Our Two Jefes

These two gentlemen Pastor Carlos and Mike worked so well together and enjoy their time together on and off the job sites.  The first morning we were going through Monjares to get to Cedeno.  We were directly behind the Kia when we witnessed Pastor Carlos hitting a chicken who was trying to cross the road.  Well obviously it did not get to the other side.  But Mike witnessed the owner of the chicken throwing up her hands at Pastor Carlos.  Pastor Carlos did not know he had hit the chicken until Paul who was the North American riding with Pastor Carlos shared," I think you just hit a chicken.  So we get to the job site and Mike could not wait to tell Pastor Carlos he hit a chicken because five years ago Mike hit a pig and killed it as well.  So I believe our two friends are now even.  Their laughter together and good times is quiet contagious by all around.  They enjoy serving their Lord together each and every week with different folks who come to work along side of them.  Pastor Nick, Stacy and Paul shared how patient Pastor Carlos is with their skills as Honduran block men.  How he presents himself with patience and compassion as he gingerly corrects their errors or just helps them along the way.  We are also blessed to have Pastor Carlos as part of our staff to take good care of all of us with all his heart and soul.  He loves the Lord first and in turn loves us too.

Relaxing at Mt. Horeb

Thank you God for a little bit of down time here on Mt. Horeb.  The team played some corn hole and enjoyed the view off of the front porch of the multi purpose building.  Corn Hole has become a fun time by a lot of the teams.  So are more competitive than others.  But all and all Corn Hole is loved by all who come to serve with us in Honduras.  Thankful to God for all His many provisions on Mt. Horeb.

Each day the team arrived for a relaxing time on the porch of Pulperia de Mt. Horeb.  They all bought a coke.  Some got out of their comfort zone and tried a nice cold Fresca.  We enjoyed numerous afternoons of sharing and laughter about the day.  This team enjoyed their afternoons learning to chill and be a true Honduran.  Sometimes we do not take the time to just be still.  These folks enjoyed this time each day as we did sharing with them.

Everyone Working Hard

Mike and I arrived on day three with a lot of work going on.  Misty who has not ever laid a block or placed mortar on anything was up on the scaffolding with Paul working with all her might.  Cheryl was passing up the block as needed.  Manuel worked so hard for this family to find out he does not have a home so to speak.  But he gave his all to this family along side his friends, Paul and Pastor Nick.  What a blessing to see a small number of folks come down and do the work of so many more.  They all did what it took to get this house into a beautiful home for Eloise and her family.  Misty and Cheryl sifted sand all week long.  Not just a couple of days but every single day.  They even sifted the sand for the floor.  Each team member knew they had to work hard for this famiy but they also shared Freddy worked twice as hard as they did.  Freddy was Eloise's son in law and he dedicated his whole being to help his mother in law get her home.  There was a story about left over concrete and Freddy took it to put a slab in the old house for he and his wife Sara, Eloise's daughter.  They make every bit of material last. Freddy took the team over to show them his new bedroom which was literally the concrete slab in the old house.  Freddy was so proud God provided him a place for Sara and him to sleep at night.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Rudy Shares

God blessed Mike and I with about even or eight roosters from all our incubating.  One day I asked the staff did they each want a rooster to take home to their families.  Everyone said yes but Rudy.  Rudy gave his rooster to the team to have for supper one night.  There is a special story behind the chicken soup.  Pastor Nick came five years ago to another community where on the last day they cooked up all their chickens to serve to Pastor Nick and his team for their gratitude for building their home.  So once again Pastor Nick and his team got blessed with another pot of chicken soup. Thank you Rudy for sharing with us and we are forever blessed because of your generosity. 

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

Mark 12:44

Quero Mos

We knew there was going to be fish served on this day and we thought we were all eating at the church except the Hondurans who were going to eat at the house.  This batch of fish and chips were for the Hondurans only as I was enjoying myself to some of those delicious banana chips.   I thought this was all our lunch cooking together.  Well I was badly mistaken. Eloise's family prepared this particular meal while down the road their was another batch of fish being prepared for the North Americans.

We arrived down the street to the Pulperia de Martha to a fish, shrimp, banana chips and chismo plate.  Pastor Nick and Mike had to do a quick taste test to make sure it was good.  The ladies enjoyed these two young men coming into their kitchen doing some taste testing.  What a precious gift from God.  This meal was not provided by Eloise but by Martha.  This day was Martha's birthday and she always cooks fish for her church family on her birthday.  Yes you read this correctly.  Martha spends her birthday cooking fish for her church family each year.  But today she decided to share her birthday with the North Americans.  What a huge sacrifice made by this lady.

