Roseboro Baptist and Lillington Baptist Return to a New Kia

We were excited to have these two churches return to serve again beside us here in Honduras.  There was quiet a bit of pressure placed on these folks their first morning of the project.  They arrived at the airport to a brand new Kia.  It was literally two days old.  Our old faithful finally gave up about a month earlier.  So we had to bite the bullet so to speak and purchase a new one.  So as the gentlemen were loading the truck I was sharing if you guys know what is best you will not put a mark on this vehicle.  Mr. Mike would not be happy at all.  As I was saying this they were bringing the metal tool box around from the bodega to load up on the back end of Kia.  As the tool box scratched its way up on the brand new Kia we all busted out laughing and said it isn't new any more.  One day team member Darrell had to drive it and he shared immediately with Mike a rock had hit the windshield from another vehicle passing him.  It simply became a joke of the week.  The Kia is not broken in well for the rest of the teams coming to serve beside us in Honduras.  Thank you all for helping us with this most interesting task.  Pastor Carlos is now the driver for the Kia and Moses will be driving the bus.  This worked very well for this team.  We are very grateful for such reliable staff members we can always count on for any task needing to be accomplished.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

We Pray Alot

Each morning as we prepare our day.  We pray before breakfast.  As we prepare to head out to the project we circle up to pray for the day ahead.  One of our team members walked away saying we can never pray too much.  We have always had many teams come and share how much time is spent into prayer here.  Once we get to the project we gather up and pray daily as you will see later in the blog.  So I suppose we can never pray too much as one of our team members shared while they were here and said this was one thought he definitely will be taking back home with him, taking time to pray more and listen more to his Heavenly Father.

Praying Again As a Community

I shared earlier we pray a lot.  We arrived to our little piece of heaven called El Porvenir, Las Cabasas, Choluteca, Honduras.  The team got out of the vehicles being greeting by our sweet brothers and sisters with hugs and smiles.  Mike welcomed and did the introduction and turned it over to team leader, Pastor Dudley.  Pastor Dudley thanked them for having his team join beside them to build Wilmer, Cristine, Dayani, Saul, Aron, Analia, new baby and Cristine's mother a home.  Pastor Dudley introduced each team member.  We were blessed to have the new pastor join us from their church.  He thanked God for this team to be able to come and help this family receive a home. He read out of Psalm 127 about God being the builder of the home.  Wuilmer shared how grateful he was for each person there from North America and from his community and church family.  Wuilmer and Cristine are very loved by family and friends from their community as on the first day there were many folks there to pray up the beginning of an amazing week.  This moment was one of the God moments of the week.  The team shared several times this week how we as North Americans are missing the beauty of community.  They even shared how we need to try this back home.  We need to step forward and help our friends and neighbors whenever we can.  Great stuff was taking place for this team this week and being more of a community is another thought they took home with them. 

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:16

The Corner Stone

The team dispersed into getting the four corners into place.  Pastor Carlos and Mike helped the new team members lay out the corners.  The four corners have to be precise and without error because this is what keeps the building from collapsing. In biblical times a cornerstone was used as the foundation upon which a building would be constructed.  Once the cornerstone was in place the rest of the structure would conform to all the angles and size of the cornerstone.  If the cornerstone would ever be removed the whole structure or building would collapse. 

So we as Christians are built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ our Cornerstone. If we do not have Jesus Christ as our Cornerstone in our lives we will collapse.  We cannot function in life without a firm foundation involving Jesus Christ.  So today if you are reading this and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and do not know what a firm foundation HE lays out for each of us who do believe I pray you will seek this precious gift, Jesus Christ, The Cornerstone of all who believe.  All God's people shouted AMEN!!! 

