Welcome Home Team of Four Different Churches

We want to thank these two gentlemen for leading a strong and powerful team this past week.  Pastor Dudley and Darryl joined forces from their home churches, Roseboro Baptist and Lillington First Baptist along with Dana from Pleasant Memory Baptist and a first time guest Don from a Baptist church out of Fayetteville.  So this team of fourteen came equipped and prepared to serve their Lord in a mighty way.  They not only built a home but shepherd each other and the Hondurans throughout their stay at Mt. Horeb.  This was so much more than a construction team.  Just saying.

Everyone pitched in daily to provide efficient help preparing lunches, mixing the Gatorade.  We missed you Sherman, the Gatorade was not quiet the same.  They could have used your help with their recipe.  The truck was loaded daily and many pitched in during supper to clean the dishes to get  speed up the process to lead us into an evening of some amazing God moments and devotionals. There was lots of love and energy on this team.

Welcome Pastor Darwin, Marie and Vanessa

This is a day we all have prayed for together.  After four years of sharing with Pastor Darwin when you get your property let us know and we will build you and Marie a home.  At this time Vanessa was a small baby.  Pastor Dudley was blessed to be able to be on a team four years ago to build Pastor Darwin's Sunday School Classrooms.  Please let me share Pastor Darwin is twenty seven years old and was only twenty three at this time.  Pastor Darwin and Marie moved into one of the Sunday School Classrooms shortly after they were finished.  They simply did not really have any where to live to raise their family.  Also Pastor Darwin needed and wanted to be close to his church family.  One afternoon Mike and I were sitting on our front porch waiting for our sunset to appear.  Manuel walks up the driveway leading to our home.  He came to share with us Pastor Darwin has got his property and is ready to build his home.  This was one of my grandest God moments.  After four years our prayers were answered.  As we looked at our schedule for this year we knew exactly who should have this honor, Pastor Dudley.

The reunion with these two pastors was humbling and these words cannot describe the beauty of Christ our Lord during their reunion.  Tears of joy went over several folks, even those who have not been here before.  It was simply a precious gift from God to reunite two brothers in Christ who have not been together in over four years to make a pray request to our Father a reality.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Blessed with Numerous Pastors

Upon arrival we found there was several pastors on this project.  It does our hearts good to see pastors in Honduras come out and help their fellow pastor get a home.  Thank you Pastor Iinconnete for coming out and working the first day with us.  There was a total of five pastors working throughout the entire week.  Pastor Darwin is well loved by his fellow pastors as Pastor David came out for the home dedication.  Let me share with you these two men came a very long ways on motorcycles to support Pastor Darwin.  In turn throughout the week I saw this similar passion towards pastor in Pastor Dudley and Pastor Hampton.  Pastor Hampton is the pastor of Roseboro Baptist but he shared one morning during his time of devotional, Pastor Dudley was his pastor.  The love these two gentlemen have for one another is a gift from God. 

Thank you to all the pastors who have blessed this home this week.

Block Assembly and Block Provision

The team was carrying the blocks which would be used as channel blocks and special orders.  They were walking back and forth carrying two at a time.  This is an okay way to do this task but Amanda shared why don't we make an assembly line from the foundation to the location where the blocks are going to be cut.  Well a couple of men said oh we are fine doing it this way but Amanda said speaking from an older lady I cannot keep doing it this way.  So Amanda assembled her line of block passers.

Off they went counting and passing blocks down to the block cutting station where we find Darryl and David getting there station prepared.  This way actually was less stressful on these older bodies and bones.  Thank you Amanda for inventing the wheel just a little differently.  Mike told them to stack 120 blocks to be cut in the first two days.  Later in the week there would be special orders along the way.  Mike said to get the bulk out of the way in the first two days.  

Mike got Darryl and David started in how he wanted the 120 blocks cut for the week.  They all geared up with their masks and ear plugs to do the task God had called them here to do this week.

As the week progressed these two gentlemen had a huge private concern.  They realized they had cut about 15 blocks too many.  They prayed all week Lord let us have enough blocks to build this home.  So on the last evening of God moments David shared he had a confession and a praise.

Darryl said David hush up, laugh out loud.  Well anyway being the man David is he confessed they cut too many blocks after Mike came by and said this is 120 blocks right?  They said we think so.  Well they both started counting blocks to see how many channel blocks had been cut.  Mike and I had already left when they found out how many they had cut.  Oh my goodness this was so priceless when David shared all of this and thanked God at the end of his confession for His provisions for providing enough blocks to build Pastor Darwin's home.  Jeffrey shared they were already discussing if they needed to purchase more to ask the gentlemen below Pastor Darwin's property if they could buy about ten blocks from them.  Our boys had a back up plan if need be.  But God is bigger than these 800 blocks.  He provided all they needed and believe had a few left over.  Thank you David and Darryl for your confession and how blessed we all were from your story.

