Preparing for First Block

 

After the task of moving blocks the team adventured out to find other jobs which needed to be done. They all pitched in learning how to level the courses with a plumb line.  They helped Jose and Ezekiel sift the sand to prepare for the mixing of the mescal.  Josh, our newest team member learned very quickly the recipe for mixing mescal.  Everyone found a job do to and got it done.  Jose found  Clint Eastwood on the job site.  Rodd in turn named Jose, Charles Bronson.  They both had similar cowboy hats and became a team the first day.  Charles and Clint worked closely together during this week.  We definitely have a lot of fun serving the Lord. 

 

"Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing."

Psalm 100:2

 

Josh Prays Over First Block

 

We were blessed this morning beyond any words.  The team leader ask who would like to pray over the first block and Josh spoke up, "I will."  Josh is a sixteen year old young man who with great confidence not in himself but in the Lord prayed a prayer of dedication over this first block for Marie and her family.  Josh shared how this house will become a home and will watch over this family because it is built by God.  Josh's maturity level this morning spoke volumes to all the adults on this team.  Well done Josh for stepping out and allowing God to use you in a mighty way. What an example for all of us who are seasoned in the Lord to step out and allow God to use us for His glory.

 

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12

Block 101

 

As I shared earlier our friends have never built a home.  So Mike gathered them around and showed them the process of laying block with mescal.  They were quick learners and were able to get their first five courses done on their first day.  I shared with the ladies how to fill joints between each block.  This team got to work and quickly the course went up.  Josh spent some time being shepherded by Pastor Carlos.  They were humble folks willing to learn how to do God's work the Honduran way.  Thank you Hopewell for all the hard work your first day. 

 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Colossians 3:23

Rodd and the Block Saw

 

After Mike felt confident with the team laying blocks he shared with Rodd sixty blocks needed to be cut.  Mike and Rodd headed to the dirt road where they left behind enough block for the channel course to be cut.  After just a few minutes Mike left Rodd cutting the sixty blocks.  One afternoon Rodd was busy working on the block work with the team and he heard the block saw crank up.  Pastor Carlos went over to cut the block he needed without bothering Rodd.  The entire week the team worked side by side just like this.  They all did what was needed to get the job done.  Pastor Carlos was aware of Rodd busy with a project and he simply walked over to cut the block.  Pastor Carlos shared how much he enjoyed working beside Rodd and his team members this week.  Rodd shared during one of the evenings of God moments how Pastor Carlos hugged him and thank him for all he had done this week to get the job done. 

 

"A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!"

Psalm 133:1
 

Ladies Filling the Joints

 

After the first course went down the ladies started filling the joints between each block.  They were working ever so diligently when along came David and his best friend Miguel.  They bent over nicely showing the ladies a much better way to do this project.  They worked beside the ladies for quiet a while.  The ladies generously took their advice and worked along side their two new friends.  They did not brush them off for being children but learned the correct way from two young men, age 11, how to correctly fill the joints.  Thank you Sandy and Rita for being humble and allowing these fellows to help you.  This could have been the beginning of David's sad eyes slowly disappearing into eyes full of joy.  He felt accomplishment and had ownership in his new home.  Augustine does not live with his family as is the case here sometimes.  David was the man of his home because he is the oldest.  He wanted his home to be built correctly and beautifully.  Thank you for taking the time all week ladies for working those joints to perfection.

 

"Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Deuteronomy 11:19

Someone along the way has shown these two young men how to lay block and fill joints.  So they were able to teach this trade to Sandy and Rita.  Thank you for allowing these two young men to teach you something new this day.

 

 

God Bless Our Honduran Staff

 

North Carolina Baptist Men are so blessed with the staff God has provided.  There was only seven team members so we recruited Rudi and Wilmer to help us out a couple of days.  Maida was even mixing mescal and carrying it into the house for the floor.  Jose always does beyond is call of duty.  A member from the Baptist Church in Pavana, Alejandra, showed up several days to help and worked very hard for the Lord not for man.  He received absolutely nothing from this but one thing, to give God all the glory and to share the gospel with this family who was receiving a home.  One day Pastor Amado showed up just at the right time, God' timing to help out on the construction.  Our Honduran staff exhibits God's grace and mercy in their daily lives. 

