Welcome North Catawba Baptist Church

This amazing group of people are all first timers to Honduras except Pastor Nicholas.  He came five years ago and fell in love with this country.  After five years, which he shared was way too long he brought North Catawba Baptist Church for their first mission trip to Honduras.  One of the many items he educated his folks on and actually lived out the very first day was building relationships.  Pastor Nicholas was interacting with many different folks the first morning on Mt. Horeb and the project site.  He apologized to our driver Tino for not knowing Spanish well enough to carry out a conversation with him.  Tino chuckled as Meida translated the information to Tino from Pastor Nicholas.  The most precious part of this was Pastor Nicholas put forth a strong effort to relate to the people of  Honduras.  He tried and that is all God wants of us is to give it our best and let HIM to the rest.

This small but powerful group worked very hard.  They were a team of unity in all aspects of the project.  I never got up there early enough to see Paul cooking his most delicious eggs along with some very crispy bacon.  The entire team was up early every day waiting to have breakfast at 5:45 am.  Sandwiches were made and Gatorade was ready to be loaded by 5:45 am.  We were blessed to have such a group who worked hard and well together.  Thank you God for this group of folks YOU sent from North Catawba Baptist Church.  We are glad you made your first journey to be with us this year.  We have been forever blessed.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 1:10

Tino Our Driver

Each morning Tino goes and checks to make sure the Land Cruiser is ready to go. He wipes down the windows all the way around and makes sure the seats are clean and ready for the team to enter for their day's journey.  The first morning once arriving to Cedeno I wondered if Tino thought what a waste of time.  We arrived to our first day at the project to a river in front of the project site.  There is literally no where for the water to go.  It sits there waiting to be absorbed into the ground and for the sun to take it away.  Each day the team arrived to this river front property.  Interesting though there was not a drop of water on the foundation of the house. It was all out front in the road.  Team member, Paul, shared at least we do not have far to go to retrieve water for the mescal.  It is right in front of us.  God's provision in a different way. 

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

Philippians 4:19

Pray Contiously

We have been told we pray a lot at Mt. Horeb which is not a bad thing at all.  It is the best thing we can do for this ministry and the people of Honduras.  Before leaving out each morning we left up our day in prayer, but before that we pray at breakfast.  Upon arriving at the project site we gather everyone together and pray for the day ahead.  We covenant prayers from back home as well.  Pastor Nick shared how each week on Wednesday evening service they would pick a topic of prayer for the mission trip to Honduras.  One week was for the travels on the road, another week for good health, good weather for an example.  The entire church was involved in praying up their mission team as they prepared to come to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praise God for the power of prayer.  The first day on the project there was not any rain which is a miracle during rainy season.  Every evening God blessed us with lots of rain but not on the days of the project.  The team was spared and got their work done.  That you God for answered prayers.

Eloise's Pulpriea and Tortillas

Eloise's family works very hard each day to feed their family of eight plus members.  Eloise's daughter in law, Sara Iris makes tortillas each morning and sells them for fifty cent each.  She spends about two hours each day preparing the tortillas for purchase.  The first morning we arrived she was already busy at work preparing the batch for selling.  Eloise's two sons were working outside the home, praise the Lord to provide for the family.  Eloise has a small Pulperia in her home where she sells chips, candies and other small items to her neighbors.  This family works together so they can eat on a daily basis.  Now Eloise will have a home where she can keep her family safe and dry as well.  It was a joy seeing Sara hard at work while the blocks on the home were going up right before her.  Eloise is forever grateful to God first and for God sending Pastor Nick's team to her to help her get her new home.  Also the monies she and her family have made in the last month or so enable her to feed the team and the Honduran helpers lunch for three days.  One day was fish, chicken soup and chicken and rice.  They sacrificed all they had so they could say thank you for the sacrifice the team made by coming down to work beside them.  Paul, team member shared how they came to serve but in turn was being served by a very giving family.  One day Paul got overheated and Eloise gave Paul some ice cold water bags out of her Pulperia to help cool him down.  What a gift from God.  Eloise keeps on giving and serving our North American friends whenever she sees the need.  The entire team shared how humbling this was for them as the week continued to progress into more God moments from this community we call Cedeno.

