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Marcy's Journal

April

4/20/2008

Weekend in Zambrano                                          Luis Asked To Leave

Moving To Zambrano                                             Jeremiah is 3!

4/13/2008
Trip to Tegucigalpa & Danli                                     Zambrano

4/10/2008
Opportunities

4/9/2008
Ministry Shock

4/7/08
Prayer Line

4/5/2008
Arkansas Team                                                          Two Schools
The Jesus Film                                                            Songs in English
Ohio Team                                                                  New Church

4/5/2008
Arkansas Team (pictures)
On March 29th a team arrived from Arkansas (part of the Tech Serve team with most of it’s members from Four Winds Church) (Randy, Neil, Anthony, Britney, Bob, Don, Ken, Buddy, Julia). They did not know the nature of their trip outside of some construction. A couple of the guys helped with orphanage construction (cement foundations), working along side the Honduran employees. Two men were here specifically to make cabinets for the staff apartments and the cafeteria. One man, Frank, was interested in evangelizing in the schools and through utilizing the Jesus Film. Julia, who is originally from Tegucigalpa, was able to help translate for Frank and Kjell. One college student, Britney, was gifted in painting and painted two bible verses (in Spanish) on the church walls (that was another great use for the projector – tracing the verse on the wall). Being a double major consisting of Spanish and Education, she was able to translate some as well (especially around the complex). The youth and family minister from the church, Randy, was interested in going to the school Kjell teaches in as well. It was a very packed and awesome week. They departed on April 5th. However, some of the team members may be returning in July or November.

Two Schools (pictures)
On April 2nd, we went to two different schools in Yamaranguila (with our family, Frank, Britney, and Julia – who translated). The first, is where our neighbors Brenda and Cindi attend school. All of the older kids were gathered in a type of auditorium, in which the roof had blown off from a couple of the latest wind storms. Frank made a few remarks as to the importance of education and then when right into a gospel message. He gave an invitation to receive Jesus and many repeated the prayer. Then, he asked how many prayed the prayer and then how many prayed the prayer for the first time. It was quite a few. Last, he stressed the importance of knowing God and attending a local church. He then introduced Kjell, who spoke briefly and then gave the location (completely with directions) and time of our church service. We also mentioned that there would be a pelicula (movie) in the town park that night. The kids seemed all ‘wound up’ much like kids in the United States would be after an assembly. One student was shaking hands and giving hugs.

     The second school was a little ways down the road from Yamaranguila center. I never knew there was a whole other area of neighborhoods out there. Once again, we met with the older kids (probably 5th – 8th grade). This time, we were tightly packed into what looked like the library/media room. Frank and Kjell did the same thing as the first school, and it seemed like most of the kids repeated that prayer for the first time. The awesome thing about this school is that they had a huge stack of Bibles there. Julia (who formerly lived in Tegucigalpa and who works as a Special Education teacher in the US), stated how blessed they were to not only have Bibles, but that they can read them and learn about God in school. She stressed how in America that is not allowed. The director was asking us when we’d be back before we had even begun. Maybe we should start a bible ‘class’ there!

The Jesus Film (pictures)
We showed The Jesus Film on Wednesday and Thursday night. It was like going to the drive-ins. Wednesday, we brought the PA system, microphones, a huge screen (sheet sown by Julia and PVC pipe frame put together by Frank from materials bought in La Esperanza), and other audio-visual supplies. to Yamaranguila square. At about 5:30pm we started blasting music to make our presence known and attract people for the film. We did not see the mayor there, however Kjell gave him recognition for allowing us to present the film. We stopped the film half way through, and Frank presented the gospel and introduced Kjell, and then we finished the film. I heard people repeating the prayer, but because I was sitting close to the screen, I did not see who raised their hand for receiving Jesus for the first time. In addition to announcing the location and time of church service, Kjell offered prayer for healing, deliverance, family, etc. Here we were watching all these miracles Jesus performed (in the film), so we wanted to offer for people to receive prayer if they wanted it, but no one came up.

     On Thursday night, we showed the film outside at the complex. We had a problem with the sound working and found out that the PA system had died (hmmm… maybe all those years it was sitting outside). After an hour of these people sitting and waiting patiently (I was amazed that we did not need crowd control), and Kjell singing some Spanish songs, Kjell was able to run the sound of the film by using some other supplies. Since the team who was working on the cafeteria only had one more night to finish countertops, I had to go in and be ‘bang control.’ When the gospel and invitation to receive Jesus were given I asked the guys to stop banging and sanding with the loud tools (‘five minute break,’ I told them). When the second half of the movie was put back on, I let them know to ‘get back to work!’

