Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World.

thank you!!!

2011-04-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to the Womack family for their continued support and prayers!!!

The Belpre Group has come and gone (part 2)…

2011-03-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest things that happened throughout the week was the great privilege and honor to have Talanga and Josue from the Homeless Ministry come and work alongside our group. What better way to reach out to the people of Honduras, then to have some of your very own out there pounding nails, handing out food, cleaning rooms, working hard to serve our father! It was a great way for them, to give back as well! God is continually showing us ways to better serve the Honduran people!

Josue and Talanga mixing concrete for the support posts :)

Carlos, my son, on the roof finishing up the last touches!

Josue lining up the rafters!

Me and Brian discussing what to do with all the extra lumber... Opps!

While the men worked on the shelter the ladies made some AWESOME bookcases!

The Belpre Group has come and gone…

2011-03-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

What a great week of service! Building a total two homes, a pavilion so that some kiddos will have some shade to eat lunch under at a great school, visited lots of kids, visited some of the saddest places on earth, all while continuing to show the love of Christ! We spent one morning handing out flowers and 'care packages' inside Hospital Escuela! It was awesome to see the kiddos light up when pulled out toys and candy!

Its not every often that you see and father in the hospital, looking after his son...

This boy had gone to have surgery on his leg, then the surgery was canceled so they brought him back to his room. His mother could not lift him back into bed, so joined in and helped...

Picture of the 100 flower arrangements we made in the foyer of the hospital

Arrangement

Then God kept sending his blessings!!!

2011-03-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

A week later, Renia, Talanga’s wife was baptized as well. She wanted to wait, pray and see if this was the decision she really wanted to make, to take the leap of faith and step out and prove to the world that she is God’s child. It was a great testimony to watch a drug using, alcoholic couple come to know the Lord and his goodness. (the only bad thing was, we didn’t have a camera there that night! L )

Talanga Got Baptized!!!

2011-03-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

About three weeks ago Talanga, a great man at the homeless ministry was baptized into Christ! For the past few months we have been studying the word with him, sharing stories about life and just allowing him to ask questions when he had them. We did not want to pressure him, we wanted him to make the decision on his own!

God is always, always faithful. He continues to show his mercy through Talanga!

Darwin (in the blue shirt) is Amber's Son. He is a very sweet young man. God has blessed him with the opportunity to serve these people, the people that most others wouldn't touch!

After a couple of weeks of studying and LOTS of time investing in ways to show God's love and mercy, HIS LOVE always prevails!!!

In the middle of the homeless ministry, there is a courtyard and a fountain that worked great as a baptistery!

Probably my new favorite picture... God is always ALWAYS faithful!

Where to even begin!!

2011-03-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

This is the part I hate MOST about blogging, that SOO much has happened, God has opened SOO many doors and given us SOO many opportunities to share His love and grace and SOO many things to rejoice in that I DO NOT know where to start, so bare with me was start from where I left off and get ready for some great stories and pictures!

One night at the homeless ministry, the power was out in the building. So we fed everyone under a streetlight, just down the street!

Me and Josue, one of the young guys that lives in the building.

Renia and all of us touching her pregnant belly!!! She is scheduled to have the baby this coming Monday!!!

Monday Afternoon Bible Study!

2011-03-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Max Lucado - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus

On Monday afternoon we had our first Bible study with the people in the homeless ministry. Amber and I expected about three to four people to show up, but by the end of the Bible study there was ten people, not including us white people :)

Everyone was really excited to talk and share life stories and experiences!

Amber came with print outs from the book, so that everyone can write their answers out.

God was honored by these people, sitting down and just sharing what He does in their lives, even when they didn't realize it was Him! I was very impressed with how many of the people wanted to sit down and read!!!

Closing prayer! After the prayer, since so many were in attendance and we had such a good response with lots of feed back and lots of comments we asked if they would like to have more then one meeting a week to sit down and study. They all agreed that they wanted two gathering times a week! God is always, always Faithful!!!

Whats Next??

2011-03-03T19:48:00.001-08:00

God has allowed me the opportunity to help serve the poor and homeless with Breaking the Chains Ministry. It is something that I have grown to LOVE to do. Last week, my good friend Amber sat down with the couple that oversee the grounds at the building, because they asked about baptism. After a steady about what it means, what importance it is, both Talanga and Renia deicded that they wanted to pray more about it and see what God wanted them to do. God will honor their hearts and I CANNOT wait for the day that they are baptized into Christ!

