VBS Three Days and Worship on Sunday Under the Mango Tree

 

The local church is named New Hope Church and was established officially in November of 2013.  The people of El Porvenir did not have a church building or a pastor until November.  In November a team built a home for Ingrid and Tiodoro's family.  At this time they were not Christians but gave their new home to the Lord for the families to have a place to worship.  As of this week the community is still worshiping in Tiodoro's and Ingrid's home.  They meet three times a week in the evening for worship and Sunday School on Sunday for the children. The congregation has actively 35 plus adults and numerous children, maybe 60 children.  While the team was here they went down the path from the "church" and took a left to have their VBS and Sunday School under this huge mango tree.  This tree produced lots of shade and a breeze for the entire week.  The pastor of New Hope Church is Aureille, one of Pastor G's disciples.  He rides his motorcycle about two hours one way to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people.  He got up on Sunday morning to open the service with a story about a piece of gum.  He asked Maida would she like his gum.  He shared this was a free gift from him and he wanted her to have his gift.  She does not have to do anything to earn just receive it.  Aurielle then shared with the congregation how they can also have a free gift with no strings attached.   Just receive this gift with faith. This free gift is Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  He shared we do not have to do anything to earn this free gift please receive it with faith. God will provide all our needs.  Wow, how humbling this message was for me and I hope my fellow brothers and sisters.  Each person listened intently as Aureille shared his message under the mango tree this Sunday morning.  Somewhere this day you all hopefully were worshiping God in your local churches.  We all served the same God but in many different ways.  God only wants us to have faith in Him to deliver His message to a lost and dying world.  Please today worship God in whatever way you see fit but please worship HIM.  He deserves worship, honor and praise.

Three days Dianna, Betty Lynn, Carol and Lauren with the assistance of our Maida did VBS.  One day Dianna did the story of Jesus making fishers of men.  This was so appropriate for this community.  The men fish with nets when they are able to fish.  Dianna's visual of the fishing net with the fish inside of it caught the eye of every child and adult attending.  Lauren shared the bible story of Jesus and the Children on Sunday morning.  Pastor Trey was prepared to do a sermon if needed.  This is where the word flexibility comes an action word.  There were over 60 children and maybe 35 adults.  So the worship service turned into a Sunday School lesson on Jesus and the Children.  After the story crayons and pictures were given to everyone. I mean everyone colored a picture.  It was beautiful watching the different families gathered together coloring, laughing and enjoying being together as a family without working.  They were relaxed and having good old fashion Sunday afternoon fun.  Remember those days sitting on the front porch after church enjoying being with family and sipping on a glass of ice tea.  This is what I visualized that Sunday morning watching the Honduran families enjoying the pleasures of life.  They were not worrying about anything but coloring their pictures and having fun.  After they finished coloring, Pastor Trey asked permission to teach the children a couple of games.  Well our old time favorite "Duck Duck Goose" after much explaining and demonstrating became a well loved game.  But then Pastor Trey introduces the "Bottle Game".  All this game requires is an item, which ours was a empty 2 liter coke bottle and children.  The rest is history full of laughter had by all.  I have never seen the Hondurans laugh as hard and long as I did this Sunday under the mango trees.  This is memories they will talk about for years to come.  The children have learned a new game they can play which only requires an empty 2 liter coke bottle or whatever else might be laying around.  Thank you Reggie, Dianna, Betty Lynn, Pastor Trey, William, Mack, Lauren, Rex and Carol for making worship with the Hondurans a time to remember.

 

"He will fill you mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."

Job 8:21

 

 

Feliz Cumpleamos Maida

 

 

Maida spent Sunday celebrating her 35th birthday with the people of  El Porvenir and the North American team.  Pastor Aureille gathered the children around Maida and everyone joined in singing and going up and giving her numerous hugs on her special day.  Maida shared this was one of her most favorite birthdays ever.  Thank you all for making Maida's birthday special.

 

"For you created my inmost being,

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because you are fearfully and wonderfully made,

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

all the days ordained for you were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts God!

How vast is the sum of them."