Unloading Problem, No Problem

As the team started unloading the materials from the Kia, they waded through the river which had formed in the road in from of Eloise's home.  Everyone pitched in to help get this not so easy task accomplished.  Pastor Carlos stayed inside the truck while it was being unload to go and park in the next door neighbor's front yard.  God's blessing here the homes on this particular street were not under water only the road in front of the homes. As the truck was unloading Meida was greeting Eloise and her family.  Asking some important questions like where the bathroom might be and hopes it was on dry ground. After the team got the vehicles unloaded they all stood around discussing should they go and buy boots or not.  Well we knew one who would not be getting any boots, Pastor Nick.  Mike, missionary wears a 13 and had to bring his from the state.  Well Mike found someone with a foot bigger than his, Pastor Nick.  So they all opted not to buy rain boots and make do with what they brought with them. Throughout the week it continued to rain and one day it most of got hot enough for the water to subside some but the very next day it rose even higher. We did not hear one complaint about the working conditions from this first time team to Honduras.  What an example you set for so many of us.  Thank you North Catawba Baptist Church.  Well done good and faithful servants.

Opportunites with the Cornerstones

Everyone pitched in after being shown one time how to place the cornerstones.  Pastor Nick came across a small opportunity with one of the corners.  There was a live electrical wire in his way.  Well Freddy shimmied up the tree to move the electrical wire with the help of Raffaele.  They worked for at least fifty minutes on getting the wire safely out of the way for the medal bars to be put into place.  At that time Pastor Nick, Paul and Stacy worked diligently on getting this cornerstone set.  After team work it was completed.

Once their cornerstone was completed they turned to look where there was yet another opportunity for their project.  Pastor Jose made a ladder out of the blocks to climb up and take a hammer to knock out some of the metal roof from the existing house.  Everyone gathered around to help Pastor Jose with this cornerstone.  While all this was going on Llobanie and Pastor Carlos were steadily working on the other two cornerstones. 

Failed to share with you on their first ride to the project we left to go to Cedeno at 6:30 a.m. and arrived at 8:30 a.m.  We all sat for one hour in the road construction waiting our turn.  So their morning had already gotten started later and then arrive to a river flowing through the road, trying to figure out how to orchestrate the project ahead.  So the two cornerstones was just more opportunities.

As the challenges continue for our first time team.  There was not anywhere to sift the sand for the project.  So I see Carlo and Raffaele moving rocks from the front of the pile to the back of the pile, thinking they were doing this for the team to have a dry place to come and go. Yes they were but they knew the sand had to be sifted so this was the main purpose of moving the small boulders from front to back of the pile.  Once this challenge was completed Misty and Cheryl started the sifting of the sand while Tino was clearing a spot for the sand to go to the starting of the mescal.  Normally by now the mescal is close to completion ready to lay the first block.  But not today.  It became a joke with this team, there was a lot of first and this was definitely a first where we had to wait for the mescal instead of the mescal waiting for us.  Tino would throw the sand from where they were sifting over to the cleaned area for the mixture to be formed.  There was so many opportunities on the first couple of hours of this project the rest of the week should be easy as homemade apple pie.  It took all this work just to make that first batch of mescal as Pastor Carlos shouted "Mescal" knowing it was not ready at that time.  But the team along side the Hondurans worked hard to prepare for the laying of the first block.

Giving God all the Praise

The first bucket of mescal was delivered to the cornerstone.  I find it quiet interesting Pastor Carlos chose the cornerstone which was the most challenging for the team.  We gathered Eloise, Freddy, Sara and I believe this lady who showed up for the laying of the first block was Sara's sister.  We all gathered around this family not knowing what a blessing each one of them would be for everyone in the next five days.  Pastor Nick led everyone into a prayer of dedication for this cornerstone to be the one like Jesus where the home will be one where others will see Jesus on a daily basis.  He thanked God for allowing them to be able to be a part of such a very special time which turned out to be a very sweet and giving family.  Praise God for allowing all of us to share in this amazing time in Cedeno.

Our Very Own Water Girl

Maida wears many hats for her teams.  The first day she saw the need to provide everyone with their first drink of water of the day.  Everyone got busy working hard to get ready and no one had a water break.  Thank you Maida for having such a willing heart for God first and for others as well.  We are blessed to have Maida working beside us here in Honduras.  The teams come to love her quickly as she is ready and willing to help wherever needed and does a phenomenal job translating which is her main job duty for the team as well as making sure them and their items are secure at all times.  Thank YOU GOD for Maida and for YOUR provision of the LIVING WATER.

