Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Floyd Creek Baptist Church Returns for the Tenth Year


 
 After the second teamed left Honduras, Pastor Amado was rushed to the Tegus Hospital with medical issues.  He stayed in the hospital from Thursday until Monday  The team was to arrive on the job site Tuesday morning.  We were not expecting to see Pastor Amado at the job site since he was hospitalized four days prior.  Floyd Creek Baptist Church arrived on the job site Tuesday morning accepting the calling to be the third team to work on the church in the community called Las Delicia, Choluteca, Honduras.  This is Floyd Creek's tenth year coming to Honduras.  The team leader, Gregg came in 1999 after Mitch devastated the country with a make-shift team.  After his first visit the love he found in this country stayed with him.  He went home to share with his church family and each year Gregg brings a team, some being his own family, Patti and Taylor came with him this year.  Each year someone new comes and enjoys the beauty of the Honduran culture. 
As the team gathered around the construction site they made their introductions to each other and immediately became a team united in Christ.  They gathered around the structure to pray for their journey ahead.  They came prepared to do whatever needed to make this building develop into a house of God.
The team proceeded to find where they needed to be on the project.  Their job was to lay the block work for the gables.  Some of the girls on the team assisted in mixing the mescal.  They had one young Honduran man there assisting them from the mother church, Saul.  Saul works at a local bank and each summer they have him take four weeks off.  So he spent one of his week volunteering at the job site.  The team enjoyed working with him and hearing him sing hymns while they mixed mescal.  What a beautiful sight.  Mixing mescal is no easy task and to be able to rejoice in the Lord while doing such a work of labor, that is a God moment.  Saul is a talented and gifted young man who uses his musical talents to serve the Lord.
Also the ladies were there to hand up the blocks to the men on the scaffolding.  Gregg, Mark, Uncle Phil, Ned, Boyce and Joseph worked up on the scaffolding while the ladies assisted from the bottom.  The Hondurans worked keeping the mescal going to the blocks being laid.  Thank you to each of you for doing such a tedious part of this project. 
 
"Two or better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil."
Ecclesiastes 4:9
 

The Work Continues


 
The team continues throughout the week with also putting the stage in and painting the beams for the roof.  They all pitched in to work where they were needed.  Pastor Robert spent a big part of his week mixing the mescal.  The first year Pastor Robert came to Honduras he asked for the hardest job.  We gave him the job of mixing the mescal.  He spends most every day mixing the recipe for the mescal. He can recite the recipe for you at any given moment.  Thank you ladies, Patti, Taylor, Rachel, Ashley, and Hannah for painting the beams.  This was a tedious job and they did it with a servant heart. They worked diligently on the stage for the church. There was not a job too big for anyone on this team.  God truly blessed Las Delicia once again with a team willing to serve the Lord.  Thank you each for giving your all in the name of Jesus Christ.
As the team work side by side with the Hondurans they found out what family was all about.  This community we call Las Delicia is a true family who is there for each other.  The folks from the community and the mother church came out to help get the job done. 
Ned enjoyed talking to the different people and finding out how they came to know Christ.  Thank you Ned for taking the time to build relationships with the people and listening to their stories.  Rachel enjoyed listening and singing along with Saul around the mescal pile each day.  Saul can sing some of the music in English.  He has self taught himself the different songs.  The entire team was encouraged by the lifestyle of the Honduran culture. 
 
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Hebrews 10:24-25
 
 

Enjoying the Children

 
The ladies while they were not passing blocks, mixing mescal and painting beams found time for the children.  They enjoyed time of soccer, the famous chicken dance and red rover.  Thank you Hannah, Ashley, Taylor, Rachel and Patti for allowing the children some good ole fashion fun.  The children were just being children.  The men enjoyed hearing the laughter while working from the scaffolding.  Maida started the children each day with some beautiful Honduran Christian music.  This took place under the mango trees near the all famous "cow pasture".  The "cow pasture" is still being used for VBS five years later.
 