Psalm 139: 13-17

The Final Touches

 

As the week comes to an end and the roof and floor go up and down, it is a bittersweet time had by all.  The entire team, Hondurans and North Americans worked very hard to get to this time and place.  During the week Carlos and Glenda were blessed in receiving a pilla for their home.  They did not have means of taking a bath except with a make-shift cover with a bucket of water.  God blessed this family with means of bathing and washing clothes and dishes.  And for all this they were very grateful.

 

"Well done good and faithful servant.:

Luke 16:10

First Dedication of Home

 

The group gathers around the home to share in the dedication of the home.  Reggie, team leader presented the family with bible while Mack, Shirley's grandson gave the family the key to their home.  It was beautiful to see Carlos unlock his home with tears flowing down his cheek.  The family and friends gathered around the home while William, Shirley's grandson gave the prayer of dedication sharing how he was blessed to be a part of his grandmother's wish to build a family a home in Honduras.  He prayed we all need to live by example as his grandmother always lived her life.  He was thankful for his grandmother and what she had taught him during her years here on this earth.  Today we say thank you Shirley Shelley for providing Carlos and Glenda Perez their home where they will stay dry during the rainy season and will be able to lock their door at night for safety.  Let's all of us be more like Shirley Shelley, giving her best for the Lord.

 

"Do not do nothing out of self ambition or vain conceit, Rather in humility value others above yourselves."

Philippians 2:3

 

This was Shirley Shelley.

The Second Home Dedication Was a Memorial to Shirley Shelley

 

Everyone gathered inside the home to share in our fond memories of Shirley Shelley.  Mike shared how we all had come to know Shirley in many different ways.  How she came into our lives 8 or more years ago through a Lay Renewal which was led by our dear friend, Rex.  How amazing God is to put all of us intertwined in each other's lives through one beautiful godly lady named Shirley Shelley.   Rex made a plaque in memory of Shirley which William and Pastor G placed above the door of the entrance of the home earlier.  The family knew early on this was going to be apart of their home dedication.  We shared back in April they would be receiving a home and a very special lady was getting the blessings from it.  As she looks down on this day and sees her dream come true which was to build a home in Honduras and for her two grandsons to get to experience what she experienced 5 years ago, I know she was smiling down on it all.  God always answers prayer.  We may not be there to physically experience it but it is done in HIS timing not ours.  Thank you again Shirley Shelley for blessing us all once again, with your generosity and love for Jesus Christ.  I only hope I can be a third of who you were while here on this temporary journey of life.

 

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

John 15:8

 

 

 

Old and new friends come together

 

We were blessed this week with two godly couples, Reggie and Dianna and Rex and Carol. They had worked 8 years earlier on the Lay Renewal First Baptist Hamlet sponsored.  This was their connection to Shirley Shelley.  Shirley housed Mike and I during the Lay Renewal Week-end.  This is a small world we live in.  Reggie called Rex and asked him to help build Shirley's house since he was with Shirley 5 years ago to build another home.  Rex of course said yes and he said I will check to see if Carol would like to come.  Well as you can see the rest is history.  The two ladies worked side by side all week as if they had known each other a life time.  Both couples brought so much to the team as what godly couples represent.  They enjoyed laughing and crying together quiet often throughout the entire week.  They did whatever it took to help get the job done.  Both couples were encouragers to their team members and whoever crossed their paths.  We were blessed to have each of you this week serving in Honduras.

Thank You!!!

 

"As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

Shirley Shelley Would be Proud

 

This week became a very special week for us all.  God blessed us with two special young gentlemen who would have made their grandmother so proud.  I would like to introduce to you my new friends, William and Mack.  They came down to help accomplish their grandmother's wish to build a home for a family in Honduras.  Shirley shared how it was her heart's desire for both of her grandsons to experience the beauty of Honduras as she did.  They were very blessed to experience this early on in life and to share this memory with their grandmother.  Everything Shirley shared about her grandsons was so true.  They were not afraid of work and to help wherever needed.  They were close as brothers and looked after each other daily.  They always had each others back.  They complemented each other in many ways.  Their smiles and laughter reflected a little of their grandmother sometimes.  I felt like I had a little bit of Shirley Shelley with me that week.  They were a joy to be around.  Please remember these two young men did not know any of us coming into this and we all became family as each day progressed along.  Shirley would have been so proud of their accomplishments this week.  They did a little bit of everything each and every day. They never once complained about the heat or the manual labor placed before them.  I jokingly asked them the first day, " I bet you did not know what your grandmother was getting you into when she signed you up in her prayers to come to Honduras."  They both looked at this lady they did not know very well and just smiled.   

