Where do I began to share the amazing moments each evening sharing about where God placed all my old friends and new friends. First of all we could not have done any of this without our leadership of the Holy Spirit, lots of prayers, lots of preparation before arriving and our amazing translators, Meida, Carlos and Hector.
Each evening we gathered together to amazing devotions which sometimes led right into a God moment. God blessed the hard work of their labors this week by twenty five plus salvation's and re dedications too many to count. This team was not about the numbers of salvations but solely about the lost and bringing them to salvation. As I start with the many beautiful stories of the lost coming to Christ I pray those of you who are reading this know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Tomorrow may be too late.
Glenn shared in his devotion about the "Peace of God". Those who do not have the peace of God live in darkness, pitch darkness. He compared how you go into a public restroom where there is a sensory light that brings the light on for you as you enter. When the sensory does not come on immediately we panic and are unsettled in the darkness. This is sin in our lives. If we do not have the peace of God in our lives we live in the depths of darkness. In John 14:27 it says "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." So as we go out this week to share the gospel of Jesus Christ find this true peace in God. Let there be no heartaches, nor worries because God's peace never fails. When we go out to the homes we may be rejected by some but just remember carry God's peace with you. This evening Kaye shared the families we visited today are just like us. We all just live in a different location, speak a different language but have all the same problems. One of their home visits the family shared they have gotten out of the habit of going to church. Is this you today? Have you gotten out of the habit of going to church? One of their visits was with a single father raising his two daughters ages six and thirteen years old. When the six year old was one year old the father came home from work one day finding them alone and their mother had left and never came back. He shared with the team he spends his days working at the shrimp factory and raising his girls to the best of his ability as a single parent. Thomas shared how he saw the compassion in his face and eyes for this two daughters. We are the same people with similar situations only difference is a huge body of water separating the two. Thomas enjoyed visiting folks not on his list. They would stop and chat with folks along the way. Their was one stop where they gave two little girls ages six and nine year old a bible. The two little girls came to VBS the rest of the week. Simply because Thomas' team stopped to chat with them along their journey.
Glenn, Renee, Spencer, Andy, Hector, Carmen, Juan Carlos got to stop and share the gospel with a man named Idodora who never got out of his hammock. He was working on his bike as the team shared with him the plan of salvation. Glenn's team used the Roman Road tool for Idodora. He received Christ and Glenn shared this is not by works but by solely your salvation in Christ Jesus. As they were leaving Pastor David came by and they were able to share with him about their new brother in Christ, Idodora. As they continued traveling to their next stop there was an elderly lady who was washing her laundry and she stopped to say hello to the team. The team ask if she had any prayer requests and she asked for prayers for her family and good health. She prayed for us for being there sharing the gospel in her community.
Each evening God blessed us with some talented folks who could sing and play the guitar. One evening we sang "Because He Lives", "Wash in the Blood of the Lamb", "Sanctuary" and "When the Role is Called Up Yonder".
Thomas encouraged his team members to share the bibles, give these folks bibles. It is the most amazing feeling sharing bibles with someone who does not have one. He encouraged his team members to read their bible daily to get to know God on a personal basis. His scripture reference for his devotional was James 4:8a "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." Encouraged folks if they did not know where to read in the bible start with the book of John. Steven's God moments is when is team stopped to visit a man named Pastor. He was not a pastor but this was his name. Steven said Pastor asked if they were Christians and how did they know they were Christians. Wow he flipped it on them and questioned their faith. So the team was challenged and they were prepared to tell Pastor wanted he needed to hear to convince him they were followers of Christ. Pastor Mike then asked the team do you know Jesus? What a challenging week for all of us to convict us to truly give our all to Christ and not by anything we have done or will do but by His Grace and Mercy are we saved. Not by anything we have done.
Steven's devotional was on "Do Not Worry". Steven was our sixteen year old on the team and he got it. We have so much and where is our joy. The Hondurans have joy in what they do have. So our stuff folks does not bring us joy only our relationship in Jesus Christ. Great job Steven. Thank you for being a strong example of young people your age. Kaye shared their lady, Karen from the church family, said the men have to work and it is hard for them to be in church. This is the same at home. Some people even work two jobs back home. How can we balance life and God? God needs to be first and foremost in our lives. God will provide like Steven shared in his devotion. Glenn shared how after being here before and coming back he is working toward a more balanced life in the name of Jesus.
Andy's devotional was on " A Calling". He read from 1 Corinthians 7:17 "Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches." Andy shared we are all called as Christians to live out Acts 1:8
"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."
