julyupdates

On Sunday, July 20th a team of 3 came in from Ohio. They were joined by another couple on Monday afternoon, making a total of 5. The whole week we had VBS at 9am and 3pm. School here is in three sessions, so kids attended VBS who did not have school in the morning and kids attended in the afternoon who did not have school in the afternoons. There was story time, crafts, songs, and games. Before and after many kids were around playing soccer, jump rope, and Frisbee.

Mid week we were joined by Castillo de Rey (Castle of the King). There were some teenagers from Tegucigalpa and many from the States. They danced (choreographed steps to Spanish Christian music), shared a message, did skits, led songs, and had puppets who sang. Jeremiah was fascinated by the puppets and kept trying to walk over to the puppet stage to see just where those puppets went.

Thursday night we bagged food, purchased by the first group, to distribute at Saturday classes. We put packages of spaghetti, margarine, tomato sauce, rice, and beans in a bag. First, the rice and beans needed to be bagged because they came in huge 100 pound sacks. The kids were all a great help.

Friday we drove with the second group (Castillo de Rey) to Villa Union (an area into the mountains). Some people walk from there to the Saturday classes in Zambrano. What a bumpy road! We had to fix part of the road before the bus could drive through. It was an interesting day because there was no school and the parents were at the school for parent/teacher meeting and report cards. The group played games with the kids and made balloon shapes while we waited for parents to get out of the meeting (the place we meet is right down the road from the school).

Many were saved, and prayers for provision and healing were prayed over those who needed it. Then, the adults lined up to receive a bag of food. It was great to connect with some of the women and children I hadn’t seen in awhile. Kjell was able to talk a little bit with some men who sat afar off. Some were questioning about where the church was, what goes on, and when. We were able to use our truck again for ministry. We used our cigarette lighter adapter/inverter to run the sound system through our truck and then when the truck got too hot, we plugged the inverter into the bus. Then, we gave some people a ride down the mountain.

Saturday we had a two hour class! It was awesome to see the message confirm what I had been teaching for about 3-4 weeks prior. My spirit was leaping inside and I wanted to just jump out of my seat and say, “See! God is trying to show you many different ways the importance of your thoughts and what happens.” There was a time of ministry and then the food was handed out that we had bagged on Thursday night.

Sunday we were in church for 2 ½ - 3 hours and didn’t even notice it. We had an awesome message and ministry time. I saw in my spirit the missionaries from the US making a line and having the Hondurans who attend our church pray for them. Kjell saw the same thing. We had been teaching on the Holy Spirit, the manifestations, and moving from a mind set of receiving to giving (in prayer and ministering), expecting others to move in the manifestations to bringing your supply. This was such a powerful time. Something I had always dreamed of. We had some Hondurans give a testimony comparing times when they have received prayer and this time of being able to pray for someone else. Some had a hard time explaining the power of God flowing through them instead of to them! Some had never prayed for anyone ever before or had God show them what to pray for. This left the congregation full of hope and a sense of usefulness and belonging that God could use them the same way He uses Americans; that God could speak to them the same way He speaks to Americans. And it didn’t matter if someone was a Pastor, was saved for years, or had just gotten saved. God can use everyone. Something changed on the inside of them. I know this will lead to taking the power of God to our neighborhoods and community and the country and the world.

I would have loved to hear testimonies from the Americans too – on receiving prayer from our members. I could tell for some of them it was hard to just stop praying and receive what God had for them. Many were weeping. Some ended up on the floor. It was a powerful, powerful time. Kjell had seen some kids in the doorway watching and invited them to come and pray for the missionary team. Four boys, about 8 years old or so followed Kjell and began praying for a team member. Then Kjell asked one of the men of the church to help assist the boys in praying for others. It was so exciting to see the young boys, and then some girls wanted to join in, too, praying for others. They were very serious and did not at all "goof off". They walked to different places in the church, praying for people.

Sunday night we had a special service for couples. I had asked the Pastor how well he knew the team members in the US group really well and I was looking for a babysitter. Two sisters from Castillo de Rey volunteered to baby sit our children at our house. They had grown up in a family with 4 kids too. This was great because my kids were getting weary in well doing (maybe 8-12 services they had already been to – 2 VBS’s a day plus Saturday and Sunday service). Remember – the children’s services are in Spanish. So, it’s not always very fun for them. American teams usually mean English translated into Spanish (which is great for them), but Castillo de Rey was all in Spanish.