Lessons in Block Laying

Pastor Nick and Cheryl came four years ago.  The rest of the team was first timers.  So gathered the team around one corner and showed them how to lay the blocks Honduran style.  The team caught on very quickly and found their corner and paired up with either a team member or a new Honduran brother.  They got a late start and continued all day to yes again another opportunity.  The 120 channel block had not arrived yet.  So they worked up until they ran out of their block and saved course five for the next day.  As they were going down the road to Pavana they saw the  Promaco Hardware truck with the 120 channel blocks going to their job site.  God I suppose decided they had done enough firsts for one day.  The team decided they completed what God had sent them to do. 

Stacy got the opportunity to work beside Pastor Jose for the first part of the day.  So he was learning from another skilled block man.  Mike helped them along the way to make they were doing the job in a correct fashion.  The blocks have to go a certain way which I to this day probably could not lay it correctly, they have to be a thumbs length a part, the top have to touch the measuring line just exactly right, along with many others items about laying a block I am not remembering.  There is such preciseness put into building a home for a family through this ministry.  We want to build each home as if it were our very own home.  This team did just that.  They took such pride in doing their jobs precise and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

We Had a Vistor

This week we had an unwelcomed visitor.  Pink eye was rampant in Cedeno.  But the more we observed it was rampant in all of Choluteca.  Our sweet Eloise had it and some of her family members.  Tino our driver in turn got it as well.  All the children we came in contact with had it which made it hard for all of us not to love on these beautiful children.  After getting the team set and off to doing their project Mike and I went into Choluteca to get the eye drops needed for Tino, the family and later for one of our own staff members.  It takes about two to three days for it to be gone.  But this is the worse we have ever seen it.  Two days later Mike and went into town for several necessary visits to different locations.  Four out of five locations we saw someone with pink eye.  Please pray the people here can get the eye drops who need it and not spread to others in the process.  We have been ever so cautious with ourselves and teaching our staff how to  protect themselves from the one who brought it to the campus. 

Our Two Jefes

These two gentlemen Pastor Carlos and Mike worked so well together and enjoy their time together on and off the job sites.  The first morning we were going through Monjares to get to Cedeno.  We were directly behind the Kia when we witnessed Pastor Carlos hitting a chicken who was trying to cross the road.  Well obviously it did not get to the other side.  But Mike witnessed the owner of the chicken throwing up her hands at Pastor Carlos.  Pastor Carlos did not know he had hit the chicken until Paul who was the North American riding with Pastor Carlos shared," I think you just hit a chicken.  So we get to the job site and Mike could not wait to tell Pastor Carlos he hit a chicken because five years ago Mike hit a pig and killed it as well.  So I believe our two friends are now even.  Their laughter together and good times is quiet contagious by all around.  They enjoy serving their Lord together each and every week with different folks who come to work along side of them.  Pastor Nick, Stacy and Paul shared how patient Pastor Carlos is with their skills as Honduran block men.  How he presents himself with patience and compassion as he gingerly corrects their errors or just helps them along the way.  We are also blessed to have Pastor Carlos as part of our staff to take good care of all of us with all his heart and soul.  He loves the Lord first and in turn loves us too.

Relaxing at Mt. Horeb

Thank you God for a little bit of down time here on Mt. Horeb.  The team played some corn hole and enjoyed the view off of the front porch of the multi purpose building.  Corn Hole has become a fun time by a lot of the teams.  So are more competitive than others.  But all and all Corn Hole is loved by all who come to serve with us in Honduras.  Thankful to God for all His many provisions on Mt. Horeb.

Each day the team arrived for a relaxing time on the porch of Pulperia de Mt. Horeb.  They all bought a coke.  Some got out of their comfort zone and tried a nice cold Fresca.  We enjoyed numerous afternoons of sharing and laughter about the day.  This team enjoyed their afternoons learning to chill and be a true Honduran.  Sometimes we do not take the time to just be still.  These folks enjoyed this time each day as we did sharing with them.