"Let the little children come unto me for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14


Team three finishes their task and dedicates over prayer





 
As the week draws to an end, the team is trying to get all they can to get done for the next team coming in.  They worked very hard their last morning there to finish putting the gables in for the roof. 
They all stood back and took in the task they came to complete all in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amazing where one or two come together God's work can get done.  This is amazing task undertaken and now they can say it is completed.
They gathered together as Pastor Robert shared words to the people and to the church. Pastor Amado still there on the last day, thank God for his health.  Maida our translator did an amazing job during the prayer of dedication and commitment to the church building.  As their time came to an end they gathered around the building laying hands once again on this building we will call God's house.  Ned, 25 year old young man, presented this project and labor of love to the Lord in prayer.  We all could feel the presence of the Lord as Ned's words flowed from this lips.  The Holy Spirit was definitely in this place.
 
"And I will do whatever you ask in my name,  so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 14:33
 
 
 
 
 
 

A blessing for the local community



 
The team enjoyed the many beautiful cultures of Honduras.  They enjoyed drinking their all famous Honduran coffee.  The ladies were taught how to make tortillas one day.  They learned how to take a siesta when it was time to take a siesta.  But the one thing they did which was of most importance they learned how to receive a gift of blessings from the Honduras family.  Each day the ladies of the church and the community came  together starting early preparing the lunch of the day.  This is an early day for the ladies.  They start out making the tortillas by hand and making enough to feed about thirty people daily.  They proceed to cook whatever the meal is for the day.  One day, Pastor Nelson's mother, Francisca, came to help cook the chicken and rice meal. She brought three chickens from her home.  She gave an abundance that day.  Also Saul's lovely bride, Gabby, came along to help cook the meals as well.  These ladies came from another church family to help this church family prepare the meals for the week.  Each day the team was blessed with hot delicious Honduran cuisine.  One day was bean soup, another day was the chicken and rice plate, fish plate and my all time favorite chicken soup.  The team enjoyed the fellowship with the Hondurans daily at lunch sharing in food and fellowship.  This team enjoyed building the church but enjoyed building relationships.
 
 " Job well done good and faithful servant."
Matthew 25:23
 
 

Praise the Lord All my Soul

 
Each afternoon the team gathered around in the dining hall to practice singing hymns for church on Sunday.  They were led in music by a new team member to Honduras, brother Joseph.  It was a beautiful sound hearing God's words in song as they enjoyed time singing. I can only imagine how beautiful it was hearing this from the street as the local people were walking by.  Thank you for sharing the gospel of Jesus through song for those who may have heard it in passing by the mission house.  What a beautiful gift you gave out not only in church on Sunday but others as well.  All God's people say AMEN!!!!!
 
"I will sing praises to the Lord ALL my life, I will sing praises to my Lord for as long as I live."
Psalm 104:33

Worship On Sunday

 
The team gathered to worship the Lord once again on the front porch of Pastor Amado's mother-in-law's house.  The team shared a song in praise and worship.  Throughout the week Pastor G shared the gospel of Jesus while working on the job site. Some of these folks showed up for church on Sunday morning.  The porch filled up quickly and others gathered around in the yard. 
Pastor Robert shared the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people.  For those of you who follow the blog and have followed it for many years will know one of the ladies who accepted Christ on this day.  Welcome our new sister in Christ, Patti.  Patti attended the local church about three miles up the road in La Ero Blanca, Choluteca, Honduras.  This church family is a closer walk for Patti so she has been attending here.  Well God placed on her heart this Sunday it was her day to become His child.  This has been worth the entire three teams coming if one person comes to Christ.  We do not know who is a Christian or not.  Just because someone goes to church does not make them a child of God.  Never take for granted peoples salvation.  Always ask, "Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?"  Going to church does not make you a Christian.  Last week as we sat there we had a passer by stop and inquire about the big building going up.  We shared with him we were building God's house for people to come and worship.  He was asked do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  His response was yes, because I was born in my mother's womb.  People do not let a day go by and not ask someone do they personally know Jesus Christ.  There are so many people missing out on the most beautiful gift of all, Jesus Christ.  Being born in your mother's womb does not get you into heaven.  Going to church does not get you into heaven.  BUT KNOWING JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR WILL GET YOU ETERNAL LIFE.
There is nothing on this earth concrete.  It is all stuff and stuff will not go with you to heaven.  Please today if you are reading this and you are not sure about your relationship with Jesus please ask someone.  Ask someone to share the most sweetest gift ever given.  Jesus.
 
