Maurice Our Servant

 

Each time Maurice comes to Honduras his job is hydration specialist.  He sets his phone to go off every twenty five minutes.  He refills the water bottles and he carries cups of water or Gatorade to the Honduran workers.  This is a job of most importance.  I am grateful this team takes this job duty seriously and someone like Maurice takes great care of his team members and fellow brothers in Christ.  The work in Honduras is very warm and a different kind of heat from what our North American friends are use to and to get dehydrated could very possible ruin your entire mission trip. Thank God for Maurice who takes his responsibility seriously in the name of Jesus.

 

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
John 4:10

Five Years Ago

 

Five years ago God sent us on journey down this very long dusty dirt road to a lady's home, Aleydia.  On this day we did not know what God had in store for us for many years to follow.  This lovely godly lady who is dressed in green above welcomed Mike and I with a awesome cup of Honduran coffee and some sweet fellowship under her mango trees.  She won our hearts immediately.  She is a lady of grace and contentment in the Lord.  She presents herself in a manner of godliness.  Her son asked us if we could build her a home.  Her existing home was beautifully kept adobe in structure but she got wet when it rained.  We found out some more about her as well she had the children of her community come over on Sunday morning for Sunday School in her home.  Everyone loves Ms. Aleydia. 

As time passed we built another family a home, Theodore, Ingrid and children.  During this week the team along with the community wanted to establish a church where they could meet on a regular basis.  One of our local pastors offer to help them get started and send one of his disciples out three times a week.  At this time Theodore and Ingrid had just received their new home and offered their new home as the church building until something differently could be done.  So the community met in the home of Theodore and Ingrid for several months and then others volunteered their homes as well.  Over 15 plus people came to Christ and they were totaling around 30 adults and 40 children in this little church start.

As time passed we noticed a foundation had been started across from Theodore and Ingrid's home.  We asked them what it was for.  We are trying to build our church.  A neighbor, Juan, had sold the community the land to build their church.  Juan shared how he wanted to see the lost come to Christ before he dies.  He wanted to see a church built in this community before he went home to be with his Heavenly Father.

The lady in the bottom corner picture, Glenda, kept calling us wanting to know if we could help them build the community church.  So as you can see God provided the means of us helping them get their heart's desire, a building where they can gather to worship and praise the Lord.

 

A song of ascents. Of David. I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
Psalm 122:1

 

 

 

 

Final Dedication of the Church

 

Team leader, Joy, did an amazing job presenting the dedication of the church.  She asked each man on the team to play a part in this service.  It was a humbling experience. Joy started by having Mike share the history of our relationship with this community.  Franz got up to share the future of this church and where God is taking them.  Franz took the time to interview Juan and Aleydia what they wanted to see with this church and where it was heading.  Juan shared how he wanted the community to come to know Christ and how this was Ms. Aleydia's dream to have a church to go worship.  John got up and read scripture of encouragement for the church family.  Maurice got up to encourage the future leaders of the church and how they all can play a huge part in making this church family one in the Lord.  Grey got up and represented the bible to the church and ask Juan to come forward to receive the bible. 

 

Then Joy ask if any church members wanted to share any thoughts.  Glenda of course got up and shared how blessed they were to receive this gift from God.  She thanked God first and then the North Americans for coming and playing a huge part in this happening.  Wiulmer got up with excitement as well thanking God for allowing him to help build this church he and his family will worship in together.  Pastor Carlos got up and told them to always look to the Lord for where the church is going and all needs come from the Lord.  They were blessed to be able to have this church and they need to use it to glorify God.  After everyone shared we gathered in a huge circle held hands and Bobby, team member prayed over this church building and its people.

 

Afterwards we gathered outside for everyone there to receive a salvation bracelet which the North American team had worn all week.  Maida shared with the people what each bead represents and everyone could have this gift from God if they only receive HIS Son into their hearts and lives.