     In more remote areas, in which Frank has been (Africa, India, etc.), he says that the novelty of a film outside draws crowds in the hundreds. We think, since some of these people have televisions in town and these types of films may have been shown before, that we did not get the masses. At the complex we were closer – at around 60 people.

Songs in English (pictures)
On Thursday, Randy went into school with Kjell. Since Kjell had just given a test on Tuesday, he decided a good break would be to learn some English through songs. The last fill-in English teacher taught with a lot of songs, so they had been begging Kjell for songs (I guess his class was getting tough). Of course, Kjell could link even a song like “Happy All The Time” to prepositions (in-right, out-right, up-right, down-right). I don’t think the kids were as interested in that as they were in the singing and motions.

Ohio Team (pictures)
Overlapping the Arkansas team by one night, was a team of over 30 from Ohio. They were a team through Dr. Lilia (Chain of Love Ministry out of Tegucigalpa). They stayed for one night. They went to many orphanages throughout the week, but here they divided into three sub teams: playscape, cooking, and gifts. They pulled people out of each of those groups to hand out las boletas (tickets) throughout Yamaranguila for a dinner they would be serving to around 180+ people. The playscape team was busy pounding wood and putting cement in the foundation. I could tell right away it was going to be huge and then I was told it had two swing sets! This property has plans for a total of four orphanage buildings, so two swings sets will be awesome. The cooking team was busy preparing a spaghetti dinner for that night.

     The gift team was separating clothes and shoes by size and setting up toiletry items. Then, they went around with garbage bags making sure that each bag had some of each pile (or grouping), some toys, and some toiletry items. One lady told me to take whatever I needed before they bagged it up (for my kids). So, I also let the house parent of the orphanage, Adelma, know so she could get shoes and clothes and toiletry items for not only Iris and Rosi, but her family as well. I was psyched that sneakers were found for Rosi (something we had been looking in town for). Adelma was psyched to find items for her oldest daughter. I was just having fun putting some shirts in a pile for Adelma too! I had to let her know which bottle was shampoo and which bottle was soap because she kept thinking shower gel was shampoo. We just got here (to Honduras), so I did not need much in the way of clothes and stuff for the kids. I did need the next size sandal and sneaker for Jeremiah and wallah – there they were (Thomas the train and everything). One Ohio team member even got Iris and Rosi to help her fill up the gift bags by picking what clothes and what toys would go in.

NOTE: This team used to have clothes and items piled on tables, but it had always taken too long for people to go through. By putting the clothes and hygiene items in a bag ahead of time, it saves time. Also, they found that if the people did not receive the size clothes they needed in their bag, they would just exchange with other people in the community.

      That night was the spaghetti dinner. The Ohio team did feet and hand washing before people entered the church transformed into the cafeteria (or cafeteria that is being used as a church). Anyway, we were able to fit everyone in. We had some Spanish praise music playing and then Kjell gave a little message while people ate. Some repeated the prayer of salvation, we let them know about the church service and time, and then it was back to eating. The Ohio team sang some songs in English too – the harmonies were phenomenal. After that, each family was given a gift bag (that was prepared earlier).

New Church
When the Ohio team was passing out las boletas (tickets) to the evening meal, they handed some out to a group of men who were in Yamaranguila who had walked maybe an hour and a half just to get to the center of town. They waited at the complex for over two hours for the meal (it was too far to walk home and then walk back – probably 2 hours to get to the complex). In talking to them, with Julia translating, Kjell found out their names and that 17 families have been meeting together for church or fellowship in a barrio (neighborhood) far away because they do not have a local church or pastor. They would more than love for us to come out there, so I told Kjell to give them a ride home after the dinner to find out where exactly they live.

NOTE: I wish I had a word to describe Honduran directions. I am amazed that people know their way around. It’s probably easy if you grow up somewhere (like how we know how to get places, but don’t necessarily know all the street names). However, the neighborhoods have names, not necessarily the streets. Some of the streets only have room for one vehicle and some (like in La Esperanza) are only one way!