Renia and Talanga sitting and discussing their future lives with God :)

Children's Church

2011-02-27T21:12:00.001-08:00

We never know how many kids to expect if any at all. Today we had five kiddos come and participate in Children's Church. It was good fun trying to remember words to VBS songs, while at the same time doing hand motions and trying to sing those VBS songs in Spanish! This week we started a 'series' with the kiddos on creation and they all seemed to catch on pretty quickly!

Jonathan coloring his coloring sheet!

The girls (Courtney and Jenn) cut out this really cool light bulbs to represent light, and then the kids colored their papers black to represent dark

All together now!

Its fun to watch them get so much enjoyment out of coloring

Courtney leading the song 'The Sea of Galilee' because i am not that fast at translating the words and doing the hand motions all at the same time! :)

Church with the homeless... i love them!

2011-02-27T20:58:00.001-08:00

Homeless Church is a little, different to say the least. People sometimes shout out in the middle of a prayer, stand up and walk out to go huff some glue, people are wrestles and just come for the food afterwards but today, it seemed different yet at the same time, all the same (if that makes any sense at all). Darwin, Ambers' son, lead the service today but he was kind of hyper. Which actually turned out to be really cool. He had the people standing and acting like kids, singing and dancing to those famous VBS songs that we all loved and cherished!!! At first I thought it was a little crazy, but after I got to thinking about it, the people there probably never had a chance to attend a VBS, where they can act silly and it still be okay before God. It also allowed them a time to get out all their energy before sitting down and listening to a good lesson on love and kindness and the hope that Jesus has to offer them.

Belki's singing and dancing in her own little world!!!

Darwin starting with the first song, Belkis was SO excited!

There were over 25 people today!!! It as a great time worshiping God (like kids!)

Donation of computer monitors!!!

2011-02-27T20:39:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we helped TORCH/I.R.C unload a container. When we were finished Mark Connell and I were talking about some of the things that came in on the container and where the supplies would be going. Carlos, our oldest son, overheard Mark say the quicker we can get the stuff out the better. Well, on our drive home that night Carlos asked what Mark was going to do with the monitors. So after asking some questions, Carlos told me that he wanted to donate some to his old school, where he graduated from in November. After making some phone calls and talking to the right people, we brought home about twenty nine computer monitors for Carlos to clean up, fix/repair. It took three truck loads but we got them all home. Over the course of the weekend Carlos plugged every single one and made sure they worked. Then he took the time to clean them inside and out.

God is working in this boy, he doesn't see it but we do! Carlos is constantly trying to find ways to help people, constantly trying to find ways to do the right thing. He has a servant heart, he just trys to be cool, like any normal 20 year old! Love my boy, and Love that God has allowed him to be in my life!

Our living room with monitors, WOW!!! Carlos is in the back-round trying out one to make sure it works

This picture was taken only after trip #2 out of 3

Carlos' teacher, with all the monitors in their storage room

Our truck full to the top!!! (inside was full too!)

They all made it to the school safe and sound!

A Christmas Party in February?!!?

2011-02-27T20:26:00.000-08:00

Around Christmas time, the W.O.P. team from Ohio, decided that they wanted to throw a Christmas party for the Didasko children's home. After many jumps, leaps and cancellations, God allowed us the have the party last weekend. It was a great day for everyone, fun times on the games and rides and most of all pizza and LOTS of presents from wonderful people in the states! God is always faithful!

We broke the kiddos up into different groups. Carlos had these four little guys... (Carlos is growing up to be a good man :) )

Bryan enjoying some pizza, I feel like he ate about 10 slices himself!

Jen and the girls!

Norma and her gifts!!!

She LOVED her presents!!!

A great week!

2011-02-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

Over the last week or so, we have had the opportunity to host one of our biggest supports. This great lady prays for our ministry daily, offers advice and guidance and most importantly believes that God’s work is being done through our ministry. It was a great week of taking her around to see the different things God allows us to do here in Honduras. Michelle got to meet our boys, got to work in some of the communities that we serve in, got to visit the dump and pass out food and water, she was able to serve in the homeless ministry and most importantly show the love of Christ in everything that she did.

