prayer and discussion amongst the fourteen they agreed God had called them to Mt. Horeb.  This was a huge change for them since they were always use to working where there was children and futbol.  But God prepared them for some new friends and a new sport in Honduras, for the Hondurans anyway.  Stay tune later in the blog for this part of their journey this week. 

They formed an assembly line thanks to the organizational skills of team member, Kristen.  This got the process done much quicker and less painful for all involved.  Pastor Carlos, Digno, Alexis and Ruben were busy placing the cornerstones in place.  While Jose, Wiulmer, Rudis and Manuel were busy preparing the mescal.  Another new item was they got to use the mixer for the first time since coming to Honduras for eleven years.  They got excited about this wonderful gift from God.  Pastor Carlos gingerly supervised the group on what to do each step of the way.  This project was new for all of us.  But everyone listened and learned and did not skip a beat on getting what God had called them to do, start the missionary home.  Team leader, Steve  Brown shared this was a veteran team except for Pastor Steve who came with long time friend Dudley.  So we know how to get this job done without a problem.  But in his devotional the first night Steve Brown shared a passage of scripture from Mark 9:14-29.  This passage was about the demon possessed boy whose father asked Jesus to heal is son if HE could.   "Everything is possible for one who believes." The father asked, "If you can do anything take pity on us and help us." Jesus replied, "If I can?" "Everything is possible for the ones who believes,"  said Jesus.  The disciples questioned Jesus, "Why could we not do this miracle for this family?"  Jesus said," This kind can come out only by prayers."

Steve shared we do not need to be so comfortable with our skills and abilities that we do not give all to Christ first thing every day and last thing every evening.  God's strength and leadership through our diligent prayer is how this missionary home gets built.  To God be the glory.

 

Mark 9:14-29

The Healing of a Boy with a Spirit

14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. ¹⁶He asked them, ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ ¹⁷Someone from the crowd answered him, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; ¹⁸and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.’ ¹⁹He answered them, ‘You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ ²⁰And they brought the boy^* to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy^* into convulsions, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. ²¹Jesus^* asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. ²²It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ ²³Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.’ ²⁴Immediately the father of the child cried out,^* ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ ²⁵When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!’ ²⁶After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ ²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. ²⁸When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ ²⁹He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.’^*

 

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A Yearly Tradition

 

Each year team member John gets to come back to Choluteca, Honduras he takes on his own personal project.  He wanders off looking for just the right piece of wood.  I found him bent down working on the wood pieces ever so diligently.  John was taking his time and going through a lot of effort to make his project complete in every way.  As he completed his project he stood up and started walking towards an area above the work site.  John proceeded to hammer a cross he can constructed from two pieces of wood.  This is our reminder we are here this week serving a living Savior who died on the cross but then arose on the third day for all of us.  It was a reminder of who we serve, Jesus Christ, who gave his life on the cross for each and everyone of our sins.  Thank you John for a sweet and tender reminder of who we serve.

 

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

I Corinthians 1:18

Two Friends Bringing their Gifts Together in Honduras

 

Before Mike and I entered the mission field full time Mike was blessed to work beside a very godly man named Bud.  Years ago neither gentleman knew God would bring them together to start the process of building and engineering the missionary house in Choluteca, Honduras.  For years Mike shared with his friend Bud about each trips to Honduras as a team leader. Bud was always very interested and said one day I want to go.  Well Bud also was a long time friend of a majority of this team.  But finally took the plunge last year and came to serve with First Baptist Raleigh and fell in love with Honduras as we all do. It was a joy to see these two very gifted gentlemen working side by side on what they both do so well all for the name of Jesus.  Thank you Bud for working beside Mike helping him with the details of where to put all the holes in the house.  There was many hours put on reading those house plans Bud was carrying around all day.  At the end of the day it was all done according to God's perfect plan.

 

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Matthew 25:23

The Beginning of 2000 blocks and alot of mescla

 

These two gentlemen are security guards for the ministry campus and take turns at night walking the property.  They were not going to miss out on helping lay block in this house.  They worked hard the first morning of labor and did it with love for us and most of all love for Jesus.  Thank you brothers and friends for giving up sleep to serve the Lord endlessly.