      After the dinner, Kjell drove them home with Porter (administrator of the complex, who speaks Spanish). We were warned more than once not to go down their road to El Zapote (the neighborhood)! We were told to drive them to the end of a particular place called Semane and that was it. Well, a 25 minute drive later, Kjell knew why. The road he was on was very bumpy and our van would not even make it to these family’s houses.
      We would like to start going to this barrio (neighborhood) on Sunday afternoons to have church, but we are not sure if it is a 25 minute drive and then an hour walk or if one of their houses is closer than that. Please pray that we will have wisdom and that our kids will have endurance (two church services in one day and a possible walk) ability to pay for and have available a translator every week, and a truck with 4-wheel drive!

NOTE: Kjell went to Semane in Porter’s truck. Our van would not make it up the road to where the families were even dropped off! So, a truck is a must.

4/7/2008
Prayer Line
Due to the outreach during the week, The Jesus Film and the dinner, church was packed on Sunday. The PA system had died on Thursday night, so we sang as loud as we could while Kjell was on acoustic guitar. Kjell gave a message on hope and then we had a prayer line (asked for people who wanted to experience the power of God to come up front for prayer). It was this past week that Kjell felt, “I don’t want this to be a service of enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (I Cor. 2:4).
      About 7 people came up for prayer. It was at person number 6 that I almost started crying. It was then that I realized that everyone was not requesting prayer for themselves. They were up there on behalf of someone else (a family member who was sick, a son that needed a job, a mom, a family to serve God together, etc.). In a split second, I realized how often we think of ourselves when going up for prayer and here was a group of people who not only cared for others first, but were standing in the gap for them. I can’t wait to hear the testimonies of God’s goodness, Spirit, and power!

4/09/2008
Ministry Shock
The day church was packed and we had just finished a great weak of evangelistic outreach, just when we felt we had found our niche and one focus for being here, we had a ministry shock. Because of doctrinal differences, we were told we have to leave the Care Complex in three weeks! We were shocked and confused.  We didn't understand really what happened.  It is still unclear as to what exactly the issue is.  No matter what, God is good and He will provide for us.  I wish we had more to share, but at this time we are still piecing together bits of information to complete the whole story.  Just know that we know God called us to Honduras.  We know and believe in the call He has given us. Where we execute that call is now unknown, but the call itself is very clear: bring hope, plant churches, and teach God's people.

     Between tears and excitement, we praised God for everything He had blessed us with here, the relationships we have made, and the things we have learned. Then we prayed, repenting of where we had missed it, blessing this place, and for wisdom on what to do next. It didn’t all sink in until a couple days after. I had many questions: Did we miss it? Do we pray against an attack of the devil to separate a powerful team or do we pray for where we go next?
      Kjell had just ministered on hope, so that is what we had to do – hope in God! The kids were extremely upset and in tears, but I think kids live on pongo sticks (remember those?) – they bounced right back at the thought of God having something else in store for us. They get all excited for adventures and road trips too. However, every so often though they will pop up with another question – mostly, “Why do we have to leave?”

4/10/08
Opportunities
Many opportunities have presented themselves since we have been told we need to leave. One is a director position of a bilingual school in Danli (see Trip to Tegucigalpa & Danli). Another is to look into teaching at Southwest School (where we looked into having the kids going to school) and Oasis school (where Kjell is currently teaching two days a week). The Oasis school said that they will be going through the process of being a bilingual school and therefore will need an English teacher. Both schools are in La Esperanza. There are still the families in El Zapote that need a church as well. We would probably not live out there due to no electricity and difficulty of the roads, but we might be able to find somewhere near town (Yamaranguilla or closer to La Esperanza) and then head out there one or two times a week (i.e., in a 4X4 truck).
      We even have friends emailing about missionaries they know in Tegucigalpa (Hope For Honduras Ministries) and Comayagua (a mutual friend that runs another school there called Ruach School).

Of course we have our first year ministry goals in front of us:
1. Assimilate into the culture
2. Learn the Language
3. Cultivate relationships
4. Teach teachers
5. Participate in street evangelism
6. Begin bible studies

      The first three goals are the most important. We found out from another missionary down here that Costa Rica has an amazing language school. They have a year- long program, and just began a one month intensive (in June or July). I don’t know if this would enable us to teach or preach without a translator, but it would sure increase our ability to have conversations with and get to know people.