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

Isaiah 28:16

The Recipe

There was another job to do and this was to mix the mescal for the laying of each block.  Their is a recipe for this process as all Hondurans know.  It is ten wheelbarrows of dirt, three bags of cement, two buckets of water and a lot of shoveling.  This team was not too shy of getting dirty and helping their new found friends with the hardest job on the project.  Team member, Andi, came back this year ready to help mix the mescal however she could.  I had Meida tell Wuilmer and the rest of the workers Andi will be helping all week with this task and she is actually very good at mixing up the mescal as well as sifting the sand.  So Wuilmer smiled that huge smile and allowed Andi to help all week long.  Everyone on the team touched a shovel on the mescal pile whether it was sifting or mixing everyone played a part of making up the special recipe.  There was beautiful team work around this work station.  If someone needed a break there was a friend close by to give some relief.  Grateful and proud of each one on this team and how they all worked so hard and well together.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Praying Over First Block

After the cornerstones were in place and the mescal was mixed it was time to pray over the first block.  We gathered Wuilmer and his children together so they could place their hands on the first block of their new home.  This is a special time where was again we are praying.  We at this point which is around nine o'clock on the first day have already prayed three times not including our individual time of prayer.  So prayer is very important to those of us who live and work at Mt. Horeb.  We could not do our jobs here without the power of prayer.  Pastor Dudley asked Neal, a new comer to the team, to pray over the first block.  You could truly feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as Neal lifted up his prayer unto the Lord.  As Neal prayed several Honduran brothers and sisters were lifting up their prayers as well.  It was a Spirit filled moment for all you participated.  Each hand was placed on another person and each person was covered in prayers as we blessed and prayed over the first block.  Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of prayer.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
Ephesians 6:18

Let The Relationships Begin

Many pitched in to help Steve with the cutting of the special blocks.  David and Darrel helped cut as well.  The others lined up the blocks in rows to make the cutting of the blocks easier and quicker.  As this was happening there was those who picked up the chips of block which is used later in the week to fill in the channel blocks.  Every piece of material gets used on these projects.  There is no waste and not anything is thrown away.  We are resourceful with our materials here in Honduras. 

While some were cutting blocks others were being taught the Honduran way to lay the blocks.  Pastor Carlos and Mike were instructing and demonstrating how this process is done here.  The men and women learned quickly how to build a home.  Pastor Dudley brought a lot of new comers this year but they were only new comers for a short time.  They learned how to lay a block and off they went to serve their Lord and help build Wuilmer and Kristine a beautiful home.  A home they will cherish and love for many years to come. Maida assisted Pastor Carlos as Pastor Steve called out to make sure they were doing the process correctly.  Pastor Carlos gingerly went over to their corner and moved the block around a little looked up and smiled and kept on walking.  Pastor Carlos is an amazing teacher a gentle spirit to go along with his gift of construction. 

As I stood back and observed the blocks going down and the walls going up I saw a lot of good stuff appearing. On Pastor Steve and Pastor Hampton's corner of the world, the nephew of Wuilmer, Jonathan was helping them lay their blocks.  There was Sherman who had a little one working closely by his side.   David,Tim, Jeffrey, Maury, Benny, Hayley and Neil were getting the hang of how to lay block and fill the joints with mescal.  Their workmanship was astounding and the after affects was beautiful. They started their morning building some lasting friendships they will treasure forever. The team was not only building a home but taking the time to build relationships which is what Jesus would do.  Heather and Pastor Dudley worked closely with their new friends as their block laying skills improved.

There was mescal being made, blocks being cut, blocks being laid and relationships going up all around us. While all this was taking place down the road breakfast was being prepared by Cristine, her mother in law Putena, Glenda, her sister in law and Sulema her other sister in law.  Everyone was hard at work and this was the way the entire week evolved. The love of Jesus was blossoming all around us this week.  As Pastor Dudley shared that morning during a morning devotional we are here to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Jesus came to serve not to be served.  Throughout this week the hands and feet of Jesus were hard at work serving Him first and then serving our beautiful brothers and sisters of Honduras.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:45

