Chicken Soup

Anyone who has ever worked in this sweet piece of heaven knows on the last day we have chicken soup.  The ladies worked all morning collecting firewood, sharing stories with passer byers and ended up cooking enough chicken soup to feed over fifty people.  The Hondurans were sharing their bowl of soup with their children.  Everyone got a bowl of soup today.  We enjoyed this delight right before the church dedication.   I must say it was so delicious. Thank you sisters for all the hard work for such a tasty lunch on our last work day with your community.

 

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.
Luke 9:16

The View

 

These are some of the views from the church from inside.  This is such a lovely setting.  It has mountains all around it and people busy fellow shipping with one another.  God placed this little church in just the right spot. Thank you Juan for selling your people this plot of land so they could see a vision of their community having a church one day.  Now this one day has finally arrived. God is so good when we are faithful and trust in his timing.

 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

Some Grateful Folks

 

The faces above are ones with grateful hearts.  They young lady in the yellow, Aleydia, received a home five years ago in this community and was having Sunday School in her home for the children of the community.  There was about forty of them meeting.  After five years the numbers increased in interest of a church family  Two years ago the church got established in Ingrid and Teodore's home where over thirty people came to Christ.  On Saturday we dedicated the second part of this church and gave God all the glory for His timing in this journey.  How beautiful are the hands and feet of Jesus when we wait on Him and do His will for His Kingdom here on this earth.  Thank you Pastor Chris for the words of encouragement and the prayer over the building which is becoming a church.  Glenda shared her gratitude to God first then to the North Americans.  All God's people said "Amen".

 

Pray without ceasing.
! Thessalonians 5:17

The Worship Service

 

As we approached the job site/church construction it became a place of worship. The people of the community wanted to have church under the trees in the corner of the property.  The entrance of the property was people coming from all directions.  In the corn field next to the church was Juan Carlos and another young man working.  My thoughts were I hope they will come to worship with us today.  The children were bringing their chairs from their homes and the sanctuary commenced to be put together.  Pastor Chris, Mike, team member and others brought over the lumber and concrete blocks to make more pews for folks to sit.  The time passed as many people and children arrived for worship.  One gentleman who accepted Christ about a year ago shows up greeting everyone with a huge joyful smile.   There was continuous chatter among the congregation prior to the service starting.  Sounds of gratefulness and joy filled the area.

Pastor Chris led the service by asking Juan to open with prayer.  The service continued with specials which included the children singing "Jesus Loves Me" in sign language, English, Spanish and humming the tune at the end, led by Maida.  Glenda and Bolska led some music.  Omar got up to speak about the vision for this church and the future of the church.  We all thought  Omar was getting ready to preach the sermon for the day.  Juan stood proud of his son Omar and the leadership role he took at this time. 

Pastor Chris preached out of Colossians 1:24-29.  He touched on three points: Surrender our life to Christ,  once we surrender we need to proclaim the message of the gospel and then with Christ strength labor with all our energy for the Kingdom here on earth.  We cannot do these things in our own strength but in the strength of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.  Thank you Hamlet Second Baptist for coming and sharing in the kingdom work giving it all you had through the strength from the Holy Spirit.

 

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--
the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people.
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Colossians 1:24-29

Mt. Horeb Ministry Team

 

God blessed Mt. Horeb with three gentlemen who are always willing to help when needed.  Welcome back the tres amigos Ron, Gorden and Joel.  They are all from Raleigh but not all go to the same church.  They have three things in common, they love serving their Lord. they love Honduras and they love coming whenever we need them at a moment's notice.  They came in prepared to put 1.300 ceiling tiles.  Mike had started the men's side the week before their arrival.  They came in and completed the men's side rather quickly on the second day.  Ron, Gorden and Rudi worked together as a team, while Mike and Joel teamed up to move those tiles.  At one point they all worked together in the women's dorm getting the beams in place before placing the ceiling tiles.

These guys worked diligently daily to get their task completed.

 

"Well done good and faithful servants."

Matthew 25:23

The Mt Horeb Team

 

The tres amigos had a lot of help this week.  Maida assisted Alba in cooking lunches daily.  Manuel, Rudi and Wuilmer worked as they could.  They have job duties daily on Mt. Horeb, but finished they found their way to help the North Americans get their job.  Three days Ezekiel came out as a volunteer wanting to help the progression of the ministry campus. Joel shared this was a blessing from God on day two day.  Pastor Carlos worked on getting the air vents put up into the ceiling of the dorm building.  Mike was there to assist as needed.  This was a God ordained team this week who worked very well together.  God blessed each one of the hands and feet of Jesus this week.  Thank you each for giving your all to Jesus.