"For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten SON and that whosoever believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life"
John 3:16

Ned and Patti

 
God has truly blessed Honduras this week.  Patti has been coming for the last five years with her father to Honduras.  But this year God doubly blessed Patti and the team.  God put a godly man into Patti's life about two years ago.  Nothing is by chance but by God's perfect timing.  Patti waited patiently for the godly man she had always prayed for and along came Ned to be the coach at their local high school. Ned started coming to Floyd's Creek and they were in the same Sunday School class together.  Well folks the rest is history.  This past May Ned and Patti became one in Christ.  I was not sure they would be coming to Honduras after just getting married.  But God blessed us and them by allowing them to come together on their first international mission trip together as husband and wife.  This was a beautiful and I am grateful they both had the opportunity to start their marriage out in putting Christ first.  What a testimony for all of us?  God bless your marriage Ned and Patti.
 
1 Corinthians 13 New International Version (NIV)
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

 
 
 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Salemburg Baptist Church is Team Two at Las Delicisa



 
Salemburg Baptist Church arrived with excitement to be a fourth of this process for Las Delicisa church project.  God placed on our hearts to ask four teams to build a church.  So far two of the four teams have not built a church. They have built  homes. During the orientation,  Mike shared with the team, how they will be taking the scaffolding to the project on the first day.  Already this did not seem right.  Usually the scaffolding is carried out later in the week.  Everything about this project was not different by no means but unique in the way the week would progressed.  This team got out of their comfort zone of building a home in  Honduras and helped this community receive a church building. 
We all gathered together for introductions and opening with prayer as the second phase of construction was about to begin.  Pastor Amado and Pastor Nelson were excited this day was here.  They had a week between teams and was anxiously awaiting to continue the building process.  There is one member of the church who continuously wore a smile of excitement the entire week, Carlos.  As you remember by reading the former blog on First Baptist Church Southern Pines College Group, Carlos is the former Catholic, now Christian, who donated the property for the church.  He was doing all he could to help with whatever needed to get done.  Jesus glows off of Carlos mere being.  You can definitely see Jesus in his walk.  All God's people said AMEN.  We all need to be more excited about Jesus as Carlos' life exhibits. 
During devotions on the first evening Katie shared a song by Point of Grace who reflects the life of Carlos, "All the World". Below is the chorus of it:
All the world needs is to be your touch,
All the world needs is to be your feel,
All the world needs is to be your voice,
All the world needs is to give an answer,
All the world needs is to show your love,
All the world needs is to offer peace,
All the world needs to hold out hope,
All the world needs is to see how wonderful you are,
All the world needs is to shine your light,
All the world needs is for everyone to see you,
All the world needs is your amazing mercy,
All the world needs is your amazing grace.
The words may not be exactly correct but the message is strong.  Simply all the world needs is Jesus. Period.
Jack shared during God moments how flying in a man asked him why was he coming to Honduras.  Jack shared to build a church for a community.  The Honduran man added, "Is this how you get into heaven?"  Jack shared with him no.  The only way into heaven is through God's son , Jesus Christ.  So many folks out there do not know the story of Jesus' sacrifice for our eternal gift.  Please do not let a day go by where you do not let your light shine for Jesus to our lost and dying world.  All people need our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We all need to do God's good work and use our faith in Him to exhibit it by going to Honduras or by going to a local soup kitchen.  Wherever God leads you follow and share the most precious gift  a person may ever receive, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
 
"Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing unto God, this is your true and proper  worship".
Romans 12:1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Praying over Team Two's first block

 
 
We gathered around the first block, which is actually block 801, to give this week's work to the Lord.    Pastor Nelson laid the first block and placed his hand on it as others gathered around to share in this moment.  Pastor John, team leader, led us in prayer with the assistance of our translator Maida.
 
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the Lord's people."
Ephesians 6:18




