Faith Community Church First Home in Tapatoca

 Monday Mike, Pastor Carlos, Yobani, Joni, O'Neal, Cristobal and myself turned right out of Monte de Horeb Ministry Campus to go up to a village called Tapatoca.  The three mile journey took us daily about thirty plus minutes.  But the ride was absolutely beautiful and somewhat relaxing once you got over how bad the roads were but how beautiful God's creation truly is all around us. We were able to check out a little of the culture along the way.  This area is famous for producing fresh milk which is what the cart with the blue barrels is delivering.  We saw this cart at this spot at the same time every day delivering milk.  The gentleman was on his way home with what we call llena which is wood they cook on their outside clay stoves daily. There were alot of "cowboys" in Tapatoca.  Tapatoca was a quant little mountain famous not only for fresh milk but a special cheese which is great with pupusas.  The big rock is on Monte de Horeb Ministry which one day we are going to produce a place of prayer for those who want to go and have some time along with our Lord.  I have truly enjoyed this mountain culture of Honduras called Tapatoca this week.  Now let's go and build a sweet family their home.

Prepping for the First Block

 

All these things have to be done to get that first block into place.  Pastor Carlos first of all gathers everyone together each day to start our day with our Heavenly Father.  He open the men up in prayer before any work was done. What a godly example Pastor Carlos exhibits for his men who respect and honor him in so many different ways. They worked hard first of all for Jesus but they also respect their earthly boss as well.  This is a good team of workers God has created for us when North Americans cannot come and serve beside us.  God's provisions through Faith Community Church is allowing five families food on their tables at least once a day maybe twice.  To God be the glory for great things He hath done.  The homeowner Miguel and his brother in law and a friend named Walter helped mixed the mescal all week along with O'Neal leading their way.  I don't believe these gentlemen had ever mixed mescal until this week.  But they definitely mixed some of the best batches of mud ever.  So while Walter was collecting buckets of water to go into the blue barrel O'Neal, Carlos Jr, brother in law of Miguel, Betsy's brother, and Miguel were working hard on the first batch of mescal of the day.  During this time Pastor Carlos was leveling the foundation for the four corners to go in and oops there was a huge problem.  The foundation was not squared.  As Pastor Carlos always says "No problem" he went about fixing the beginning of a continued problem up to the last day of the project.  But God is so good and HE can fix anything.  Hallelujah!!!!  Praise God for talented and gifted men who know how to correct a human error.  We are all sinners saved by God's grace and forgiven for our mistakes as we need to forgive each other.

Miguel Betsy and Miguel Jr

 

As all those projects began to be completed we ask Miguel to have his wife, Betsy and their son, Miguel Jr. join us to pray over the first block of their long waited home. Two years ago we talked to Betsy at another piece of property and told her we could give her a home.  But not sure what happened but six months later their base was not ready which sometimes happens.  So we moved on and God blessed another family.  At the end of 2020 Betsy reached out to Pastor Carlos and said she has a new piece of land with papers.  Her family was ready for their home to be built.  This was all in God's timing.  So we gathered the family and Honduran workers together around the first block and I called a lady from Faith Community Church named Bobbi.  I ask Mrs. Bobbi was she ready to pray over the first block.  Mrs. Bobbie with a lot of enthusiasm said, "Yes ma'am let's do it." Ginger translated for Mrs. Bobbie and what a beautiful Spirit filled prayer came from Mrs. Bobbie's heart unto her lips.  God was glorified and exemplified throughout her prayer.  God's protection and provision for this home was to the glory of God and His Son Jesus alone!!! Amen y Amen Thank you so much Mrs. Bobbie for a humble yet powerful and profound prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Praise God the family understood my Spanish and God was totally glorified at this moment.