As the meal was being served the team was getting excited about their delicious fish and shrimp plate.  A gentleman came through with Martha's birthday cake which we found out later was her husband.  But the entertainment gets better as we shared with the North Americans the proper thank you in Spanish is "Quero Mos" which means I want more.  So they practiced this phrase several times while we gathered the ladies out to say thank you in Spanish.  Everyone even our North American family got a huge laugh out of this one.  Thank you family for having such a great attitude.  Paul said Mrs. Ginger I never thought you would do this to us, Mike yes but not you too.  Sorry Paul this was just too easy not to do.

Well as the ladies stood there we decided to sing "Happy Birthday" to Martha.  One of the team members shared how impressive it was she was singing with them.  We got blessed with some of her birthday cake as well.  Martha shared her birthday cake and her entire day with us.  What a humbling experience we all had at the Pulperia de Martha.  We can learn so much from our brothers and sisters of Honduras.  They give all they have to complete strangers with joy in their hearts.

Women's Conference

We left two hours prior to the beginning of the Women's Conference.  But still could not get there on time.  There was a major grid lock on the road and we were sitting right in the middle of it.  Someone thought it was our turn to go so we all took off and it was not our turn to go yet.  So there Mike and I sat sandwiched between multiple vechiles.  After about forty five minutes later the maze got untangled and off we went.  Mike went at record speed to get me to the Women's Conference.  We were about fifteen minutes late arriving but got there in time to enjoy the rest of the conference.

Misty led the conference by sharing her story and her relationship with Jesus Christ. The bible is full of many diffent stories written by different people.  The common theme of the Bible is God is faithful and God loves us.  Out of Judges 21:2-4 was the key verse for Misty's Women's Conference.    She led into an activinty where she asked the ladies to draw a picture of an animal which describes them.  So the ladies got busy coloring and drawing different animals with giggling and a little bit of confusion. But after it was all said and done they did a great job.  The ladies did a great job and had a ball doing this activity.

They were asked by Misty to share why they drew the animal they did and how they related to the animal.  Some of their answers were this was the only animal I could draw.  The animal is beautiful.  There was a couple of ladies who understood what they were suppose to do and they shared how the mother hen watches over her babies just like I watch over my babies.  They all had fun sharing their different stories of their animals with each other.  This was a great way of connecting with one another on a causal basis.  These ladies worked so hard daily and today they could laugh and fellowship without any interruptions.  What a blessing a simple coloring page could do.

Some of the ladies had to bring their children to the Women's Conference.  But you did not know they were there.  They received coloring sheets as well.  They sat quietly coloring and giggling among themselves.  Misty got up to share her animal of choice.  She choice a donkey.  She shared like the donkey who carried Jesus to the cross to bear our sins I want to live my life like the donkey who served Jesus on his last day here on earth.  Misty with tears in her eyes shared this with quiet a bit more eloquence than I just did.  She shared it from the bottom of her heart what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  He died a brutal death for you and me she shared and the least I can do is share Jesus with others for all He did for me.  He sacrificed for me so I need to sacrifice my life for Him.

At this time Misty gave each lady a gift which was a plastic cup full of much needed items to survive in this world.  First item was a string representing the loose ends in our lives, cotton balls represents when times are rough Jesus softens the blow, hair ties represent when we need to be flexible, clothes pin represents Jesus is there for us in a pinch, flavor packets represents how we are all different and

the bracelet represents God's love for us.  Thank you Misty for all you did for these lovely ladies on their very special day. 

Nightly Devotions

Each evening Pastor Nick led the team in a devotional relating to their day.  I think one of the best ones was the day we had the fish plates.  Jesus talking to Peter and Andrew to be fisher of men.  They walked away from their jobs, their families to immediately follow Jesus.  Peter left a comfortable life, a great job and sacrificed everything.  He was hung upside down from a cross.  Andrew did the same thing.  The Hondurans got up that morning to cast their nets to catch the fish and shrimp we were to have for lunch that day.  They sacrificed from their own families to provide a meal for our team.  This week we are casting our nets as well along side of Manuel and Freddy and many more.  Some my know Jesus some may not know Jesus.  The one who are believers throw them back and keep casting your nets for the ones who do not know Jesus.  We need to cast our nets wide and deep to reach all the lost ones so they will know who Jesus is.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

Matthew 4:18

Gathering Together

We gathered one more time with this sweet family to celebrate the completion of their new home.  Each day the team gathered around the front of the home to pray up their day.  On the this day little Yensi grabbed Pastor Nick's hand for the first time I believe all week.  What a God moment.  She knew this was the last time she would be able to hold his hand so she grabbed right to him and stood and prayed as the team prayed.  We can learn from our little ones so often. 

As we closed in prayer Eloise stood back and looked at her home with joy.  She checked out the concrete floor where she will set up housekeeping.  She saw two windows and two doors where at night she can close the door and lock it to feel more secure.  She observed the ladies cleaning those doors to perfection as the roof started going up.  She was in awe of what had happened on her property in the last four and half days. 

