North Americans Meet Pastor Salvador and Family

Catalyst Church has been planning for this moment for many months.  They met sometimes twice a month to prepare their hearts spiritually and to teach their four new friends who came more about this beautiful culture of Honduras.  It was a beautiful one hour ride towards the Nicaragua border to a community called El Quebracho Namasique, Choluteca, Honduras. God blessed Catalyst team with a precious family.  There project was actually not suppose to be here but this is where God wanted them to be this week and it was the perfect location for this team who worked with Pastor Salvador, husband and father, Maribel, wife and mother, daughter Evelin and son Allan.  Mike and Mark gathered everyone together to introduce the family and the team who was fixing to get blessed beyond their imaginations. I find it so interesting how North Americans come here every year knowing how hot it is going to be and how hard they will have to work yet they keep coming back and not only do they keep coming back but they bring new friends, Fred, Jillian, Aaron and Braxton with them.  Teams always leave at the end of the week more blessed than ever.  

Pastor Salvador was a emotional and teary guy which humbled all of us to tears with him.  Mike allowed him to introduce his family and say a few words and he choked up with gratitude for God first providing his family a new home where it will have windows and a door they can lock.  He shared how he was grateful for the team to come and leave behind their family and sacrifice their time for his family's home.  Mark's turn and he told Pastor Salvador and his family the team was thankful to be here and work beside them to provide them a home  Mark introduced his team before praying over their first day.  This morning was an answered prayer to everyone standing around this foundation which will soon turn into a home.

Mark Thank you

 Mark was a first time team leader who came on board with a prepared team ready to serve.  Mark is a team leader who does not mind asking questions and learning from the answers how to do his best for his team in Honduras.  He was an encourager for his team and worked very hard beside everyone.  There was not a task Mark would not do for the team or the family.  It was obvious by how they worked together in unity because they came into Tegus airport as a family even though there was four new people which some of the team did not know prior to signing up for their mission trip.  This is why it is so important to plan out at least six months and get to know one another and learn each other.  So once you all arrive it will be a smooth week as was for this group of people.  Job well done Mark.  Thank you for all your hard work.  

Preparing for the First Block

 

My only words here is Praise God for His prayers answered concerning safety for this team.  The project was all house and very little yard.  There was not anywhere on the property to park the vehicles.  So the first day the team unloaded the materials and paid close attention crossing the road which was a main highway to Nicaragua.  Pastor Salvador figured out something different for their safety after the first day.  So teams ask for prayers be sure to pray because all the projects are so very different and challenging in their own way.  God was so good to protect us this week.  Thank you all who prayed for this week and this team.  Hallelujah Praise His Name.

    After safely getting across the street they immediately starting moving blocks to where they needed to be along with two Honduran police officers.  There are four police officers on the North American team who asked our friend Chief Hernandez could we have some police officers to help their neighbors get a home.  The first day there was two gentlemen who only helped the first day. The rest of the week Franklin and Ricardo worked the entire project with the North American team.  They sifted sand, mixed mescala and laid blocks, whatever the need was these boys worked so hard for Pastor Salvador and his family to get a home.  It was great to see the police bound and get to know each other throughout the week and build relationships in Christ.

"Pray without ceasing."

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Praying Over First Block

 

Our translator Meida gathered the family around the first block and asked them to place their hands on it as the team and others laid hands from afar as Fred prayed over the first block. He prayed the home would be a safe place and a place where Christ Jesus will be at the center of this home. This first block is the first of 800 blocks going into making this house a home for Pastor Salvador and Maribel and children.  We were so blessed to be a part of this very special day.  Thank you God for your provisions to be here this day.

