Program named in honor of Beto

Last week Nuevo Mundo, where Beto teaches Bible, had their annual Christian Music Concert where students participate. Each year they name it in honor of one teacher and this year they chose Beto! In the first picture you can see the banner in front of the church with his name in the last line. Then he is with Arturo, a leader in our church and our Pastor Raul(the taller one) who came to see the program.
There are a lot of students in this school who mostly are not Christian but were definately ministered to at the program.

blabbing

Right now I have a few minutes to write and for maybe the first time on my blog will just write what's on my mind and not plan too much what I'm going to say.
first of all can i just say that i cannot believe how hungry i am ALL THE TIME while being pregnant! It's unbelievable! When i was sick with nausea the first three months i seriously couldn't imagine ever "having hunger"(translated directly from spanish) again!
I have been in Teguc.almost a week staying with my lovely friends Steve and Jeanne on Baxter's campus and visiting with Amber. Over the weekend I went to a ladies missionary retreat, but most of the time has been spent on the phone with my lawyer(sounds sooo grown up!) and some other key people trying to get my Honduran Residency process started. Things never go the way you'd like or think they should go in Honduras. I don't officially have an employer right now since we are not officially with World Gospel mission until we have all of our funds in. This has made it difficult to get the necesary papers needed from them to hand over to my lawyer, and i'ts been difficult raising funds from the States through letters adn emails sent from here in Honduras.
I've been on the phone so much with contacts here in Teguc and La Esperanza but it's frustrating that there's not much I can do until I am called back. I am really enjoying staying with my friends, watching American TV (LOVE the news!) but I miss Beto and he misses me and i am also anxious to get home. But I'm just sure that if I go home before signing any papers that as soon as i finish the three hour bus ride back to my home i will get a call asking me to return to Teguc again to just sign some documents.
All this has caused us to wonder if I should leave the country every three months like I'm supposed to for my 90 day VISA here in honduras or if we should just move to the States and raise funds until we have them all and when that happens, move back to Honduras. But my husband, being a bit more (ok, a LOT MORE) calm than me, asks a a great question,"What do we do with all our stuff, and our dogs?(yes we have two now, the new one i've not met yet!) So we're going to see what happens.

So, now you know why the title is what it is.
Please be in prayer for us for all of this...raising funds and getting our residencies. Thanks!

Missouri Group, Brother Ronys House

Here are some pictures of the group that was here last week from Missouri. They were a joy to get to know and hang around with. We got to work with them a little bit during the day, cooking...me, and welding new chairs for the sanctuary and some other construction projects...Beto. One Sunday a friend from our church and his family...in the picture with the three young boys, invited us all to their mountain retreat house for a cookout. The view and food was amazing. I took a picture of one of their three dogs, the ultimate guard dog who is very dangerous. He actually took a bite out of one of their horses bellies one time, so I took this picture from far away.
We were very blessed by this group and pray all God¨s best for them!

A day trip

Last weekend we went with our friends Brian and Jessica to the town of Siguatepeque about an hour away. We got to eat at Wendys, buy maternity clothes, shop for machetes, and I found brown sugar! So exciting, I know! Brian and Jessica are missionary teachers at the school where I was working and are really fun people, although they were trying their best to be very serious in the picture, which is difficult for them.

Grow up!

The little latino is growing quickly! And this was taken BEFORE I ate all those brownies!

Second month pregnant

There´s not really anything to see since at this point I was nauseated and losing weight. The next picture you´ll see a big differernce!

Yes, so many blogs, so little time

I go so long without blogging becuase I think...¨Today, nothing really happened. there´s nothing to write about.¨but then I get to the end of a few weeks and think, ¨Wait! I have so much to write about!¨

Here´s a picture I´d like to dedicate to Miss Dani, becasue I can totally hear her cracking up at the Mateo picture. One day the house got very quiet while I was in the kitchen, so after awhile I went to investigate. Our bedroom door was closed and upon opening it Beto´s face pops up with a surprised look on his face like a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He had been trying to get a shirt onto Mateo. This was the second one that seemed to stay better. We left it on him for about an hour and then I could see that it was starting to really annoy him. Upon taking it off I realized he had peed on it! Poor guy, what could he do? He couldn´t move the fabric out of the way! So needless to say that was the last time we dressed him.