Building More Relationships

Please meet our sweet little friend Estafny.  Two years ago Estanfy would not smile or look at you.  She stood back from afar watching the North Americans as they build others home in El Porvenir.  One year though one young lady took the time for Estanfy and this is what came out of spending time with one young lady who was not quiet like everyone else but she still had feelings and needed the love like the other children.  So meet our new and improve Estanfy.  This week she brought her baby sister to meet everyone. She became close to the ladies on the team.  Andi, Heather and Hayley grew found of Estanfy quickly as Estanfy did for them.  We have a sweet young lady we have watched grow up in El Porvenir named Dianna.  She is fifteen now and is growing into a beautiful godly young lady.  This week she asked the team to please pray for her.  She shared she got anxious and could not control it. On the last  Dianna asked if the three ladies and Meida  would come to pray with her at her home.  As the young ladies were praying over Dianna, she passed out.  Andi rushed back to the project to get her something to drink and then asked if team member, David, who is a nurse to please come down to see what was going on.  David diagnosed Dianna with having seizures.  Meida immediately called Dr. Brenda to see what could be done for her.  We had been praying all week for Dianna not knowing what was causing her to be anxious.  At least now we know Dianna was anxious because of the seizures. We have our sweet Juan David who simply loves Mr. Mike so much.  They have been long time friends now for about seven years.  Now Juan David is an uncle and is adjusting to loving school a little more than he did two years ago.  Mr. David made a special friend as well as Sherman who made a special friend.  The children warm our hearts so much with their unconditional love they demonstrate to us. 

In our ministry we are not a hand out ministry.  So when these children run up to you and hug you ever so tightly all they want in return is a big hug back.  They need love a whole lot more than they need stuff.  This is what makes working in Honduras so special.  These precious ones do not expect anything unless they are taught to expect it.  So in saying this all these hugs we receive each week from children just like these are simply because of their need to be loved just like all we need in life is to be loved.  The only true love we can have is through Jesus Christ our Lord.  This is a free gift and it does not cost us anything.  It is free without any strings attached.  Similar to the children we love and serve down here weekly, love them with no strings attached.  Just love them.

Happy Birthday Pastor Dudley

Pastor Dudley celebrated his 70th birthday while in Honduras serving our Lord.  Pastor Dudley shared with his team how he could not have picked a better way to celebrate his birthday than here in Honduras with his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  There is a Honduran birthday tradition we always like to share with our North American friends when they celebrate their birthdays with us.  Mike alas Precious puts eggs on top of their heads.  But Precious is kind enough to put the eggs in a sandwich bag before placing them on top of the people's head.  This was not the case for Pastor Dudley.  His "best" friend, Pastor Steve, told Mike to give him the eggs out of the sandwich bag. As we began singing Happy Birthday to Pastor Dudley his "best" friend Pastor Steve took the eggs and cracked them over the top of his head.  This is the first time this has happen in seven years.  The last time the young man from one of our college teams got blessed the same way and took it like a champ the same as Pastor Dudley did.  After he wiped the eggs off his head he enjoyed a birthday cupcake with his fellow team members.  We love you Pastor Dudley and were blessed as well to spend your special day with you serving the Lord.  Also that morning at the job site the Hondurans sang Happy Birthday to him as well.  He celebrated his birthday all day long.  He shared he had never been sung to so many times on his birthday as he had this one.  God is good!!!

"'"The LORD bless you and keep you

Numbers 6:24

Fellowship, Food and Fun at the Multi Purpose Building and Pulperia

Mt Horeb has been blessed with amazing facilities on its campus.  The teams can walk out the door of the North American Dorm to cross the street to the pulperia to get a cold drink and play checkers with their friends.  Up the hill from the pulperia is the multi purpose building where they gather to play a tournament of corn hole.  After corn hole they are blessed with some delicious meals such as chop suey, chicken, rice and veggies, beans, rice, plantains and tortillas, enchiladas and pantalets.  This team enjoyed their Honduran cuisine each evening after a hard day at work.  Sunday morning the men got up and cooked bacon, sausage, grits and pancakes.  But the treat was on the last morning before flying out the next day the team with the help of Mike fixed balatas.  This is a well liked breakfast treat for all you come to Mt. Horeb.  The fellowship of the team was beautiful each evening as I sat on the porch watching the sunset.  I could hear stories being told of their day and laughter filling the room.  What a beautiful week of building relationships not only with the Hondurans but with fellow team members.  They took time with each other, listen to each others stories and prayed with each other if needed. 