 

Two Friends Serving the Lord

 

Franz who has come many years to Honduras brought a long time and co worker with him this year.  We would like to welcome John who was a rookie for only a very short while.  John jumped right in and worked along side his friend, Franz serving the Lord.  They worked excellent as a team on the floor all week.  They were a joy to be with. Thank you Franz for bringing our new brother and friend to Honduras to share in one of your joys in life, which is working with these beautiful people.

 

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

Families Serving

 

We want to welcome back out friends, Maurice and Penny. They have come to love Honduras so much they come at least twice a year.  Penny calls Honduras a little piece of Paradise.  They both so much to the team with their many gifts and talents.  Maurice takes pride in the care for his fellow team members as Penny wants to learn all she can about the culture of the women in Honduras.  She has learned how to make tortillas and carry water on top of her head.  Their joy for the Lord is contagious in all they say and do. 

 

Bobby came years ago to Honduras and this year he got to bring his wife Patricia.  They were always close by working together and not working together.  You did not see one without seeing the other.  It was beautiful to see them orchestrate their team of young boys with the carrying of the sand in buckets to mix the mortar.  They worked well side by side.  Mrs. Patricia learned a lot her first year here how to make tortillas  and carry water on top of her head.  Thank you both for bringing so much to the team with your many gifts and talents.

 

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

Joshua 24:15

A Mother and Her Three Sons

 

We have been going to Porvenir for five years.  Each time we build a home and now this church this lady's three sons, Samuel, Joel, and Wiulmer are always there to help their neighbors.  Ms. Tophia is a godly lady who lives by example and her sons love and respect her deeply.  During worship service on Sunday she got up and shared from her heart how proud she was of this church and how proud she was of her three sons who helped build the church.  But then she shared something which floored a lot of us especially Mike and Ginger. She shared what will make her more proud if her oldest son, Samuel, would receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  You see two of her three sons have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior but one son does not.  This is similar to the story in the bible about there will be three working in the field and there will be one left behind on the day of Christ return.  Samuel can work all day on building this church but his labor was in vain.  He did  it for man not for God, because he does not know Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior.  Please pray with us as we pray for Samuel's salvation which is so much more important than the church building he helped build.

 

Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:40

Welcome Back Hamlet Second Baptist Church

 

North Carolina Baptist Men were blessed have return this year Mike's hometown folks from Hamlet, North Carolina.  They are the second team of three to build a church in  Povernier, Las Cabasas, Choluteca, Honduras.  This a little piece of heaven about 45 minutes from the mission house.  The rainy season has finally arrived and this was the view this team enjoyed each day to their job site.  The corn fields are growing rapidly as the rain comes down in the afternoon and evening and as the sun shines down on them during the day.  This team has been great about all the rain.  They know how desperately Choluteca needs the rain.  God is good all the time. Almost every afternoon the team was blessed with a rain storm which did not slow them down.  Pastor Chris shared we are already wet from sweat at least this is helping the people and their crops.  Welcome back friends.  Thank you for serving beside these beautiful folks again.

 

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Colossians 1:29

Joined Together As One in Christ

 

After their beautiful ride through the country side of Las Cabasas they arrived to even a more beautiful sight, the people of this community.  They are precious in every way.  The team introduced themselves as they did as well.  At this point they all became in the kingdom work.  Pastor Carlos opened the day up with a prayer before starting the work ahead to lay the first block on course number eleven.  Juan, the older gentleman of Porvenir, became a favorite by them all.  His sweet and gentle spirit was Christ-like.  He set the example for all of this week.

 

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
Titus 2:7 

Preparing for First Block On Eleventh Course

 

This was the first time this team had assisted in building a church and being the second of three teams.  They were out of their standard routine.  Normally building a house the scaffolding goes out on the second or third day not the first.  But these folks adjusted and became flexible with their new opportunity ahead of the. 

