In August of 2020 Mike and I started a new journey with Monte de Horeb Ministries Inc. During this transitions we had to reach out to our donors about the change. I had contacted everyone but this one person who I had no personal information on. But I remembered a few years ago getting a Christmas card from this lovely lady named Barbara Krauss. God knew our paths were going to cross one day because I saved the envelope with her physical address on it. So I googled her information and found a phone number I was praying belong to Mrs. Barbara. Praise God it did. So on that beautiful August afternoon I called this number and Mrs. Barbara answered her phone. I shared who I was and I knew her grandson, James who came to Honduras back in 2016 with Campbell Medical School. She knew exactly who I was. We hit it off immediately. I shared with her how much I appreciated her continuous donations throughout the years since James came to Honduras. If I am correct James went home that here to visit his family in Geneva, New York and shared about his experience on the medical team to Honduras. Well now that I know Mrs. Barbara I understand totally why she started giving to the ministry in Honduras. She is a very giving lady and gives endlessly. So this is what started a blessed relationship with this eighty one year old ball of energy. She has a true heart for missions. This first phone call came one of many and numerous emails. As well as a giving heart she is a faithful prayer warrior. So as the months passed we came to the end of October where Mrs. Barbara shared with me during her quiet time God laid on her heart she needed to take all her energy and build a family a home in Honduras. Mrs. Barbara has a very special gift and that is of hospitality. She is involved in her church, Faith Community Church, helping prepare meals for every occasion they have and cooks for other in her community of 15,000. When God told Mrs. Barbara she needed to build a home she thought God wanted her to go to Honduras but then later realized she could raise money to send to build a family a home. A home where they will be safe and dry for the very first time. So Mrs. Barbara called to tell me this is what she was going to do. She was going to cook different dishes and share the story of how God wanted her to build a home in Honduras. By the first of November Mrs. Barbara had raised $55.00 towards a $3000.00 goal to build a home. She had made some mac and cheese casseroles and some apple butter the first go round. She did not set a price on any of her items she sold, she asked folks to give as they felt led to give for a family to receive a home. Mrs. Barbara was so excited about that $55.00 as was I totally overwhelmed by such a quick response. By November 4 she was cooking cream cheese yeast bread which she said "Smells so yummy." Also she made a quart of beef vegetable soup along with the yeast bread. As she got so excited her Honduran house had collected $87.00. She needed $100.00 to start the Honduras House savings account. Mrs. Barbara had someone come by just to visit her one day and she shared the story of the Honduran House fund and this person gave $20.00 selflessly. God is good all the time!!!!! November was a busy month for Mrs. Barbara. I was continuously hearing from her on what she was baking and cooking and selling all of it. November 13th she was baking angel food cake, two pumpkin rolls and yes more mac and cheese to sell. At this time Mrs. Barbara had $400 which she deposited into the savings account. During all this time she had several family members who donated money towards this first house. I talked one day with Mrs. Barbara and said please know the team I am wanted to donate the monies to will not be coming until next summer. You got plenty of time Mrs. Barbara. She said, "Thank you and I will try hard and do my best to have it done by then." On November 24th she lacked $89.00 having $3000.00. Obviously God had plans for Mrs. Barbara and the Honduran house and HE provided the monies she needed within a month to build a home. A friend knew how much she needed to have her $3000.00 goal. He ordered a string bean casserole uncooked and gave her $90.00. What a friend we have in Jesus and with HIS servants who have helped Mrs. Barbara meet her goal for a home in Honduras for 2021.
Well do you think Mrs. Barbara stopped with the one home I got an email the very next day and asked could she continue and build another home. I said of course. But the sweet side of this story is Mrs. Barbara's pastor asked could the church jump on board this go around and help raise the money. So on December 5th Mrs. Barbara shared how the church is wanting to get more involved with this vision God has placed on her heart which is what Faith Community Church has named it "Barb's Heart - Honduras. Pastor Ammerman shared from the pulpit what Mrs. Barbara is doing and continues to do. Pastor Kevin has asked for more information about Monte de Horeb Ministries so he can present it to the church. All because one lady was obedient to God's calling of her young life of 81 years. Mrs. Barbara sets an example for all of us we are never to young or to old to serve our Lord and Savior. We need to all reading this today to look at the gifts God has given us and use them to further the Kingdom of God. Monte de Horeb Ministries and now two different families in Honduras will be forever blessed because of Mrs. Barbara's obedience to God and then followed through with it beyond anything we thought would happen. It is always in God's timing as Mrs. Barbara would say. Mrs. Barbara shared with me a quote "You can't do everything but you can do somethings." This is a quote from our Heavenly Father as He inspired Mrs. Barbara to build a home for someone in Honduras.
