Loading up Materials and Prayers

Each day the team loaded the Kia for the day ahead.  There was some mornings Mike had to go collect materials needed for the day from the construction sight of the Honduran Dorm.  The gentlemen who worked up on this project helped Mike load up the Kia as Mike would head back down the hill so the team could load up the coolers and lunches as well.

After all this they would drive down towards the gate, get out and we pray up our day.  There is a lot of praying on Mt. Horeb.  We take seriously the importance of putting Christ first in all details of this ministry.  As the team closes in prayer everyone finds a ride either in the Land Cruiser or the Kia.  The job site this week did not have access for the bus.  So nine of the team members and Hondurans piled into the Land Cruiser while five piled into the Kia to go serve the Lord.  We did not hear any complaints about their riding conditions this week.  They rode like this for about thirty minutes before arriving to their destination, La Criba, Choluteca, Hondruas.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Colossians 3:23

Team Work

This team is made up of several churches out of Fairlawn, Virginia.  They came together as one in Christ to serve Him in whatever capacity God needed from each of them.  Team leader, Steve has been coming for many years to Honduras.  We have some returning friends as well, Mike, Sammy, Joe and Claire.  We would love to reach out a big welcome to our new friends Mitchell, John and Katherine.  All of this folks having huge and willing hearts to serve.  They all pitched in daily to fix breakfast and prepared lunches.  Joe was faithful with the help of John with the water and Gatorade.  It takes all of this to make a day go smoothly.  Our most important food is of course our spiritual food but our physical food is most helpful to do a good job in the name of Jesus.

Thank you guys for all you did to support one another this week in all areas of the ministry.

so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:5

Our Life Line

We could not run this ministry without our dedicated staff who also do whatever it takes to get the job complete in the name of Jesus.  This was an unique week where there was an unexpected accident in our cook's family.  Martha and Alexia stepped up to the plate.  Alexia made the tortillas while Martha cleaned the entire multipurpose building.  Martha and Alexia then joined together in the afternoon to prepare the evening meal, which was beans and rice and plantains.  Well they did such an amazing job on the first day they went for round two and cooked the chicken rice and beans dinner.  Team leader, Steve got under the weather on the first day so Wuilmer stepped forward along with Cristobal to help out the team with the construction on the home for our friend Lina.  Pastor Carlos is always over the top faithful to this ministry.  He got sick as well but called it a day went to bed to be prepared for the next day.  Mike joined the team on the third day to assure they went stay on a timely schedule with the construction of the home.  Of course there is Meida and Alex who go without saying dedicated to the well being of each team member as well as our Jose who safely drives the teams from place to place.  We are blessed with a dedicated staff who love the Lord.  I walked into the multipurpose building one of the days Alexia and Martha were cooking to Martha singing hymns.  Once again we are blessed beyond any words.

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3

Tight Spot

The team arrived to a very interesting situation.  How do we get to the construction sight?  Team leader, Steve carefully back down as close to the location of the house foundation as possible.  The Kia and truck were parked up on a road nearby.  Each team member carefully sandwiched their way through a small path between the Land Cruiser and a bob wire fence.  Each day the team did this to get to a little piece of heaven here on earth, Lina's family.  The flowers surrounding the area were gorgeous.  Such a beautiful view for everyone daily.  So through all the tight spots and touchy areas God's creation shines through. 

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

1 Timothy 4:4

Lina and her Family

Once going through the narrow path we arrived at the home of Lina, Maria, her daughter and Maria's children, Marlon, Lixis, Jose, Dilmes and Heven David.  This was a warm and welcoming family.  As several of the team members shared how immediately they saw the joy in Lina's face and life with what little she owned.  In many ways Lina is more blessed than we are.  We learned a lot from this gentle spirit this week.  Katherine learned from sharing with Lina this week she had lost a brother to cancer and she shared how her body was in fine shape except I just cannot see anymore.  Lina is 84 years young and her life is full of energy and excitement this week as her prayer is finally being answered.  She will no longer get wet and as Steve shared one evening for the first time in her life she will be able to lock her door at night and rest safely and securely.  Lina has lived up on this hill in La Criba for forty years of her 84 years of life.  This is her home.   Her daughter Maria and children are all loving and kind to all they see.  Lina has seven other children but Marie is the one blessed to live with her mother Lina.  After our introductions and Lina thanking God for this opportunity in her life we opened with prayer to begin our week of many blessings.