My first lemon merengue pie!

A few months ago I sold muffins in front of our new house(the first and only time). One Canadian man passed by and bought some. He´s been here many years and heads up the hidroelectrical project in town. A few weeks ago he came by again and asked if I had anything for sale, but I only make when someone asks me becuase I don´t have time now to sell out front. He didn´t order anything then but a few days later he came by and asked if I could make Hot-Cross-Buns. ¨Well, I´ve never made them before but I have a recipe.¨So he ordered a dozen and loved them. When he came by for those he asked if I could make a Lemon Merengue Pie, and I told him the same, that I´d never made one but I could try. Well, last night I made it and for my first one it did turn out quit nice, if I do say so myself. I´m not sure if he´ll like it but we´ll see. I´m grateful to God for these opportunities to make money always at the time when we need it and by doing something I love!

National Bible Day

Yesteray, Sept.28,(also my sister Glenda´s birthday!) was ¨Dia de la Biblia¨. There was a ¨walk¨ from one end of town to the center. There were lots of floats, for instance the one in the picture with the blue and white baloons represents the fruit of the spirit, and people dressed up as the twelve disciples, and our churched marched, as others did, with banners. The man dressed up in his army uniform is representing the armor of God...he has his sword and shield, etc. It ended in the center where there was a big truck set up for speakers and worship. As Beto says, it´s a great day to show the world that God does exist and even though they may think we´re crazy, we do it as a praise to Jesus, that others may know Him.

Clothes giveaway

One of the people getting onboard with us in helping out Miguel´s family and his neighbors is Rony, a brother of our church and successful business man in town. We don´t know where he gets the clothes but he´s asking people he knows to donate children´s clothes. Last week he called Beto and Beto went to pick up the clothes and sorted them out into different bags to make the giving away easier. The picture of the mom with her kids is Fidelina, Miguel´s neighbor. We were able to give away a few articles to the parents but mostly this time it was for the kids. The mother holding her baby is Fidelina´s sister-in-law, and the other pictures are of Miguel´s sister and two young nieces.
We continue to ask for your prayers. It is encouraging to see how others are getting involved and how Lilian, the oldest sister, is growing rapidly in her faith. We look forward to seeing all God is going to do with these families.
Miguel´s mom has come to church once and we have prayed lots for her and with her, but she continues to drink everyday in the street. Even though the police threatened to take away her children and she was in jail on night last weekend, she is not willing to change...yet. We know it is a struggle and a process but God IS FAITHFUL.
We have plans with other brothers of ours to put the kids back in school in February when the Honduran school-year starts. They havn´t been in school in 3 years so they will all be the oldest in their classes but they probably won´t be the only ones in that situation.
Thanks for your prayers.

15th of Septiembre

Once again, Independence Day in Honduras. There was the biggest event of the year for this town...The Parade. There weren´t a lot of musical instruments, only drums. It spanned three day¨s: Friday only Preschool and Kindergarden marched. Saturday the elementary schools and Sunday the High Schools. The picture is of Beto marching with some banners from our church as part of the Bible class participation. It was a loooooooooong parade because at the end each school performs their entire prepared ¨drill¨in front of the city and department officials and TV cameras, and some schools had 30 min. presentations, so the whole parade has to stop and the other schools behind them end up just stopping in the street, going into different businesses to use the bathroom or buy snacks. I´m so glad I didn´t have to march this year! For the elementary they marched from 7:30am until 3pm and it´s only like one mile long the route! but then they got the whole week off of school after that. Most of the schools practice everyday from May until September. It´s like training for a marathon!
Beto did really well and had a little presentation prepared with some of his students as they carried banners declaring the Lord´s faithfullness and goodness and others with Bible verses on them. It was a great testament for all the town.