Let the House Become a Home

 The Honduran workers continued working towards a house becoming a home.  I was so grateful I got to work beside Yobani with the blocks since Meida was not there this week.  This was my first time out for the entire day on a project and it felt so good. Pastor Carlos was sharing some conversation with Miguel the homeowner about the week ahead and what was expected of him, Walter and Carlos Jr.  Pastor Carlos thanked them for working beside them to get his family a safe and secure home for many years to come. As I sometimes sat back and watched from a far the continuity of these men working together was heart warming.  They all knew exactly what to do which did not matter how menial the task was, the menial task are so important in building a home.  Joni is wetting the base so when blocks go down it is much smoother and securer.  A menial task but most important.  I was knocking the nubs out of the blocks after Yobani got through cutting them.  Another menial task but one of importance.  Later in the day the nubs are used to fill the fifth course to lay the channel blocks.  Every task for the Kingdom work is always important.

Everyone who has prayed and gave from their hearts for this family to receive their home is of the up most importance.  Because without your commitment to your donation back in March this would not have happened this week.  Thank you Pastor Mark for being obedient to the Holy Spirit and allow such an amazing opportunity for your church family.  The Faith Community Church family of Geneva, New York your participation in this house becoming a home was more than a menial task it was a huge obedience to God. Well done good and faithful servants.  We all say thank you for completing your first home.

Quaint Tapatoca

 The ride daily to the project was by far breathtaking as I observed the beauty of God's creation.  Mountains rolling and rolling over each other continuously and a vibrant color of green because of the small amount of rainfall we have had in the last month.  The rock on the campus can be seen from one of the look out points on the narrow rocky road.  I asked Mike please stop so I can just baste in God's Presence.  Monte de Horeb Ministry's future prayer rock can be seen from miles away up a road going to the mountains of Tapatoca. All day long men on their horses are going down the path passed the construction site with white barrels hanging off of either side of their horses to go collect fresh milk for the day.  The life of these folks was so simple but yet so perfect.  It was interesting watching them daily go back and forth on their horses to provide one of the needs for their families.  If some of you are wondering why daily it may be they do not own a refrigerator inside their homes.  Just another example how it is okay to live the simple life and depend on God for your daily needs and riding the trails of these beautiful mountains God created for all our pleasure.  How many of us can truly say we enjoy the beauty of God's creation daily in such a way as this.  One day I was sitting as one gentleman was riding by we exchanged "holas" and I had a bit  of jealousy of his simple and yet complete life.  His only worries probably was each getting the milk and maybe some cheese to for his family as his wife is home cleaning and cooking for the day ahead.  As always I learn something everyday here in Honduras no matter how long I have been living here.  Thank you God for always showing me how amazing life truly is if I only just take the time to be still and look.

Oh My

 Oh my is a small way of saying how the last day of Miguel, Betsy and Miguel Jr's home was unfolding.  Do you remember in the beginning of this story the home was not squared well the "No problem" continued to the last day.  But that was not our only problem.  I shared how Miguel did not know exactly how to build a home, well he bought the incorrect materials to go down on the floor prior to the cement mixture being applied.  This was definitely not funny at all.  But then if you could see the boulders being thrown out of both doors of the house from where I was sitting was quiet the entertainment.  Then since the floor was no where near ready for the concrete mixture Pastor Carlos along with about three of our guys was inside the house prepping the floor for the final touch.  This meant Mike did the roof by himself and did the first three pieces wrong because the house was not squared.  This was not really Mike's fault or the ones who told him the first piece of roofing was fine once it got nailed down.  It meant as Mike progressed it got worse so Mike had to start all over and Cristobal jumped up there very quickly to help Mike correct the "No problem".  But the most amazing part of this morning is how our new staff member, O'Neal to the leadership role with the concrete mixture for the floor.  He had created three piles with the help of Miguel and Walter.  Carlos Jr was not there this day which was sad because he was an awesome and hard worker. But God simply gave O'Neal extra energy like I have never seen before. Mid morning Pastor Carlos gave Miguel money to go buy and large coke, sweet bread and bags (which to drink their cokes from) to help lighten the stressful morning everyone was having.  I truly was wondering if this home would get complete by lunch time but God prevailed as always  These guys got finished with roof and floor by lunch time.  But all by the grace of God this was done.  These men worked extremely hard and persevered through all their opportunities which came their way this morning which should have been a two hour max morning.  The sweetest part of this morning was when about five of them were mixing concrete together and laughing and carrying of like "Life was good". Like I always say I learn from these people daily how to truly to live a stress free life.  Simple is always best!!!!