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

Worship on Sunday

The team arrived for a nine oclock worship service to find Wuilmer, his brothers Samuel and Joel working on getting the floor filled and patted down so the concrete can go down in the next few days.  They were sweaty hot and working hard but showed up for church right on time.  The team made their way down the dirt road path to this beautiful church which was built by three teams from North Carolina.  This is the first home we have built since the church was completed.  So today's worship service was to be a special one for all of us, especially the Hondurans who were so proud of their new church and their new pastor Siriaco.  It was great to be in the house of the Lord.

We all greeted each other with warm hugs and smiles.  Folks came from all directions to praise and worship their Lord.  The congregation filled up and we had to bring in more chairs with the help of our brothers from North America.  We had at least seventy five warm bodies worshiping the Lord on this bright and warm Sunday morning.  Sherman and Andi found their seats with the children.  The rest of our team scattered out all throughout the church preparing themselves for a time of worship.

Tears filled many eyes as Ishmael made his way down the aisle of the church to be seated for worship. If it could not get any better Pastor Siriaco called the children to the front of the church to sing Jesus Loves Me in Spanish and sign language.  Our very own Meida taught this to the children several years ago and one of their own young adults singing help lead the children in singing this to the congregation.  Meida was touched by this performance from her many friends out at El Porvenir.

 After the church sang the North American Team got up to sing "Victory in Jesus" led by our very own Heather. 

Our first timers, Hayley and Maury gave their personal testimonies. 

Hayley shared how she since the bond of community the minute she got off the bus on Friday. A community is a place to live or sharing your lives together. It reminded her of her childhood and how her family, friends and church family all throughout her life have shared the love of Jesus to her. These memories have influenced her to who she has become today. This is what she saw these last few days was the love of community by sharing the love of Jesus with one another.  She encouraged her new friends to continue to share the love of Jesus with one another especially the children so they can grow up sharing this same love of community with generations to come.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.

Maury thanked these beautiful people for allowing him to come to their community and work beside them.  He asked all the children who were 11 years old to stand for him.  He shared at the age of 11 I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  But during my life I became broken and dirty.  I became a liar and stole from others.  I finally realized one day that God love me no matter my sin.  Because Jesus will forgive me of my sin.  I ran from my sin and ran from my sins.  I knew I was on my way to Hell.   But I knew and realized God had sent His One and Only Son Jesus Christ for a sinner like me he shared.  The Lord saved me and cleansed me white as  snow. He shared with the congregation without Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you are lost.  But with Jesus Christ you can be my brother or sister in Christ.  Two different folks with two different testimonies but the same Lord and Savior.  All God's people shouted AMEN!!!!!

Pastor Hampton was spot on with his sermon for this day.  His majority captive audience was the children and geared his sermon to these sweet faces.  They listened intently  to him as he shared about Jonah and the Whale.   He shared with them about a man who tried to hide from God but God knew exactly where he was at all times. Pastor Hampton shared how we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.  Especially in the eyes of our Lord.  Jonah was not in a good place in his life.  You all may be in the place as well.  You may be at the bottom of life with thoughts of hopelessness.  The Lord gave Jonah a big fish to save his life.  Jonah prayed to the Lord in the belly of this big fish.   Pastor Hampton asked the children and adults do you pray to God when you are at the bottom so God can help you through these times of hardship or despair.  Jonah found salvation in the belly of a fish and you can find it today through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days.  Jesus was in the tomb for three days.  HE is has RISEN, HE has RISEN INDEED. No one is righteous not even one.  But all who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  Amen.

VBS

The ladies of the team, Heather, Andi and Hayley prepared three days of Vacation Bible School with some amazing children, teenagers and some of the mothers. Meida gathered the children together each day to sing their favorite bible story songs.  The first day Andi shared how we should not worry out of Matthew 6.  She played a game with them.  They gathered in a circle and tossed a soft spongy ball to a friend and this friend would share what they were grateful for in their lives.  Some of the answers were a home, some their daily bread, family and school.  They then gathered together to do a craft of a picture of a bird which they colored and then taped to a drinking straw. After the craft they did face painting.  Hayley spent the entire time face painting each little face.  Then they went out side to have time to play. 