Pastor Salvador's Dream Coming True

Braxton Aaron and Fred picked one of the hardest jobs to do on their first day serving in Honduras.  They worked diligently along side of the two police officers and Maribel's father, age 72, who ran circle around all of us all week long.  He wanted his daughter and her family to get their home.  Even our Meida who is the translator, pitched in to help the team out.  Tino, our bus driver helped as well.  Everyone worked together as a team to get that mescal flowing continuously all day long.  Did they grow tired and weary well of course they did, hot and sweaty, endless strenuous labor all day long but if you were to ask them why they were doing all this hard work they would all say for Jesus.  Jesus is the reason folks from North America come here to work harder than they probably have ever worked before but the beauty of it is they are working beside some beautiful and most grateful people here in Honduras.  The first day the two police officers helping were filling in only for one day for Ricardo and Franklin.  They worked hard as if they would be there all week and with joy in their hearts.  They were grateful to be able to help a neighbor of whom they serve and protect on a daily basis.

 As the mescla was being mixed and delivered the 800 blocks were being laid by the rest of the team.  Actually everyone at some point during the week laid numerous blocks.  New team member Fred asked Mark at lunch on the first day were they on schedule.  Mark who shared yes we are all doing a great job working together as one.  Later that evening during devotionals Mark shared with the team for the first day working side by side as a team for the first time is was humbled by the unity he saw throughout the entire day which led up to the devotional he shared their first evening on the gift shop porch.  

Mark was reading a book called Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders.  But title his devotional: 

"The Master's Master Principal "  - "Servanthood"

When we are back home we lack that mindset.  But once we allow our heart to kick it our duties, etc in our daily lives becomes more than just a menial job.  It becomes a joy in serving Jesus Christ.  In Isaiah 42:1 " Here is my servant, whom I uphold my chosen one in whom I delight, I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations and he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth."  An ideal servant made himself nothing and Mark referred to Philippians 2.  Mark shared how hard this is back home to stop in the midst of our "businesses"  to see someone in need or to take the time to help someone in need.  It is hard for us to turn everything over to God in our faith walk.  When we come to Honduras it helps us remember how easy it can be done because of how we all serve well together with unity for helping Pastor Salvador and family to receive their home.  There are so many characteristics Mark mentioned during his devotional, we need to be modest about our serving, the way we present ourselves, not boastful but with humble hearts, empathy for others, and with joy in our hearts when we do all things for Jesus.  We need optimism in our lives.  All we need this side of heaven is a strong relationship with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We all as busy North American Christians need to take time for Jesus and don't wait until we come to Honduras to do this.  We need to hunger for time with our Lord and Savior on a daily basis so we can have this strong and intimate relationship with Him.  In Matthew 6:33 it says "Seek first the kingdom of God", John 12:26 "Where I am, there my servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."  If we have this personal relationship with Jesus Christ we will know exactly what God wants us to do and not what man or ourselves think we are suppose to do for the Kingdom of God.  Mark's last works of his devotional was so profound,  "God was already here in Honduras, waiting on us to come serve beside Him and for that our rewards will not be here on this earth but in Heaven.  Because we were all obedient to His calling."

During their first day there was some precious God moments, Jennifer witnessed Pastor Salvador cry as his doors went into his home and the entire team was humbled each day by a hot Honduran meal served by Mabriel and Eveliyn, her daughter.  They were all humbled by how the grandfather worked so hard for his daughter's family.  How God provided their safety crossing the highway with materials and how on the second day Pastor Salvador had a means for all vehicles to be on the side of the road where the project was located.  How they provided a blue tarp to keep them and their water and Gatorade cooler shaded all day long.  The small things the family provided for the North American teams in the long run was huge gifts from God for their physical protection.  Thank you God for all your provisions for everyone this week.

Living Water

 I am sure there was more than Mark and Tracey giving out water to the Honduran workers but these are the ones I captured the days I was blessed to be there.  They had a great system set up to make sure the Hondurans stayed hydrated.  Every thirty minutes the timer would go off to remind someone to take care of their new friends in Honduras.  This entire team had extreme servant hearts throughout the whole week, but like I said earlier they prepared their hearts prior to coming here this week.  As well as the physical water God provided the living water as well.  Jesus was evident on this property in El Quebracho Namasigue, Choluteca, Honduras.  Jesus' light shined all week in everyone serving together.