Michelle with Carlos as he was working on a computer

Saul and Michelle

Michelle and some of the kiddos from Casa de Esperanza!

Me, Jen and Michelle

Giving out hugs and water at the dump!

Valentines Day at the Homeless Ministry

2011-02-15T16:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at the homeless ministry Amber brought cards and art supplies for the people to make valentines day cards, the people went CRAZY!!! They loved it, most of them went right to making their cards instead of eating.

Making Cards :)

Sunday Afternoon Church...

2011-02-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

On Sunday afternoons we have been attending Breaking the Chains Church of Christ with the homeless people. Depending on the week, there can be three people to twenty people. This past week we had over twenty people come to worship Christ! It was great seeing the drug addicts and others worshiping God. After services we provide a time of fellowship and invite the people to stay and eat something. This time is my favorite part because we get to invest time with them, something they LOVE.

Making Dinner!

Cutting the Tomatoes!!!

Our Church Group

WOP Honduras!!!

2011-02-08T21:57:00.000-08:00

This past Friday and Saturday our time was spent blessing the Missionary Women of Honduras, with Women of Purpose, Sisterhood Revive! It was a great weekend of sharing and blessing the women!!! From praise and worship to insightful videos, God’s glory and honor was shown to the women!

Sarahi's family

2011-02-08T21:52:00.000-08:00

Visiting Sarahi and the family…
On Friday we went out to sector 8 and visited Sam’s family. Everyone looks like they have worms again. They all seemed happy and relatively clean, considering our past experiences with them. Mariosol, can see pretty good. She colored several pictures while we were there and most of the pages she had colored within the lines. Everyone except for Sarahi will be going to school come this February. They are all excited!!! Please continue to pray for this family, as we try to seek God’s guidance as to better the future of the children.

Clean Water

2011-02-08T21:45:00.001-08:00

Clean water…
In December, Bread for a Hungry World came and installed a water filtration system, just outside the Tegucigalpa Dump. Although the process to purify 2,500 liters of water takes about four hours, it is worth the end result. Today, after being away for a couple of weeks I talked with a guy who lives in the community surrounding the dump. He said that the water that we purify at first tasted a little funny but now after drinking it for a couple of weeks he feels better and asked that we continue to serve their community. God is always, always faithful  .
Funny story, as we sat today and cleaned some water we got to become friends with two very impactful people. One being the guard at the school. We talked for about 30 minutes about faith and God’s word. Jessica told how she has walked away from her faith in the past and about her return, it was a God moment. Then we hung out most of the day with Oscar David, a 12 year old kiddo from a surrounding community called the Linda Miller. He seems to be a good kid, with a good heart. We talked about what he wanted to do when he grew up, how many brothers and sisters he has. He asked lots of questions of us. Overall it was a good God sharing type of day! Next week you told Oscar David that we would bring out a bible for him and his family. 

Saul

2010-07-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

Yoni

2010-07-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

Francisco

2010-07-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

Yovani

2010-07-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

Mario SInging

2010-07-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

Mario

2010-07-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Antonio

2010-07-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Marvin

2010-07-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

2010-07-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

Just what some of the boys have to say... :)

2010-07-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Prayer Request/Update

2010-03-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and family;

The Bible tells us that Satan will attack us when we least expect it. That the evil one himself will continue to hit us while we are down, so that we will not be able to get back up and continue the fight. God also tells us that we are not of this world but of a world that is much better, a world that we will all be in one day soon together with no fears, no worries, no hunger and most importantly with our King.

Over the last few months, before leaving Honduras for what was supposed to be a short trip back to the states, I became more aware of "unfailing love" and got a little bit of an insight to what that might look like. As humans, I believe we will not ever truly understand what love without ending means. I mean lets face it, its hard not to hold grudges, get mad or upset. I am grateful that our God shows us unfailing love, unending grace.

God's endless love continues to showers us daily. While in the states God granted me that opportunity to serve the people of Haiti by working the the Church's of Christ Disaster Response team, as a "coordinator" so to speak. God allowed me to use my talents that he has given me to help share and spread resources all throughout Haiti and let me tell you, it is AWESOME to work for God! Because with him everything is possible. After helping serve the C.of C. DRT, for about a total of six weeks it was time to return home to Honduras.