 

 

 

Brother Bud wore many hats this week.  His first hat was assisting Steve, team leader in the block cutting.  Bud would request the size, Steve would cut and Bud would deliver the block wherever needed.  Steve came upon a small opportunity one day when the block saw broke.  Steve proceeded to cut the block with a hammer until the saw was repaired.  There was not anything that slowed these two down on their mission and responsibility of the week.  As the week continued John who cuts blocks for team two decided to join the block cutting party.  Bud got busy being Head Engineer so John pitched in to help Steve with his block cutting.  These guys worked beautifully as a team for Jesus all week.  There team work was unified and noticed by their Honduran brothers.

 

Old and new friend came together to work on this house.  Tommy and John got to work side by side for the first time and become new brothers in Christ.  Joel and Mike reunited as a team just like they left off last year.  Kristen and Bob as well as Bob and Dennis were teamed up together to work like they have always done in many years passed.  It is beautiful to see a family of believers come together once a year and pick up where they left off last year.  Once again there was true unity of believers on this Holy Ground.

 

One of the jobs made easy was taking the Kia down to the North American dorm to get the bags of cement.  Wiulmer had been carrying the bags up the hill on his bag as he needed them.  Tom, one of the team members decided to make his job a little less strenuous.  So off goes Tom, Manuel, Wiulmer and Oso to get the bags of cement.  This was much easier and quicker.  Great thinking Tom, our other engineer.

 

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:30

First Block Done Differently

 

During the night before the first day God placed on my heart I need for you to get up.  It was around 4:00 or 4:30.  So I crawled out of bed and started my day reading God's word.  If you have not every read the bible through I seriously suggest you start today.  It is such a blessing diving into God's word daily not knowing where HE is going to lead you.  God placed me in Exodus 3.  This is the story of the burning bush on top of Mount Horeb.  What an interesting place for God to place me!!! On top of Mount Horeb where the bush was burning.  Moses went to the bush and God said to Moses do not come any closer, for you are walking on Holy Ground.  As I continued to read this passage I realized this was where our day was heading.  We were going out to Mount Horeb to continue the plans God has for the NCBM ministry in Honduras.  We are to build a home for ALL missionaries to reside in while serving God in Mt Horeb Ministry Campus.  This home was not for Mike and Ginger but for all who will follow in serving and providing people to come and worship for many years to come.  We were going to be standing on Holy Ground.  Wow, what a humbling thought.  It continued to tell me how Moses declared himself unworthy for such a feat of leading his people out of Egypt.  I shared at the dedication service I feel like Moses, so unworthy of such a honor as God has chosen Mike and I to serve HIM in such a special place.  So as we proceeded to dedicate the first block I shared it was God's home first and then others would receive HIS blessings by residing there serving HIM. 

Instead of Mike and I placing our hands on the first block, our dear brother and friend Mike got to place the first block as Pastor Steve prayed over the block.  The presence of the Holy Spirit was definitely in this place.  To God be the glory for such an amazing time worshiping HIM on Mount Horeb that morning.

 

Of David. A psalm. The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
Psalm 24:1

Most Important Job

 

As the guys worked on their many gifts so were the ladies.  Maida, translator/cook, Alba, lady who works on the mission campus and yes Kristen, who wore many hats this week as well, cooked some amazing meals for the 25 gentlemen.  These ladies cooked enough to feed everyone more than they needed.  Thank you for your faithful service to God first and to these gentlemen who were most appreciative of their lunch daily.  God also provided us with some watermelons several days for dessert.  God's beauty shown all around us during our week of serving HIM.

 

If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
James 2:16

Spiritual Food

 

Each day after lunch we were blessed with a devotional which actually became an amazing worship time.  Pastor Carlos shared from the book of Hebrews about our job as Christians.  Ezekiel shared from the book of John.  Mike and Ginger shared from 1 Peter 4:7-11 and Bud shared the plan of salvation for all to hear.  There is one brother we all have been praying for to accept Christ. Please continue to pray with us for this friend's salvation.  This is the most important decision we can make.  The greatest gift we can have is eternal life through Jesus' blood on the cross.  We enjoyed listening to God's word daily on the job site.  This has become a new and great way to be fed daily at our job sites.