Feeding the Multitudes

 Yummy is the best word to describe Honduran women's cooking.  They enter into those quant kitchens and come up with the most amazing dishes for all to enjoy.  This is not the normal for most teams eat peanut butter and jelly or ham sandwiches daily.  Mike and I did not know how this week in the cuisine department was going to unfold.  The very first day was chicken soup which honestly on most last days of many projects this is their gratification meal to the North Americans in coming to help them build their homes.  But not this week, this week the special meal got served first but yet the lunches kept getting better and better,  One day they had fried fish, with fried bananas, bean and rice soup, chicken and rice with veggies I believe was the last day.  These meals were served with love as the team went behind the brother's home of Maribel where it was at least ten degrees cooler and sat around together and broke bread or might I say tortillas together.  Our sweet Meida helped Eveilyn serve the team their meals daily.  Once again seeing Jesus' servants hard at work loving and serving others.  There is not ever a language barrier when it comes to Honduran food except when you say thank you in Spanish, correct Braxton?  Quero mos is I want more in Spanish and the team figured out very quickly to watch out for Mr. Mike and his tricks.  Buen porvecho definitely means enjoy your meal and this team just that the entire week!!!!!

Restaurante De Cristobal

 

As I have shared earlier this year is going to be a little different.  But this different right here on this post is a gift from God.  Cristobal's wife has taken half of her home we built her and Cristobal last year, 2020, and made it into a restaurant.  For several years she has been famous for her fried chicken and when there was not any teams on Sunday evening Mike and I would buy four plates and whoever was on duty for guarding the campus got this special treat.  Well, Mike and I are trying to carefully protect our teams coming in and also the Hondurans from too much interaction and I suppose clusters of groups until further notice.  So we ask the team was it okay to eat their last meal at the Restaurant de Cristobal.  I thought it quiet sweet Margaretta named her restaurant after her husband.  So off we go with our reservations for the local and only restaurant in our neighboring community called Pavana.  She and her daughter did a phenomenal job and the team was pleased and left with full stomachs.  So this was a win win for everyone.  The North American left blessed and we are supporting our neighboring community Pavana.   As I close this blog out on one final note, several of our devotionals this past week tie in with this restaurant experience.  Jennifer especially shared we have so much and well you know the rest of this sentence.  Our cozy experience at this restaurant was absolutely perfect in every way.   The simplicity of it all was an experience you will just have to come and experience for yourself.  Outside the restaurant as we dined life was going on.  Margaretta was continuously filling take out orders as the locals looked inside the restaurant to a full house. Jennifer's scripture reference was Isaiah 40:31, "We wait on God". I can only imagine how Margaretta feels having her restaurant full to capacity when a year ago there was nothing at all.  Cristobal and Margaretta worked hard on making her dream a reality.  I continuously told her, "Your restaurant needs a name.  So when arrived Sunday evening it was almost like this was her grand opening.  She had put up on one of the walls the name of her new restaurant and I saw her husband's name up there.  I almost cried.  Margaretta is soaring on wings like an eagle.  Our Honduran families never worry about tomorrow and they are always content with what they have.  But this was a blessing to actually see a family successfully provide for their family on a weekly basis. And this leads up to Braxton's devotional "Don't be afraid just believe." out of Mark 5:36.  They had the faith and belief God will provide this restaurant and now customers coming not just when teams are here, but the Honduran police come to order and eat as well.  Marietta's smile is enough to fill anyone with joy.  She takes what she has and makes it into an amazing plate of some delicious fried chicken, fried bananas, slaw, and tortillas. Closing out Aaron's devotional shared everything we do is for the Lord. Aaron's grandmother told him once when he was a child, "Whatever you do, do it all for the Lord."  1 Corinthians 10:31 cannot be more appropriate to end this particular blog. "Whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  Amen y amen.