Glenn, Karen, Steven and Andy shared how they stopped at a home with two young ladies named Cecilia and Antonia. As they shared with these ladies who were very young Karen noticed how they teared up they knew they needed to get their life right with the Lord. But they did not do it that day. There was a stronghold in the home called a man who we thought was one of their boyfriends. As the team started down the path all they could hear was shouting and yelling at the two young ladies. How sad it is when we allow someone to control our lives to the point we cannot receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Glenn's Team came across Thomas' team and they gathered up across the way from the home and prayed for this household and what took place and what needed to take place, Jesus, simply Jesus Christ needs to be in this home for the peace of God as Glenn shared, to be there. Cindy church members shared all the folks they visited had been members somewhere at one time, not necessarily this church but a church. Pastor Mike shared how one man quit going to church because of the church affiliation shared with him "You must give up your coffee". Wow this man quit going to church because he thought he could not drink his coffee. Kaye's team came across a drunk man named Orlando who after visiting with him found out not many folks spend much time with Orlando. Orlando was angry with the team at first for bothering him and if I am not mistaken Glenn's team was a part of this as well. So Orlando was blaming others because he was not in church. He brought out Meida's emotions as well. Meida was talking to him very strongly and firmly. Meida actually calmed him back down. Orlando went to angry to excepting this team and Orlando thanked Meida especially for taking the time with him which so many do not do for him. He thanked Meida for being kind to him. Thomas shared James 4:8 with Orlando. Orlando had two children, Hector and Amelia who are going to start going to church. Renee and team ended back with Celica and Antonia. Renee felt led by the Holy Spirit to share her story and she did not stop as she shared with tears rolling down her cheeks. Renee shared she planted a seed that day and she felt at peace with how God used her. What a blessing knowing you did not bring someone to Christ but you are confident you did all you could do in the name of the Holy Spirit.
On Tuesday evening Spencer shared out of Hebrews 4:12 "
The team brought I think three of four bibles to give out on the last day to three or four young people who impacted their lives this week. So Spencer, Hannah and Steven gave out there bibles to young people who impacted them this past week. Pastor Mike shared how God orchestrates every minute of his day, every moment is a God moment. Thomas shared about a gentleman who came out of his house to greet them and three teenagers. Because they stepped out to greet this team all four of them came of know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Wendy, member from the church shared how many times she had visited these men and never once were they interested. Wendy planted the seed many times before and the team harvested the crop. God's timing is always perfect. They all received a bible.
Pastor Mike, Hannah, Karen and Tim got to visit a "witch doctor". Pastor Mike shared he was ripe on the tree and ready to be picked. He was ready to hear the gospel. He was very grateful for the visit from the church and team members.
Steven, age sixteen, prayed for a woman who shared "she did not have time to go to church". Have you heard or said this before. What if Jesus shared with you He did not have time to die for your sins on the cross? Where would you be my friend?
Karen and team visited a mother of a handicapped child. Karen shared we all have the same problems in life and she could tell this mother was very tired for the daily responsibilities of her handicapped child.
Pastor Mike shared how we are not here to take anything away from them but to give the and share with them Jesus. There are now twelve different church members who have been equipped to go out and evangelize for their Lord first and their church family. Pastor Mike shared one day in glory someone may come up to us and say you gave me a tract as you were walking down the road in my neighborhood. You may not have said much to them but you gave them a tract. You planted seeds. We are going to be excited when we get to glory and see all the fruits of our labors this past week in Monajares, Choluteca, Honduras.
On the last day they went to a community where Pastor David has planted a sister church. Andy came into the gift shop that afternoon talking about a young pastor he met named Darwin. I said what is his name again. Finally Andy showed me a picture of Pastor Darwin. Well Mike and I only know one Pastor Darwin and this was him. We had not seen this special young man in two and half years. Well Andy I had a huge God moment on Monday of this week and I suppose this is why I am finishing your blog on Tuesday because God knew Pastor Darwin was coming to see Mike and me. What a God moment when he arrived and we spend over an hour catching up with him. He helped build a lot of the buildings on Mt. Horeb and how awesome it was for God to send him back our way again. We are grateful for your reaching out to Pastor Darwin, Andy and now we have reunited for future work together for the Kingdom. Pastor Mike and team visited one family and ended up with two families listening to what these North Americans had to say about Jesus. Both families came to Christ on our last day of evangelizing in Honduras, ten people came to Christ. Kaye's team got back first to the pulperia waiting on their other teams. Thomas was able to give his last two bibles away to a seven year old and a nine year old. The team prayed with the little girls. This team from Oakdale Baptist Church came down with eighty bibles and gave out seventy five bibles. God is good all the time and all the time God is good. We want to say a huge thank you to each one of you who came down to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with these beautiful folks in Honduras. Mostly how evident it was to us your compassion and love you have for your Lord and Savior. How motiviated and prepared you were when you came down and all your preparations and hard work truly paid off this week and at this time we will give God all the praise and honor for every single minute of this past week.
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