At the couple’s service, I thought Luis was not going to be able to contain himself. He was just about weeping at seeing so many men in the church that he has never met. He has known the wives and many of their children (in the past 4 years of ministry), but had never met the men. We tried to greet many of the men before the service started. We weren’t sure who wanted to come and who was dragged there. My hope is that seeing the other men there will encourage them to attend more. Couples that wanted a stronger marriage went up for prayer –which was almost all the couples. Then, everyone was treated to a brownie and a soda.

Patita is Gone

Patita was one of 7 dogs from a mother who had her third litter of 7 (she’s had 21 puppies!). We were told that some dogs die from worms and sickness and that some dogs are actually poisoned (so people can break into homes). In the US, I’m sure dogs are required to go to the Veterinarian and required to get certain shots. Of course, here there are no such rules. Worms was the biggest thing we were told to watch for and that was taken care of with a little pill, to be given at certain months. We thought Patita would be fine because we were feeding her three times a day (so she would not jump up on us or eat garbage) and we kept her in the yard (away from garbage and other dogs). However, on July 25th, 2008 Patita died. She had not eaten for 5 days. Prior to this she had gotten into the area where we burn garbage and had eaten some rotten leftovers. I had given her a Tums and got her to drink water here and there. I tried to give her chicken broth and more Tums. We also prayed for a healing and a miracle. Once again, in the US, if there was nothing that could be done for the dog, they would probably put her to sleep. We didn’t have that option. We came home from VBS and the girls found her dead. They were all crying. I got everyone inside because I was grossed out. Kjell buried Patita and then we had a little service – saying all the nice things we could remember about her. Just like kids, being able to bounce back like a pogo stick, they were fine the next day.

7/14/2008 Entry

What Do We Do? (see pictures)

We have a variety of people that visit our web site – from Pastors and ministers to friends and family. The journal section has been everyday life as well as highlights from teams and events. So, we have tried to balance the entries and pictures with ministry items as well as with the ‘what we do’ on our days off. Some people just want to read ministry items and some people just want to see how our kids and dog are doing. Therefore, we have created a new web page that lists our job descriptions and tasks. It’s much like if you asked your Pastor, “What do you do all week?” Well, besides the church services, daily prayer and studying of the word, it would be hard for them to list ‘ministry.’ "Well, I prayed with a lady on the phone today." "I presented the gospel to the electrician." "I met to pray with other pastors." "I had a meeting with my staff." A couple came in for counseling." "I befriended a business owner." These are a just a few normal examples.

Therefore, this new page includes things we are currently doing and things we will add in the future. We have committed and dedicated our lives to serving God much like many Christians have. Being in "full-time" ministry means we are able to minister at any time (even to drive a lady in labor to a hospital 45 minutes away!) and to any one as well as have our own personal time because we are completely without distractions. We have no voice mail or answering machine, receive few phone calls (no solicitors), have no junk mail or any mail, have no friends (no social gatherings), have no family (no family events or gatherings), no cable TV, no internet (hopefully not for long), etc. We don’t even celebrate holidays (so far).

Now, I might have to do other tasks that are not normal. I have equated these errands to taking a trip into NY City to do errands – they take all day. This would include meeting with the lawyer for passport renewals and residency, finding furniture, paying a bill at the bank, getting a Honduran license, registering the truck, etc. These items may take an entire day, however that is 2-3 days out of an entire month (usually on our day off, Monday). But for the most part, we are available to minister as we go, wherever we go, doing whatever is needed. Thank you for your support in this!

The Switch

Switching from short term to long term missions has really broadened and changed our view of missions all together. This includes our view of picture-taking on the mission field. Imagine that every time you had a guest speaker in church or did street evangelism or gave away food or offered a medical clinic, people were taking pictures of all the people in your church. I sometimes feel like I am exploiting people by taking a picture of where and how they live every day. And honestly, sometimes I just can’t take the shot.

Depending on which country you go to and how evangelized it has been, the typical crusades and presenting of the ‘Jesus Film’ are just not cutting it in reaching the lost. Many people have cell phones. They have TV. They have movie theaters. What is needed now (not in every country, some still need the crusades and films), are committed individuals who will teach and train the body of Christ. They got saved, now what? It is time to dive deep into the Word, teach the people to be disciples and go and teach others. It is time to equip the saints. We can still reach the lost – by equipping the saints to reach the lost. We can still plant churches – by equipping the saints to pastor. We can still reach the world – by equipping the saints for the work of ministry.