Welcome Richard and Mark

While we were home on Christmas break we met with our bosses Richard and Mark.  Mark asked Richard to come with him this year to see the ministry campus.  Richard and Mark were apart of these team for five days.  They went out and worked two days on the construction of the home and they attended church with the team as well.  They both shared in devotionals one night each before heading back to their jobs at North Carolina Baptist State Convention.  Thank you gentlemen for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come see why everyone is so excited about coming to Honduras.  We enjoyed our time with each of you.

Our Water Supply

Pastor Darwin's property was simply that property.  They do not have a pilla yet or bathroom. Pastor Darwin had to pay to have water brought in to help built his home.  The man arrived that morning with water to go into the three barrels.  The team immediately jumped in to help fill up the barrels with the water delivered.  Mr. Mike drowned a couple of his friends, right Andie, as he filled their five gallon buckets with water.  Of course with everyone pitching in this project was completed in record time.  These folks saw a need and immediately took care of it.  God provides our physical water in however way possible and this week there was a lot of living water  shared as well.  These people were the hands and feet of Jesus in all the tasks they undertook.  But Jesus was leading them every step of the way.  God provides us a physical water and He provides the living water if we would only receive it.  So if you are reading this today and have never heard of the Living Water I am referring to please ask someone about this precious Living Water where you will never run dry.

Pastor Darwin is Loved

Pastor Darwin had his father, Darwin Sr and his little brothers  Darwin and Gorge helping him build his home.  He had three best friends who helped everyday, Kevin, Johnny and Alexandar.  Also a quiet spirit of the church family, Martinez who worked hard all week for his pastor. Pastor Darwin definitely shepherds his flock.  But as we learned on the last day as it is back home as well, we cannot always lead our friends to Christ.  People can be our best friends and still not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  People can go to church weekly but do they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  This is a lesson we all can heed, don't take for granted someone knows Christ be bold and say "Please share with me your relationship with Jesus Christ".  If they say I go to church or I am Pastor Darwin's best friend this is not a correct answer.  Please do not let an opportunity pass you by to save a friend from going to hell one day.  Jesus Christ is our only way into Heaven not going to church but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  This week Pastor Darwin was shown the love by his family, friends and church family which assures me and the rest of this team he is sharing the love of Jesus very strongly in Pierra de Aqua, Stone of Water, the community where Pastor Darwin lives.

The Cornerstones

How appropriate it was for all the pastors working side by side setting the four cornerstones.  Pastor Carlos with the assistance of Pastor Iinconnete and Pastor Darwin worked every corner together.  Along the way came Pastor Dudley where he was needed.  There was one corner which needed a little more work but it finally got placed into the firm foundation.  Everyone else was cutting block and carrying water but the pastors were working side by side to set the cornerstones of Pastor Darwin's home.  

Andie and Her Mescal

Each year Andie comes down with one motive in mind which is mixing the mescal along with loving all the children.  On the first day she gently worked her way into picking up a shovel and started working the mescal.  The gentlemen, Martinez, Kevin, Johnny and Alexander were taken back Andie actually knew what she was doing.  She worked along side of them all week planting seeds for them to come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  No matter where we are called always use it as an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others.  You do not have to speak their language but sometimes your actions speak boldly for you.  Andie worked diligently daily coming in each evening with the best kind of tired you could ask for, tired from sharing the gospel with a shovel and a pile of mud.  What a gift from God to be a part of these gentlemen's new life in Christ.  Please continue with the blog to find out the rest of the story.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

First Block

The time had come after passing blocks through a assembly line to cutting the blocks, to hauling water and laying out the cornerstones to pray over the first block.  Meida, our translator gathered Pastor Darwin, Marie and Vanessa together around the first block.  Pastor Dudley asked everyone to surround them by touching whoever was next to them so we all are united together.  Pastor Dudley, asked team member Richard, to pray over the first block of the home.  This day finally has arrived where God's provision was made perfect in every way by bringing this team to help this family get a home they also had been praying for.  

