Joel Prepares The Way

Our friend, Joel comes down yearly and spends around 25 plus days with us.  He comes down with Frist Baptist Church of Raleigh and stays until the next team arrives which is made up of many different churches.  Joel got the privilege the first week there  to a pot of lizard soup.  Fernando went up into the mountains and came back with just enough for lunch one day.  Mike truly enjoyed working with Joel daily as they made a honey do list for all the different items which needed their attention.

They got up each morning had breakfast with the staff at eight while already putting in an hour of labor.  Joel ate breakfast and lunch with the Honduran staff daily.  He spent quality time with His Lord during his stay.  He teaches an older gentlemen bible study and he was preparing for this which I think he said starts up in March or early April.  Amazing the discipline Joel has set for himself with the guidance of his Heavenly Father.  He paced each day out and did accordingly what God called him to do, rather be assist Mike or help Pastor Carlos worked on the prep work for the Honduran dorm floors.  Joel was steadily a busy  servant while he was here.

 

Joel and Mike Visit Chicken Lot

Joel and Mike made their way after lunch to see how many eggs were laying in the nest.  We have been blessed to have gotten as many as thirty a day.  A year ago we were bringing in about seven.  God is good now we have enough to feed a team of 12 easily right from the backyard.  Mike and Joel worked on making two bridges for the ministry campus so when it rains we can get to the multi purpose building from the cottages and from our home.  They worked on this project a couple or three days.  Pastor Carlos got in on the bigger bridge leading from our home to the multi purpose building.  Martha came back from Tegus for the next team is was very happy to see this project come to completion.  Martha and I both did a balancing out every time we went from one location to the other.  We appreciate our new bridge Mike and Joel.

Pancake Breakfast and Worship Service

I suppose we could say this would be like a Baptist Men's Day breakfast proceeded by an amazing worship service.  Mike and Joel went up the police check point where we have build a relationship with and fixed a pancake breakfast for the entire squad.  Pastor Pedro who leads the weekly worship service arrived with his church family who comes along with him weekly to share the gospel with the police check point.  The Chief asked a while back could Mike provide a devotional time for the police stationed at this location.  We thought of Pastor Pedro immediately.  Pastor Pedro has taken devotional time to a different level.  They start each service with singing of hymns and bibles were provided for most of the police so they could follow along during the worship hour.  Pastor Pedro shared how we are only God's child through receiving His Son Jesus Christ.  Do you know for sure where you are going to when you die?  He referenced out of Revelation and 2 Peter about we do not know what tomorrow may bring.  Are you ready to die today?  He asked them how old to you think you will live to be?  There was several different answers, but one lady gave the correct answer "I do not know, only God knows how long I will live."  She is so correct.  Only God knows our journey on this earth, this earth is not our home, our home is in eternity with our Father one day when He chooses to take us home.  As Pastor Pedro shared are you ready? Do you know where you are going when you die?  Tomorrow may be too late.

Fellowship and Food

This week was a little different where these guys worked on Mt. Horeb.  They stayed here without leaving the campus for three days straight.  They started their day at 6 a.m. Pastor Carlos shared it is not quiet as hot at this hour.  So at 8 a.m. they broke for breakfast.  The North Americans practiced the way of life as a Honduran worker would do daily.  The Hondurans get up go to work at daybreak and break for breakfast at 8 a.m.  Each morning they were served a Honduran breakfast.  I had the privilege about every morning and evening to dine with these handsome young men.  I was blessed.  They sat on the front porch of the mulita purpose building long enough to let their breakfast settle down and they went back at the job ahead of them.  Their goal was to get the entire roof up in five days.  Let's see how this week unfolds.