Everyone Working Hard

Mike and I arrived on day three with a lot of work going on.  Misty who has not ever laid a block or placed mortar on anything was up on the scaffolding with Paul working with all her might.  Cheryl was passing up the block as needed.  Manuel worked so hard for this family to find out he does not have a home so to speak.  But he gave his all to this family along side his friends, Paul and Pastor Nick.  What a blessing to see a small number of folks come down and do the work of so many more.  They all did what it took to get this house into a beautiful home for Eloise and her family.  Misty and Cheryl sifted sand all week long.  Not just a couple of days but every single day.  They even sifted the sand for the floor.  Each team member knew they had to work hard for this famiy but they also shared Freddy worked twice as hard as they did.  Freddy was Eloise's son in law and he dedicated his whole being to help his mother in law get her home.  There was a story about left over concrete and Freddy took it to put a slab in the old house for he and his wife Sara, Eloise's daughter.  They make every bit of material last. Freddy took the team over to show them his new bedroom which was literally the concrete slab in the old house.  Freddy was so proud God provided him a place for Sara and him to sleep at night.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Rudy Shares

God blessed Mike and I with about even or eight roosters from all our incubating.  One day I asked the staff did they each want a rooster to take home to their families.  Everyone said yes but Rudy.  Rudy gave his rooster to the team to have for supper one night.  There is a special story behind the chicken soup.  Pastor Nick came five years ago to another community where on the last day they cooked up all their chickens to serve to Pastor Nick and his team for their gratitude for building their home.  So once again Pastor Nick and his team got blessed with another pot of chicken soup. Thank you Rudy for sharing with us and we are forever blessed because of your generosity. 

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

Mark 12:44

Quero Mos

We knew there was going to be fish served on this day and we thought we were all eating at the church except the Hondurans who were going to eat at the house.  This batch of fish and chips were for the Hondurans only as I was enjoying myself to some of those delicious banana chips.   I thought this was all our lunch cooking together.  Well I was badly mistaken. Eloise's family prepared this particular meal while down the road their was another batch of fish being prepared for the North Americans.

We arrived down the street to the Pulperia de Martha to a fish, shrimp, banana chips and chismo plate.  Pastor Nick and Mike had to do a quick taste test to make sure it was good.  The ladies enjoyed these two young men coming into their kitchen doing some taste testing.  What a precious gift from God.  This meal was not provided by Eloise but by Martha.  This day was Martha's birthday and she always cooks fish for her church family on her birthday.  Yes you read this correctly.  Martha spends her birthday cooking fish for her church family each year.  But today she decided to share her birthday with the North Americans.  What a huge sacrifice made by this lady.

As the meal was being served the team was getting excited about their delicious fish and shrimp plate.  A gentleman came through with Martha's birthday cake which we found out later was her husband.  But the entertainment gets better as we shared with the North Americans the proper thank you in Spanish is "Quero Mos" which means I want more.  So they practiced this phrase several times while we gathered the ladies out to say thank you in Spanish.  Everyone even our North American family got a huge laugh out of this one.  Thank you family for having such a great attitude.  Paul said Mrs. Ginger I never thought you would do this to us, Mike yes but not you too.  Sorry Paul this was just too easy not to do.

Well as the ladies stood there we decided to sing "Happy Birthday" to Martha.  One of the team members shared how impressive it was she was singing with them.  We got blessed with some of her birthday cake as well.  Martha shared her birthday cake and her entire day with us.  What a humbling experience we all had at the Pulperia de Martha.  We can learn so much from our brothers and sisters of Honduras.  They give all they have to complete strangers with joy in their hearts.

Women's Conference

We left two hours prior to the beginning of the Women's Conference.  But still could not get there on time.  There was a major grid lock on the road and we were sitting right in the middle of it.  Someone thought it was our turn to go so we all took off and it was not our turn to go yet.  So there Mike and I sat sandwiched between multiple vechiles.  After about forty five minutes later the maze got untangled and off we went.  Mike went at record speed to get me to the Women's Conference.  We were about fifteen minutes late arriving but got there in time to enjoy the rest of the conference.

Misty led the conference by sharing her story and her relationship with Jesus Christ. The bible is full of many diffent stories written by different people.  The common theme of the Bible is God is faithful and God loves us.  Out of Judges 21:2-4 was the key verse for Misty's Women's Conference.    She led into an activinty where she asked the ladies to draw a picture of an animal which describes them.  So the ladies got busy coloring and drawing different animals with giggling and a little bit of confusion. But after it was all said and done they did a great job.  The ladies did a great job and had a ball doing this activity.