Families Serving Together

We are so excited to introduce to you Rosemary who is our first timer here along side her husband Telfar.  Rosemary was truly meant to come on this trip with us at this time and place.  She had signed up back in June but her parents took ill and she needed to care for them.  So she backed out.  One of our long time friends Mr. Sherman could not come this year due to some health issues so on the Sunday of the Commissioning Service it was announced there was an opening who would like to go?  Rosemary said God is this the time even though they are four days out from leaving.  God said yes Rosemary now is the right time. So Rosemary with the help of her husband Telfar went to get all she needed to come to Honduras.  She spent Sunday afternoon buying and packing for her trip,  She shared this was the just the right time to come to Honduras and serve her Lord. Rosemary kept everyone hydrated and well taken care of while Telfar worked diligently laying blocks and helping wherever he was needed.  Telfar did an amazing devotional one morning before we headed out on David and his life.  He shared how David was a godly man but David also sinned against God. Telfar shared isn't that all of us.  We are sinners saved by grace.  Halleluiah.  What a blessing to be able to work beside of these two godly folks here in Honduras.  Thank you for answering God's calling to come.

Welcome back Darryl and his bride Amanda.  They have been here in the past but last year we missed our Amanda being here. But this year she came back all geared up and ready to serve her Lord along side her husband Darryl.  They both have a smile which is contagious and inviting.  Amanda has a laughter which brightens anyone's day.  Darryl and Amanda love their Honduran coffee and drink it all day.  They love the people of  Honduras and say they both take so much away each time they come back and how blessed they are to be apart of such an amazing team.  Darryl was co team leader with Pastor Dudley and Amanda organized and orchestrated the VBS all week.  They both have amazing leadership skills and grateful they use them for their Lord in such a positive way.  Glad you both were here with us once again.

Welcome home Pastor Hampton and his joyful baby girl Andie.  They have been coming for years together as an amazing Father and Daughter team.  They worked so well together and they worked apart as well.  They both have huge servant hearts and they love their Lord and Honduras so much.  Pastor Hampton did an amazing job during his devotional one morning where he shared about all the rocks around us at the job site.  How in our lives we have many rocks, stumbling rocks, sin in our lives, just like the fall at the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve.  As he looked at all the rocks on the campus and at the job site these rocks were created by God who in turn can do so much with them like fill in a foundation, make rock walls for borders and fill in holes.  So rocks can be useful.  We can all learn from the rocks, (sins) in our lives as well.  How can we take the sin in our lives and turn it around to glorify God in his grace and mercy of forgiveness. Praise God we are forgiven of all the rocks we carry around with us daily.  Start each day with a clean slate and give our day to our Lord and let him guide and direct our every move.

Andie was the child magnet this week.  She was called the Piped Piper by new team member Robin. Andie was energized physically and spiritually.  She is full of joy in overflowing abundance.  Every word she speaks any where she is speaks volumes.  She has the gift of speaking and she uses it to glorify her Lord and Savior.  Andie shared one evening during God moments how blessed she was to be sitting on the porch of the multi purpose building watching a beautiful sunset, simply being still in the presence of her Lord.  It felt good to be still and be in His Presence.  Also she will have to wait another 52 weeks to get to come back to her second and most loved home, Honduras. Thank you two for making our week special in so many ways.

Laying out the Week

The team came to build a home made up of 800 blocks, 52 bags of cement which Pastor Hampton was in awe of the strength of the young men who went down to the church to bring up the 90 pound bags of cement as they were needed.  This team worked hard laying out all the blocks but this was not the focus of this team this week.  Yes they did a phenomenal job and the home was completed but they had another agenda.  Pastor Dudley called this team "Servants" and rightly they are.  They came along the Hondurans to serve them however they were needed.  These servant hearts also brought along with them tools to lead the lost to Christ.  They were sharing the gospel with everyone.  So this was definitely an evangelism team first then a construction team.  There was wonderful construction skills on this team, no doubt, but there was some amazing gifts of sharing the gospel as well.

Worship Service

Gorge, Pastor Darwin's brother welcomed everyone to worship today.  The church filled quickly as people came from all over the community.  David's friends found him quickly and sat up in his lap.  We sang hymns for about fifteen minutes or more.  There was one song where they had to join arms and sway back and forth. Ginger was asked to read the scripture out of Matthew 28:16-20 as the scripture reading.  It was an amazing beginning to a beautiful worship service.

The group sang a special of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" with Pastor Dudley and David singing the verses as the rest of the team sang the chorus.  The team brought along three testimonies, first one being Dana, who shared out of Matthew 24, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind and then love your neighbor."  Dana shared how we as a team are here today to share the love of Jesus with each of you as we have already seen you share the love of Jesus with each of us.  We are all brothers and sisters in Christ if we believe. The message is very simple believe and be loved by our amazing Father in Heaven so we can love HIM and love others too.