Home Dedication

 Saturday morning we left Dr. Mario's office and headed towards El Quebracho Namasigue to finish out what God had called team leader Mark, his wife Tracy, who also was an amazing support for her husband all week, Danny and Jennifer, Aaron and Jillian, Fred, and Braxton.  This past week was nothing shy of amazing on how the North Americans build lasting memories with not only the family but with the Honduran police, Franklin and Ricardo.  God blessed this week beyond any of these people's wildest imaginations.  First of all I give God all the glory for allowing Mike and I along with Pastor Carlos to pick this precious family for this very precious team. The day Mike and I met the family to tell them they would be receiving a home on February 16 I shared, "This is going to be a home for a very special family you all and a very special team is coming along side you to help make this happen!"  The team was simply amazing as they didn't think another thought of their covid-19 test if it would negative or positive,  They went out on faith and finished their project strong.  

As the dedication service began Mark opened up with prayer and then thanked them for allowing his team to come serve beside them. Mark asked Pastor Salvador if he wanted to share any words.  God bless this man with tears in his eyes he could hardly say thank you to God and the team but his sweet tears said it all. Amen y amen. Then Franklin, the Honduran police officer thanked everyone for helping his neighbor and friend receive his home.  A side bar Chief Hernandez could not be there this week due to work, a mission, in Tegus.  So he met the team at the airport and thank them for helping his people as they do continuously .  Our country is blessed to have ya'll come here.  God bless each of you, he shared, and safe travels back to all your family and friends.  He then asked Danny and Jennifer to present the Bible to the family.  Jennifer shared how the bible is their spiritual protection as they enjoy their new home.  Aaron and Jillian presented the cross.  Aaron shared the cross represents Jesus Christ's life for all of us and Jesus was the reason we all came to serve you this week.  Jesus will prayerfully be the center of your home. Fred shared the scripture Psalm 127:1 and prayed over the home.  Fred shared unless God build this home the labor would have been in vain.  God ordained this home to His glory and we pray your family will use this home to reach others for Jesus Christ.  Pastor Salvador shared he had invited his church family to come to his new home to worship on Sunday.  So he was already planning to use his home for the glory of God.  Mark presented Pastor Salvador with his key to his new home.  Pastor Salvador unlocked his new slowly entered it followed by Maribel, Evelin, Allan, Luis and the grandfather.  He turned around and said to the team please come into my home, you can be my first guests.  Well, we were all humbled and honored for this invitation.  Fred suggested we sing a hymn.  So a familiar old hymn "Victory in Jesus" was song together in English and Spanish.  Guess what folks in Heaven there will not be a language barrier.  We will all praise the Lord in one language1!!!

Worship Service

 

This year is going to be different in alot of areas and worship is one for now anyways.  As we shared with a long time retired missionary and friend, one day at a time sweet Jesus.  So Sunday morning we had our pancakes of course, this has not changed.  But worship service followed on the North American porch as Mark brought the message from God's Word.  I believe it is said where two or more or gathered God will be glorified.  Mark obviously spent quiet some time on his preparation for sharing the gospel.  Thank you Mark for the time you took to share the Word.

Title of Mark's sermon was "Having Unlimited Faith".  Mark shared with his fellow police officers sitting in the circle how we all wake up each day not knowing what the day will hold.  Actually this applies to all of us.  But Mark shared his unlimited faith in God is what pulls him through all aspects of his daily walk.  This last year in both Honduras and United States has been a year where we may not want to remember.  Many times we need to remember our past in order to move forward and build for the future in our relationship with God.  God tells us in Isaiah 46:9 "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me." to remember because He knows we have a tendency to forget.  Mark shared three points to always remember to help us get through tough times"

Remember whom you are!!!!  Galatians 3:26-29, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Remember who you belong to!  Isaiah 43:1 says, "But now, this is what the Lord says-He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel; "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine."  No matter what storms you are going through God is always with  you.  It does not matter if a hurricane is coming through, if a pandemic or sickness is among us or if you're having problems in your family, He will always be right there walking with you through all the suffering.  We as believers must always remember to give Him praise as well.  He is walking along our side in the good time and through all of our accomplishments.  God deserves all the praises in all circumstances.