 

They all ate the same spiritual food
I Corinthians 10:3

 

 

Living Water

 

Please pray with us as we continue to drill for water to drink.  Mike and I know God provides all our needs especially our "Living Water" through His Holy Word.  The gentlemen worked two hard days drilling for water.  They came up with some but not enough for the entire campus.  We made a decision to move to another location.  Simply pray with us as we continue to dig for physical water.

 

 

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:38

Father/Daughter Team

 

Dennis and Kristen have been coming to Honduras for ten plus years together.  It is amazing to see such commitment on these two peoples' hearts as they love to serve the Lord in Honduras.  There is not anything these two will not do to help get the job done.  They are willing and able servants for the further of the Kingdom of God.  My hope and prayer is we see more families continue to come to Honduras to work side by side for the Lord.  Dennis and Kristen both shared one night during God moments how special their time together was.  They do not live in the same state and so there time together is very slim.  So this week in January each year is a very special time for them as father and daughter.

 

 

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15

Mike and Steve

 

Mike and Steve have been friends for numerous years.  One year they started one of many traditions wearing matching overalls.  They each wear them on the exact same day.  They are not only brothers in Christ but very best friends.  These two also cook a great breakfast each year for their team.  They are also a very united duo.

 

"Friends love at all times."

Proverbs 17:17

Let's Go Out to the Ballgame.

 

After lunch one day the team as well as their Honduran brothers pulled out the baseball equipment.  They started a very intense game of baseball.  Steve and John shared with the boys some of their coaching techniques to help them better hit the ball.  Once they caught on to the correct way to do it, they took off and so did the North Americans.  The Hondurans were hitting it out of the park so to speak.  The Hondurans gave the North Americans a run and I mean a good old run chasing the balls as they hit them out in the field.  Manuel who last time played could not even get close to hitting the ball.  Well that has all changed as of this week.  He hit a home run. The smile on his face was priceless.  This was very special day serving the Lord through a game of  baseball.

 

with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.
Psalm 55:14

 

 

Two friends serving the Lord

 

Dudley and Steve have been friends for many years.  They have worked side by side in the military and got reunited in the last few months due to Steve relocating to North Carolina.  They had a glorious week serving the Lord side by side.  Both gentlemen are pastors and both were able to preach while here in Honduras.  Dudlely led the dedication of the home and Steve was able to preach on Sunday.  It was great to see the laughter and love they both shared for each other and for their fellow team members.  The love of Christ radiated off of both of these gentlemen the entire week.

 

"Friends love at all times."

Proverbs 17:17

Our Team Members With Many Gifts

 

This team of fourteen brought a lot to the table this week.  Each one with many gifts and they were all entertwined together as one this week.  Thank you team leader, Steve, Pastor Steve, Pastor Dudly, Kristen, John, Mike, Bob, Joel, Ron, Dennis, Tommy, Tom, Keith and Bud.

 

But without these guys the work would not have gotten as far as it did.  Our Honduran staff is amazing in every way.  They serve the Lord with their entire being and more.  They give God their all.  Thank you Honduran family for your dedication to the Lord.

 

These two Oso and Lassie are just an extra perk for everyone to enjoy.  They bring laughter to anyone's day.  Thank you for giving endless love to all of us.