Joe shared in his devotional the first evening about Jesus feeding the five thousands from a small child's basket of bread and fish.  Joe shared how Jesus took an inadequate young man who had very little and performed a huge miracle.  Just like the inadequate young man with very little Jesus is going to take this team this week and perform numerous miracles because we all were willing to let Jesus use us to further His Kingdom. 

First Time for This

The Honduran Staff felt it best we put out water and Gatorade coolers inside Lina's home. The team set up benches and we quickly made ourselves at home with the gracious approval of Lina.  She was thrilled for us to come in and out for our water breaks throughout the day.  But this was not the only first time something new happened.  Katherine, "Kat", was fluent in Spanish and in the Christian music as well.  She was offered a seat by Lina as Lina was sitting in her hammock.  One thing led to another and the next thing I observed was "Kat" going to her book bag to get her bible.  Everyone gathering inside Lina's home around fifteen the first morning were in awe of this North American blue eyed blonde who could speak and sing fluently in Spanish.  Kat's love for Jesus radiated this little adobe house and all the children learned many Christian songs, "Jesus Loves Me", "Father Abraham" and many more.  This all took place before praying over the first block.  God opened up a door for Kat and she took off with this amazing opportunity.  Lina is the only one in her family who is a Christian.  So Kat had a wide open mission field sitting right before her.  The children gazed with those huge brown eyes as Kat told a bible story.  She actually told the bible story, not read it but told it in Spanish without too much help from Media.  She needed Meida to help her with the story of Jonah.  This was a situation where you needed to be there to be truly blessed by the activity unfolding the first morning of Lina's construction on her home. 

On the second day Claire was in there for a water break and there was enough of those little blessings around who asked Claire to please sing with us.  Claire pulled out the song sheets and the children sang them some more with the help of Claire and Mitchell ending up coming in and joining the music.  Others came around the door of the adobe house to see what was happening in Lina's house.  Jesus Christ was unfolding through the mouths of babes.  Jesus can use any age to spread His Good News.   Because this week there was a huge amount of non believers observing these North Americans up on their hill.  They were curious as to what they were about.  So by the beautiful sounds of Christian music echoing out of this adobe house everyone was hearing about Jesus whether they wanted to or not.  The gospel of Jesus was being spread throughout the hill tops of La Criba.

The picture below was what I thought of when all this unfolded in Lina's home this week.  How beautiful this picture was live and in person.

Three Prayers of Blessings

Team leader, Steve, John and Mike prayed over the first block.  This was also a first but it was done beautifully.  Everyone gathered around Lina and her family as they placed their hands upon the first block.  Everyone who was standing around watching was asked to join us in the prayer of the first block.  There was numerous folks who gathered and bowed in worship unto the Lord.  We do not know if this was a first for a lot of these people but we pray it will not be the last time these folks prayed for our Lord and Savior.

pray continually,

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Learning Block Laying Honduran Style

On site coordinator, Mike, learned quickly when teaching his friends to lay block this was not John's first rodeo.  John may have been new to Honduras but he was not new to laying blocks.  Everyone else caught on again from last year and off they went.  They partnered up and worked hard side by side laying block and filling the joints.  They had extremely tight working conditions throughout the week but everyone was flexible to do what needed to be done.  They came to lay block and form these blocks into a home but as team member Mike shared during his devotion one evening we are hear to bring the lost to Christ.  The house is only a means to break the ice for our doorway to bring the plan of salvation.  We should be grateful for our salvation and want to share it with others.  Share with others the most beautiful story ever told, the story of Jesus Christ who sacrificed His life for you and for me.  We need to get excited about our eternal home, which is in Heaven. This is a short journey we are on and we need not waste any time sharing this story with a dark and lost world.  Lina's family needs a home where they are secure but this home is not anything but a home if they do not have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  If you are reading this today and you do not know Jesus Christ please do not let this chance go by.  You may not have tomorrow.  All God's children shouted AMEN!

1Praise the Lord.^a

Praise the Lord, my soul.

2I will praise the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

3Do not put your trust in princes,

in human beings, who cannot save.

4When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6He is the Maker of heaven and earth,

the sea, and everything in them—

he remains faithful forever.

7He upholds the cause of the oppressed

and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,

8the Lord gives sight to the blind,

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,

the Lord loves the righteous.