Construction continues




This week the team worked on the next five courses and painting the channels black.  The ladies job was to paint and they actually got 60 of the 80 channels completed.  The next team coming in will be grateful for this accomplishment.  Each person played an important role when the church's second phase met its completion. The first day moved rather slowly as always but the pace picked up as the week continued.  Carlos took care of the ladies while painting to make sure they were able to contiously work in the shade.  Carol, Lyndia, Sarah, Anna, Katie and Laura painted for two to three days on their project while doing other projects as well.  My friend Jack, alias Larry, met a friend in the block saw where Tim assisted him in the many different sizes of blocks which were requested of them daily.  Pastor John and John #2 worked on one wall together throughout the week.  While Charles worked close by on his corner to make sure every block was laid in place.  John #2 enjoyed mixing mesclar with the Honduran men.  He shared how the fellowship was nice.  This is probably the hardest job out there and they were laughing and having some awesome fellowship time together. 
First day on project Sarah prayed for a breeze and a cool day.  This is exactly what Sarah and the team received.  What a blessing for the team when normally it is 95 degrees to 105 degrees on a normal day.  Well, the blessing only last the first day.  I believe on the third day it was unusually hot. Pastor John prayed for an overcast day.  As the day progressed Pastor John was up on the scaffolding laying his blocks as cloud coverage surrounded the project area.  The wind picked up quickly and the sky got dark.  As the afternoon progressed so did the cloud coverage and the temperature dropped more and as the day was coming to an end the bottom fell out and here came the afternoon Honduran rainfall.  Pastor John did not take this lightly.  As the storm was coming he knew he had prayed for God to cool things off and this was what God did for Pastor John on this hot summer day in Las Delicio, Choluteca, Honduras. 

"And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father will be glorified in the Son."
John 14:13

Mark and Mike work side by side for the Lord

 
Mark was able to be with the construction team for three full day.  On the first day of construction Mike and I hang around to make sure everything runs smoothly for the North Americans and the Hondurans.  I happen to catch Mark and Mike mixing mortar together.  It is really beautiful when we are able to work together for one common goal, Jesus Christ.  Mark and Mike enjoyed time of fellowship and fun as they sweated over the mortar pile.  Thank you Mark for spending some good quality time here in Honduras and enjoying a little of what the teams do on a daily basis. 
 
"Well done good and faithful servant."
Matthew 25"21

Preparation nightly for VBS

 
 
 
 
Pastor John, team leader gathered the entire team nightly to help the ladies prepare for the Vacation Bible School  materials for the children.  Vacation Bible School consisted of three to four stations dividing the children into smaller groups.  This concept works really great especially when you are doing Vacation Bible School under mango trees and the cow pasture.  The first lesson was on God's creation and they created their very own flower.  As some where making their flowers others were coloring a picture of God's creation and others were either jumping rope or blowing bubbles.  The bible story always went at the beginning after the children sang numerous songs with Maida, our translator.  They enjoyed the chicken dance as all the children do in Honduras.  Here in Honduras it is called "El Pollo".  It is a little different from the North American version.  They got to make a salvation necklace which the children wore proudly throughout the rest of the week.  The ladies had the children make a mobile which each and every one of them turned out perfectly beautiful.  The ladies had an awesome idea.  They brought flat sheets for the children to sit on as they worked.  Each children took off their flip flops before sitting on the sheet so as not to get the sheet dirty.  The children took great pride in their things as well as the teams' belongings.  They averaged 60 to 80 children daily.  The ladies did an amazing job balancing their painting in the morning and getting set up for Vacation Bible School in the afternoon.  Vacation Bible School ran around two hours daily.
 
Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14

Pastor John and Jack Get Out of Their Comfort Zone

 
 
 
 
During God moments the night  Pastor John shared how he was working hard up on the scaffolding while listening to the ladies of the team laughing and talking with the Honduran ladies.  He soon found out they were getting a lesson in making tortillas.  He said I was jealous of the fun those ladies were having while I was sweating for the Lord.  Of course he was joking about being jealous.  So the next day the ladies of the village of Las Delcico was making their tortillas for the day ahead.  Carol and Katie, wife and daughter of Pastor John asked the ladies could Pastor John make some tortillas.  Well of course they would love to teach him this Honduran tradition and daily staple for all Honduran families.  Carol, wife and daughter Katie called for Pastor John to come up to the house before he got too involved in his task of laying more blocks from the scaffolding.  To Pastor John's surprise he was invited to make tortillas.  With a little smirk of a grin he said, "Why not."  Maida went through the process of sanitizing his hands before he was allowed to make his first tortilla.  He went to great links to do a superb job and that he did.  Pastor John's tortilla came out perfecto!!!!  Actually the North American ladies were jealous of the beauty of his perfect tortilla.  Pastor John proceeded to eat his tortilla and head back to the scaffolding.  Job well done Pastor John.
 