The second night of devotions a new time friend to Honduras, Eric, shared the story of Jabez.  He did an analogy of  Mt. Horeb to this prayer.  Let us do more for you God.  Your will be done not letting pride guide our direction.  God has provided all Mt. Horeb has needed.  It is not anything Mike and Ginger have done only our Lord and Savior. We all need to act according to God's will for our lives.  If Mike and Ginger had not responded for God's will for their lives here in Honduras we all would not be here serving beside them this week. It is a privilege to be here to serve along side of the Hondurans daily and follow their lead as we serve our Lord. 

Joel Has Company

Joel's sabbatical was slowly coming to an end. The next team came in ten days later ready to work on the roof of the Honduran dorm.  Joel was ready to join them as well was Mike.  We had been waiting patiently in God's timing on this project to continue forward.  God's timing is always perfectly on time.  Thank you God for this team who was willing to come and put their time and efforts into the roof.  Team leader Derek shared the first evening of devotions out of Romans 12:1 "Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. this is your true and proper worship."  Derek shared this is a verse Mike sometimes shares on the last night and he also ready Philippians 2:1as we have come here to help further the kingdom here with the Hondurans and encourage each other along this journey this week.  Derek shared how this week will make God's joy complete by seeing four churches and two different states come together to be one unified as a family in Christ Jesus, to serve our God.  Look forward to seeing the Spirit of humility and serving others and putting others before ourselves unfold during this week. Christ example this week is to humble ourselves before our Father and serve others.

There was several God moments this evening.  As the team arrives each year on Mike and my anniversary we always have a small celebration with the team.  We got blessed this with Pastor Benjamin who came and worked with us for two days.  Pastor Benjamin pulls out the campus guitar as he, Martha, Pastor Carlos and Manuel sang hymns of praise to Mike and I.  This was a humbling moment and one of the most precious anniversaries' I have ever experienced.  I bought a cake for the occasion as well.  God is good in all things.  Thank you God for a special 37 years of marriage and could not have picked a better to place to be than serving you with these guys in Honduras.

What A Day

Each day the group stopped at three for the day. They purchased a cold soda and bag of chips from the Mt. Horeb pulperia.  We all gathered on the front porch of the North American porch sharing about the day and looking out over each day the progression on the roof.  There were very hot days on that roof but they all pushed and pushed really hard daily which God had called them here to do.

We started devotions around five thirty and went into God moments before heading to breakfast.  Six o'clock comes early each morning.  After dinner these gentlemen were ready for bed to prepare their bodies for the next day.

Joel did the third night devotion out of John 1:43-51, "Come and See" was the title of his devotion. You are here at Mt. Horeb because someone told you about Mt. Horeb, someone took the time to share it with you.  Joel shared we serve a God who take away excuses.  Rich man could not come because he would of had to sell everything he had and he could not bring himself to do this..  Also the greatest joy we can find is when Jesus says "Come and see" and we do just that.  We are also to say "Come and See" so others can learn more about Jesus complete joy here at Mt. Horeb or wherever God has called you to go.  "Come and See"

There was some amazing God moments on Mt. Horeb each day.  Interestingly they did not have to leave Mt. Horeb to see God's hand at work.  Scott shared how the gentleman with the dump truck stalled out and he simply smiled and kept right on going until he got it started up again.  Scott shared how this would have really frustrated him because this would have slowed down his day, his progress. Scott shared how he needed to be more like the man with the stalled dump truck. Eric was up on the rafters welding a better part of his week.  I thought he was up there all by himself.  Well God provided him some friends as he worked ever so gingerly around a dove nest.  The mother dove hovered all around her nest protecting her three babies as Eric  was welding away. Joel shared how Pastor Benjamin came back up the hill to say good bye to him because Joel was not with everyone else when the good byes were taking place.  Joel shared how he took the time to find me and say good bye.  Would we do this as North Americans.  Would we take the time?

Another beautiful attribute of our brothers and sisters here in Honduras.  They always put others first in all situations.  Their hospitality is something we could all learn how to use and share with others.