 

 

 

Samuel allowed the materials to be stored in his brand new home across the street from the church.  Someone shared during God moment's one evening would you give up your brand new home for it to become a storage building for the materials for the building of the community church.  In saying this the men went into Samuel's home and came out with the bags of cement mixture on their shoulders.  These North Americans had only been there about thirty minutes when they were allowed to enter Samuel's home and come out with the bags of cement.    We learn so much about genuine Christianity down here daily.  They are such role models for all of us, our Honduran brothers and sisters in Christ.  While this was taking place some team members, Ashley and Mike were sifting the sand getting ready to make the volcano.  Chuck found a broom and started clearing a spot for the volcano to be formed.  This team got right to work at the task at hand. 

  

 

 

Above them was the most gorgeous sky God created for their pleasure on their first day in this little piece of heaven called El Porvenir.  They continued preparing for the first block to be laid out and for what would be a beautiful adventure in their days to come.  They worked so diligently as a team to get ready to pray over this block.  Everyone was doing something to help the process to continue forward for this special moment.

One of Many Prayers This Week

 

Mike asked Wilmer and Theodore if they would lay their hands on the first block of the first course.  We gathered everyone at the bottom of the church and placed our hands upon the structure which one day will be a place for these folks to worship the Lord even when it is raining outside.  Pastor Chris led the prayer as Alan, Mike, team member, Wilmer and Theodore placed their hands upon each other on the tenth course.  This was a God given blessing to have this team here at this time and this place to further the kingdom work here in Honduras.  To God be the glory for HIS provisions.

 

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.
Jeremiah 29:11

Let The Work Begin

 

Above are some of the many tasks at hand during this five day project.  These North Americans worked in the hot sun in the morning and in the rain in the afternoon.  God used them all in so many different ways this week.  I stood back one day and observed some many jobs taking place on this piece of property.  Juan, the older gentleman, is the generous donor of this land to start the church.  About a year ago Mike and I were out there to assess for a home when we say a foundation with grass growing inside of it.  We inquired what was going there.  The people of the community shared we are trying to save our money to build us a church.  Mike and I are so impressed with our friends and their willingness to sacrifice their own funds which probably would and could be used to feed their families and put it towards a foundation for a community church.  So with much thought and prayer we ask God to lead us in the direction He would have us to go.  After not listening to God and deciding not to build them a church and then to have God's quiet gentle voice tell us both on the same day you will build these people a church we decided it is definitely God's will for this to happen.  His still and quiet voice led us to this time and place on this week.  Team two is working hard to complete the task God has planned for the completion of this church.

 

After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
I Kings 19:12

 

The Ladies of the Team

 

These two ladies, Valerie and Ashley came ready to do whatever God wanted them to do.  They stood back for a short time the first hour of the first day assessing the situation.  Valerie finally said I want to help.  So she proceeded to help the ladies of  El Porvernir sat up their kitchen in the corner of the lot. She did not know what that little corner would hold for her later in the week.  Ashley jumped in to help sift sand and do whatever needed.  She worked right along beside the men this week.  Saw her several times sifting sand, handing up the block to the eleventh level.  These two ladies always had a smile on their face and showed the love of Jesus to whoever their paths came across.  I am grateful for these two ladies this week who made the Honduran ladies feel extra special in so many different ways.

 

Proverbs 31 Women

The Second Team at El Porvenir

 

I would like to say thank you to Pastor Carlos, Maida, Jose, Wilmer, Theodore, Juan, Pastor Chris, Pastor Drew, Alan, Bennie, OW, Mike, Chuck, Valerie and Ashley for answering God's calling to be at this place during this time to help further the kingdom of God.  This team was our blessing to help the completion of this church for our friends in El Porvenir.  We went to share with them one week prior to the team's arrival we were coming to start the second phase of the church.  They first said they thought we had forgotten about them.  We had not been out to work on the church since July of this year.  Pastor Drew knew when I shared this one evening this was God's will for Second Baptist Hamlet.  All these folks have been blessed beyond anything this world could have provided for them.  Doing God's kingdom work is always such a rewarding and amazing feeling.  You can only experience this kind of blessing by simply coming and serving God in this little piece of heaven.  Thank you one and all for becoming one this week in the name of Jesus.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:16