 

"For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:9

Our Team Leader

 

As I mentioned earlier in the blog, I met Julie, team leader, at the NCBM Conference in April.  I never knew that day what Julie would bring to her team.  There was not one job Julie did not do this week.  She mixed the mescal, she shoveled the rocks for the floor and she even took time for the children during this week.  Julie set an excellent example of a team leader who was a team player.  She encouraged her team daily in her quiet sweet spirit.  The team worked beside her with up most integrity and respect throughout the whole week.  At the end of the week we all thanked her for going to the NCBM website and picking a mission trip to Honduras.  She then pursued it to Pastor Larry, missions pastor at Hopewell and said I want to try something new.  Well, Ms. Julie, Honduras is not new any more.  You and your team have become a part of the family here in Honduras.  Thank you so much for listening to God's calling for you to lead this team to Honduras.

 

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

Jeremiah 29:12

God Bless These Three Friends

 

Mike quickly connected with Pastor Brian and Rodd in a mischievous kind of way.  We do not need these three to be alone for a very long time.  There was always laughter and something going on in their midst.  Do not get me wrong these three worked very hard for the Lord this week but found time to get into trouble together. 

 

 

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.  Romans 1:8

God Brings the Rain and More

 

Choluteca, Honduras has been without rain since last November.  It may have rained five times since May of this year.  On the second day of the project a bad thunderstorm appeared.  The North Americans got inside the incomplete construction under the boards for safety.  Marie motioned for them to come for shelter under her make shift home.  Surprisingly it was dry in this structure.  Our translator, Maida, is extremely scared of thunderstorms.  Suddenly the team started singing hymns as Maida joined in the team saw Maida become calm.  As they continued to sing Maida started singing along with them.  Rita shared an evagi cube with the children while under this shelter.  Everyone in front of Rita with the help of Maida was watching as Augustine, the husband and father, was listening very intensely as Rita shared the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Pastor Larry looked up to see Diego come walking in from the rain.  He had been out there in the storm and no one was aware of his absence.  Diego is one tough little dude.  He was not afraid of the storm as he calmly walked in to the structure soaking wet from head to toe.  The entire team shared how this thunderstorm brought an oneness for each of them.  They all worshiped, shared and stayed dry together for this short period of time.  God stopped them from working long enough to get to know each other a little more intimately.  Thank you God for your perfect timing.

 

"As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him."

Psalm 18:30

God's Day of Worship and Rest

 

The team traveled out to Pavana to worship in the Baptist Church.  They prayed for the family to come worship with them this day. David and his best friend, Miguel came to church.  Because of the materials on the project, Marie stayed behind to watch over everything.  We started singing hymns unto the Lord.  One familiar hymn sung was "How Great Thou Art".  Pastor Larry got up to the pulpit and preached an amazing sermon out of John 15:1-8, " The Vine, The True Vine".  He shared the most important part of the vine is the root system.  This is where the nutrients for the vine come from.  He then proceeded to share how we as Christians should be connected to the vine, The True Vine, which is Jesus Christ.  He asked the question are we truly connected to the VINE.  And if you do not think you are connected to THE TRUE VINE how can you be connected.  JESUS CHRIST is our only source to be able to connect to THE TRUE VINE.  JESUS CHRIST IS  THE TRUE VINE.