Andie came up next and shared this is her third trip to Honduras and this is definitely her second home.  She shared how she was amazed by your strength physically and spiritually.  She read from Romans 15:7.  Thank the church family for accepting her team so beautifully.  Jesus Christ is the bridegroom and we are the bride.  Thank you again for showing the love of Jesus to each of us.

Pastor Dudley shared from John 13:12-17 about Jesus' last days. Let's think about Jesus leaving the earth, telling His disciples to be servants.  That is why we are here this week to be servants of God.  We should all love just as Jesus loved us.

Then we did a children's activinty which included the adults.  Pastor Hampton got paired up with an elderly lady in the church and they succeeded with their language barrier and got the activity completed together.  David also was paired up with an elderly gentleman and David handled the elderly man very gently as they did the activity together. After this activity the children were dismissed to go to their one Sunday School Classroom. There is forty plus children in this church.  So in a couple of days they will be able to have the other Sunday School Classroom back as Pastor Darwin moves in to his new home.  God is good.

New team member Don was asked to bring the message this Sunday morning.  He shared our lives as Christians  in comparison to a pencil.   The lead is the Holy Spirit, the band around the pencil is God, and the eraser is Jesus.  The pencil is only as good as the person using it. He shared how valuable we are in the eyes of God.  We are priceless to God.  We were bought at a price, Jesus, God's only Son dying on the cross for our sins. As Don talked to Pastor Darwin this week, Don shared, Pastor Darwin goes out door to door visiting the families in his community.  As Pastor Darwin we should go out and share the greatest gift of all Jesus Christ to our lost world.  After Don completed his scenario of the pencil and the Trinty the children came forward to share what they had learned in Sunday School.  They recited the bible verse of the day. After the children shared we prayed and was dismissed.

The Mystery Meat

Jeffrey, Darryl, David, Telfar, Pastor Hampton and Dana cooked our breakfast each morning.  They would rise up and go to the kitchen around 4:30 each morning. They stood around drinking their coffee, cooking bacon and something new to our breakfast menu.  Can you even guess what the mystery meat could be?  You got it, Spam and Vienna sausage.  These guys brought me a whole bunch of spam and Vienna sausage along with potted meat.  So they got very creative one morning and sat out some cooked spam and Vienna sausages.  This brought back some childhood memories for a lot of us old folks.  

Our special treat one morning when Mr. Dana cooked up his very own special recipe of banana pancakes.  They were so delicious and our very own Rudy ate three pancakes and a huge piece of cooked spam.  Rudy loved every morsel.  We want to say thank you gentlemen for all your hard work each and every morning to provide us our energy for our physical needs and after we finished breakfast we gathered for our spiritual needs.  So we were blessed with two devotionals a day from this team.

We gathered each morning on the dorm porch to hear from God's Word.  Pastor Dudley read from a book written by Billy Graham the first couple of mornings on true joy we can only find in Christ Jesus.  Telfar shared about David and his service to God.  Pastor Hampton shared about rocks and sin from the Garden of Eden.  We gathered together with a Word from God and prayed up our day in the name of Jesus.

There was not a morning devotion on Sunday morning. Pastor Dudley challenged his team to find a spot somewhere on Mt. Horeb and have some quiet time with their Heavenly Father.  They all dispursed in different directions.  One of our God moments was how father, Pastor Hampton and daughter Andie were both on the porch of the Pulperia de Mt. Horeb but on different ends.  It is so precious to see family come here together to serve and grow in the Lord.  I looked up and saw Telfar and Rosemary coming back from a spot they had picked out together for their quiet time.  Amanda shared how she saw Pastor Hampton and Andie on the porch of Pulperia de Mt. Horeb and kept walking behind the pulperia/gift shop and saw a single chair sitting there.  God had found her spot and was saving it just for her. Amanda sat down where she was literally facing the pilla and bathroom but God puts us where He wants us no matter where or what it may be.  I had completed my quiet time and went into the women's dorm checking on my friends not knowing some folks where still having their quiet time, I found Robin and Rhonda reading God's Word.  What a beautiful Sunday morning this was and we had not even left the ministry campus to go to church.  Mt. Horeb brings folks such joy, contentment and peace of mind which is why I am so blessed to be the hands and feet of Jesus at Mt. Horeb on a daily basis.  I am so blessed.  Thank you God for this blessing in my life.