Answered Prayer

 

All week I thought back on the first time I met Betsy two years ago.  This community called Tapatoca is  prominently Catholic.  Two years ago God laid on my heart to ask her where she was going to do when she died.  Her answer to me was "I am a Catholic".  I said this is not what I asked you.  Do you know where you are going to go today if you were to die.  Her answer to me was "No".  So Pastor Carlos at this point took over simply because I wanted to make sure she understood what she was saying about her future.  Wow, Pastor Carlos did a phenomenal job and was quiet blunt with her future as a Catholic. So two years past and here we are building her and her family a home, regardless of their faith walk.  BUT, all week I have been praying about asking her this question again and I did on the last day of her home being finished.  I called Meida to help me to make sure I did not say anything in Spanish incorrect.  Praise God Hallelujah she is my sister in Christ.  So two years ago the seed was planted and somewhere along the way she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Mike and I both said her entire demeanor was so much more pleasant this week. She was radiant and joyful, not just because she was getting a home. She simply carried herself very different and worked hard all week cooking these men very delicious meals.  Her hospitality was one of Jesus not man!!! Mike was finished with his opportunity, the roof, he came over and sat with us.  We were talking to Miguel, Jr and he is 11 years old and does not like school at all, but loves Math.  So we asked him what he liked to do.  He helps his father herd a gentleman named Pedro's cattle and loves to care for his two donkeys and one horse.  So this child may never go to school higher than the six grade but he will have a job to do as he gets older and it is one he truly enjoys doing, herding cattle with his father.  And when his father is at work as a security guard about two hours away for a shrimp company Miguel Jr will continue helping Pedro herd the cattle.  I truly enjoyed sitting there and getting to know them more personally waiting for the floor to be completed.  They have lived in Tapatoca their entire lives. After many years of renting from Pedro they are now going to have their own home on their own land.  After a delicious lunch  of chicken soup Pastor Carlos, Cristobal and Miguel built a small porch on the front door and the back door.  While they were working on this well the rest of us enjoyed another coke and rosqueses (which is a sweet cheese cracker with cinnamon on top) one of our favorite treats here in Honduras.  Betsy gave Mike and Pastor Carlos a whole tub of special cheese for making pupusas.  She was so grateful for all these men did for her and her family this week as she lavished us with her finest gifts of all, her love by gifting us her best, cheese and rosqueses.

Welcome Home Miguel Betsy and Miguel Jr

 All wonderful things must come to an end. Pastor Carlos asked me to help with the home dedication which I was so excited to do.  I turned at breakfast and asked Yobani would he also help by presenting the family with their key to their new home.  He looked at me and said "Jefe,(boss) you want me to help with the home dedication?" I looked at him sincerely and said, "Yes I do and I know through God you can do this Yobani."  "Ok Jefe, ok"  after a deep sigh.  We gathered around the home and the family as I started with thanking the men who were the hands and feet of Jesus this week working hard beside Miguel and Walter.  I then proceeded to share how the Holy Bible was their family's solid foundation and how I pray they read this book together daily to grow stronger and closer to their Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  After I finished Pastor Carlos shared from Psalm 127:1 about if God doesn't build the home the labor is in vain.  He emphasized numerous times Jesus was the center of this home and this home needs to be a light in this community of Tapatoca.  Your gift of hospitality Betsy needs to be shared with others as they see the love of Jesus in this home.  At this time Yobani came forward and gave the key to Betsy with the biggest smile on this face and told them this key is for their physical protection each and every day and God bless your family.  I almost cried when I heard Yobani and his sincerity in his words to this family he had worked so hard for this week.  His humbleness was evident in his words.  When he walked back to his spot he looked at me as if how did I do Jefa (boss) and I looked at him and said "Dios es bueno Yobani."  "God is good Yobani" Mike and I have watched Yobani along with the others grow in maturity while working at Monte de Horeb Ministries.  Their confident level is impressive and I give God all the glory for these accomplishments.  We gathered around the home and Pastor Carlos sealed the home with the final prayer of dedication as everyone laid their hands upon the house which is now called a home and a home of God.  Praise God for such a challenging week which ended beautiful in every way.  