9The Lord watches over the foreigner

and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10The Lord reigns forever,

your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

---

Helping a Friend

Senovia, our cook had a death in her family the first day of the teams stay on Mt. Horeb.  Martha and Alexia jumped in and took care of their friend.  They cooked beans, rice, plantains  and tortillas.  Alexia and Martha cleaned the area as well as cleaned the dining hall.  We are so blessed to have staff who step up to the plate to make sure this ministry runs smoothly when someone else cannot do what they are hired to do.  We also had another staff member out sick all week as well, Arnold.  Also on the second day of Alexia's kitchen duty she received a phone call her sister had been taken to the hospital.  Alexia rushed away to the hospital as Martha continued on without skipping a beat.  All the time Martha was singing hymns as she served and worshipped the Lord.  These folks set the standards high as far as work ethics.  The team did not ever know we were short staffed.  All their needs were met throughout this small opportunity.  Thank you God for teaching us daily about the true commitment to YOU.

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

1 Chronicles 28:9

Choir Practice

I sat in the Pulperia Mt. Horeb waiting for the folks to come for their refreshments.  One by one they came. First Mitchell came and set and chatted for quiet some time.  Others joined him and pulled up chairs to sit and talk about their day.  Mitchell got up and left and came back with the guitar.  Well this was the beginning of an amazing hour of singing hymns in Spanish led by Kat and Claire as Mitchell accompanied them with the guitar.  Mike and I joined in and sang along with them.  Mike, the on site coordinator rang the supper bell for all of us to come to supper.  I asked Mitchell to take the guitar up to the multipurpose building to have for choir practice after supper. 

The team had a delicious supper.  After supper they shared in devotions and God moments.  After devotions they got serious on some more choir practice except this time the rest of the team joined them.  Mike, team member ask each of them to line up as if they were singing on Sunday morning.  They put a lot of effort preparing for worship on Sunday.  Thank you for singing Victory in Jesus in English and chorus in Spanish.   

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10

More Sand

The dump truck arrived with one more load of sand for the construction project.  They dumped it off at the top of the hill where the vehicles were parked.  Team member, Mike shared it was like a swarm of bees with the children who took off up the hill to help bring every last bucket of sand to the job site.  There was one little girl who carried a rusted paint can full of sand for well over an hour.  She wanted to make sure she did her part as well.  At one point she tripped and her can of sand fell out.  She stopped determined not to loose one grain of sand and she started scooping it up with her hands.  One of the teen age boys was going back with the wheel barrow to get more sand saw her and stopped to help her get all her sand back inside of her container.  John shared at the end of the day they were loading up the truck to head back home.  He was waiting for them to bring him the materials.  God gave him a chance to witness a little girl being a little girl.  She had helped carry sand the entire time but now she was making sand castles out of what was left of the big pile of sand.  God took his creation, sand, and was able for a little girl to simply have fun. 

Kat's devotional was about finishing the race God has called us to do.  On the third day the race was half way through and this team carried many buckets of sand so they could say they finished this one race for God.  There was many more races this week but this one was somewhat special.  Everyone worked together and completed the race.

The Reason We Came

The team found out early on Lina was the only Christian in her family and around her neighborhood.  She is surrounded by many beautiful grandchildren who are not saved.  Lina's prayer is for all her family to know Christ.  This week they have heard God's Word numerous times through singing songs in Lina's house to bible stories led by Kat, Claire and Mitchell. 

Outside on the work sight, Joe and Mike with the help of Alex led four gentlemen to the Lord.  Their age ranged from 18 to 24 years old.  They asked did they know Jesus Christ.  They said yes we have heard of him.  But the next question was do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?  Do you know where you are going to go when you die?  Well they answered no to the above questions.  Joe I believed asked them do they want the greatest gift of all, eternal life with Jesus Christ.  When they die one day they will have an eternal home.  Lina's home is only temporal your final destination needs to be with Jesus in heaven.  They all agreed and prayed the sinner's prayer with Joe.  Mike gave each gentleman a bible and Alex wrote their names inside of their bibles so they would know it was theirs to read each and every day.  Four men came to the Lord today, yes the blocks got done but it more than about laying blocks for this team.  They came to lead the lost to Christ.  While working Joe had a tugging on his heart to go to these group of men to see if they knew Jesus.  Thank you Joe for listening to the Spirit and responding to the calling to go and lead the lost to Christ.  All God's people shouted AMEN!!!!!