All Work Together

Each day the team would take the materials down the hill to the bodega.  I sat on the multi purpose porch one day before lunch as they all at different time headed down the hill all carrying some type of tool.  This was definitely a team of unity this week.  Please remember they all did not know each other and yet God put them together this week to make an amazing team of servant hearts.  Derek shared two different continents, two different states and four or five different churches working together for the Kingdom Work. God hand picks his servants and Mike and I are grateful to God each one of these gentlemen said yes to come work all week on the campus and not go anywhere but to church on Sunday.  They were most content simply being on Mt. Horeb.  Mike and I truly enjoyed their company and the hard work each of them put into the Honduran dorm.

Bob shared in his devotion one evening with the follow up of Derek's devotion Romans 12:2, "Renewal of our minds".  We can sometimes departmentalize our daily lives, church stuff, personal stuff etc.  We need to include Jesus in all we do and do what we do in the name of Jesus. If we are at work we should be sharing Jesus.  We can share Jesus really easy in Honduras but we need to take what we learn in Honduras and share it with the folks back home. We come out of our comfort zone in Honduras and share freely.  We need to go and share freely there as well.  We need to share our faith with others.  It could be a matter of heaven and hell for their eternal destination.

Rest and Relaxation

Hot hot days here in Honduras.  We have so many folks ask is it hot year round?  Yes it is hot and it is really hot hot hot!!!!  These guys by lunch time could vouch of how hot it was. The roof top got hotter as the day went further on.  This is why they started at six because by noon it was scorching out.  The front porch of the multi purpose building surrounding with those comfortable chairs and rockers was a welcoming sight each and every day.  

Also after supper several nights the guys got a round of corn hole going.  Rudy and Fernando played with Scott Derek and Eric.  Joel and Bob got out there a few times.  Everyone played for fun sort of but it was definitely all for fun.  Derek, team leader made the corn hole games for us a few years back and everyone always enjoys watching a good game of corn hole as the sun sets before them over the mountains.  We are so blessed in so many different ways at Mt. Horeb.  This team this week is a team who comes more than once a year.  We are grateful for all teams who love to come here and serve beside us and play a little corn hole as well.  We are blessed, thank you God.

This team had some special meals this week while working on Mt. Horeb.  Fernando killed five lizards for soup one evening.  Honduran spaghetti revisited Mt. Horeb.  We killed two roosters this week and made chicken soup.  They ate eggs from the chicken coops from Mt. Horeb.  We could say we are almost living on the land. We are closer than we were two years ago.  They have fresh tortillas daily with every meal.  There was fresh squeezed lemonade and Jamaica tea with every meal.  I do not believe any of us went hungry this week.  At the end of the day everyone seems satisfied and content with their day.  Are you satisfied today?  Are you content with your life?  God does not give us more or less than what we need.  As we gathered to break bread daily God's provision was upon us.  As we gathered around the porch whether it be for corn hole or to simply chill and watch the sunset we were content.  I pray you are content with life today in the name of Jesus.  Jesus is all we need daily.  Anything else is a gift from HIM.

Take today and thank God first for it because it is a gift.  I pray today you are content with your life in the name of Jesus.  If not please find content in His sunrises, His sunsets, His stars, His moon, His oceans, His mountains, His trees and flowers, find contentment in the name of Jesus, Where you find contentment you find His peace and joy.

Scott shared in devotions one evening how he saw this vision as he entered the campus with the huge prayer rock where others can find hope here.  The Hondurans can find hope in their Lord when coming here.  Scott said he saw hope as he entered Mt. Horeb and how blessed he was to be here to work on the campus this week. The prayer rock took  Scott to the verse below in Ezekiel.

Afternoon Task

The afternoon time took most of the team inside putting down the bathroom floors and plumbing.

Pastor Carlos chose this for his team so they would not be in the heat all day long.  Some of them outside sifting the sand to go into the cement mixer while others were hauling the mescal for the floor into the dorm by wheel barrows.  Everyone worked just as hard in the afternoon as they did in the morning.  Some comments were this is harder than the roof.  Nevertheless they all worked as a team designed by God to get it done. They finished all God had called them to finish this week.  They got the roof finished and almost completed four bathroom floors.  I say job well done good and faithful servants.