Thank you Faith Community Church Geneva New York for your faithfulness and obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!!

Ever and Marista Finally Get Their Dream Home

 Monte de Horeb Ministries first of all and foremost want to give God all the glory for the smile on Marista's face in this picture.  Hallelujah Praise HIS NAME.  Secondly Monte de Horeb Ministries wants to thank First Baptist Church of Southern Pines for being obedient to God's request of providing this home for this precious family.  We definitely missed our college group this year Pastor Bryan but hopefully one day soon you all will be able to return to Monte de Horeb Ministries and work side by side with all of us. 

This is a very unique situation not in it was difficult by no means but this family has waited over three years for this home.  At the time we met them two years ago to tell them they were receiving their home in March of 2020 Marista was holding a new born baby boy named Marcos. Now Marcos is over two years old which tells you how long this family waited patiently for this home.  Ever plays a guitar in the praise band at their community church and as well sings.  When he came up to us after church about three years ago.  He quietly ask could he could a home for his family of three at this time.  The name of this community is El Limonal and he is one of the few men who actually has steady work until the Covid hit the country as well as the whole world.  He had been working on the foundation for the home to be built in March and then lost his job.  Fast forward to 2021 Ever now works in San Pedro Sula and was able to finally get the foundation completed and ready for this past week to become a reality for himself and his family.  Jose, age eight sat in a wheelbarrow watching those walls finally going up on his home the first day.  To God be the glory for all those beautiful smiles this week and all because First Baptist Church Southern Pines was obedient to their Lord and Savior.

Fifth Home of 2021

 God blessed Ever and Maritsa with some hard working Honduran men and Mr. Mike along with our Meida.  Meida was taking pictures this week so is not in many pictures at all.  Pastor Carlos hired, Joni and Cristobal along with two of our own staff O'Neal and Yobani to build this home.  This opportunity has not only provided Ever and Maritsa with a home but the ministry was able to help two extra men put food on their table this week.  Mike and Pastor Carlos do an awesome job leading by example as always but the crew they have at this time is phenomenal in so many different ways.  They all work so well together and smoothly without any complications.  They just know what do to and when to do it.  Meida assists Yobani who now cuts all the block for Mike.  This is a huge blessing for Mike.  O'Neal, our newest addition to Monte de Horeb Ministries is a work horse who can mix mescal like nobody's business.  Ever got permission to come home for the last two days of work and Mike said he was also unbelievable with his work skills.  On the last day he took on a special project where he built his family a porch to be able to walk up on to go into their new home they called their mansion which is exactly what this home is, a beautiful mansion.  

But in saying all this it is also very different without our North American families working beside these gentlemen.  Please pray with us 2022 will be a new year for more teams to actually come and work beside us and with us in this beautiful country called Honduras.  Mike and I are blessed to be able to be the hands and feet of Jesus at Monte de Horeb Ministries.

Mike Dedicates Home

 I am humbled to share I found out today my precious did the dedication over Ever, Maritsa, Jose and Marcos new home. This is the first time Mike has ever done this.  I cannot be more proud of him than I am right now.  He quoted scripture Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who built it labor in vain".  He shared how grateful we all were to be apart of this dream come true for their family.  He also referenced those two beautiful sons they were raising and quoted scripture Matthew 7:24-25 "Building your home on a solid foundation" which is the word of God daily in your lives.  "You Ever as the leader of your home needs to see these boys are raised in God's Word daily.  Ever and Maritsa these boys rely on your leadership as Christian parents to guide their steps each and every day", replied Mike.  At this time Mike presented the family Bible and prayed over their home.  After the prayer Mike presented the family with their lock and key as they got to unlock their home for the first time.  God's timing is always perfect.  Never stop or give up on God.  In His perfect timing He will provide our needs.  Sometimes it may take longer than other times but if we are faithful and trust God with our whole heart our prayers will be answered.  Amen y amen.