4/13/2008
Trip to Tegucigalpa & Danli
When we called our missionary friend from Comayagua, Jim Faber, he let us know of a director who had just called to ask him if he knew of anyone who wanted to be a director of a bilingual school in Danli (Danli is the town we went to on our 2006 missions trip). A Pastor we knew from a missions trip to Comayagua in 2000 (Pastor Felix) was excited and we also know another Pastor (Pastor Arturo) at Eternity’s Call Church in Danli, too.
      We spoke with the director of the school (Evelyn), who lives in Tegucigalpa, and decided to meet in Tegucigalpa and head to Danli (Friday). While we were in Tegucigalpa, we asked Evelyn to help us get our passports that were still at immigration and drop off paperwork to the lawyer. She lives outside of Tegucigalpa, so we stopped at her house on the way to Danli. In Danli, we saw the town, visited the school (Pebbles and Stones), and asked lots of questions.
      We knew we would not be able to meet with both pastors and attend both churches because they are both held on Saturday nights. So, during the day on Saturday, we stopped by Eternity’s Call Church (Pastor Arturo’s). He was not there, but some people were cleaning and working so we were able to take a look inside. It was neat for Katarina and Mikayla to see what they had a part in (painting and planting of trees) from our 2006 trip there.
      The night we arrived, Friday, we were able to meet with Pastor Felix and have a conversation with him through a translator (who also happens to be a teacher at the school we were looking into). They have been praying for 2 years for worship leaders, and people to help out the Christian school, but we are not sure we are the ones. Pastor Felix wanted Kjell to minister at his church on Saturday night. The service was awesome! Three hours long and everyone was not gone for another hour after that. There was an hour of worship, Kjell ministered for about 1 hour, and then they worshiped another 30 minutes ending in 30 minutes of prayer for a Pastor and his wife visiting from Nicaragua and for Kjell and me. (See pictures)

NOTE: Since we just went through an rough experience (i.e., where people prayed for a family to come and thought it was us, they told us it was us, and then we were told to leave) we are a little leery when people say, “We’ve been praying for . . ." and "You are the answers to our prayers . . ."  In other words, you’re not the answer to someone’s prayer just because you are available.

      We prayed about Yamaranguila before we went and we will pray about Danli. The next step would be looking for a home. At this point, the coolest part is that our children would be back in school. I think they will learn more Spanish being around other kids and being in a bilingual school. I think we would learn more Spanish too by living in the community. We would be able to work there for 2 months and not only see how everything is run, but decide if we would stay.

Zambrano
When we returned from Danli, Luis and Myra Sorto were here. We had a meeting with them that night and found out that they had nothing to do with the decision that was made. Their immediate reaction, when they heard the news that we were told to leave, was to have us go with them to Zambrano. This was Plan A.

NOTE: Kjell emailed our Pastor in CT, Dave Miller, about the decision made to have us leave.  Pastor Dave emailed back some encouraging words and his last sentence was mysterious, but seemed to be prophetic because it was so strange.  He said something about "going back to plan A."  Kjell's reaction was, "What does that mean?  What is Plan A?"  Hmmm . . .  interesting. 

    This was what we originally came to Honduras to do. It was at the last minute that everything had turned around and we ended up at Yamaranguila. We were relieved to know Luis and Mayra still loved and trusted us.
      So, this Thursday we head out to Zambrano to see what it is like. We will visit the discipleship groups, look into schools for the girls, meet other missionaries, attend Luis Sorto’s church, and look for housing. Since we go through Comayagua, we will stop and visit Jim Faber and his family on our way back, on Sunday. Then it will be time to make a decision, pack, and move!

4/20/2008

Weekend in Zambrano (see pictures)

On Thursday afternoon we left for Zambrano. Of course that day the country decided to go on strike because of escalating prices on gas and everything else. We made it through Yamaranguila and La Esperanza with no problem. Then, we squeezed through one lane in Seguitapeque where protestors had blocked off part of the road and police were holding them back. In Comayagua though, we had to be re-routed because the protestors blocked the whole highway (or main road). Without too much of a delay, we made it to Zambrano. We drove to Luis and Myra Sorto’s house. They have rooms where they have mission teams come.  There are 9 beds and the other room has 7 beds. So, we stayed there. We ate lunch and then drove around the town.

     We visited a missionary couple, Aaron, Jennifer, and their four kids, in San Fransisco (across from Zambrano and up the mountain). Before that a friend of the Sortos who was making bread in a mud oven outside, invited us to talk and later to come by for coffee.   Aaron and Jennifer plan to begin a bible institute to train native Hondurans to start churches in the mountains, even further out there from where they live. They will also teach practical steps in farming. Right now, the people live day to day, picking an ear of corn here and there. If they harvested it all, they could replant.