The Honduran Dorm

As I look at these pictures I see Mike and my dream coming a reality.  This facility will house over 80 people at a time.  This will be a place for the local churches to come and have conferences, retreats and worship time together.  There is not a such facility in this area for the local churches.  One of our staff members went home to church for the week end and was sharing with the youth of the church how closer it is getting to being completed.  Pastor Benjamin is going to bring his youth group out for a few days and help work on the completion of this building. Other churches are ready to come and worship here and are eagerly awaiting the completion of it.  So get excited with us as God continues to do mighty works on Mt. Horeb to provide the Hondurans a place to come and worship our God.  Thank you all who have helped along the way for making our dream become a reality.  All God's children shouted "Amen"!

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Dios is Bueno todo es tiempo y todo es tiempo Dios is Bueno.

Worship Service

It was a different day of worship than the normal Sundays here.  We worshiped with a local church and did not participate in the service at all.  We got to experience worship as if North Americans were not there.  It was quiet special to say the least.  Mike and I translated as needed as Pastor Carlos led the service.  Also Bob and Derek got to worship with the family they built the home for back in August of 2017.  The baby was six months old as she was born the two days before the home dedication.  Derek got one of his favorite Francisca treats as well and shared with his team.  This is one of those moments which is hard to describe unless you truly experienced it.  We did not need to know the language to worship that day.  The Holy Spirit was in this place as sang hymns of praise and heard God's Word from a godly gentlemen named Pastor Carlos.

He asked the same questions where are you going when you die Heaven or Hell?  We are not promised tomorrow so today is your opportunity.  Heaven or Hell?

We need to hear more sermons about where I final destination is going to be and we as Christians need to be sharing it with a lost and dying world.  Jesus is coming again and really soon. Are you ready to see Him face to face? Are you bold in your faith?  Are you willing to loose a friendship to share the gospel?  Don't let a day go by  and not tell someone who your Lord and Savior is.  If you do not know this amazing man called Jesus today could be your only day because we are not promised tomorrow.  

Dedication Of Completed Task

We committed daily to stop at three and that is what we did.  We gathered inside of the dorm to share words of gratitude to the completed task.  Mike spoke first and thank everyone sitting in front of him for all their hard work.  He referred to Deuteronomy 4:10-11. This was the scripture reference used to pick the name Mt. Horeb.  Pastor Carlos  and another pastor three years ago chose the name Mt. Horeb for the ministry campus.  Mike quoted the verse and then turned it over to team leader Derek.  Derek shared how honored and humbled it was to be here this week working along such an amazing group of men, Honduran and North Americans.  How amazingly it was to see all of us who barely knew each other complete such a task.  This was all God ordained for each of this week.  Thank you so much for this opportunity.  Pastor Carlos had the final words as he gave God all the praise and honor as he shared how grateful he was for this facility as the blocks were becoming a building where different church families would be able to come and worship.  As he ended his words we all gathered around one of the walls of the building and Pastor Carlos said a prayer of dedication over the project this team completed.  

Mike and Scott

Twenty eight years ago Mike had the opportunity and privilege to teach Scott five year old Sunday School.  We did not know then that this week they would be putting a roof on a Honduran dorm in Honduras.  Scott and his family have been a part of our lives for twenty eight plus years.  We watched Scott grow up and this week we watched a godly young man serving His Lord.  We watched him do a devotional for the first time.  We observed a young man with integrity and compassion for others every day he was here.  His work ethic goes without speaking.  He has always had great work ethics since we can remember.  But this week we saw something brand new a young man who can quote words with such depth and meaning anyone would stop and listen. Several times he quoted something his father shared and with such compassion as he shared from the depth of his being. Scott, Mike and I are proud of the godly young man you are becoming and we pray God continues to do great works in your life as you continue to serve Him and live out your life daily for Him.  