 

Even though they are very close they both have their very on gifts.  William worked diligently on the project all week.  He tried it all.  He mixed mescal and laid the blocks.  Whatever needed to be done he learned how and got it done.  He got up on the roof for a short time to help Mike with the roof.  I was so impressed with his attitude of perseverance. He adventured out one day with Bryan who taught William how to shoot a slingshot. William and Pastor G worked on getting the plaque ready to go up.  He was patiently learning how to use the drill as Pastor G was a patient teacher.  Pastor G looked at the plaque and realized who William and Mack were related to.  Very few 79 year old ladies come to Honduras and assist in building a home.  The realization of who William and Mack were made this time even more precious.  He smiled and said she was a great Christ lady. 

 

Now my friend Mack worked very hard on the house.  But when he got the chance top lay with the children he was there.  He has a special gift with children and they all fell in love with Mack.  He enjoyed helping them at VBS with their salvation bracelets.  During Sunday School he was the one chosen to illustrate Duck Duck Goose to the children.  When the children played the "Bottle Game"  Mack showed them how to play this as well along side Pastor Trey.  His smile and wittiness was contagious.  I sometimes saw his grandmother in him. "Good land" was one of her favorite sayings and sometimes he would throw this phrase out. 

 

Thank you William and Mack for making this week complete in many ways.  You are so blessed to have such a godly grandmother, Shirley Shelley.  As she looks down on you two today I know she is proud of the young men you are becoming. 

 

One of Mack's favorite bible verses this week was one who makes you think of Shirley Shelley.

 

"The last shall be first and the first shall be last."

Matthew 20:16  

Antioch Baptist Church Shares The Gospel

 

Antioch Baptist Church of  Monroe, North Carolina came down for their third year to go door to door to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Santa Cruz and El Porveneir.  El Porveneir is a church plant of Santa Cruz's church, Philadelphia Baptist Church who is pastored by Pastor G.  Pastor G disciples the young men in his church to go out and share the gospel with the people in the Choluteca District.  The team spent three days in Santa Cruz and two in El Porveneir community of 40 homes. 

On the first evening upon arrival the team ate supper and came organized and prepared for the week ahead.   All their VBS materials were categorized by day.  So once they arrived there was less work on this end and more time to pray and prepare for evangelizing.  They brought hygiene kits, crosses, bibles and cups for drinking to give to each home they visited. 

Stacy led the first evening of devotional with "Missions" as her title.  Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Stacy shared how we are not prepared to do anything and are not equipped to do anything.  Some of us may not had wanted the job to come door to door evangelizing. But like Moses who told God he did not feel equipped to lead the people.  God chooses those of us who are not equipped so that God can equip us to do HIS work.  This team allowed God to use them beyond all their comfort zones.  They came knowing it was going to be hot and a lot of walking going door to door.  Why did they do such a task?  Because God had called each and everyone of them to go and make disciples of all nations.  Not just in Monroe, but to all nations.  Stacy shared those of you who are new this year, God will take you and show you new and different things like you have never seen before.  People who will open their homes to complete strangers, even a different skin tone and language.  And better yet will offer you a seat and a cold coke to quench your thirst.  This is definitely different from what we are us to back home in the states.  Stacy shared with them please let God go before you and lead your every step and see all the beauty God has for each of us this week.  She encouraged each team member to be "Flexible", be "Faithful" and be "Forbearing" as they went out to share the gospel.  Thank you Stacy to a start of a great week of worshiping the Lord.

 

"Therefore go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all things I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even till the end of times."

Matthew 28:19-20

Preparing for the Day

 

Each morning the group broke up into groups of four, which consist of three North Americans, one Honduran translator, and a couple of members from the church.  They gathered into their small groups each day sharing a devotional from God's word, sharing prayer requests and praying for their day ahead  which was doing the Kingdom work of God.  We are very grateful for our four translators, Maida, Freddy, Hannah, and Joanna who without them this could not have happened.  Someone from the team shared one evening we need to ASAP - Always Say A Prayer.  We cannot not go out and do God's work He has called us to do without being covered in prayer.  This team allowed God to lead their daily task of evangelizing covered in prayers by the North Americans and the Hondurans. Freddy, one of the translators enjoyed praying at all times.  Are we anxious to pray at all times?  Even when life is going our way.  Do we give God praises for all circumstances?  We need to always be in continuous  prayer to our Heavenly Father.  Without HIM we are nothing.