Worship Service at La Criba

The worship service started out singing praises unto the Lord.  The team was getting into this worship service with all hands and arms in motion.  The presence of the Holy Spirit was in this place.  They read a famous scripture Psalm 133 in Spanish from Pastor Gorge's wife, Ruth and English version was read by Ginger.  Pastor Gorge got up to welcome everyone for being in church today.  This church averages 80 plus children and teenagers each week.  There was over 150 total by the end of the service.  This was a beautiful sight seeing this many children and especially the teenagers in church.  The teenagers were already there doing a bible study in another part of the church.  They had their bibles out and notebooks in hand studying God's word.  What a testimony for all of us to experience such beauty in God's house.

The team shared two songs one was contemporary and they sang it all in Spanish.  The second was an old hymn, "Victory in Jesus.  They sang the verses in English and the chorus in Spanish.  The congregation joined in on the parts of Spanish.  John got up and shared his testimony of how we can learn so much from our children.  He shared he has learned how to be patient, time does not matter and things broken are not eternal from his son Eric.  How beautiful it is when we allow the children to change our lives if we would only let them.  Mike got up to share his testimony and he shared how he wished churches back home could have this many young people in church to worship the Lord.  He shred how he grew up in church but was led a stray and brought back into the ways of the world as a teenager.  But a few years back God led him back to church and his life has been forever changed.  Mike shared it is humbling to know I can go to God with anything and He will take care of me.

Ruth, Pastor' wife shared scripture from Mark 10:13 in letting the little ones come unto me.  This is definitely the case in this church.  This church is full of eager and inquisitive minds wanting to learn more about Jesus.  Most all the children had bibles they were looking up the scripture as it was being shared throughout the worship service.  The children were dismissed to go to Sunday School as Steve prepared to bring the message on "Almost".  Steve shared he prayed this message today will either encourage the believers or bring the lost to Christ.  Pray that through the Holy Spirit your life will be forever changed.  Almost is a big problem all over the world.  Steve shares the scripture about the Rich Young Man out of Mark 10:17-22.  He was not willing to give up everything he had to follow Jesus.  His stuff was more important to him than his eternity with Jesus.  You can almost be saved or not exactly saved or being close but not saved.  A lot of folks never make the decision the most important decision of their lives because of so many excuses.  I will do it tomorrow, maybe, they enjoy life just like it is, they do not want to give up their worldly ideas or they just think it is all fictious.   This is a scary thought for us as believers in Christ.  People do not take this decision seriously and it is the most important decision they will every make.  One day when they are before God at judgement there will not be a second chance.  There will not be any more excuses.  Steve shared out James 4:13-16 about all these excuses people have to say NO to Jesus. 

What keeps people from being almost there?  Number One is worldly thinking.  People do not fully understand who God truly is.  Number Two is worldly pleasures.  They know what they are doing are not pleasing in God's eyes yet they continue to live out these lives of the worldly pleasures.  I will sin just one more time and then maybe I will say yes to Jesus.  There is no second chances  Thirdly your own personal ambition is more important than God.  What you can get out of life is more important than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  You may think being a member of a gang is the life to have but this is only a terrible journey for you to follow as Pastor Gorge shouted AMEN!  Joining God's team is an eternal life with God and His Son, Jesus.  A life of no more sorrow, no more pain.  You are going through life and everything is okay you think.  You can handle this without God until your marriage fells, you get a terminal illness or someone dear passes.  Who do you turn to then?  Can you do this alone?  No, you cannot.  This is why you need Jesus Christ to get you through the good times as well as the bad times.   Today there is no reason you should leave here and not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  You have heard it now it is your choice. Steve encouraged them to get with Pastor Gorge if they are ready to receive the sweetest gift of all, Jesus.

While Steve was preaching there was about 50 little ones hearing about Jesus as well. Claire read John 3:16 and shared with them about how Jesus can be their Lord and Savior if they only let Him into their lives.  Alex translated the message as Claire shared.  Before starting they sang numerous songs with the children.  They were able to make a cross out of popsicle sticks to take home as a reminder of Jesus dying for their sins.  The worship service was dismissed with everyone shaking hands and greeting each other in the name of Jesus.  This was a beautiful day in the house of the Lord.