Welcome First Baptist Church Raleigh

This group of gentlemen for many years have come to Honduras.  In the last couple of years they have added a young lady named Suzanne to their team and Dennis brought his granddaughter, Alexia, this year.  This team gathered the first night around the porch of the North American dorm where team leader Steve challenged them all this week to get out of their comfort zone because they have a challenge this year like none other before.  This team went up into Tapitoca, into the mountains where the terrain was not great and the roads sometimes were not roads.  But this was not their challenge, their challenge was they were going where there was not a church.  Where the home owner was the only Christian.  He challenged them to be a witness for Jesus Christ just like in the early church, the first church.  There were eleven men and then at the end of the day 5,000 came to Christ.  There was new believers daily in the first church. Steve shared they had the chance to bring the early church up into Tapitoca this week.

After Steve shared out of Acts 2:42 a new team member Beau led them into two beautiful hymns, Amazing Grace and Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord.  Beau brought fifteen plus hymns where after God moments and devotional nightly the team was led by the accompaniment of Beau and his guitar as they praised the Lord in song. Each evening the team met on the porch for God moments and devotions along with Beau leading the music.  Beau went to a lot of work preparing the music for this week and it was very evident each evening as he prepared us to praise and worship our Lord in song.

Early Mornings

Tom a returner on the team got up each morning for those who wanted eggs and sausage and prepared each team members breakfast.  Tommy and Ron helped him as well.  Ron was always the first one up to the multi- purpose building to make sure the coffee was made before going out to make the Gatorade and water coolers for the day.  Joel also assisted Ron in the making of the Gatorade and water coolers.  Steve and Suzanne enjoyed the morning on the front porch enjoying their coffee and fellowship together.  Several of the team members gathered each morning on the porch to watch their day unfold into a journey for their Lord. As Steve shared the first night they were bringing the first church to Tapitoca and before they worshiped always broke bread together as one.

Two Friends Come to Serve

Each morning Joel and his friend Beau met Mike at the bodega to load the vechicle with the necessary tools for the day.  Mike shared with Beau, a new comer to go and help Joel bring out the tool box.  Mike shared it is not too heavy.  NOT,  I told Beau to be aware of Mike and his shenanigans, especially since he was a new team member.  Beau learned very quickly Mike was an okay guy just enjoys life.  So each day these three gentlemen load the truck for the day ahead.  They shared in fellowship and worship right there at the bodega daily.  It was a joy to stand there and listen to their fruitful conversations.  Like team leader Steve said one evening at supper, worship is us wherever we are.  It is not a building but we are the church who need to worship our Lord daily to others as well as for ourselves.  

Thank you Joel for bringing your friend Beau who is now our friend as well.  It was a blessing to serve beside each of gentlemen this week at Mt. Horeb and Tapitoca.  God is so good all the time and all the time God is so good.  You two gentlemen make a good team together while serving here in Honduras.  We love new faces to come on board to help us remember to see everything through the eyes of a new person.  

 

Off We Go

Each morning we circled up at 7:00 am to pray for what God had prepared for us that day.  The team did not get to use the bus this week because of the conditions of the road.  Team leader, Steve, provided pillows for cushions on the very back sits of the Land Cruzer for his team members who so graciously chose to ride back there each day.  The other vehicles was of course the Kia.  Off they went up into the mountains of Honduras to Tapitoca, their little piece of Heaven on earth this week.  They never once complained of their rough journey but came back to Mt. Horeb daily with very dirty smiles upon their faces.  There was a couple of spots where there was not even a road, all boulders laying embedded perfectly so we all could bump right on through each of them.  It took the team around forty minutes each day to get to their project and to return back to Mt. Horeb.  But not once did anyone complain.  To God be the glory of this teams flexibility to provide a very sweet and precious family a home.