Beverly and Diane

Last week my very favorite Beverly came to visit with her cousin Diane (who is now my favorite Diane). We had a lot of fun with them. Beverly is the one in the background of the foto. They are washing my dishes with HOT WATER!(aren´t you so happy mom?) I couldn´t believe it. It was such a blessing to have them here. Beverly lived in the Southwest School apt. complex with her husband Ken who is recovering in the States from a nerve illness. They have been there for about a year and we are praying they can come to Honduras to work at the school again soon.
We had them over for lunch and there were so many dishes they took over the whole small kitchen. But because the sink is so low their backs, like mine, got sore fast, but they were troopers and finished them all!
We got to go out to dinner and another time go to have a snack. They really blessed us wiht thier presence and some presents...tons of kids´books, chocolate chips(so important!), maternity clothes!, other things and even let us borrow thier TV until they get back so we don´t go blind watching movies on our computer.
Beverly and Diane, we love you and miss you! Come back soon!

Quick update on Miguel´s family

Last week Beto and I were ¨downtown¨when another street kid came up asking for money. Beto recognized him and asked him where Miguel was. He said the cops came and took he and Jorge to some kind of juvenile detention center. So we called Lilian, the oldest sister right away. She explained that the police escorted them to their house and told them that they were going to come back to put them in the government social services, but so far that hasn´t happened. We mentioned to Lilian about the possibility of sending them to a local Christian orphanage with people that we know personally. She was very excited about the idea because there they would have 3 meals a day, clean clothes and an education. It would also put them in a much healthier environment, but there are also the two young girls who don´t hang out on the street as much but need a safe place just as much.
Please pray with us about this that with God´s leading we can find a solution and finally begin them on the road to a better life.

Tuesday night at church

Every Tuesday at 7 we have a prayer time at church. It´s always very uplifting as we have worship, then a devotional, and then time to give prayer and praise requests and then pray together, where most go up front and kneel. Our church is growing and great things are happening.
So you can imagine our surprise when Wednesday morning Beto gets a call saying that in the middle of the night the church had been robbed and he needed to get there ASAP. A few other leaders met at the church to pray and take inventory of all that had been taken. A sound equilizer, some microphones, Kathy´s keyboard, a new electric guitar, and some other sound equipment. Kathy and Bob´s bedroom window was open and faces the church, but they didn´t hear anything nor did their dog´s bark( although if you knew their dogs you may not be so surprised, but that´s another blog). They took off the kitchen window of the church to enter and we think they may have gotten scared off when Bob got up at 4am to go pray with the men´s group. (I thank God I´m not a man for if no other reason, THAT ONE! The women pray at 4.30PM)
The police came and took fingerprints but I don´t think anyone´s holding their breath to see the items again or figure out who the thieves were. In that area, and really in all parts of town, there have been many house robberies lately, mostly in the middle of the night while the people sleep, and they take heavy stuff, like stoves, fridges, etc. I don´t know how they do it.
Like I said, it came as a surprise but then again it´s not surprising that when God´s church is on fire the Devil isn´t happy and will do whatever it takes to discourage us.
Please keep us in your prayers.
On a lighter note, as I mentioned, the women´s group is growing and thriving, thanks to God. Last Wednesday we had about 16 women meet to pray at one sister´s house. It was a very uplifting and powerful time of sharing and praying together.

May God bless you today. Thanks for all your prayers.

