Welcome Back First Baptist Southern Pines College Group

 

Team leader, Pastor Bryan brings back his eighth college team to Honduras.  This team has a very special project in store for them this week.  We give team an option of building a home or assisting on the property.  This group chose to work on Mt. Horeb this week.  We decided to put them on the job of putting the floor down in the North American Dorms.  Pastor Bryan thought when we said putting in a floor we met for a 19x25 house on the property.  We all got a huge I mean a huge chuckle when he saw the floor he was going to be putting down this week.  Mike and I only expected to maybe half of the floor going in this week.  I will let you continue reading into the blog to find out what truly happened this week.  Remember folks we serve a might big God who allows us to do what HE has called us to do for the kingdom.

The team was waiting for the Hondurans staff to finish prepping the floor for the job ahead.  So the group of young people and their chaperons took a tour of Mt. Horeb.  They ended up lastly at the missionary house.  So while standing around talking Mike decided to bring the truck up to get the mixer and pull it down to the North American Dorms.  The group also thought they were going to be doing the mescal all by hand on the ground.  They all agreed this was their "God Moment" for the first day. 

Maida rides in the Kia with Bryan, Barry and Hannah on the first day.  Maida looks over at Barry as he prepares to pass a vehicle to keep up with Mike and says, "Sir are you sure you know how to do this?  Have you ever driven in Honduras before?"  Barry just laughs and says "Yes".  So Barry proceeds to explain to everyone how he scared a Honduran with his driving on the first morning.  We all got a big laugh at Maida's expense.  We are blessed for she laughed as well.  Maida is very consciousness as well as Jose, the bus driver, about the safety of the teams.  Welcome back to Honduras First Baptist Church Southern Pines College Group.

 

Pray without ceasing.

I Thessalonians 5:17

 

Prepping and Praying

 

The last minute touches were put into place before the two groups, Honduran and North Americans, became one in Christ,  We all gathered on the front porch of the North American Dorms introducing and discussing what the week ahead is going to be like.  Complete strangers became very quickly a team with one common goal, a floor is going down this week in the name of Jesus.  We gathered together holding hands as Pastor Bryan leads us in our first prayer of the week as a team.  Each day they started their day in prayer.  What a lovely example of starting our work day in prayer.  As a word of encouragement to all the readers hopefully you start your work day in prayer with your co-workers in the name of Jesus.  With God we can accomplish anything.  Let the week began!!!!

 

But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
I Corinthians 6:17

 

Let the work began

 

 

Everyone pitched in to start what seem like a long week ahead.  Pastor Bryan and Barry went inside to check out the size of the floor and all they could say was "Oh my, this is huge."  But remember we serve a bigger God.  So off they went and did not stop or ever once complain about their job God had given them this week.  They were so excited to get to help further the progress of Mt. Horeb they were willing to do whatever it took to get the job done.  As always the first morning was searching for where do "I" fit in and where do I need to serve.  But as the morning progressed the entire team located their spot and the day developed into a well greased machine.  There was four main jobs to get the wheel barrow loaded with concrete.  First of all there was the gravel pit, secondly the sand pit, then comes the mixer where these two ingredients go along with a bag of concrete and water.  Once this mixture is produced it is poured into a wheel barrow which is carried inside to start the journey of making a floor.

As the week progressed the four stations developed into four teams of young people working diligently to get the materials to where they needed to go, the mixer.  The mixer became a huge God moment more when it was not running than when it was running.  Once the mixer cut off there was this beautiful silence which echoed over the mountain tops and everyone shouted a huge thank you. They knew it was time for a short break until Wiulmer started the mixer up again.  They always knew when Wiulmer was getting ready to start her up again.  Wiulmer wore a pink long sleeve shirt over his other shirt and when the pink shirt went on Wiulmer they all sighed and said, "Back to work guys."  About three days into the project Wiulmer was not wearing his pink shirt anymore because it had ripped.  The team was concerned oh how they knew when Wiulmer was ready to crank up the mixer.  This group found laughter and entertainment throughout their day of sweating it up for the Lord.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

 

Reliving memories 2014

 

A year ago this team came to help build a church.  The exact same day as last year the gentlemen were not sitting on this porch they were helping create it.  The team split up on their last day and these guys along with a couple of ladies went to the property to help shovel dirt into the foundation of the porch.  As they were shoveling and getting no where fast there was a similar dump trunk coming down the path into the property to unload more dirt to be shoveled into the foundation of the porch.  All the guys could do this week is laugh as once again here comes a dump truck full of dirt for their job ahead this week.  God definitely has a great sense of humor.  Praise the Lord for these guys enjoying a good laugh and remembering last year's adventure with a huge sand pile.