Pastor Larry shared out of John 14 he was having the Last Supper with his disciples.  They left there to go up to the Mount of Olives.  As they were traveling along the road there was a vineyard. Jesus used all visuals to help with a teaching moment.  He shared with his disciples, "I am the way the truth and the Life no one comes to the Father except through me."  Jesus was preparing them for His departure.  The disciples needed to know the Holy Spirit would carry them through their journey after Jesus left them to sit next to His Father in heaven. Not everyone will have this source of life, the Holy Spirit, unless they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  We are all sinners saved by God's grace.  Once we receive Jesus Christ we have this life source and we are connected to the TRUE VINE.  But once we receive this life source then we need to do something with it.  We need to bare fruit.  We are not talking about our bananas, mangoes, pineapples and papayas.  We are talking about  the eternal fruit from our Lord and Savior to further the kingdom here on earth.  Farmers have to clip the vines when they are not producing.  They call it pruning. Pruning is hard.  We have to be pruned as well.  We have to be taught and trained how to grow in Christ by Him pruning our lives.  Only good fruit comes from God.  So go out into your community and bear fruit we can only produce through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Let's make sure we do not get into the way of God using us to help produce good fruit.  Only God can do this through our willingness to serve Him faithfully.  We are building this house only because of God's will in our lives.  God gets all the glory for this happening this week in your community. We have not done anything to receive praise for this.  When it rains God gets the glory.  When the crops come off God gets the glory.  If it does not rain God still gets the glory.  If we do not have crops God still gets the glory.  God is the same in all situations.  If not it would be for us and not for God.  Pastor Larry recognized the numerous children in worship on Sunday and how attentively they were listening to the worship service.  This children are the future of this church and their community.  Please continue to raise them up hearing the Word of God.  Thank you so much for having us here today to worship with you.

At this time the children came forward to sing in praise and worship unto the Lord.  They sang several songs which they knew from memory.  They sang to the tops of their sweet little lungs.  They sang songs full of praise and honor to the Lord.  This church is obliviously teaching these young ones about Jesus. The entire team was in awe of how they were able to praise the Lord with fullness from their hearts.

After worship the team was able to share a wooden cross with each church member which was made by a gentleman from their church, Hopewell.  This gentleman does this as a ministry for others.  He makes these crosses out of wood he collects from whoever is willing to share.  He makes hundreds of these wooden crosses a year to spread the gospel and bear fruit for the Lord.

 

The Beginning of the Floor and the Roof

 

God blessed them with substantial energy on Day Four. Pastor Brian and Pastor Larry prayed for some extra energy for this day.  They had just finished hump day and were told that half of the floor will be going down the next day .  Once again this team stepped up to the plate and continued their journey of providing through God's strength a home for Marie and her family.  Everyone was making the mescal for the floor even the ladies.  Everyone was working hard to get the first half of the floor done.  They finished the task put before them. 

 

The beams for the roof needed to go up as well.  Mike was planning to help out along with Pastor Brian.  Rudie shows up to bring Pastor Carlos his special trial for the floor and ended up staying to help Mike and Pastor Brian get the beams in place for the roof the next morning.  God's provision at just the right time. 

 

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,"

Deuteronomy 10:12

Taking Time to Be Children

 

The ladies took time out again to spend some quality time with the children and young people of the community.  There was always about six or seven children there daily.  Sandy pulled out the jump rope and bubbles on the last day.  There was excitement had by all including Marie and her mother jumping rope.  This was the first time since coloring pictures Diego was not getting into trouble.  He spent hours with the bubbles.  He learned how to blow bubbles while Sandy coached him along.  Rita, Julie and Josh joined in the activities for a while as well.  Everyone became like little children on the last day of the project.  This worked out beautifully.  It kept everyone from getting in the way of the floor going down and the roof going up.  The children stayed occupied the entire morning just simply being children. It is amazing what a rope and some bubbles can do for a morning of entertainment.  The simple things in life are the best!!!!  So much fun had by all with very little materials for the entertainment. 

 

"But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."
1 Timothy 6:6-7

 

 

 

Mr. Mike and Josh

 

What a team this was on the last day.  Mr. Mike taught Josh a new trade.  Josh quickly skimmed up the ladder to join Mr. Mike up on the beams of the house to start putting the tin roof into place.  Josh did not skip a beat.  He worked right beside Mr. Mike as the tin became a roof.  Rodd, Josh's father joined them helping keep the tin in alignment  Within one hour the roof was complete and Josh shared he was ready for it to be done because it was mighty warm up there.  Josh enjoyed learning a new trade and task.  As in the beginning of this week Pastor Larry brought out Josh prayed over the first block and nailed the last nail into the tin.  Josh started this project and ended it as well.  Never doubt the abilities of our future young people.  We are always so proud to have the young people come here and serve beside us and Josh is a perfect example of why!!!!