Mrs. Barbara's Second Home

 Mrs. Barbara, my new sister in Christ from Geneva, New York has built her second home this week along side her church family, Faith Community Church.  This church family has been faithful weekly ordering soups, breads or anything they desire and paying Mrs. Barbara for her delicious meals all for a precious family in Honduras to receive their home.

It would be my great pleasure to introduce Frances and Camila who are the proud honors of this home this week.  Maynard, husband and father to these two lovely ladies has a job as a security guard at a local Wendy's in Choluteca.  Praise God Maynard has a job in a country where this is not easy to maintain because of their high unemployment rate.  So we are grateful to God this week Maynard was not there to help build his home.  This family is a member of the church up in Las Uvas, Choluteca where Pastor Carlos preached about four years ago.  They are also family to our security guard Rudy.  There solicitation is two years old and so we are thankful to finally make their dream a reality.

Pastor Mark Prays Over First Block

 After all the preparation for this first block Meida gathered everyone around and gingerly Meida showed Frances and Camila where to place their hands as a gentleman was going to pray over their new home.  Mike called Pastor Mark from Faith Community Church and he was waiting and prepared to pray words of encouragement.  Mike and Meida both shared how he prayed only for the folks in front of this project this week, especially Maynard, Frances and Camila and their new home.  He prayed the home would be a home where Jesus would be glorified and shared with others.  Pastor Mark prayed for the construction of the home and the safety of all who were there to help the family get this dream come true.  Their mansion was finally coming to life for them after two years of praying and waiting for that phone call saying this is the week you are getting your home.  Thank you Pastor Mark for kind, gracious and most humble words of encouragement and hope to this family.  After the pray they all got busy with their challenges of head but with this prayer of hope they were well on their way to a God filled week serving this family in a mighty way.

First day was a challenge

 The first group of pictures is where they met their challenge of their first day.  The 800 cement blocks had to be carried a half mile to the foundation where the house was becoming a home.  The water came down the roads a way from a future neighbor's home.  Mike drove the Kia there twice a day for two days and filled up five barrels with water so this house could get build.  After the water got delivered he then turn the Kia into a block hauling vehicle.  He made numerous trip took get the blocks up for the entire week.  The two young men who were pulling a load of block with the cart were forever grateful for this help.  Meida this week unloading water and blocks off the Kia and mixed mescal.  She definitely earned her keep this week.  Translating was not in her job description this week, just hard labor for the Lord!!!!  As always this group of six plus local family and friends circled up each and every morning to pray for their day ahead.  We give God all the praise and honor for this first day where by the time they left there late that afternoon tired and exhausted they had accomplished their first day right on schedule.

God Continues to Build This Home

 On day four and five there was a lot of work to be done but the challenge was totally met by all.  The dirt was continuously being moved inside the home to get the floor ready for the concrete.  The sand was continually being sifted and mixed to make the mescal for the final stage of blocks.  Everyone was pushing with their all.  Mike said O'Neal very seldom was not mixing mescal all week.  He never stopped this strenuous labor of love for this family.  Because he realizes back in March his father got his home and how proud they all were of their new home as this family will be as well.  But as the time was coming after Pastor Carlos got the roof up and floor went down there was a light at the end of the tunnel called, homemade Honduran chicken soup.  Yes coming across the field from someone else's kitchen was Frances and her mother in law bringing soup for all those hard workers.  As we have been serving in Honduras for twelve years now, I would say most families kill a lot their free range chickens and fix this huge black kettle of chicken soup with yuka, corn, carrots, Honduran squash, Honduran bananas and sometimes a little rice.  It does not matter how hot it is outside this soup is super hot and so delicious going down.  It is like their huge way of saying thank you to each person you made those 800 blocks, 52 bags of cement, two doors and two windows and rebar into the most beautiful home ever.  