 

For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

Psalm 92:4

Lunch Anyone

 

Each day God provided the gentlemen a hot meal.  Joel shared how each day God blessed them.  Well on the second day heading to the job site we passed a truck selling fish in Pavana.  Mike stopped and walked back to see if he could buy some for lunch.  Well as you can see God blessed us with a fish plate that was absolutely delicious.   On our last day working God provided a fried chicken plate.  The other days was lizard soup, bean soup with egg and beef soup.  This is one of the perks of volunteering on the ministry campus. Joel shared how the lizard soup was his blessing the first day and the fish plate was a blessing on the second day. Thank you God for this special blessing.

 

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.
Luke 9:16

Different Job Duties

 

There was several jobs to get this job done.  Ron busily cut the end pieces to measure for Gorden as he placed each one in their appropriate place.  Joel and Mike went to the bodega (storage building) on the back of the dorm placing the support channels in place before Ron and Gorden got to them.  Ezekiel worked on washing the walls for painting later in the week.  Ezekiel also cleaned up the trash as I swept the floor.  As all this was taking place in the dorm area I looked out over the porch to see Manuel working on cutting the property with a push mower.  He worked on this project for two full days.  Because God finally sent Honduras some rain and it has not stopped which means a lot of work for Manuel.  Everyone was busy doing something all day long.  We are all getting excited about all the work which continues to take place on Mt. Horeb daily.  Thank you God for all your provisions for your kingdom.

 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

Honduran Siesta

 

These three guys learned quickly to take their siesta time daily.  They had a beautiful view from the front porch of the North American Dorm.  Everything if beautiful now with the rain God has provided.  The mountains are flowing with different shades of green.  What a relaxing place to reflect on the beauty of God's creation surrounding them and share about their love for their Lord.  They had some amazing conversations this week sitting around and taking time to be still. 

 

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 46:10

Work Continues

 

As day three and four arrive the boys finishing putting in all their ceiling tiles.  All 1300 of them.  By the third day they had a rapid system figured out.  They did over 4600 square feet of ceiling tile.  Let me share with you there was only three to four gentlemen doing this each day.  They worked very hard and diligently without a complaint.  As the ceiling tiles went in the dorm rooms would become somewhat cooler.  But this was still a very warm job.

 

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Painting Anyone?

 

On the afternoon of the fourth day and the fifth day the boys prepped the room for painting.  Joel, Gorden and Ezekiel scrapped the mescal off the walls and then washed the walls down with a sponge.  Mike and Ron prepared the paint for the walls.  The color chosen for the dorm walls was antique white or Ezekiel called it creama.  This was another task which took time and patience.  It took three coats of the paint to get the walls completely acceptable.  These three gentlemen were flexible and ready to do whatever God put before them.  There was never a complaint.  Gorden shared how he enjoyed staying busy for the Lord.  He is a Martha personality he shared one evening.  Thankful for his eagerness to work and continue with whatever the task as well did Joel and Ron.  They worked side by side never skipping a beat as the walls became a beautiful antique white finish.  It is becoming more and more like a place for friends to come and lay their heads down at night after a long hot day on the mission field.  Each step as we get closer gets more exciting.  We are grateful for these three gentlemen who were willing to come down and help out with these tasks.

 

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

 

One Last Task

 

Maida shared with Alba, lady who works for Mt. Horeb she was going to sweep the front porch and bathrooms of the North American Dorms after lunch.  She was asking to borrow the broom from Alba.  Alba shared yes and I will go help you as well.  Alba and Maida both went beyond their job description that final afternoon.  They swept diligently for at least an hour or so to get all the dust and dirt off the floor.  They used water to wash down the porch.  At the completion of this task the dorm floors looked brand new.  It brought a whole new look to the front porch.  As the team sat around after their day everyone was grateful for these two ladies and their hard work.

 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

Ron's Biggest Fan

 

Before arriving to the ministry campus the first day Ron was asking was their going to be a fan.  Well Mike has already decided to get an industrial fan to try it out for the front porch of the dorm.  After purchasing Ron's fan off we went to work.  Well the fan was only on the porch when Ron was taking

HIS siesta.  The fan seemed to follow Ron wherever he was working.  The fan became a dear friend to our friend Ron this week.  So Ron's biggest fan this week was the industrial fan which kept most of us comfortable all week and kept Ron cool all week.  Thank you Ron for sharing "your" fan with us this week.  This fan is amazing on the front porch as you sit and rock and rest your tired and aching body.  It was truly a bit hit.

 

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
I Timothy 6:18