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:16

VBS

The team did VBS for three days at Cedeno.  The first day Paul and Misty did the story of Peter walking on the water.  Paul shared like Peter when we take our focus off of Jesus we loose our perspective of HIM.  He shared with the children always stayed focus on Jesus so He can always catch us when we fall to the way side.  The second day Cheryl and Stacey did the story of Noah's Ark,  The third day Pastor Nick did the story of Zacchaeus and led into the plan of salvation with the children as the closing story.  Each day Meida led the children in numerous songs about Jesus as they slowly entered the church from different directions in the community. Overall there was about sixty children who came to VBS.  After the singing the stories were told by the team members.  They were told and not read.  Before coming this group studied their stories to the point of memorizing them so they could share the story without reading it.  This was most impressive as you could tell the time and effort they all put into their VBS for these children.  After the story they colored a picture relating to the bible story.  Once all this was done they went outside to play with Frisbees and jump ropes.  This was a very special yet simple time for these children.  The more simpler the VBS the better it is for these children.  They appreciate all that is done for them but they do better when it is simple.  Thank you North Catawba Baptist Church for loving these sweet ones so perfectly.

Final Touches

Stacey with the help of Freddy, Manuel and Hector lifted the tin up to the fellows on the roof.  They were working around some close corners and a road full of water behind them.  They carefully placed each piece up to the roof until the last one was completed.

Mike and Paul were up there with the expertise supervision of Pastor Carlos putting the tin into place.  Then Pastor Nick got started on the top end as each nail was screwed into place to completion. Mike shared with Paul to slide from the front side to the back side to get started on the back.  Paul did just that.  Paul got on his belly and slid down to the other side.  That was the first time I had ever experienced that amazing task.  Pastor Nick and Paul did an amazing job giving Eloise a dry place to lay her head each night.  

While the roof was going up the doors were getting clean.  Misty and Cheryl worked the entire time the roof was going up to get those doors spotless. Sarah came out at one time to assist them with the cleaning.  By the time the roof went up the doors were ready for the home dedication. 

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

Psalm 37:23

Home Dedication

Where are the keys Eloise?  At each home dedication we lock the doors to secure the home for dedication.  Later in the dedication service the family receives their keys to their new home.  Meida and Freddy was teasing her about her keys.  They asked her where the keys were and she said she did not know.  Meida shared will I guess maybe next year.  Eloise got a weird little look on her face and said she could go in the other door.  Meida said it was locked as well.  While this was going on with Eloise the team was loading up the materials on the back of the Kia through the river in the road. Before the home dedication the fellows wanted their photo made together.  What a handsome hard working group of men.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

We gathered around the completed home place while Pastor Nick led the dedication service. Pastor Nick thank everyone for coming to the home dedication.  He thanked everyone who worked on the house.  As we start today Pastor Nick opened with anyone from the family to share their thoughts.  Sarah, Freddy and Eloise first gave God all the praise and honor first and then thanked God for each team member who came and worked beside them to get their home.  Eloise shared how she had prayed for a long time for her home and God's provision came through this team. Paul and Cheryl  thanked them for allowing them to be here with them and to build such special relationships this past week.  How blessed they were to be here with each of them.

Today we come here together not as Hondurans and North Americans but as brothers and sisters in Christ.   We come together today to celebrate what God has done by providing this beautiful home forEloisa.  The God of the Universe, the Maker of Heaven and Earth  has provided this home through the work of His children, Hondurans and North Americans.  Yesterday when we were pouring the floor, I was worried we would run out of sand and not be able to finish the home.  But God is good!!!! God is very good!!!!  Similar story when Jesus fed the 5,000 men and their families with five loaves of bread and two fish.  He stretched the sand and concrete far enough to finish the floor. When Jesus fed the 5,000 there was twelve baskets of food left over.  Yesterday there was enough concrete and sand leftover .  Pastor Nick shared that is a sign that God has great things planned for those in this home. When we started work on Tuesday, we gathered together and prayed over the cornerstone of the home.  We prayed for God's blessings on the home and those living in it.  The cornerstone is important, because without it the home would fall down.  The Bible tell us that Jesus can be the cornerstone of your life.  If we have Jesus in our life, then we can a strong spiritual life and grow in our faith in God.  Without Jesus in our life, we will be like a house built on the sand, when the storms of life hit us we will be broken.  Pastor Nick encouraged everyone if they have never received Jesus Christ then do it today.  Seek out Pastor Carlos or Meida and me, Pastor Nick, and we can assist you into a new life with Christ.  The reason the team came from North America was because Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives and we wanted to come share the love of God with our brothers and sisters in Honduras.  At this time team member Paul prayed over the home as everyone gathered around the home and placed their hands upon the completed home.  Afterwards, Pastor Nick presented the Bible and the Key to the family.