Remember where you are going! If you are a born again Christian and you believe in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior your final destination is in Heaven.  Many times we find comfort in knowing where our love ones are when they take their last breath.  Their final citizenship is in Heaven.  Philippians 3:20-21 says "But our citizenship is in Heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."  The things we endure here on earth are nothing compared to what we will experience in Heaven.  Remember you belong to Heaven and not to the world.  You have a Savior and His name is Jesus Christ.

God's Presence is with You:

There is no way anyone can covey or describe how close God wants to be with you.  When you believe, you truly give your life to Christ and accept Him into your heart then you will begin to understand God's desire to be with you.  We cannot just reach over and physically hold God's hand.  We have to have faith that He is right beside us.  Acts 17:27-28 says "God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.  For in Him we live and move and have our being." Matthew 28:18-20 says, "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Understanding this concept of the Holy Spirit being with us always sometimes does not come easy.  We have to rest our soul, we have to have peace of mind, and joy in our spirits.  When we discover these things and have faith it will free our minds from unneeded anxiety and it will shine a light to guide our way giving us the wisdom to navigate the craziness of our lives.  This is also something we can say one day and forget about it.  How are we to keep God close to us.  We must work and remain in His Word studying and praying daily as much as possible.  2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth."  Dwelling on His Word as much as possible and praying with keep us focused on our faith in God.

Our Father Never Forsakes His Children:

Not only must we remember how God feels about us and we must understand God's Presence is always with us but we must understand that God will never abandon or forsake His children. Sometimes we may feel abandoned by God.  When we have natural disasters, death, famine, persecution, and whatever negative events that has occurred in today's society we must understand God has not left us.  Have you ever felt abandoned, forsaken, or forgotten by God?  One of the hardest lessons to learn in our faith is to not trust our own feelings in these times of grief.  WE are human and as such our will power sometimes is not strong.  We allow ourselves to let our emotions get the best of us thus clouding our judgement and causing us to lose focus on God and what He has in store for us. Consider Jesus on the cross.  He must have felt forsaken by God His Father during the pain and sufferings  that He endured.  How could God the Father abandon His only beloved Son!!! Jesus said in John 8:29, "The One who sent Me is with Me, He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him." 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 says, "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

Having Unlimited Faith gives us comfort in knowing God has a plan regardless of the situation.  Mark referred to the story of Job and how he lost everything but still continued to have complete and unlimited faith in God His Father.  So when Satan tempted Job, Job stayed strong in God is Father.  And at the end of the chapter God gave Job a new home and a new family and once again because Job was faithful and trusted God's provision, his provision was restored.

Mark shared as he was preparing the sermon he realized being surrounded by religion was not enough.  Mark shared he needed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Mark shared the story of the woman who reached out to touch Jesus, if she could only touch Him she would be healed from numerous years of continuously bleeding.  This passage is in Mark 5:25-34.   The woman's touch was very different from just touching something.  Her touch was a touch of faith that Jesus would and could heal her.  Mark 5 was telling us that it is not enough to know that Jesus is the sacrifice who delivered us or the Savior of the world or the mighty healer and worker on our behalf.  It is only enough if we put our hand out and touch Him.  This touch of faith isn't the causal touch of careless presence by simply going to church, singing hymns or worship songs or putting money in the offering plate then forget about everything at the end of the last song until the next church service. This is the casual Christian who doesn't know the touch of faith.  We must live our faith out every single day of our life.  When we truly believe we have strength and courage to shine our light to our communities, our job, our family, our country, in whatever we are doing and where ever we are.  This looks very different sometimes depending on our lives.