VBS Mucho Ninos

Kat, Claire and Mitchell with the help of Meida, Mike and Ginger show up to a church full of children.  We guesstimated about 150 children.  Meida started the time with singing songs until they all came in and got settled for an afternoon of VBS.  Kat did an amazing job of "telling" the bible story to the children of Jonah and the Whale.  She shared this precious bible story with enthusiasm as the children sat fairly attentively.  Thank you Kat for telling this story with love from your heart for Jesus Christ.  After the bible story we broke the children up into three different groups.  One group stayed behind with Kat to make a whale out of paper plates.  This group of children mostly girls worked hard on their whales while Kat assisted them.  Meida went outside with Mitchell and Claire and did some outside activities with the boys, Frisbees and bubbles.  They played Duck Duck Goose as well.  In a side room Mike and Ginger were face painting with the help of four Hondurans.  One young man was quiet the artist.  Mike and I decided to bow out and let the Honduran church members continue with the face painting.  This group of children were attentive and waiting while drawing a picture of Jonah and the Whale.

This Little Gift From God

Lina opened her home up daily to the team.  This little gift was full of hospitality, love, laughter and sharing the love of Jesus through bible stories and songs.  The team went in daily to take a break or get a drink and enjoy the most generous hospitality around La Criba.  The love of Jesus was in one lady named Lina but on the last day during VBS in this little gift from God Lina's daughter Marie accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  It was worth it all to have Marie and four more people accept Christ.  We now have five new brothers and sisters in Christ.  Now Lina and Marie can raise these children in a godly home where Jesus will be known and talked about.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

Moving Blocks and other Materials

This has become a norm for all North American teams.  The blocks do not seem to make it inside the foundation upon delivery.  We only can ask but I suppose we should be grateful they made it to the job site.  This was a tight spot up on a hill with actually no road to the property.  So God is good all the time.  The team started moving the blocks into the foundation.  The family and neighbors were helping as well.  This was a team effort.  Alex, our translator was busy helping the team with what needed to be done.

While all this was taking place Pastor Carlos, the team construction leader was laying out the corners with the assistance of Pastor Gorge, Lina's pastor.  After about an hour things were coming together and they were near ready for the first block to be laid.  It was an extremely hot day on the first day.  Everyone was feeling it but thankful for our visit to Lina's home to drink some cold liquid and receive a warm bit of hospitality.  Thankful and grateful for all Lina had to offer each of us this week.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 7:24

The End of the Blocks

The team headed out on Day Three with the encouragement of laying the last of the blocks.  They worked very hard all day along side of their Honduran friends.  Pastor Carlos, Cristobal and numerous neighbors and family of Lina mixing the mescal.  Everyone continued as the walls kept going up and relationships continue to build.  While the walls were going up Kat and Claire were singing with  the children and telling another bible story, this time about Jonah.  Everyone was busy for the Lord and never once complained about how hot this particular day was.  Thank you to Mike, on site coordinator who lend an extra hand for them on Day Three. 

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

Matthew 25:23

Roof Goes Up

As Mitchell watches from afar he decides to go up and join John in this task.  Joe and Sammy passed the tin up along with Lina's grandsons.  It was a joint effort and all worked hard to make this home complete.  As the roof was going up there was some of the team members in Lina's other home discussing her new home with her.  She said I have prayed forty some years to have a home as nice as this one and God has answered my prayers.  She shared she went out to buy a new hammock for her new home.  The team on the third day put hooks in her house for her hammock.  She is getting excited about moving into her new soon.  We are so blessed to have served our Lord first and then God gave us all such a blessing in Lina.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

Praying and Preparing the Completion of Lina'a Home

The team gathered each morning with all you were around to pray for the day.  This last day prayers went up as the amazing week was coming to an end. Team leader, Steve prayed for the morning ahead with all the team and Hondurans had to do to complete Lina's new home.  Mitchell and John volunteered to put the roof on the home.  Mitchell observed before climbing up to do his part in helping John put the roof in place.  The house could be done perfectly but if the roof is not done perfectly the family could still get wet.  These two gentlemen with the help of Mike and Pastor Carlos did a beautiful job completing this house into a beautiful home for Lina and her family.  God is good all the time.  Mitchell is a twenty year old young man who is mature beyond his years.  His devotional definitely exhibited this the other evening.  Today he showed he was willing to do anything for and in the name of Jesus.  John and Mitchell worked well together for the Lord today.  Thank you both for getting up high and complete the project for your team. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

A Beautiful Dedication

The team presented Lina and her family with a familiar praise hymn called "La Unica Razon De Mi Adoracion".  This was song by Kat, Claire and accompanied on the guitar by Mitchell.  Everyone joined in and sang along with them.  Everyone present was clapping and praising the Lord.  This was a beginning to a beautiful time of worship. 