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:27

Imitators of God - First Lunch Break

 

Each day the team and Hondurans broke for lunch around twelve.  They came down and gathered around the porch on the small house.  The first day they brought sandwiches and chips.  Mike was given his bowl of bean soup in front of Pastor Bryan and Barry.  Then out came my bowl of bean soup as I enjoyed this scrumptious meal in front of my two friends.  They were looking really pitiful as we ate Honduran and they ate a North American sandwich.  The first evening Pastor Brian inquired of his menu for the week.  I said we will fix chicken soup one day.  Pastor Brian shared in a disappointed voice, "Only one day?"  Pastor Bryan came wanting to enjoy the entire culture of Honduras, right down to the meals.  So we redid his daily lunch menu.  On the first day Mike ended up giving Pastor Bryan some of his bean soup and I gave Barry my bean soup for his ham and cheese sandwich.  At the end of the day everyone was happy!!!!!

So after lunch their was a battle of who would get the only hammock on the porch.  Sadly Mike and Pastor Bryan ended up on the concrete floor for their siesta time. As the two of them laid there over the horizon came another dump truck full of dirt.  They just looked at each other and smiled.  This means much more work ahead. I sat and watched the young adults drop like  bowling pins, one by one, they ended up horizontal.  I am here to say they each had earned their daily siesta.  I cannot express enough of how hard these young people and three adults worked this week.  They never once complained but gave God all the glory for their strength through each bucket of sand or rock or wheel barrow full of concrete.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

On the first evening of devotional Pastor Bryan shared out of Ephesians 5:1-2 on how why we are on this mission trip.  We are to be imitators of God as dearly loved children.  He asked the young people what does it mean to be imitators of God?  Some shared to show forgiveness to everyone, love others where they are in life, good or dark moments, open minded to different background, being persistent, one shared to keep on keeping on, positive spirit and do all we do in the name of Jesus.  Pastor Brian thanked them for sharing these thoughts and encourage each of them as we work this week to allow God to work through us.  This was just the first day and I saw Jesus in everyone working, North Americans and Hondurans as well.  All God's people shouted, "AMEN!!!"

 

 

 

 

Lunch Time Devotionals

After our physical bodies were nourished and rested for a while Pastor Bryan led into a devotional where he shared the first day "Jesus Calms the Storm" out of Matthew 8:23-27.  He shared with all of us how Jesus can calm any storm in our lives if, the word is if we allow HIM to do so.  It does not matter how big or strong it is God will take care of us.  Bethany shared on the second day and used the example of playing baseball and how a baseball team works towards a common goal to win as a team.  As she shared her thoughts of all of us working as a team and giving it our best in the name of Jesus.  Her scripture was out of Ephesians 4:5-17 working in unity using our many different gifts God has given each of us.   Hannah shared on day three simply about the cross of Christ.  How He died for a sinner like me.  How we can all have this grace and mercy provided for us on the cross.  There was one person sitting listening who does not know Jesus Christ as his Savior.  Our dear and hard working friend, Alesix.  Karen as well shared a devotional on the fourth day about receiving the greatest gift of all Jesus.  We need to continue to pray for Alexis with Karen and Hannah as their hearts hurt for this life which is lost.  There are so many folks around us daily who need Christ.  Please pray today for anyone you know who needs Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and pray God will place someone in their life to share this beautiful gift. 

 

The Sand Pit Crew

 

We would like to say thank you to the Sand Pit Crew.  This group of ladies showed the guys what they were made of.  Mr. Mike had one time try to take the buckets out of their hands as they were going to put the five gallon bucket of sand into the mixture.  They politely told him they had it.  The ladies was made up of six: Josie, Liza, Caitlyn, Katey, Rachel and Greer.  They worked two by two carrying the five gallon bucket of sand into the mixer.  It took six buckets to make a batch of concrete.  They would go to the porch of the North American Dorm to collect the bag of concrete which also needed to go into the mixer.  The ladies had a well greased machine on their end of the world as well.  Jose tried to supervise the ladies and help them as needed and they were much appreciative of all Jose would do for them.  There was one time when they took a break and they allowed Mr. Mike to put five of the six buckets into the mixer for them.  They all applauded his good efforts.  Job well done ladies.