 

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of  God in Christ Jesus for you."

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Evangelism Team Going to all Nations

 

The team prepares to disperse and hit the pavement full of  the joy and love of Jesus Christ.  We had an extra special treat the first day.  Belksie, Pastor G's middle daughter, age 15, was going out with her father to share the gospel.  Pastor G was giving Belksie a few extra pointers and scriptures before they started visiting the families of Santa Cruz.

The team learned the first day Pastor G had taken them to some homes where the families needed prayers for different reasons.  Some of the family members were Christians but needed someone there to pray with and to talk about their many opportunities placed in their lives.

The first day Kathy's  team met a family who were Christians but their elderly mother had fallen eight months earlier and broke her hip.  She had been bed ridden since the accident.  They do not have money to get her the medical care she needs.  But they shared how blessed she was to have a loving family who took care of all her needs on a daily basis.  She had a wheelchair made out of a white plastic chair with bicycle wheels.  Their family also did not have any work.  The team gathered around the three sisters and the grandmother and lifted up their concerns and needs to God.  This was a difficult task but God led the team all the way.  Sometimes we cannot fix the problem and all we can do is pray.  Which is what we should always do first, pray pray pray!!!

Mrs. Nellie's team met a lady who was a Christian who asked for prayers for family members who were not Christian.  As they were sharing the lady's brother came up to see what was happening at his sister's home.  The brother asked the team where is Heaven?

Martin got to meet a new brother in Christ who was excited about JESUS.  He shared how refreshing it was to see someone excited about knowing Jesus Christ. There was another person they met who Martin asked do you believe in Jesus.  The man shared why yes, "I go to church", "I do good for others".  Martin shared this does not get you into Heaven by going to church and doing good things.  It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through His blood shed on the cross for all who will receive.  You have to have TRUST AND FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

Steven shared with a man about Jesus knocking on his door.  Do you let him in?  Or do you go about your daily life without Jesus leading the way.  The man had a picture of Jesus knocking on some one's door.  Steven used this visual to make his story about Jesus alive where the man could see how big our Jesus truly is.  Jesus stands at the door knocking do we let Him in or do we stand back and reject the sweetest and most precious gift of our lives.

One of the teams went to "Becky's Billiards" where a father and two daughters were working.  The father and two daughters rededicated their lives to Christ right near the pool table. 

Harrison one of the Honduran team members wanted to share the evangie-cube with his family which was his father, grandmother and mother.  The mother used to sell beer in her home, but once she accepted Christ she no longer will sell beer out of her home.  She gave her whole life to Jesus Christ and will count on Him to provide all her needs.

One team visited a very devout Catholic lady who was not interested in hearing the gospel.  This lady was eighty one years old.  Her time here is less than before.  I pray she will seek the greatest gift of her life before it is too late.

A man who was a transvestite, wanted team to pray for him to be able to change his life and live for Jesus Christ.  Pray this man's heart will be changed.

Martin visited an elderly gentleman who could not talk.  But he understood enough to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  Do I get an AMEN?

Garry Stacy and Neverly visited a man.  While there an ice cream vendor comes up.  The ice cream vendor is a Christian.  The man the team was visiting had seem them out and about the last two days and was hoping they would come visit him.  The man was very pleased to have them visit his home.  Pray he accepts Christ.

There was a three year old who came up to one of the teams to ask them to visit her house.  The team followed the little girl to her home and while there visiting the little girl's mother accepted Christ.

These are just a few of the stories the team shared each day during God moments.  This was only in Santa Cruz.  They spent three days sharing the gospel with Pastor G's home church.  The four groups covered a lot of territory those three days in the scorching heat and hot pavement all for the name of Jesus.  Well done good and faithful servants.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be my Witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, even to the remotest part of the earth."