     On the drive back, we stopped and looked in a house for rent. It was right in the center of Zambrano. Throughout the weekend we contacted the nephew of the owner and decided to rent it for $160 a month (which is a blessing)! It is not ready yet, so we offered to do some of the work (painting, installing doors and cabinets) and will just submit receipts in place of rent for now.

     Friday, we sat in on a morning discipleship class for boys (one girl comes anyways) that Luis led. At the end Luis asked us to share a little something.  That afternoon, we met Jimmy Hughes and toured his ministry (www.jimmyhughesministries.org) in Zambrano. There is a rehabilitation center where people come from all over the world to be set free from drugs and alcohol. There is an orphanage, home for teenagers who are pregnant, home for battered women (new), and their guest house for missions teams. Jimmy Hughes has been an active part of government and the military.

     We missed Luis’ women’s discipleship class because we were looking at a place we might be able to stay while the house we will be renting is being fixed up. Saturday, we drove to Tegucigalpa to meet with Ed and Valerie Shubert. They will be moving to Zambrano in September to work alongside Luis Sorto, too. They shared their hearts and we shared ours. We felt that with all our giftings and abilities, God was getting ready to do something big in Zambrano. Ed is gifted in construction, farming, and mechanics. Valerie is gifted in early education. She plans on opening a day care, and she stays involved in the community by offering adult education classes (in English) as well. That mixed with Kjell’s education background (secondary education and teaching of teachers), we may open a bilingual school in Zambrano.

     There are a couple of public schools in Zambrano and neighboring towns, however if a teacher can not get to the school because they do not have a ride, then there is no class. Public school is usually not a very good system either. Because Luis has people walking two hours and over the mountain to church on Saturdays, he would like to start churches in other, more remote areas, as well. That is where Kjell and I would fit: discipleship and church planting. Saturday evenings is the church service (maybe around 600 people including kids). Right now they meet in classrooms. Myra teaches kids 9 and older. Carolina teaches kids under age 9, and Luis teaches a group of women (with a couple of men). The boys play soccer while the classes are going on and then Luis teaches them after the women. Luis asked me to minister to the women’s class and Kjell to the boy’s class. After the classes, everyone gets a ticket and is fed by Jimmy Hughes ministries. You should see the big pot they cook in! Sunday morning we head out to Comayagua to have lunch with a missionary friend, Jim Faber. We arrived back in Yamaranguila around 8 o’clock that night.

Luis Asked To Leave

On Saturday, while we met with Ed and Valerie, Luis was in a meeting with all the ‘heads’ of the complex. They asked him to leave. He was relieved in one way, since he has full-time ministry in Zambrano and also ministers internationally. On the other hand it hurt, because these were his friends.  We do not know what will happen with outreach, discipleship, and church here at the complex. It might just be an orphanage, we do not know.

Moving To Zambrano (see pictures)

This week, we will be packing up and moving to Zambrano. Luis will be bringing a team here on Tuesday and then he will have to pack up personal and ministry belongings as well. Hopefully between all of our stuff and all of the vehicles, we will be able to transport it all. I think we need someone who has a truck license so they can drive a big box truck. We still have to work out the details of where to stay until we buy furniture and fix up the rental house. However, we found a bilingual school in Comayagua (45 minutes away) that we can enroll the girls in. Since the school year started in February and ends in November and our girls had half a year of this school grade already (last September until December), I think they will transition just fine. Unlike the hour drive to school here (going from Yamaranguila to La Esperanza on dirt roads and through a town and up a mountain), the road to the school in Comayagua is paved!

Jeremiah is 3! (see pictures)

On Friday, April 18th, Jeremiah turned 3! I had a toy from the States that was still in its box (one of those big magna doodles), so I had set it aside when the container came. And, we bought him a plastic truck for playing outside. The Sortos do not celebrate birthdays simply because they didn't grow up doing so. They said that the poor and the rich do not celebrate birthdays. It is really the middle class that go all out for birthdays with the party, piñata, cake, etc.

Pictures

Arkansas Team

Praises:

- We found a place to rent in Zambrano

- We have met some wonderful missionaries with like vision/hearts

Needs:

- Prayer for wisdom in what to do and what not to do

- More financial support because now we are paying for rent and utilities plus school for our children