 

 

I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
Psalm 139:18

Gravel Pit Crew

 

Let me introduce to you the Gravel Pit Crew.  Thank you goes to Hannah, Maeghan, and Bethany.  These lovely ladies with the help of a shovel put rocks inside a five gallon bucket all day long.  They got their system going where one of them was taking a five minute break as needed.  Also would like to introduce the two strong young men Elliot and Evan who carried the five gallon bucket of rocks to the mixer.  It took two buckets of rocks per mixture for the concrete to be produced.  These two gentlemen however did not have a five minute break for they were the only two with this job until their friends Mike and Barry came along when they could to assist them.  These crew worked steadily all day long doing this one task.  Job well done Gravel Pit Crew.

 

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24

One wheel barrow full

 

This week there was so many different jobs to produce one wheel barrow of concrete for the floor.  As you can see in the picture above this is one full wheel barrow of concrete.  Join this journey of perseverance, unity, a lot of sweat equity, laughter and determination just to mention a few of the adjectives to describe these young people who gave God their all this week.

 

 

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Day Three Floor Two

 

The North American Dorm floor #  1 which will be where the ladies will reside was finished in tow days.  Mike and I were anticapting this side to be completed in five days.  These young people took what their pastor shared the first night to heart as well as what they shared about being imitators of God through Jesus Christ which empowers us all who are Christians with the Holy Spirit.  Praise be to God for all the perservernce, the unity and let's not leave out all the sweating which took place to get this job done in two days.

 

So they continued to prepare for the North American Dorm floor #2 where the gentlemen will reside one day.  The young men prepped the floor as the ladies were outside getting the concrete prepared to be laid.  Yes I said the ladies.  There was not a job this week too big for any one on this team.  They all pitched in and did what it took to complete the task given them by God.

 

 

They raised up each day like a ray of sunshine ready to serve the Lord.  They started each day with prayer at the mission house twice once at breakfast and once in the court yard before departing.  Once upon arrival to Mt. Horeb they formed a circle of prayer for their day ahead.  God answered so many prayers this week. We were blessed with everyone staying hydrated thanks to Mrs. Karen, no one got seriously hurt, only a couple of scraps and a bunch of blisters and everyone was blessed from every ache and pain their bodies endured.  As you can see above side one is completed and side two is ready to begin.  To God be the glory.

 

Michael's devotion was all about this week.  When we let God take us as we are to mold us in who He wants us to be, HE can do mighty things in all of us.  We are sinners saved by God's grace.  Everyone of these young people came into an uneasy situation this past week.  Many of them did work they had not ever done before.  But they allowed God to take them as they were and molded them into amazing children of God who did what HE had called them to do.  It is all about being selfless which keeps us focused on HIM and not the things of the world.  These young people became selfless this week and left the world behind for eight days and allowed God to work in each of their lives.  Well done good and faithful servants.

 

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Matthew 9:9

 

 

Day Three Floor Number Two Continues

 

From the first two days the young people knew the routine of the process of producing the concrete floor.  Buckets upon buckets of water was taken into floor number two to prepare for the concrete to be place upon the metal frames.  This process went on for about thirty minutes or more. 

 

Outside the rocks were being dumped into four buckets by Maeghan, Bethany and Hannah then carried by Evan, Michael, Elliott and Barry over to Wiulmer who was operating the concrete mixer.  Each bucket weighed 50 pounds as the young men lifted them upon their shoulders as they had learned from their Honduran brothers. During the five day period these young men lifted 556 (50) pound buckets of rocks and then carried them over to the concrete mixer.  The gentlemen shared one day how they gave God the glory for each bucket which went over on their shoulders.  They said there was some time they thought they could not lift up another bucket and God gave them all the strength they needed.

Also the ladies continued carrying buckets of sand to the concrete mixer.  The ladies, Josie, Rachel, Caitlyn, Katey, Greer and Liza carried 50 pound buckets of sand two by two over to the mixer.  During the five day period these ladies put 834 (50) buckets of sand into the mixer to make the concrete.  Several times Mr. Mike or Jose would try to assist the ladies but to no prevail the ladies said, NO gracious each time.  This was the job God had given these lovely ladies and they persevered until the end. The wheel barrow crew was Barry, Pastor Bryan, Elliott, Michael and Mike who carried 695 wheel barrows of concrete in five days.  Their efforts were endless.