 
 
 
Well Jack was not going to be out done by Pastor John.  He said I want to make one as well.  While he went through the process as Pastor John did, Carlos came out with some delicious cheese to go on the tortillas.  So everyone got to enjoy tortillas and cheese as their mid morning snack.  Actually if you would please read the next blog this delightful event led right up to the Women's Bible Study Carol had plan for the ladies of the church.  This was definitely my God moment on this day.  To see the men step out of their comfort zone and do something so uncommon for the men in this culture and for Carlos to add a little something extra by providing a block of cheese which he went somewhere in the area to purchase for the team.  The guys who decided to stay and work were treated as well.  Carlos fixed a plate of tortillas and cheese for the Honduran and North American men who were working on the church.  The ladies stayed at the house and ate theirs while waiting for the ladies of the church to arrive for their bible study.  Carol shared how this was similar to bible studies back home, having coffee and cookies before starting their bible study.  This was a beautiful day in Honduras.
 
"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to  fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Acts 2:42
 
 

Women's Bible Conference Begins


 
As I shared in the previous blog where Pastor John and Jack made tortillas, well here the ladies are enjoying them while waiting for the ladies to arrive for the Women's Bible Conference.  Earlier that morning Carol and Maida spent some time going over the events of the morning ahead.  Carol wanted to be sure everything she was going to say and do would be culturally correct.  She wanted to be sure the ladies would understand what she was trying to present to them.  It was a special treat to have the tortillas and cheese before the ladies started to arrive.  The Honduran hospitality is an amazing gift each of the ladies and gentlemen shared in this community.  Slowly the ladies started to arrive coming from all corners of this community.  They were traveling down different paths and from many different homes and families.  Carol and Maida opened the ladies up with prayer and sharing what to expect as the morning moved forward.  Carol provided a gift bag to each lady as they arrived.  When the last lady arrived they had 25 beautiful Honduran ladies ready to be treated special in many ways.  Throughout the morning each lady would receive a gift which would relate to the bible story Carol and Maida would share with them.  Let's continue our journey as we studied God's word in this beautiful little piece of heaven called Las Delicousa Honduras.
 
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10

Women's Bible Conference

 
 
Ladies received their bags as they shared among each other and their enthusiasm was comical.  Carol and Maida had trouble a couple of times bringing them back together.  I believe one of those times I might had been responsible.  We were just having good ole fashion Christian fun!!!!  Who says being a Christian is not fun.  There was way too much fun taking place on the front porch of this home . Thank you God for godly women who speak two different languages but serve the same God.
 
 
 
 
There came with the 25 ladies children.  So quickly Katie took the children over behind where the Bible Conference was taking place on the porch.  She placed flat sheets on the concrete floor for the children to sit on and color pictures and Katie shared a bible story with them as well.  As the morning progressed Katie then resorted to bubbles for the children.  God had blessed us with their bubbles and bubbles our daughter had donated a while back.  God's provision exactly when they needed it.  Thank you Katie for providing the children some structure activities so their mothers and grandmothers could enjoy a few minutes without family responsbiltiy.
 
 
 
Let the activities begin.  First Carol shared with the ladies how special each of them were in the eyes of God.  Each lady was handed a mirror and were asked to look at themselves to see how beautiful they are in the sight of God.  Of course the ladies felt ackward doing this activity.  Eventually they smiled and laughed as they admired themselves in the mirrors.


 
The next event was talking about the Virtious Woman out of Proverbs 31.  Each lady works very hard daily for their families.  They gather the wood for cooking.  They make the tortillas daily.  They wash their laundry either on a pilla or down by the river on rocks.  They are contiously working all day to provide the physical needs for their families.  So Carol gave each lady a tube of hand lotion.  They were asked to get a partner and take turns giving each other a massage.  Well one lady got carried away and massaged the lady's arms then proceeded to rub down her face.  It was a joy to watch the ladies treating each other special.  Some shared they had never had this done to them before.  They definitely felt special after this activity.

 
The highlight of the morning was when the ladies received their homemade aprons.  The ladies of Salemburg Baptist Church made each lady an apron.  They were trying them on and exchanging if one did not fit or they wanted a different color.  They were modeling their new aprons with a joyful spirit of appreciation.  Carol used the scripture from Ephesisans 6 about putting on your armor of God.  The apron will represent their breastplate of righteousness.  Even though there is not a breastplate they will be protected by God through their daily activities for their families.  The ladies in Honduras all wear aprons on a daily basis if they are working around their home or going to the market. The next day as the ladies were making tortillas and lunch they were sporting their new aprons with pride.  Thank you ladies of Salemburg Baptist Church for  making these ladies feel special.
 