Joel shared in his devotion the first evening how Peter preached in the temple court and 5,000 were saved.  They were on their way to serve God when the lame beggar stopped them asking for help.  On this day Peter and John's main objective in serving the Lord was to stop and help the lame beggar.  Joel challenged his team members not to miss out on why you are in Honduras this week.  If it is to build a house then build the house, but if God takes you in another direction please be sure you are obedient to his still quiet voice.  

We Meet Our New Friends

The team arrived their first day to their project with humble Amailia awaiting them.  She greeted them with a huge smile and a grateful heart.  She gathered her children so they could meet the North Americans as well. j She introduced Damian, her oldest son, age 20, Carmen her daughter age 17 who works seven days a week cleaning and taking care of a family in Choluteca and her youngest son Lanezo, age 12.  Amailia had fallen the day before from getting dizzy.  Meida shared with me her blood pressure shot up which I assume came from the excitement of getting her new home this week.  She stood there in the circle with tears running down her cheek as Steve, team leader, thanked her for allowing them to come along side her family and provide them with a home. We opened up in prayer as Pastor Carlos prayed the most amazing prayer.  Praise God for this team and this week for sweet Amailia and her children.  Amailia lost her husband a few years back. I am pretty sure today he would be grateful as well his family has a secure home to live in with a lock and key to keep them safe at night and keep them try because of a secure roof attached to their new home.  God is good folks to provide this family a home. Amailia prayed for a home and God provided in His timing.

Lets Do This

This project is like no other project this team had ever done.  It was different in so many different dynamics.  There was not a front yard or a yard at all to the home.  They only had to put up three walls.  They had to build up the floor to prepare to lay the concrete. They had to keep blocks, cutting of the blocks and the gathering of water from the stream was all across the street under some huge and gorgeous mango trees.  Ms. Banca neighbor of Amailia allowed the team to set up shop in her nicely groomed front yard.  Really folks, would you open up your nicely groomed front yard for a bunch of strangers to come in and take over for five days.  The block cutting alone brought so much dust which went inside her home daily.  Ms. Banca smiled daily and was blessed to allow us to help her neighbor get a home. 

Everyone pitched in to do what needed to get done to get this project completed in five days.  Keith got right in there and stating digging out the rocks to prepare for more sand to be brought in to bring the floor up to where it need to be.  Blocks were carried across the street to go up a steep incline to the person up at the top to receive.  Each block had to be treated this way.  At one point they developed an assembly line of passing the blocks up to the foundation.

Team leader, Steve, shared, one evening when Mike told him they were building a home and they only needed to put up three walls, how we are going to knock this out very quickly. Steve humbly shared how God had different plans for them this week. They were all out of their comfort zone on constructing this home this week.  They had to do so many things differently and they all paid close attention to Pastor Carlos's words each morning on what their day would look like in lines of the construction of this home.  There was many challenges but God led them through with perseverance  and endurance until three o'clock on their last day.  They worked everyday from eight until four thirty or more.  They came in each day unfolding out of the Land Cruzer with a smile on their face and ready for a nice cold soda from the pulperia.  We enjoyed our time on the porch sharing about how each day there was many different challenges which they all succeeded to complete with grace.  

JB's Cross

Each year John comes to Honduras to serve His Lord he wanders off.  The first day of this project I stood back and watch John start his journey.  He adventured out around the area of the project looking for just the right pieces of stick.  They had to be just right for he was producing a cross to put somewhere on Amailia's property.  He worked on this for a good thirty minutes until he was satisfied with his findings.  At this time he produces the cross and places ever so gently into the ground for the family to enjoy.  Mike and I were blessed to have this team build our home on Mt. Horeb and John did the same for us.  So I know Amailia was very pleased with this most precious gift. Actually one evening we sat the most appropriate song, "The Wonderful Cross" which God orchestrated through Beau before the team even arrived.  Beau not knowing John always provides the family with a wooden cross made out of the finest of wood around Amailia's home and property.