The dedication continued with team leader, Steve sharing out of 2 Chronicles 7:15-16  about how we can build a house but it takes Jesus to make this house a home.  Lina your home will be a home where others can hear about Jesus. You have opened your home to us this week so graciously to complete strangers.  You always greeted us with a smile so our prayer this will continue in your new home where Jesus will lead and guide your family daily.

We gathered around the house with the family and friends who had been watching all week.  God blessed us with Mitchell and Claire our youngest team members who did a prayer over the home.  Steve wanted Claire and Joe, her father to do this together.  Joe closed out the prayer after Claire completed her prayer.  Kat presented the bible and the key to Lina.  Maida assisted Lina in opening her home.  Lina opened the door enter in followed by all her family.  She stood there with tears in her eyes thanking everyone for providing her and her family with this home. 

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
2 Chronicles 7:15-16

After the dedication the team entered the old home one more time to do VBS with the 15 plus children who were there everyday.  The children especially Juan was excited it was just going to be them and the team.  He felt very special about this time in his grandmother's home.  Kat, Claire and Mitchell did Zacchaeus and actually did a craft with them as well as sang their favorite songs with the children one more time.  We are grateful for this choice of doing the last VBS in Lina's home and not at the church because God had a plan for this time.  Lina's daughter Marie accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Now Lina and Marie will be able to share the love of Jesus with all their children and grandchildren.  What a beautiful ending to an amazing week.  Five people came to Christ during this home construction.  As we shared one evening all teams are evangelism teams and this team proved it this week.

Unique Week

Longview Baptist Church asked back earlier this year could they work on the ministry campus with team number two.  We said of course this would be awesome.  Mike started working on the foundation for the Honduran Dorms early on.  We hired five extra Hondurans to come and dig out the foundation and have it ready for Longview's arrival.  The starting of this new project gave five extra gentlemen a job in order for them to be able to provide for their families.  Thank you God for this opportunity to further your kingdom here on earth spiritually and physically. 

The first morning the team gathered on the front porch to pray over their breakfast and their day ahead.  They broke bread together as one big family not knowing what an amazing week lie ahead for all involved. 

The five extra gentlemen started worked at seven so they had everything prepped for the North Americans upon arriving to the job site.  The Longview Baptist team came because they wanted to see this phase of the ministry up and running.  The main purpose of this ministry campus is for the Hondurans to have a place to come and worship with retreats for adults, youth and children.  The work dedicated this week will help us get closer to this goal.  We have already had several day women's conferences, one daily youth conference and another church wanted to have a day youth conference.  A neighboring association had a pastors' meeting here for the day early in the year.  So the word is getting out about Mt. Horeb.  Folks are getting excited about the potential the ministry campus will endure for the people here one day.

Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children."
Deuteronomy 4:10

Praying Over First Block

Shortly after the team arrived to the job site where the many blocks are forming the Honduran Dorms they prayed over the first block.  The team was also blessed with numerous Hondurans working along beside them and a concrete mixer as well.  Pastor Randy placed his hand gently over the shoulder of one of the Hondurans before praying.  Pastor Carlos along with the other Honduran workers squatted down over the first block preparing their hearts for the week ahead.  This is a dream come true for Pastor Carlos as this week began to unfold.  Pastor Randy prayed for this structure to become a place of worship for many years to come.  This will be where God will be known and loved by all who pass through the doors of this facility.  The structure has been placed right below the "Prayer Rock" on Mt. Horeb.  When completed will be able to house up to 100 plus people.  Pray with us as God continues to bless this ministry to further HIS kingdom here on earth.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:13

Block 101 and Off They Went

Mike gathered his friends for a lesson on laying block Honduran style.  Of course they all caught on very quickly.  After Mike did several blocks they disbursed to their corners and started laying blocks and filling in the joints quiet beautifully.  This team may have been small in numbers but they were powerful in the Lord.  They each one came for one purpose to help put the walls up for the future of Mt. Horeb's ministry campus.  Manuel stood back in awe of the quickness and adequate workmanship performing before him.  Walls began going up and once again the language barriers started coming down.