On the second day Hayley used passage about being the Salt and the Light of the World, Matthew 5:13-16. They added Proverbs 3:6 and Maida read it for the children and had them repeat it.  Maida also taught the children "This Little Light of Mine" they did an amazing job singing it with Maida. The children enjoyed making their salvation bracelets.  Jovier gave David, a team member is bracelet as they headed in their different directions.  They again got to play games outside before going home.

Day three of VBS was Heather who used a book called "The Crowded House" based on Luke 5:18-26, its the story of the lame man and his four friends.  Maida did a gr eat job asking them follow up questions about the Bible story.  The storybook emphasizes that Jesus did not just heal the man' physical condition but also He forgave him of his sins. The craft for today was an angel necklace.  They went outside to play and before the time was up Wuilmer and some other men came down to the church to play soccer and other games with the children.  They played Frisbee and blowing bubbles and jump rope.  This was a very eventful week for the VBS ladies.  Thank you ladies for all your hard work.  These sweet ones were forever blessed by your hard work and planning for them.

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Two Father and Daughter Teams

I would love to welcome back Pastor Hampton and his precious daughter Andi.  Last year they came for their first time and went home forever changed from their experience here in Honduras.  Andi shared it was the longest 365 days of her life waiting to return this year.  They came back ready to serve wherever they were needed.  They did not work side by side as some father and daughters did but they were on the same page and the same team.  Andi spent her week mixing mescal while her daddy spent his week hauling the dirt she needed to mix the mescal. So you might say they worked side by side together.  He provided part of the means to the end product.  They were always together other wise.  They ate each meal together and talked about their week together.  What a special twosome they were while here at Mt. Horeb. Andi is actually our poster child for the ministry here in Honduras.  She has spoken had several events state wide about the ministry here in Honduras.  Please if you ever get to hear her share about her compassion for Honduras it is a must do. Andi radiates the Lord as she shares her passion for the Hondurans and this beautiful country we now have all come to love.

I would love to introduce to you two new comers on this team this year.  What a plus this father and daughter team added to the dynamics of their team.  Welcome Neil and his precious daughter, Hayley.  They came ready to serve wherever needed and totally understood the mission of Mt. Horeb from the get go.  They helped wherever and whatever the need was.  There was not a task too much for either of them. They also did not work side by side but was on the same page and the same team.  They fell in love with Honduras and these beautiful people immediately.  They brought so much of the Holy Spirit and their love for Jesus Christ to their team on a daily basis.  Neil shared in a devotional one evening out of Romans 11:13-16 and it was titled "Surprise the World".  We all need wisdom from the Lord to live in this world.  We need the Holy Spirit voice to guide us.  There was so many sins in our lives coming into Honduras, sins of worries of a language barrier, worries of persecution, worries of having to answer tricky questions from the locals,  and worries of sharing the gospel with others while in Honduras. You see worrying is a sin and it stifles the Holy Spirit from working in our lives to do all the things we worry we cannot do. As we observed from our Honduran friends they were not afraid of sharing Jesus with a bunch of North American strangers.  On the first day Neil shared how he became ill for a short time, one of the ladies from the community brought him a chair to sit on and how Darrell received the gift of a melon from a completer stranger.  A gift of hospitality. Neil shared his goal for the week and hopefully for the team was to have a "quieted heart" and focus on God not ourselves.  Neil shared he was too busy worrying about his well being, staying hydrated and focus on the task ahead.  He shared how he wanted to spend the rest of his week building relationships with the Hondurans and the North Americans he came with.  So he challenged everyone to focus on what the Holy Spirit can do in each of our lives this week.  If we do not take the time to be in the presence of our Lord this week we could be in danger of missing the many blessings He has in store for each of us.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Porque How Do You Make Gatorade

This week we had so much fun simply making the Gatorade.  Sherman a returned friend alas Porque was in charge of the Gatorade.  But on the second day some others took over and made it a new type of Gatorade called congealed salad.  So the next day Sherman was rehired to make his famous and most awesome batch of Gatorade with his fine assistants Steve and David.  David was very respectful of the jefe of the Gatorade and did exactly what he was told.  The portions from that day forward was done exactly as alas "Porque" requested.  Everyone was happy and hydrated throughout the rest of the week.  Thank you Sherman for being such a great hydration specialist this week.  You did an amazing job leading  Steve and David down the right path of making the most delicious Gatorade. 

Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.

Proverbs 8:33

Friends for a Life Time

These two gentlemen Pastor Dudley and Pastor Steve are retired chaplains out of the military which is where they met and have been serving the Lord together for the last forty years.  They do a lot of mission trips together not only internationally to Honduras but other countries and all over the United States.  When either of these gentlemen speak of the Lord in conversation it is bold and solid for the Kingdom Work.  Their faith is so strong and solid as they live out God's Word in their daily lives.  What a pleasure and joy to serve beside these two life long friends this week.  Thank you gentlemen for your love for the Lord and bringing here to Honduras to share it with us and our Honduran friends.  We love ya'll.

A friend loves at all times

Proverbs 17:17

Two Brothers With No Language Barrier

As the first day progressed these two Pastor Dudley and homeowner Wuilmer became inseparable.  They worked together on making this house a home.  They trusted each others actions since there was a language barrier.  This language barrier was removed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Both gentlemen allowed the Lord to lead and guide every block and mescal that went into this house.  I caught them on the last day before the rood went up looking together at the craftsmanship of the four walls which went up very quickly Pastor Dudley shared on the night before the fifth day of construction.  Pastor Dudley shared how Mike said on their first night this week will fly by you if you are not careful and you will miss the opportunity of building relationships as well as building the home.  Mike said this house will get built but you may miss an opportunity of a life time by not taking time to get to know these beautiful people.  Pastor Dudley did not miss out on building relationships because what I witnessed with him and Wuilmer, the home owner was humbling and amazing action of God's love for us.  The way Wuilmer looked up to Pastor Dudley and the way Pastor Dudley looked at his new friend Wuilmer was only something God could have created.  All because Pastor Dudley said yes to God to come here and build a house which actually Wuilmer could have done without the help of Pastor Dudley.  He is a skilled craftsman.  Wuilmer took so much pride in his home and the way it was going to turn out.  He smoothed the joints daily and kept the area clean where they were working.  He made sure the floor was prepped for the concrete going on it.  He was one proud man and his family is blessed to call him husband and father.  Thank you Wuilmer for teaching us so many lessons this week about how to be like Jesus.  Thank you Pastor Dudley for taking the time to build more than a home you built a lifetime memory for you and Wuilmer this week by simply taking the time and not being task driven but Christ driven.  How beautiful it is of the hands and feet of Jesus.

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

Prayer Walk and Prepartion for Dedication

As the week was coming to an end Andi, Heather and Hayley asked if they could do a prayer walk around the community while the roof was going up.  So they were prepping and getting ready while Pastor Dudley was going over last minute details with Meida about the dedication.  So off they went down the dirt road in front of Wuilmer's new home.  They headed down the path and turned left at the end of the dirt road.  Meida took them to homes we had never been to before.  Four of the team members along with Meida would enter the home while the rest would stay outside and simply and most importantly prayed for what was taking place within the home.  The team asked the families for prayer concerns or request as one of the ladies recorded the prayer request inside a notebook to share with the entire team after returning to the states.  Everyone has prayer concerns and this team took each one to heart and will continue to pray for their new friends for many weeks and years to come.  There was one gentlemen named Ishmael who is 96 years old I believe and has a basketball size tumor on his side.  He asked if the team could pray for him. The team actually went daily to his home and prayed for him.  Ishmael blessed these North Americans more than they blessed him.  This was an amazing morning going door to door praying with different families with different needs and a different language.  But one thing they all had in common they had the same God.  We pray if you do not know what true contentment in life is and you do not know about this God who is forever and always with you if you allow HIM, I pray you will receive HIM today.  This is the sweetest and most precious gift you will ever receive.  Ishmael was in a lot of pain and each day is truly a struggle for him but he believes in the great physician and great healer of all time God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  This is how you can have Ishmael's true joy and contentment through the blood of Jesus Christ.  All God's people shouted AMEN!!!!!