If you want to believe and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ it is simple.  You only need to pray and ask Jesus Christ into your heart.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and believe that He is the true Lord and Savior.  If you believe and "Have Unlimited Faith" you will meet your Heavenly Father one day.

Team One for Monte de Horeb 2021

Our 2021 year started on February 1 with The Church at Perry Creek.  Joel was the team leader and lead his team amazingly to a beautiful little peace of heaven with tremendous shade all week from huge mango trees called La Cuesta San Lorenzo Choluteca Honduras.  As they traveled the first day, Tuesday for one hour and forty minutes of that was down a bumpy, rocky, did I saw very bumpy road.  But upon the arrival to Electerio and Gloribel and Deibin's property it was well worth this most uncomfortable journey.  The team gathered around the area of the foundation to meet and greet each other.  Due to the pandemic we no longer are holding hands as well pray.  But Joel shares a smiles speaks volumes of how much love there was around us all this first day of a beautiful week. Joel opened up our first prayer with this lovely family who have prayed for many years for this home.  Electerio works at a menial job working with his machete  wherever he was needed in his community.  Gloribel, mother, mother in law and grandmother is busy providing for the physical needs of her family daily and our very special young man, Deibin spends his days not hearing or speaking but sadly as we learned throughout this week was a very bright and gifted young man even with these obstacles in his life.  He knew enough sign language to communicate with everyone daily as the week progressed he was definitely one of our hardest workers and someone who exactly what do and when to to it.

Joel Had Amazing Help

 

Joel's team of eight Hondurans, Pastor Carlos who led the construction, Cristobal, Pastor Carlos' right hand man, Pastor Pedro who we were blessed to hire because he needed work, Yobana, one the workers from Monte de Horeb Ministry, Tino, who only works for us to drive but this week he did more than drive, Meida, who is our translator, who did more than translate, Mike and our sweet Debin, the son of the family got busily to work getting prepped for the very special moment of the first block. Pastor Pedro, Cristobal and Yobana placed the four cornerstones into place as Pastor Carlos went ahead of them prepping for this task.  Joel was busy getting Pastor Carlos all he needed in the line of tools to do each task. I sat back and watch Joel place his tools in place for the first cornerstone as Pastor Carlos went to the toolbox to look for his materials and they were not there.  This was a moment you simply needed to be there.  He looked in tool box with a puzzled look and turned around and there they were laying on the foundation waiting for the master of construction to perform one of his many miracles for this week.  Mike and Meida worked on the first days block cutting as Joel later joined them there as well.  Tino and Deibin worked very hard mixing mescala  for the first block.  There was a continue flow of hard core labor this first hour to be ready to lay this first block.

"He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it."

1 Thessalonians 5:24

First Block Is Most Important

 Gloribel and Deibin were asked to gather around their first block of their new home.  Deibin wanted to make sure he did this task to perfection for all watching.  He looked up at us for our approval and we gave him a thumbs up and a pat on his back.  He was one man hard not to love this week.  His love for the Lord was evident in his actions and his love for family was of most importance to him.  We all circled around them and laid hands on each other as Pastor Carlos dedicated this home to our Heavenly Father.  You could softly hear amens in the background as this prayer was full of the Holy Spirit.  This part of the first day is humbling as we are dedicating this home with the first block, the perfect cornerstone which in eternal terms is Jesus Christ.  To God be the glory for this precious and perfect time in La Cuesta San Lorenzo Choluteca Honduras.  All other life was going on around us but on this corner at this time God was being glorified for all to see.