Acts 1:8

The Hospitalityand VBS in Santa Cruz

 

 

Each day the team would arrive back at noon for lunch which one day they enjoyed a delicious seafood plate.  The ladies of the church prepared them a beautiful table where they sat and dined and relaxed after their morning of door to door evangelism.  After lunch they headed to the church for VBS.  This team breaks up into four stations for VBS.  They all meet in a large group with a puppet show .  They break up into four groups for soccer, crafts, singing and the bible story.  The VBS averaged up to 145 by day three.  This helps with the crowd control of the two hour VBS.  Of course the children are always a delight to watch as they share the puppet show.  One day they did "The Lost Sheep".  The translators were practicing their bleating like a sheep until they got it just right.  Once again we are very blessed to have such amazing translators who adjust and do whatever it takes to get the job done. One day they did Esther the Queen.  The team brings in clothes for their puppets to switch them out according to the skits.  Mr. Mike and Steven made the puppet stage for the puppet show.  Everyone pitches in to make VBS a success for the children.  The first day they had maybe 50 children but after the puppet show the word spreads and on the last day of VBS like I said there was 145 children who heard the gospel through a puppet show.  This will be a lasting memory for all who got to experience and hopefully one day will lead a child to Christ or even their parents.  Thank you Antioch for putting such effort and energy in preparing the gospel for these lovely people.

 

"Train up a child in the way they should go and when he is old he will not stray from it."

Proverbs 22:6



Two days in El Porveneir

 

 

The last two days the team spent it in a little taste of Heaven.  This village is compiled of 40 homes scattered for miles around some gorgeous mountains.  They started their day by visiting the local school where they shared the gospel, made stick puppets with the children and face painted fifty faces including the teacher.  They had a time of  God's word shared by Pastor Joey, team leader.  After they finished they headed toward the church which is home we built last November.  Ingrid, Theodore and family gave their new home to the church and remained living in their adobe home.  They gathered in their four teams and broke off to share prayers and prayer requests.  God was taking them on such a special journey the next two days.

 

One of their first stop was with a grieving family who as just lost their mother.  This family was Catholic.  Team members prayed with the family.

 

There was a 26 year old lady who is a Christian but shared how she was abused by her husband on a daily basis.  The team asked her could they please pray with her.  They gathered around her and place their arms around her and prayed for her and her husband.

 

Tammy's team met with a family of five and three of them accepted Christ Jesus.  One of the lady's did not feel this was the time for her.  When is the right time.  We are not promised tomorrow.

Antioch Baptist Church Worships Under the Most Beautiful Mango Tree

 

On Sunday morning team gathered their materials for VBS and headed toward El Porveneir.  Upon arrival Pastor G had at least 12 of his disciples from his church out there repairing a problem with a foundation of a home which was to be built the next week.  Dirty and sweaty, Jose G., stopped working grabbed his guitar and headed up to the church under the mango tree.  Pastor Joey went prepared to preach if needed but there was over 50 children and some 20 adults, so Sunday School for the children is what they all did.  One word that is so prevalent here is "flexibility".  Antioch was definitely flexible.  Pastor G's disciple now pastor is Aurelle, age 22, who drives one way  over one and half hours on a motorcycle three times a week to disciple this little piece of heaven, called El Porveneir.   Pastor Aurelle is doing an amazing job reaching out to this community who only had a couple of Christians in it five years ago.  As of today there is about 18 new Christians and 35 plus adults coming to church.  They have bibles which they are studying with the assistance of Pastor Aurelle.  This is a beautiful story of how God can bring the lost to Christ.  One evening the team shared how beautiful their two days was here in El Porvenier.  How God took their weaknesses and glorified Himself through each of them.  Our confidence comes from God.  Pastor Aurelle exemplifies God's confidence in how he shares the gospel with these precious people.  We met under the mango tree instead of the house because it was the adults and children on Sunday.  I was so hoping to worship inside of Ingrid's home/church.  The house could not hold all the folks who came from all directions to worship God this Sunday morning.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.  A building does not make the church.  The body of believers make up the church and all which glorifies our Father.  Worship is wherever people gather to share the gospel.  The first missionary church started in a home.  The people of Honduras truly live out the bible in their daily lives. 

 

"The churches of Asia send you greetings, Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their home, send you greetings in Christ."

I Corinthians 16:19

 

"Which is His body, His body, the church, the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way."

Ephesians 1:23