They were asked by Misty to share why they drew the animal they did and how they related to the animal.  Some of their answers were this was the only animal I could draw.  The animal is beautiful.  There was a couple of ladies who understood what they were suppose to do and they shared how the mother hen watches over her babies just like I watch over my babies.  They all had fun sharing their different stories of their animals with each other.  This was a great way of connecting with one another on a causal basis.  These ladies worked so hard daily and today they could laugh and fellowship without any interruptions.  What a blessing a simple coloring page could do.

Some of the ladies had to bring their children to the Women's Conference.  But you did not know they were there.  They received coloring sheets as well.  They sat quietly coloring and giggling among themselves.  Misty got up to share her animal of choice.  She choice a donkey.  She shared like the donkey who carried Jesus to the cross to bear our sins I want to live my life like the donkey who served Jesus on his last day here on earth.  Misty with tears in her eyes shared this with quiet a bit more eloquence than I just did.  She shared it from the bottom of her heart what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  He died a brutal death for you and me she shared and the least I can do is share Jesus with others for all He did for me.  He sacrificed for me so I need to sacrifice my life for Him.

At this time Misty gave each lady a gift which was a plastic cup full of much needed items to survive in this world.  First item was a string representing the loose ends in our lives, cotton balls represents when times are rough Jesus softens the blow, hair ties represent when we need to be flexible, clothes pin represents Jesus is there for us in a pinch, flavor packets represents how we are all different and

the bracelet represents God's love for us.  Thank you Misty for all you did for these lovely ladies on their very special day. 

Nightly Devotions

Each evening Pastor Nick led the team in a devotional relating to their day.  I think one of the best ones was the day we had the fish plates.  Jesus talking to Peter and Andrew to be fisher of men.  They walked away from their jobs, their families to immediately follow Jesus.  Peter left a comfortable life, a great job and sacrificed everything.  He was hung upside down from a cross.  Andrew did the same thing.  The Hondurans got up that morning to cast their nets to catch the fish and shrimp we were to have for lunch that day.  They sacrificed from their own families to provide a meal for our team.  This week we are casting our nets as well along side of Manuel and Freddy and many more.  Some my know Jesus some may not know Jesus.  The one who are believers throw them back and keep casting your nets for the ones who do not know Jesus.  We need to cast our nets wide and deep to reach all the lost ones so they will know who Jesus is.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

Matthew 4:18

Gathering Together

We gathered one more time with this sweet family to celebrate the completion of their new home.  Each day the team gathered around the front of the home to pray up their day.  On the this day little Yensi grabbed Pastor Nick's hand for the first time I believe all week.  What a God moment.  She knew this was the last time she would be able to hold his hand so she grabbed right to him and stood and prayed as the team prayed.  We can learn from our little ones so often. 

As we closed in prayer Eloise stood back and looked at her home with joy.  She checked out the concrete floor where she will set up housekeeping.  She saw two windows and two doors where at night she can close the door and lock it to feel more secure.  She observed the ladies cleaning those doors to perfection as the roof started going up.  She was in awe of what had happened on her property in the last four and half days. 

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:16

VBS

The team did VBS for three days at Cedeno.  The first day Paul and Misty did the story of Peter walking on the water.  Paul shared like Peter when we take our focus off of Jesus we loose our perspective of HIM.  He shared with the children always stayed focus on Jesus so He can always catch us when we fall to the way side.  The second day Cheryl and Stacey did the story of Noah's Ark,  The third day Pastor Nick did the story of Zacchaeus and led into the plan of salvation with the children as the closing story.  Each day Meida led the children in numerous songs about Jesus as they slowly entered the church from different directions in the community. Overall there was about sixty children who came to VBS.  After the singing the stories were told by the team members.  They were told and not read.  Before coming this group studied their stories to the point of memorizing them so they could share the story without reading it.  This was most impressive as you could tell the time and effort they all put into their VBS for these children.  After the story they colored a picture relating to the bible story.  Once all this was done they went outside to play with Frisbees and jump ropes.  This was a very special yet simple time for these children.  The more simpler the VBS the better it is for these children.  They appreciate all that is done for them but they do better when it is simple.  Thank you North Catawba Baptist Church for loving these sweet ones so perfectly.