Thank You Meida and Yobani

 This week Meida was in charge of keeping Mr. Mike out of trouble along with enjoying the Honduran cuisine, Meida loves bean soup.  Yobani also has become quiet the skilled block cutter.  Mike started out cutting block one morning but he and Yobani shared this job now and it helps Mike be able to do other things like go get the water or blocks for this challenging week.  Mike even got the chance to sit in the shade in one of those amazing Honduran hammocks but as you can see was still giving out orders from afar. The walls quickly started going up even with all the many opportunities.  As Meida shared on the first day, God has put together just the team for this intense task ahead.  Yes and God did just that.  Mike said the group this week was amazing.  We hired Joni who lives in Pavana along side of Cristobal, Yobani, O'Neal, Meida, Mike  and of course Pastor Carlos.  God use every single gift these folks had to get HIS Kingdom work completed.  Praise God for all the small details this week!!!!

Home Dedication

 All good things must come to an end but this end was definitely bittersweet for Pastor Carlos and Maynard's family.  Pastor Carlos had the priviledge to be this family's pastor for several years up in Las Uvas.  Just like the entire church family this family came to love Pastor Carlos which is not hard to do at all.  So this was a very humbling experience for all here today.  Family and friends from Las Uvas made their way down the mountain which is about one hour on the bus to be here for this very special time.  Pastor Carlos shared from God's Word how this house is now a home and will be used to glorify God throughout this new neighborhood Maynard and his family.  What an awesome week this has been when during the week a gentleman who was a Christian came up to Pastor Carlos asking if the ministry could build the community a church.  Pastor Carlos asked is there a pastor in this community for this church.  The gentleman answered no. Pastor Carlos shared with Mike and I about this opportunity we shared with Pastor Carlos just a week prior to this conversation with the gentleman.  This young man just might be Pastor Carlos' first disciple under his new endeavor we have given him.  Pastor Carlos gift is definitely discipling and sharing the gospel.  He does this as he builds home and leads the church he is currently shepherding.  So pray with us as we see where God leads this opportunity for Maynard, Frances and Camila's new home. So as Pastor Carlos lead this dedication service at this home there was possibly some coverts for this community's new church family.  I cannot wait to see where God leads Pastor Carlos on this new ministry he will embark on.  He asked all to gather around the home so he could pray over this home to seal it totally with the love of our Lord.  Pastor Mark opened it with prayer the first day and Pastor Carlos closed this special time in prayer.  To God be the glory.

Final Product

 Mike shared with me Maynard, Frances and Camila still lived up in Las Uvas until yesterday when I know they did not wait for their floor to cure to perfection.  That is perfectly alright because God will protect this floor and this family from now and forever.  Maynard's two and half hours to work daily will not be cut into maybe one hour or less because of this new home.  Mrs. Barbara asked a very good question about Maynard stopping by daily to check on the progress of his home.  Well each day on the road to Las Uvas is the road this new home is actually on.  It is not directly on the road but five to ten minutes off the main road.  So I bet he took the time to go and check on his new home as he drove up the mountains to Las Uvas which means Frances and Camila came everyday on the bus to their new home to see the progress. Once again Mrs. Barbara thank you for your passion and love for a place called Honduras all because your grandson came eight years ago to Honduras and fell in love with these people like everyone who comes here does as well.  Thank you for Mrs. Barbara's enthusiasm she exuberates in her community and church family for Honduras.  There are too many names to mention of all the people she has touched with her Honduran story. The most precious part of this story Mrs. Barbara has never been to Honduras but she takes a lot of notes when we chat each week about what is going on in Honduras she knows very well all about this beautiful place Mike and I called our gift from God by choosing he and I to be the hands and feet of His Son Jesus Christ.  Praise God, amen y amen.