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

I Timothy 6:6

Home Dedication

Pastor Dudley with the assistance of our Maida led the home dedication.  He read from Psalm 127:2-3 about God is the one who built this home not man.  He also shared out of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 how this home will be here for generations to come where his children will be blessed with this home as well as their children.  Pastor Dudley asked everyone to gather around the home as Pastor Carlos, Pastor Siriaco and Tim all three prayed over this house which is now a home.  One of my God moments this week is when I opened my eyes to wipe the sweat rolling down my face to look up to see Pastor Hampton and our bus driver Moses on their knees praying over this home.  Moses had his bible during the prayer walk and the home dedication.  God has truly blessed us with our new brother in Christ and bus driver Moses.  This was very humbly to witness such servanthood from these two gentlemen.  Pastor Hampton is quite the humble servant of Christ.  He is quiet but his actions speak volumes who all is around him.  We all need to get on our knees praying more often.

Pastor Dudley then presented Wuilmer and Cristine with their family bible.  He spoke was again to Wuilmer in a manner where Wuilmer was soaking up every word Pastor Dudley shared about making this house a godly home where he can raise his children knowing Jesus Christ.  After the bible team member Sherman presented the family with a house warming gift, a cross.  Sherman started this tradition last year on his first trip to Honduras.  Sherman is another advocate for Honduras and has been to speak at several associations and churches about his passion for Honduras.  Sherman shared with Wuilmer and his family back home we give a house warm gift to family who receives a new home.  Today we want to present you with a cross which Wuilmer hung directly over the entrance to his home.  Lastly Pastor Dudley presented Cristine to the key to their new home.  She in turn handed the key to Wuilmer as he unlock their new home and entered inside. 

Their was hugs and praises for one another as they all celebrated Wuilmer and Cristine's new home.  Ishmael was brought over by family and he set in a chair and watched another one of his family and friends receive a new hom.  After wards the children were found running and playing inside their new home.  They had a home with a floor, two doors and two windows.  They had a door with a lock on it and they were beyond excited about this gift from God.  Thank you to God first as well shared then to the North Americans for building his home along side of him and his family and community.  As the week was coming to a close there was several God moments about how beautiful it is to see a family and community come together as this one did.  The sense of community and support for everyone was very strong in El Porvenir.  God was definitely at work this week with our North American family and our Honduran family.  There was more than a house built here this week.

A House Becomes A Home

Mike and I went out to this empty lot several months ago we never knew what would take place.  Each time we assess someone for a home only God knows the outcome of each decision.  This empty lot on April 20 became a lot which was not empty any longer.  The empty lot filled up with 800 blocks, 52 bags of cement, a lot of rebar, loads and loads of sand and a bunch of people about forty to be exact who became family and friend.  The excuse we cannot speak the language, the excuse we are a different culture from each other and so many other excuses people come up with went right on down that dirt path.  Because this team from Roseboro Baptist and Lillington First Baptist and several other churches were obedient to God's calling in their life.  They said yes to God and in turn their lives were forever changed because of it.  They all got out of their comfort zones and took the plunge.  They dove in deep this week, not just physically but their spiritual lives was forever changed.  Several of them shared how humbling it was to come here and work with complete strangers on this empty lot and by the end of the day they were all laughing and sharing in the labor of the job.  El Porvenir is our little peace of heaven here on earth.  We are forever grateful for God introducing these folks to us and we are forever grateful for these North Americans going out on faith to serve such a mighty and powerful God along beside of us.

Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Psalm 112:2

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Psalm 24:8

My Three Amigas

These three young ladies were everyone's God moments this week.  They are Heather, Hayley and Andi.  They worked so hard giving out the water daily to all the workers.  They worked laying block, mixing mescal, sifting the sand, playing with the children, planned an amazing week of VBS and coming in each day to the and gift shop to sit and drink a soda with me and tell me about their day.  They were a ray of sunshine in everyone's life each and every day.  They were energized continuously with a ambition and attitude to get their jobs done.  These three ladies humbled their fellow team mates as they went about their day serving their Lord.  Ladies you three were over the top amazing and glorified the Lord in all you did this week.  To God be the glory for each of you and the Christian lives you are living at such young ages. 

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Ephesians 3:12

Working Pastors

This week we had four pastors serving their Lord not in words only but in action.  Pastor Siriceo, Pastor Hampton, Pastor Dudley, Pastor Steve, and the pillar of the community Juan worked hard this week sharing the gospel in many different ways. Of course they all came to build a house and this they surely did.  As well as breaking a sweat every day for about eight plus hours they were able to share the gospel by praying over a neighbor, sharing a devotional, riding a motorcycle, Pastor Siriceo for a home dedication and turn around to leave to go to a funeral for a family, go on a prayer walk, cook breakfast a couple of mornings, load up the materials on the Kia and there are so many more these pastors accomplished on their mission trip in Honduras.   Pastor Carlos who

lead the construction and drove the Kia for the mission team was a huge and humbling blessing for each of us.  So we were truly blessed with five pastors serving side by side this week.

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,

Ephesians 6:7

Family Traditon

All who read this and know this community know on the last day these sweet folks kill multiple chickens from their yards to prepare a big pot of chicken soup for their gratitude on behalf of the North American and their community family coming out to help Wuilmer get his home.  This is similar to how years ago their was a barn raising.  This is what happen this week.  They all came together to build a home and on last day they celebrated by cooking a big pot of chicken soup which included four chickens, yucca, carrots, onions, cabbage and potatoes served with rice and tortillas.  There was at least forty plus people getting lunch today.  This including all the Honduran workers, all the children, Honduran women and the North Americans.  This was a day to celebrate a huge accomplishment by so many who love the Lord.  A beautiful ending to a beautiful week.

The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:21

Brothers in Christ

These two young men came on board about a week out from the team departing to come to Honduras.  There were two team members who came up with family emergencies at the last minute.  It was announced in church they needed two people if any one was interested.  Well the rest is history, here they stand coming to Honduras for the very first time not knowing how the week would unfold for each of them.  Benny on the left in the purple shirt got sick one day and felt best to stay behind and rest.  Well the next day Maury got sick as well.  So he stayed back to recoup too.  So at lunch they were sitting on the porch of the multi purpose building sharing life stories and getting to know each other.  I am not sure how  all this came to be but one conversation led to another one and Maury asked Benny how long had he been a Christian.  Benny shared I have been in many different churches all my life.  But Maury was persistent and said how long have you been a believer in Jesus Christ.  Benny shared he had never verbally received Jesus Christ.  So Maury was able to go through the Roman Road with Benny.  Benny accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  He shared for the first time in his life he felt what it was like to have true JOY in CHRIST JESUS. 

Benny came into the pulperia that afternoon to buy his soda and looked at me and said I have a huge God moment for tonight. I shared I cannot wait to hear what your God moment will be tonight.  We ate dinner, cleaned up the supper dishes and went into God moments.  I eagerly awaited for Benny to share.  Several people shared and not yet Benny.  So finally he started sharing from the bottom of his heart how he was our new brother in Christ.  Thank you God for your special timing.  You  God ordained these two gentlemen do be here at this time and place.  You ordained their being home sick at the same time so this could happen for Benny.  Thank you for Maury's persistence in making sure Benny understood what it took to be a believer in Jesus Christ.  Benny shared how blessed he was to be with such a godly group of people who live out their walk with their Lord daily.  He has learned so much about his faith by listening each day to others share and live out who Jesus truly is in their lives. What a testimony for all here this week.  Benny was blessed by Maury's persistence and the walk of all his other brothers and sisters God placed him with this week. 

AMEN.