Short term missions is vital and necessary. It can broaden the believers' view to what a missionary does and how other people live. It can change perspectives and rearrange priorities in life. It can ignite believers to return home and ‘do’ the work of ministry in their local church. It can help members of the body work together and flow in the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. It can also plant the seeds in some who will make the long term commitment needed for long term change in other countries.

Ministry is about relationship building. People want to know we care about them and are here for them (not for one week, but for the long haul). They want to see us live the same way they live and helping in the everyday tasks, such as burning garbage, mowing a lawn with a machete, cleaning the street gutters, etc. . People want to interact with us and ask questions. They don’t want to be told what to believe. They want to think. They want to search, study, and know the word of God for themselves. It’s our job to teach them how.

Do I sometimes feel inadequate because of what I don’t know in the Word? Yes. Do I sometimes feel lacking because I don’t know the language? Yes. But the message is right and the time is now. Food might feed them for a day, but the word of God will feed them for life. Food is temporal, but the word of God is eternal. Love needs to be shown in word and in actions.

Short term missions should assist and help the long term goal. Long term missions should foster and plan the short term trips. We have to be careful not to do things that will just make us ‘feel’ good. We have to watch out for those ‘kodak moments’ and remember that it is a person in the picture. We want to equip, not cripple. We want to help, not hinder. We want to give a hand up, not a hand out. There is a healthy balance in there somewhere. I guess that is why Paul says we are one body consisting of different parts (members).

Pictures

Marcy teaching the Saturday afternoon women's class

Using the projector and computer helps people understand the message better

Carolina, Luis' daughter, teaches the 9 and younger kids on Saturday afternoons

The 9 and older kids are with Mayra, Luis' wife

Since all three classrooms were being used, Luis meets with the boys in the 'church' (which is currently a roof and cement slab)

The church building, which also is a futbol field (soccer field), is being built quickly - putting on the roof was an amazing feat!

The little roof area to the right used to be the one class area where Luis would teach kids - to the left is a newer roofed slab that is currently being used to feed the people who come to the classes on Saturdays

The walls to the kitchen have gone up this last week (July 7-12) and will be completed this week

All the work is done by hand including the mixing of cement

The people from another ministry come and prepare the food for the people - approx. 400 people every week get to hear the Word and receive food

The Fenn girls helping in food prep

Talk about using faith so my kids' fingers will still be there!

Marcy preaching on the Holy Spirit on Sunday morning

Marcy with Luis translating

Back

Missionary Teams

Setting up the puppet stage

All the kids lining up for the show

Kids singing and learning songs

Bekah with a friend coloring

Katarina, Alba, and Mikayla enjoying a lollipop and a craft at VBS

Thursday Night

Bekah bagging food (manteca [like shortening], margarine, tomato sauce, spaghetti)

Melinda and Jim bagging beans (funny thing is, both Melinda and Jim are accountants - bean counters!) and Ken and Debbie bagging rice

Kjell bagging rice and Katarina putting rice and beans into the give-away bag

Luis, Mayra, and Trish (with Bekah and Mikayla) putting packages of spaghetti, tomato sauce, and margarine in bags

Even Jeremiah helped bring bags of beans to be put into bigger bags

Friday Morning

Another view of the mountain road

People walking to see the show and receive food

Balloon creations were made and enjoyed by the kids

The truck being used to power the PA system

We drive trucks and buses and the people ride their horses - Mik and Pastor Vit get to ride

Some soldiers walked by - a very normal occurrence

Friday Afternoon

Last day of VBS

Boys making hand motions

Doing the chicken dance - over 100 kids in two circles (boys on the inside, girls on the outside)

Now doing the Hokey-Pokey

Saturday

Ken teaching with Luis translating

Use of object lessons was very powerful

Debbie taught them how to forgive

Mothers receiving food (the same we had bagged on Thursday night)

Praises:

- The sports complex/church is going up quickly

Needs:

- Books and basic school supplies for our bilingual school we are starting

- Qualified teachers who want to teach in Honduras

- More financial support

- Pray that our van will sell for $3000