Eloise was given the key to open up her new home.  Freddy whispered into her to invite her North American friends into her home.  So as she entered her new home, she turned around and shared please come and visit with me in my new home.  Everyone gathered inside giving out hugs and love to one another.  What a very special time for everyone.  She held her Bible and keys to her new home with such pride.  Stacy, team member shared this was probably the first set of house keys she had ever owned.  Stacy you are probably so correct.  Eloise was 80 years old before she got her first set of house keys and a door she could securely lock up in the evening.  Some things we all take for granted. 

As the time together came to an end for the project anyways, Mike and I looked back as we were leaving the team behind to continue to love on their new friends, saw our friend Manuel leaving as well because once again his work here had been completed.  Thank you God for putting Manuel into our lives.  He is the closet human being to being the characteristics of Jesus I have ever met.  Thank you Manuel for exemplifying Jesus in your daily life.

An Intersting Sunday

We got up to a very special breakfast which the entire to enjoyed.  We had ballades.  This is a soft burrito with eggs, refried beans, creama and chismo.  Paul cooked breakfast each morning for his team.  Mike got up there this Sunday morning to assist Paul in the preparation of our very special Honduran breakfast.  God is good!!!

We left in plenty of time for worship in Cedeno.  The road construction is still trying at times.  We set for a short time in the road construction. But that was the least of our worries.  We figured out along the way this particular day was National Day of the Bible in Honduras.  So all the different churches were having parades on this morning.  We got caught up in one and Mike decided to take a left to go find another route to the church in Cedeno.  But the left he took was not a road it was road which took us to the parking lot of the Catholic Church.  So we sat there waiting for the parade of the Catholic Church to arrive at the church we were sitting in front of.  We could not leave until the parade had completed its journey to the Catholic Church.  So Mike then got back out on the road and found another road to turn left on to get around yet another parade.  As we traveled that morning, we came across about four different churches having their parades for the National Day of the Bible in Honduras.

We finally arrived at church to some familiar faces.  Eloise and her grandson's wife arrived to church and set with the team.  Eloise came to church in her beautiful white Sunday apron.  The Pastor Maties and his family arrived to greet Pastor Nick and team and to prepare the order of worship.  Pastor Nick greeted so many folks as they entered the church.  What a beautiful start to another special day in Cedeno.

The worship service started with singing hymns, some familiar and some not so familiar.  Standing on the Promises and I Will Praise You Lord to name a couple.  The team sang two specials one "Victory In Jesus" and "Because He Lives".  We read scripture out of Luke 10:1-12.  Paul got up and shared his personal testimony.  He accepted Christ at the age of 15.  God has blessed and protected my life shared Paul.  Honduras has also blessed my life this week through building special relationships with each of you.  We were able to be the hands and feet of Jesus Paul shared.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good. 

Pastor Nick got up and shared the Word of God out of  Matthew 16:13-20.  He shared how he was in Las Cabasas five years ago and was trying to use his Spanish and got in really big trouble with what he said.  Today in another time there was a person who said they were someone and others said he was someone else.  In the Garden of Eden it separated all of us from God.  God's plan was to send His Son for our sins.  Jesus came to the earth to teach us how much He loves them.  In verse 13 there was a question to the people, "Who is Jesus?"  There was so many different answers from different folks, some said he was John the Baptist, some said he was Elijah, some said he was Jeremiah and many others.  In verse 15 Jesus asked his disciples who they thought He was?  Peter said, "You are the Son of God."  Jesus you are the blessed Messiah, You are the Son of God.  Like Peter do you have the faith and belief of who Jesus is?  First of all we have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.  Our sins are disobedience to our God.  Spiritual gap between us and God according what the Bible says.  Instead of separation from God we can have our sins forgiven.  All we have to do to experience this salvation is ask forgiveness of our sins and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Now my question to you today is "Who do you say Jesus is?"   If you have never asked Jesus into your life and forgiveness of  your sins I encourage you to do so.  Because this will change your eternal destination in life.  Heaven or Hell, which will it be for you.

Our Last Ministry Opportunity

The men of the team along with Mike road up to the police check point to get a game of basketball with the chief and colleagues. But before they could play basketball on the court, there one small problem.  There was a huge passenger bus sitting on the basketball court.  The chief gave Mike the keys to move the bus.  Mike could not get it to move.  So the chief went up on the highway until he found someone who could move the bus.  He literally pulled a man off another bus passing through the check point to move the bus.    Pastor Nick did not know the correct manners  of Honduran basketball.  You do not knock the ball out of the chief's hand especially if you want to win his graces.  Everyone had a great time and Mike decided to call it a game when it tied up 6-6. 

At the end of the day everyone walked away feeling good about their basketball game experience.

Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules.

2 Timothy 2:5