 

The hydration specialist continues her job throughout the week.  Hannah is showing everyone yes I am drinking water.  Karen took her position seriously and on the last evening together Elliott thank Karen for taking such good care of all of them and they all said AMEN to that statement.  Job well done Mrs. Karen.

 

These folks took time to work and rest as well.  They all found the time for laughter and smiles during this journey.  It was a beautiful time seeing God using the future of our ministry in such a mighty way.  We are always grateful when there is a team of young people who come and serve beside of us.  As Jose shared one time, "Mt. Horeb is for future generations."  One day these young people will be bringing adult teams to Honduras and will say to you remember when we put the floor down in the North American Dorms.

 

The work continues and the bags of cement are fading fast.  Mike ordered 150 bags of cement but by day three this group was running low.  So we ordered more bags and ask to have them delivered that day please.  As Maeghan and Evan were chilling on the porch and watching as more bags of cement were being unloaded they simply sighed and said back to work.  The young people enjoyed Oso and Lassie during their breaks as well as Oso and Lassie enjoyed them.  The porch was a place of rest if only for a short time but it was a time of rest.  Michael shared his God moment was when the concrete mixer was turned off and all you could here was the silence.  They knew then they could rest for a short time.  The group treasured those moments of being still and relaxing.

Rachel's devotion was on JOY, one of my favorite topics.  We can only find complete joy in Jesus.  Having God is all the joy we need.  Rachel shared how she never thought she would find such joy in such hard work.  She shared how we were all perfectly placed at Mt Horeb this week and this time.  This was all God's perfect plan.  God is constant in our lives and He is so faithful to us.  She shared out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

 

Karen Wore Many Hats

Karen one of the adult chaperone's was the hydration specialist and a mama to all of them.  She stayed busy all day carrying water bottles or Gatorade to the team members.  She would complete one cycle and it would be time to start the cycle over again.  Karen also bandaged cuts and scratches, got mud out of their eyes several times and kept them in bananas all week long.  Well almost all week.  There was one day she did not bring the bananas because she thought they were plantains.  The team did survive and the next day the bananas were in the cooler.  Karen's nourishing spirit for each of her team members was appreciated by all.  Thank you Karen for a job well done.

 

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:14

Pastor Carlos and Manuel

 

We have been beyond blessed with these two gentlemen working daily on Mt. Horeb for three plus years.  Pastor Carlos is such an amazing leader, spiritually as well as work ethics.  Manuel is learning so much by working beside his father.   He is requiring so many opportunities of many trades which hopefully he will use in his future.  Pastor Carlos shares a bible study with the young men who stay on the property in the evenings.  He also is a pastor of a small mountain church about an hour away.  Both he and Manual are away from home most of the time but are so faithful to their work on Mt. Horeb.  We are grateful to have these two working together for the kingdom.

 

9Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”   Deuteronomy 4:9-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barry and Elliott

 

This year marks two years this father and son team have come together to serve the Lord in Honduras.  They worked together as well as separately.  The respect they both showed towards one another was refreshing to witness.  They fed off of each other beautifully.  One day I was observing them working sort of together.  Elliott was hauling wheelbarrows  of rock onto the road and Barry came along to ask him to spread them more in another direction.  There was  no confrontation or back talking Elliott simply did what his father ask him to do. 

This reminded me how we are suppose to be obedient to our Heavenly Father as he gently leads and guides our daily walk with him.  We must have a close relationship with our Heavenly Father as Elliott has with his earthly father, Barry, in order to grow in our relationship with HIM.  One evening we touched on this intimate relationship with God which is so desperately wants with us and we need with HIM. 

 

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 46:10

Pastor Bryan and Rachel

 

A couple of years ago Pastor Bryan was able to bring his son, Patrick.  This year he was able to bring his lovely daughter, Rachel.  The two worked together but mostly separately this week.  They both had their jobs to do and got them done.  They encouraged one another on and off the job site.  Rachel did a beautiful job one evening on her devotion on "Joy".  I was able to sit next to her dad and see how proud he was of his daughter who is becoming a strong Christian young lady.  It has been our pleasure to work beside father and daughter team this week. 

 

 

"As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:15

Evan and Maeghan

 

This is Evan and Maeghan's second mission trip together.  They have been dating over two and half years.  Seeing them serve the Lord together as a young college couple is encouraging of the future of our Christian heritage.  This is a beautiful example of what a relationship should be about whether dating or in marriage.  Serving the Lord and putting him first will make for a strong and godly relationship in Christ.  I have enjoyed watching you two work and serve side by side this week and with a joyful heart.  Well done good and faithful servants.