 

 
 
As the morning was coming to a close, Carol allowed the ladies to make a craft.  The laughter and fellowship continued as the ladies worked diligently on their special project.  It would be a place to keep their bible verse cards so they could easily see and use them as needed.  They took much pride in their project and walked away with a job well done.  Carlos' wife was heading home passing by the mango trees where I was sitting.  I asked her could I see her craft and she gladly shared what she had created just a few minutes earlier.  Now she was heading back home to get started on her daily activities.
Thank you Carol for bringing these ladies such joy.  Also thank you to Katie who played with the children, Lyndia, Sarah, Anna and Laura who assisted Carol in the hand-outs and making the craft.  A big thank you to Maida, our translator, who without her none of this would have happened.
 
First and foremost let's give all praise and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who provides all we need all the time. 
 

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

 









Enjoying the Honduran Culture

 
Each day the North Americans would look from afar at the delicious meals the ladies would prepare for the Honduran workers on the project.  Finally on the day of the fish fry a few of the North Americans placed an order for a plate.  They were very grateful they did.  They shared how the presentation of the plate and the heartfelt love which went in to the meal was such a blessing.  They had fried fish, fried green bananas, chismo and of course tortillas.  Pastor John nor Jack made the ones for lunch this day.  The Honduran ladies enjoy cooking and watching everyone else enjoy their cooking.  One observation we have is the ladies never sit and eat with the Honduran men.  But on the day of the fish fry we did observe how they fixed a table for their children and fed them before feeding any one else.  This did my heart good.  The children are generally fed last.  Thank you God for providing such a special meal from a group of special godly ladies who love you so much!!!
 
"And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household."
Acts 16:34

 

Second Church Dedication and Sunday Worship



On Saturday afternoon after lunch the two groups came together for their blessings to be placed on the church.  Pastor John gathered Pastor Amado and Pastor Nelson to share with them what an honor it was to serve beside of them this week.  Pastor John shared from I Kings 8:54-61 where Solomon prayed and dedicated the temple.  We all laid our hands on the temple as Pastor John prayed over the future of God's kingdom here in Las Deliciousa. 


Sunday morning we finished our visit with Las Deliciousa as Jack shared his testimony and Pastor John preached on how special we are in God's eyes.  We are his chosen ones, his prized possessions.  We had a special treat during the service as Pastor Amado and his lovely bride, Anna, sang a duet together.  Karen and Sylvia, two of our Honduran sisters sang as well.  We worshiped on the front porch of Anna's family.  They were so gracious to allow us to worship there but there was a problem.  We outgrew the porch rather quickly.  Carlos, Mike, Tim, Jack, John #2, and Charles were continuously  going to get more blocks and boards to make more pews for the people who were coming from all directions.  This was such a beautiful problem to have.  After it was all said and done there was over 115 plus people and children worshiping together.  All God's people said, "AMEN". 
Thank you Salemburg Baptist Church for coming and giving your all in the name of Jesus Christ.


"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Hebrews 10:24-25



Sunday, July 6, 2014

Families coming together to Serve the Lord through NCBM

 
I would like to introduce to your Charles, Lyndia, Sarah and Anna who came together this year for the first time as a family.  Last year Lyndia and Sarah came together.  This year they brought dad and little sister along.  In talking with Charles, he came to Honduras many years ago and decided he wanted to come back with his family.  This family reminded me of Mike and our family fifteen years ago when we came down with our two daughters to help finish a church project which was our first project in Honduras.  I enjoyed watching this family work side by side serving the Lord.  They truly exhibit a Christian family who loves serving the Lord. 

 
We had another family join up with the Salemburg team this year.  We would like for you all to meet Mark and Ashley.  Mark is our boss and works for NCBM.  He comes to Honduras once a year to visit and see the progression of the ministry.  But our special treat this week was his daughter, Ashley.  It was a joy to see father and daughter working side by side for the name of Jesus.

 
Our team leader, John and his two lovely ladies, wife, Carol and daughter, Katie came back this year to serve together in Honduras.  This is a family who works side by side and willing to take any task placed before them and serve the Lord.  They wear multiple hats throughout the week to help the team and the project run smoothly. 

 
We all enjoy serving the Lord through North Carolina Baptist Men.  It is a joy to see families come through the ministry serving side by side in the name of Jesus. 
 
"As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:15