House Starts Becoming a Home

 God already knew Joel's team of eight was going to do this in a timely fashion.  They were blessed with shade all week except for one corner.  It was a steady pace all week of working as a team and no one every grew tired or weary well except maybe Tino.  But Tino kept up with Deibin because even with Deibin's handicap of speech and hearing those two made a great team.  The second day of the project Electerio showed up to help build his home, which means this week there was not any income coming in for the family, but they were getting a home.  This is the first project in Mike and my 11 years where the community did not help their family or friends build their home.  Meida graciously asked one day why is not anyone helping us from other homes.  Gloribel has two sisters with their families who live very close by.  Electerio shared he could not afford to pay them.  This broke my heart but then it was truly their loss because we had a wonderful time full of hard work and laughter building this family their home.  Could it be jealously only God knows the answer to this question.  I just know it gone done and it was one beautiful home upon completion.

"Whatever you do. work heartily, as for and not for men."

Colossians 3:23

Monte de Horeb Ministry Has Much to Offer

 Joel reaped the benefits this week by allowing two teams to come play soccer on Tuesday evening.  We sat on the North American dorm and heard all the fun being had by everyone attending.  This group is from El Tabor, a neighboring community about five miles away across the main highway.  On Thursday through Saturday there was a youth group of 51 who came out for a spiritual retreat.  Praise God there was several salvations during this three day spiritual retreat.  They turned the soccer field into a worship center where they all gathered to do relationship building activities, skits, sang hymns, "Victory in Jesus" and worship time.  This was a very special time at Monte de Horeb Ministries.  The leader asked the quesiton, "If we are good will you let us come again, because we got so many more youth we want to bring out here just like this one?"  Of course Pastor Carlos said.  And they were amazingly quiet and cleaned up the entire campus prior to leaving on Saturday.  They will be coming back.  

We had cornhole tournaments Saturday and Sunday evenings with our week-end staff.  We look forward to cornhole and good ole fried chicken plates from Margarita's restaurant in Pavana.  After a very hard work week, the weekend was a welcome time of rest relaxation and fun.  

"Well done good and faithful servants"

Matthew 5:23

Roof and Floor

 As Mike and Pastor Carlos were up top putting on the roof the rest of the team was working hard on the floor.  They worked all morning and into the afternoon because there was not alot of help mixing the materials for the floor.  But that is ok too!!!!  They had all day and just like the whole week has been they paced themselves and work until it gone done and got completely to perfection.  Electerio and Gloribel's son, Ronnie came in from Tegus.  He is in the military and he is the reason they got their foundation.  He paid for the foundation for his parents.  Well Tino was so grateful for Ronnie and Delibin as they worked as a team to provide all the materials for the floor.  Joel and Pastor Pedro pitched in as well so others could take a break.  This was a very productive day in the name of Jesus.

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

1 Timothy 5:8

Relationships

I captured some sweet memories while waiting to dedicate the home.  The sweetest one is Electerio with his precious granddaughter as they are sharing a sit on the stoop of Grandpa's new home.  Also Ronnie obviously learned first aid in the military, because when he found out Pastor Carlos had twisted his wrist he walked over to where he was sitting and started massage it very aggressively until the point Pastor Carlos was clenching.  Lastly, Deibin looking into his new home admiring all the hard work he and all his new friends had done this past week to make these 800 blocks into his home.  After looking for a while inside th 19x25 home he returned around and gave us all a big smile.

"If you love me keep my commandments."

John 14:15

 

Home Built in the name of Jesus

 

All good things must come to an end.  We gathered around the finished home to close it out by giving God all the praise and honor.  Joel had Meida read from Psalm 127:1.  Joel shared if we think we built this home then we are vain.  Everything we have belongs to God first, not us.  God provides all our needs and we should stand here today and give God all the glory for this beautiful gift from Him.  Man only did the labor God provided everything else actually even the labor as well.  Meida presented Gloribel with her new Bible and Joel gave her the key.  Gloribel struggled for a while trying to unlock her home.  You see folks this was the very first time Gloribel will be able to lock and secure her home.  We gathered in front of the home with hands stretched out as Joel prayed the last prayer over this family's new home.  God is so good!!!!!

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who built it labor in vain.

Psalm 127:1