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

 

 

Final Touches on the Last Day

 

All great things must slowly come to an end.  The group worked diligently up until lunch time and then some more after lunch.  They decided to help Mr. Mike move some more rocks to the road in front of the North American Dorms and pick up the trash laying around the property. Also they moved to the left over cement into one of the bathrooms for preparation of the floor going down next week by the Honduran gentlemen.  Bethany started walking down the dirt road towards the gate as Mr. Mike noticed what she was doing.  He ran and caught up with her to see what she was doing.  She wanted to get a view of Mt. Horeb from one of the rocks entering the property.  The view from all the rocks is breath taking.  One day the group walked to the lower rock on the Prayer Rock.  They stood together and prayed over what God has and will do in the future of Mt. Horeb.  Thank you to all of you who are out there praying for God's will for the future ministry here on Mt. Horeb.

 

Never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Thank YOU

 

I would like to thank each one of these beautiful people who came together as one in Christ to complete huge task.  The North Americans came in not sure of what their job was going to be on Mt. Horeb this week. The Hondurans knew what their job was to be and once they all got together it became a beautiful act of how grand and mighty our GOD truly is.  We never truly know what God's plan is for us until we are at the center of His will and not ours.  When we get at the center of HIS will mighty things can happen.  If you had told me a week ago this project of putting a floor down in the North American Dorms would have been two thirds completed I would have said no way.  How often do we under estimate the power God has and when we allow HIM to use us what mighty and beautiful work will come out of it.  As our Honduran brothers and sisters would say, "I want to give God the glory first and foremost and then a huge gratitude of thank you to the Hondurans who worked diligently in the heat along side their new found friends from North America, First Baptist Church of Southern Pines College Group.  All God's people shouted AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

Last Meal and Last Time Together

 

We had the best meal of all the last day according to the young people.  I must agree.  But the best part of the afternoon came when Pastor Bryan gathered us all together to dedicate the floor for the North American Dorms.  Pastor Bryan shared how we all worked together for a common goal.  But what was so precious to all of us when the college group gathered together to sing a song of praise to the Lord called the Old Irish Blessing.  Afterwards the Hondurans wanted to know what the words were saying as they were singing.  Maida shared with them some of the words to the song.  This week was so beautiful in many many ways words and pictures will never be able to describe the majesty of our Lord and Savior. 

 

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Old Irish Blessing

New Hope Baptist Church Adults Sixth Year

 

November of 2012 Mike and I adventured out to a community called El Tambora.  We visited six families on this day to assess for new projects of constructing homes.  We spent one half day with Pastor David visiting six different families and to our dismay not a one of them had a proof of property.  We cannot build a home unless the homeowner has papers for their property.  So we left a little dismayed because all of these families needed homes.  After two and half years we have built two homes in El Tambora.  But there was one home I really wanted to build and it was Juan Carlos and his mother, Maria.  In November of 2014 we received his papers with much joy!!!!

With God's guidance and prayer we decided to put our church family of New Hope Baptist Church building Juan Carlos' home.  Homes in El Tabora have to be built before the rainy season comes.  The road the Kia is driving on will be a river by the middle of June or first of July.  The bus was parked at a pulperia  and those folks walked daily to the job site.  John, Maurice, Ron and Reba bounced daily to the job site with the job materials.  This week was an adventure daily to arrive at Juan Carlos lot.  The team preserved daily.  Penny, Betty Lynn, Gordon and Ken walked the rocky trail daily with a smile on their face.  Once they arrived to their forty year old mangos trees of shade and a creek close by they knew they had found a little piece of heaven here on earth.  This would be a week full of laughter and joy had by all the team and the Hondurans.

 

 

Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.  Psalm 31:5

Greeting, Meeting and Praying

 

Once the team arrived to the job location they were greeted by many children and eighty three old Maria who has numerous children and grandchildren.  She greeted the team with big hello and hugs.  The team was in awe of their ten plus mango trees of shade for the week.  They were truly blessed with God's creation all around them.  Mike introduced team leader, Ron, to the family and then Ron introduced his team.  When asked how many grandchildren Maria had she could only say, "A lot".  She was priceless.  Juan Carlos was off collecting her firewood for cooking.  As he arrived he joined the circle of new found friends and family.  Pastor David opened with a word of prayer before everyone dispersed to start their week of serving the Lord.

 

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.   I Thessalonians 5:16-18