Educatodos in Gracias

A couple of weeks ago Beto's students and other teacher's, along with some chaperones Bob and kathy and our pastor, all took a day trip to a town about 2.5 hours from La Esperanza, on a very bad dirt road, which is why I didn't go. It was a plan Beto had had for a long time. Some of the studetns had never been out of our little town. they went on some hikes and saw a good view of the city, and at the end of the day got to swim in the hot springs. At one point our Pastor Raul also gave a devotional. Most of these kids don't attend any church and come from very difficult family situations. It is great that they had this experience with 4 very mature Christians and that Beto is also giving devotionals every Friday afternoon. We are praying that through this program many youth will be raised up as leaders for Christ.

Couples Retreat

This past weekend we went on our first marriage retreat (and hopefully not the last!) We went with 11 other couples from our church. The veteran missionaries with whom we're working are licensed marriage and family counselors and they, along with our pastor, planned and executed the event very successfully. They gave a session and brought in two other pastors also licenced counselors to give sessions. It was a lot of fun and we really learned a lot!

In the second picture you'll notice a basket in the foreground. In that basket were lot's of Honduran coins that we could take as we liked, but not to buy snacks. Each of also recieved a little gift bag(empty) in which we put a coin if our spouse lifted us emotionally, like with kind words, a hug, a kiss. But if our spouse brought us down in any way over the weekend we had to take out 5 coins! It was a great exercise in realizing how often (or how NOT often) we encourage our spouses.

It was in the mountains above Tegucigalpa so the climate was equal to that of La Esperanza, not uncomfortably hot and humid like down in the valley of Tegucigalpa. It was a great blessing for all the couples, as most of them have been married 6 years or more, and all of us want to continue to meet once a month here in town to keep getting to know each other better and learning, which will allow couples to come who couldn't attend the retreat.

pictures!

Here are the pictures from the lunch at our house last Sunday with Miguel's family. The woman in black is the neighbor and the other is the oldest sister. The little ones seemed to eat more than anyone, and they especially like coffee! We had a great time. Even Mateo was smiling although we had to tie him up so he wouldn't attack our plates!
Our pastor was very burdened for this family as well as another brother at church. We all have had the same dream for a long time of opening up a home for children like these. It is exciting to know God brought us here at this time, to meet the people we've met and be serving as we are. We are very happy while knowing there are challenges ahead. Please pray for us to have wisdom about going forward in the different ministries where God has us.

More about Miguel´s family

This past Sunday Beto had a taxi follow him on his moto from the center of town to Miguel´s family´s house. The oldest sister came with her two girls, 3 younger siblings, and invited a neighbor who came with her three kids. It was quite a group. They really enjoyed the service and afterwards they ate beans, rice, cheese, eggs, and toooooooooons of tortillas at our house. They even got cake which was perfect because unknown to us until after lunch, the next day was one of the neighbor boy´s birthday. They all had a really great time.

Since it´s hard to get a taxi where we live our pastor came with his truck and took them all home. Beto went along to lead the way. When they arrived at the house they went inside to talk and pray and the oldest sister gave her life to Christ! She is 21 with a 3 and 1 year old. There are no men in the picture to help out. Please pray that she gets a job soon and for her new life in Christ.

This weekend we will be in Tegucigalpa at a couples retreat so we won´t be able to take them but we pray they will go on their own to church on Sunday now that they know where it is. The mother didn´t come and we pray she will get clean and start to come too with her family. Miguel isn´t doing so well either. We don´t know for sure why but he didn´t want to come to church Sunday, so that is another challenge.

Miguel's House

Today Beto and I went to visit Miguel's family. You may remember him from many blogs ago. We havn't had as much contact lately since we moved further out of town, but yesterday Beto saw him with his brother and sister and mom and asked if we could go visit today.

We got there and the 10 year old sister was watching the 7 year old, 3 year old, and 1 year old (the younger are neices) all by herself. Unfortunately the mom had gone down to visit the grandmother. They live a ways out of town as well but on the other side.

I really wanted to go to see their house, meet the mom, and understand a bit more about the family. They (8 of them) live in a one room adobe house with dirt floor and two beds. Inside it smelled heavily of a bathroom and then I noticed the remnants of the smell on the floor. They cook their meals outside with firewood and have to walk a ways more up the mountain with their clothes to wash them and themselves in the river.