The morning progressed as each person found their place and kept the blocks forming into walls.  The Hondurans kept the mescal coming and this became a well greased machine.  The flow of the day became was evident God was in this place.  The ladies assisted in the filling of the joints which allowed the men to work quickly with the laying of the blocks.  Everyone's job was important as this foundation was forming into many walls.

By the end of day two I believe  you could tell someone had been working hard.  The Hondurans actually built up one side and the North Americans built up the other side.  They estimated 1900 blocks were placed onto this foundation in four and half days.  They team was taken back as how quickly the job was getting advanced.  The five extra Hondurans really helped the process run quickly.  They kept the mescal coming and there was really very little down time.  You had to make down time if you wanted it.  What a beautiful way to exhibit the love of Christ by working side by side with different languages and cultures.  This has to be God in the center of all this beautiful work.  Thank you God for your provision of materials, good health and good fellowship.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:6

Thank You For Our Staff

We give thanks to God first for all the many blessings on Mt. Horeb Ministry Campus.  After we give God all the praise and honor I want to say thank you for such an amazing staff.  Without these guys the work could not get done.  They are committed and dedicated to their work and their families.  They work long and hard daily with whatever needs to be done.  Jose and Arnold spent several mornings machetting the grounds.  The five extra gentlemen worked side by side hauling the mescal and preparing the four corners.  Pastor Carlos leads his flock ever so gently with grace and humbleness.  They listen to his ever command with the upmost of respect.  Pastor Carlos and Mike are a team within themselves preparing and planning out each week of work for our staff as they come eagerly to work for Mt. Horeb.  We are blessed and we thank you God for all of these folks.

And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."  1Kings 8:61

Time of Food and Fellowship

Each day we gathered together around the table to share about life's blessings.  They would teach us their language as we would teach them our language.  The North American got to eat many different foods and some very familiar foods.  A specialty this week was okra.  The ministry campus has a lot of okra coming off and the team got to enjoy some good old southern cooking.  They actually had a tomato sandwich with Crowder Peas one day for lunch.  These are just a few perks when you work on the ministry campus.  Team member Jake said this brought back child hood memories eating a good old tomato sandwich with Crowder Peas.  Each meal was always a surprise for our friends from Longview.  They fell in love with the chop suey  as Jake added okra to his dish.  We are always blessed as teams gather together to share in food and fellowship.  We are once again very blessed with a special group this week.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

Harvest of Corn

This is always a special day on Mt. Horeb.  This will be our second harvest this season.  This is a huge deal for our staff as they prepare for this day.  Each staff has a job to do to make all this come together.  First of all Rudy, Wuilmer and Alexia go pick the corn.  Then they bring it to be taken off the cob.  Manuel goes to the town of Pavana to get it grounded up to prepare for tamales.  He brings it back to Martha and Senovia to prepare the mixture where it is then put back into the husk.  The husk is placed into a large pot which is sitting over a blazing fire.  Once they are warmed they are ready to enjoy.  What a delicacy  for our friends.  They shared their tamales at lunch with us that day.  The team prepared for sandwiches but got a bigger treat instead.  Martha loves this day because she loves her corn.  She and Rudy roasted some of the corn as well. Everyone got a stomach full of corn on the day of harvesting.  We ate tamales and corn for several days.  What a gift from God!!!

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

Genesis 8:22

Drip Drip

God has a sense of humor.  Jake is a product of this beautiful sense of humor.  Mr. Jake brings joy and laughter to everyone.  Jake as well as Mike share a favorite bible verse.  Interestingly enough they both have this bible verse memorized by heart.  There is not many more bible verses my husband Mike knows but this is one he has memorized.  We have been blessed with numerous bible verses on canvases painted by my dear friend Sheri.  Mike did not think it would be appropriate   to have this painted on a canvas and displayed in the multi purpose room, maybe the men's dorm room.  Any way the bible verse is very appropriate to a happily married couple like Jake and Sondra, Mike and Ginger as well. 