 

One day while observing the activities of the day I started writing out what I was observing.  At the end of the day I had over 48 different jobs being performed.  Here we go:

Prayer, devotionals, Pastor Carlos guidance, caring for the hydration needs, putting water into the mixer, putting rocks into the joints, placing up the scaffolding or boards for up high, handing blocks up, delivering blocks, cutting blocks, filling joints, placing blocks, placing mescal on blocks, shoveling mescal into wheelbarrow, carrying mescal in wheelbarrow to mescal boards, running mixer, pouring cement into mixer, hauling sand on kia, sifting sand, working on drilling rig, several men moving rock to get drilling rig to location chopping veggies for lunch, cooking all the meals, making tortillas, the security guards, making water and Gatorade, cutting blocks, driver for bus, driver for Kia, gas for block saw, running stick to find water, placing electrical,  making way for doors and windows, laughter, fellowship, eating, taking breaks, translator, coffee for Mike, cutting up watermelon for snack time, cleaning house and bathroom, hammering holes into walls, head engineer, rebar cutter, rebar builders and box builders.  All this happened in one day.  There are a lot of different gifts God has given us and we need to be willing to be used to further the kingdom.  There is not a job which is not just as important as another job.  They are all equal in the eyes of God.

 

so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:5

The Dedication Moment

 

We gathered around the house as Dudley shared from God's word about servant hood.  He shared how he watched each and everyone working for the Lord this past week to get the job done they were called to do.  We sang hymns of praises with the help of Bob and Ezekiel.  We enjoyed "Blessed Assurance" and   "Amazing Grace".  At the dedication for this team they do an amazing biblical presentation.  For the last three years this has been what they have done.  But this time it was a little different.  Team leader Steve asked everyone to go up to the North American Dorm and for all the Hondurans workers to sit down on the porch.  This time Steve included Mike and I to sit beside our Hondurans workers.  They proceeded to wash our feet and pray over each one of us.  What a humbling God moment this was for both Mike and me.  Thank you First Baptist Raleigh for committing to start the missionary home for many years to come. 

 

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:5

Last Minute Jobs to Complete the Week

 

There was some chosen ones who got elected to make rebar cages for the mescal to go down into.  These poor folks had to work diligently in the shade with an amazing breeze blowing. 

 

These guys thought they were close to finish and Pastor Carlos wanted to finish out the pouring of the concrete beam.  They all worked diligently to get the mescal up to the concrete beam.  Each man was carrying buckets of mescal to be passed up to the guys up top to fill in.  After about thirty minutes of some hard work they could finally say job finished. 

 

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

Jude 1:1

Worhiping with old friends

 

 

 

 

On Sunday morning the team headed down a long dirt road to a very familiar spot, Peru de Agua. They were greeted by Pastor Darwin and church family.  They got reunited with some old friends from last year and met a new little friend, Vanessa, Pastor Darwin's six month old little girl.  The church family has grown into about thirty adults, 20 young people and about 60 children.  It is a strong church family with some strong ties.  There was one lady there I will call Martha, because she was busying doing so many different tasks to get the church ready for worship service.  She was bringing in boards for folks to sit on, holding Vanessa for her mother to enjoy worship service and then helping prepare the lunch for the children after church.  The young people of the church did an amazing skit on bullying.  You did not need to know the language to understand what was being taught through the skit.  The North American team got up and shared a hymn, "Blessed Assurance".  Afterwards Tom did a solo of  "Amazing Grace" in Spanish and English. 

Our new friend Pastor Steve shared from God's word, John 1:1-3.  He shared the foundation of our lives is built on the Word of God.  The Word of God is why we came to Honduras.   Out of Acts 1:8 we were led here to work with God in your beautiful country.  God was waiting for us here.  God is definitely alive and at work here in Honduras.  He was just waiting for us to get here.  We came here by His grace and we are gathered heer by His glory.  Not a one of us today can embrace the enormity of God, His majestic being is beyond our comprehension.   If God would remove His presence from us we would all be nothing.  Without God and His grace and mercy we would be nothing.  Jesus' blood on the cross is our guarantee for eternal life.  AMEN!!!!!!  And yet God through Jesus Christ gave us another gift, the power of the Holy Spirit.   Thank you God for your son, Jesus Christ and for the power of the Holy Spirit for all of us to have as a free gift. 

Do you want to be a child of God today?  Have you ever received the greatest gift of all, eternal life?  Are you one of His chosen ones?  If not please do not let this day go by without you finding someone and tell them you want the free gift of life, the greatest gift of all, Jesus!!!

 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1-3

 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8