The mother is an alcoholic and doesn't work, and they don't get much help from family or neighbors, which is why Miguel, Jorge, and Milagros(Miracles) are in the streets asking for work, money, or food.

Honestly I don't know many families like theirs personally nor have I visited any since moving to La Esperanza, but this is why I am so excited to be in full time ministry now. I wanted to have time to do exactly these kinds of things.

While sitting in their house I got to thinking/dreaming about all the things Beto and I may be able to do in thier community. As of now, after we read some scriptures, Beto talked to the older sister about Christ and we prayed, they agreed to come to church with us this Sunday. We'll be going to pick them up in a taxi.

Please pray for us as we continue to minister to this family and please keep the family in your prayers as well.

Visits

Last week beto and I went to visit a sister from the church. Her husband recently left to go to the states. At our prayer service last Tuesday we´d heard that he had encountered extreme difficulties so the next day she was on our minds. She has an 11 year old, a 6 year old, and a 1 year old, all girls. they live just down the road from us. We arrived unannounced, which is the only way pretty much. She was so grateful and we had a lovely, spirit filled visit, reading some scriptures, praying for her and over her youngest who´s been realy sick with asthma and other respiratory problems.

As we were about to leave she offered us lunch and as we were enjoying her really delicious meal, seriousy the best beans i think i´ve ever had! and handmade corn tortillas(it´s lunch time as i write this, can you tell?), she told us that God had really planned the visit today because usually her youngest sleeps maybe half an hour a day for a nap, but that day she somehow slept 3 hours! (I told her since it was her first birthday, which we found out when we arrived, that the shock of being one year older just tuckered her all out!) So she had time to make all the food at a nice pace, not really rushed like usual, and have enough food to invite us.

I love seeing how God works like that! Please be in prayer for Raquel and her three daughters and her husband Freddie.

Recap

Unfortunately I have not had much time to write lately, and since we live further out of town I do not walk to the internet anymore, meaning I forget things and have to wait a day or so until I get back to the internet again.

So, with that said, I will update on some happenings of the last couple weeks without pictures. So sorry.

First, the group from Ohio that cleaned our mold came back a few days later and with the paint they donated to us, painted our house inside! Wow, we are so blessed and grateful to God and to them. They even let us be picky and pick out a color scheme! I however picked out the most hideous Frenchs original mustard yellow which we had to go over with other colors we mixed from what we bought. All the rooms turned out really nice and we are so happy!

Last Thursday and today Beto went to preach at the Alcoholic REhab center at 6 am. I did not make it but he understands. I stayed spiritual in bed and prayed for him, that is before I fell back asleep for another hour. Last Thursday 5 men gave their lives to Christ and today 4 more did. Also last week after he finished he went up to help a friend on a project in the mountains. As they were returning they gave a ride to a young man walking the long road down into town. They evangelized to him and he gave his life to Christ too! They got all the mens phone numbers and are keeping in touch to make sure they are going to a church, etc. Please be in prayer for these recent converts.

When I returned from Florida Beto also told me he evangelized to his taxi driver and he gave his life to Christ. Beto got his number and has called him a few times. Please pray for this young family man who has some definate spiritual warfare going on in his family.

I began today tutoring a 5 year old for an hour 5 days a week in English. She is the daughter of the woman who buys my muffins in the smoothie shop. I pray this will be another open door of ministry in her and her familys life.


I have been accepted as an academic coordinator at a local private bilingual school very close to our house. They kept calling and calling and we prayed about it and felt this may be another open door to ministry. I told them I did not want to teach and could only give them about 2 to 4 hours a day and they said Great! and I mentioned the possibility of giving Bible classes there which they did not have and they just called to talk to me about giving those too, praise God!

So we are doing really well, enjoying life and looking forward to what God has for us in the future.