A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

Proverbs 27:16-17

A Special Moment

Our team is composed of some very young senior adults.  Alexia found out the ages of some of her new friends and was shocked at their work level.  She was actually impressed with their stamina.  We believe word got out of how old their North American friends were.  Sondra shared during God moments one evening how she sat down on one cinder block to take a break.  Sondra shared how she got down but struggled a little to get back up.  Later when she went back to her one cinder block to take a break one of the Honduran workers had built it up to three high and two wide for her to have easier assess.  Glenda shared how they helped them cross the board from the outside of the foundation to enter into the inside.  They took great care of us throughout the entire week.  This was humbling for each of us.  Gene has some back issues so by the end of day two or three he could not lift another block.  Mike shared the need for the rebar to be formed for the columns for the next day.  Alexis and Oso, the black rock wilder taught Gene how to do this important job.  By Gene sitting there one afternoon and the entire next day it helped the rest of the team to continue the flow of the project without a delay.  Every job is important when you are working for the Lord.  Gene said he was able to make one complete form in a minute and a half.  So do the math.  Gene constructed quiet of few of these little babies for the work to continue. He also made a new friend in Oso, our guard dog.  Gene was a huge blessing to his team this week.  He shared during God moments one evening it does not matter the age of a person it is their willingness and wanting to serve the Lord.  There is a job for everyone if they will just reach out with a willing heart.  Also a lot of these gentlemen are not Christians.  They are not believers.  The team was also humbled by their genuineness and kindness shown towards them.  We shared their our some Christians out there who could learn from their non Christian friends. 

Jake shared in church on Sunday how we should love one another as we would want to be loved.  This caused me to reflect back on the work sight where we have non Christians exhibiting this type of love.  Pray with us as they share this love with others they will learn about the greatest love of all Jesus Christ.  Jake shared the verses below during worship on Sunday and this is how we as Christians should love others as we would want to be loved.  God has blessed us once again through the actions of the Hondurans.  Thank you God.

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 4:21

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

Hebrews 13:1

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 1:22

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8

VBS

The ladies presented a two day lesson about being created special and the creation of the world.   They were able to look into a paper mirror of  themselves to see who they were and know they were all each very special in the eyes of God.  They were suppose to make a puppet which was to look like them and then sang a song called "God is So Good".   At the end of the first day they learned about Philip and the Ethiopian in preparation of a skit the following day.

On the second day the numbers increased as some of the older children, the teen agers came out to learn about all they heard from the others the day before.  They continued the story of the Good  Samaritan and got to color a picture of what they learned.  Glenda and Sondra led four of the boys into doing a skit about the Good Samaritan.  The boys were so excited to get to wear costumes and act the skit out.  Once the Good Samaritan came through and took the hurt person out, he literally picked up his friend and carried him out the side door.  Everyone was in awe of how well the four young men did with their skit.  They took this very seriously and did a great job.  They gathered into a circle to do an activity where we exampled out what Jesus would do.  Jesus gives, Jesus is happy, Jesus shares the love of his Father through the Word,  Jesus praised His Father and Jesus is caring.  The children had an interesting time doing this activity.  They formed a big circle and if one of them was Jesus is happy they had to look at their neighbor with a smile and this continued around the entire circle until it got back to the beginning.  This was lots of fun with lots of laughter from all.

Well the ladies brought globes which had to be blown up.  Thank you God for those teen age boys who showed up on the second day.  We put them to work blowing up fifty of these balls called the globe.  Pastor Pedro, Meida, Mike and the ladies were all busy blowing these balls up while the children colored their pictures.  The children wanted to complete their pictures so this allowed plenty of time to get this task completed.  All in all this was a beautiful day with the children in God's house.  The ladies shared how well behaved and respectful the children were through out the two days of VBS. 

Once a lawyer stood up to test Jesus with this question, "Master, what shall I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How does it read?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind; also your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."

But wishing to justify himself he said to Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered, "A certain man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho fell in with robbers who after stripping and beating him went away, leaving him half dead. Now it happened that a certain priest was going by the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.
"In the same way a Levite, when he came to the place, looked at the man and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, travelling along, came near to where the man was, and when he saw him he was filled with pity. He came to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine. Then he set him on his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two pieces of money and gave them to the inn-keeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend I will pay you when I return.'
"Which of these three do you think proved neighbor to the man who fell in with robbers?" He said, "The man who took pity on him." Jesus said to him, "Then go and do likewise."

Luke 10:25-37