When I arrived home, I was greeted with hugs from my little people. The one hug I had waited six weeks for was from my "son" Saul. Saul, is my boy and I COULD NOT WAIT to see him. After spending the first evening hanging out, telling stories about what happened here in Honduras and what happened while I was in the states we decided it was time to get cracking on the group stuff! God allowed everything to fall into place and by Sunday, the group arrived. From then on, my life goes into group mode. Making sure that everything is ready for the next day. You always have to be one step ahead!

After stepping back and looking, tonight I noticed that I hadn't spent anytime with my boys. So, tonight (Tuesday Night) we hung out for a while. Just joked around and talked. It was good. God is moving here. He is moving in our house, its sometimes hard to see with the teenage attitudes and mouthiness that goes on, however He is here.

This morning (Tuesday Morning) I got Saul up for the bus. We waited and waited for the bus to come. It never showed. So, we hopped in the car and picked up the other four boys and headed across town to their school. When we arrived at their school, I saw their bus there letting kids off, I knew then why they hadn't been picked up. After saying "God be with me" I went into the office and sat down at the desk of the administrator. (As missionaries, we live off of support. Some months our support comes in abundance and we are able to set money aside and save and other months we are dry as dirt, its what helps us keep our faith. Well for about the last three months, we have been bone dry. Although we great, awesome, faithful, God inspired supports sometimes other needs arise before other debts.) With that being said, I knew that the boys hadn't been picked up because we owe the school a lot of money. We haven't been able to make our monthly payments in full and just like every other bill, it still comes knocking at the first of the month. ;-) So after about an hour long meeting the boys were allowed to go to school today, with the agreement that day the end of next week we would have the debt payed in full. Currently we owe $3,303.45 (62,419 Lemperias) to the school. We have been paying $678 monthly to the boys school. Today, we discussed ways to lower the monthly payments from this point forward by helping out around the school.

God is here. He is working here in Honduras, through us. Through our ministry. He consistently continues to show us his grace and mercy and love. One day I hope and pray that each of you will get to meet "my boys" all nine of them, opps now ten of them :) . I ask that you pray. Pray that God will open the heavens and allow his grace and mercy to shower down upon us here in Honduras. We in return, will ask the same for you. God will always honor your pray. In ways that we never can expect.

With Love,
David :)

To God be the Glory, forever and ever, Amen!

2009-10-22T15:37:00.001-07:00

By the end of the day tomorrow, God would have allowed me to work on four house sites this week. I have been sick, throwing up, pooping my guts out and yet He has given me the strength and the courage to continue to help. The best part about building a house is, at the end of the day, when its all said and done and the person who you built the house for is standing there, with big tears in their eyes saying, "To God be the glory," or "My God I thank you for this house," or the best one of all, "God, you have answered my long awaiting prayer for me and my children, thank you."

God is faithful... if you look deep enough you will find Him everywhere. Its so cool!
God is faithful and the people of Honduras continue to show me how little faith I have, compared to their lives of faith. God, may the Glory always be for you, forever and ever, Amen!

I said to myself, "Self, get out of the freakin way!"

2009-10-17T10:29:00.001-07:00

From the issues here in Honduras, to the economic unrest in the states, sometimes it all just gets overwhelming. However, isn’t it comforting knowing that our God is always there?!? This what we are always told, taught and what we all want to feel. Sometimes its hard though and I guess that is our human side coming out. The side that wants to be able fix the problem or issue right away and the side that can’t always come to the rescue. This is troubling for most of us, mostly me. I hate not having enough money to help everyone all day, everyday. I hate not being able to go and buy tires for our truck and worrying everyday if the tires will last. I hate not being able to go out and build houses everyday of the week. I hate not knowing where the next amount of money is going to come from or how much it will be.

But God is faithful, this much I know. Whenever you need someone to talk to, He is always there. When you need some guidance and direction in your life, He is always there. God is always there. I know that I shouldn’t stress and worry about money , I know that Our God has and will always continue to take care of what He has called me to do. God is always faithful, there is always enough money (just enough, which means it is coming from Him, he knows every need and every cost), there is always enough ways to serve the poor and needy. His grace and His actions are all sufficient. I just need to learn to be still and know that He is God and that I am not

Saul, playing with my camera

Maria's, sisters pre-mature baby

Antonio :)

The last two days :)

2009-09-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

God is always, always in control! He allowed us the last two days, to rest, clean, organize and most importantly pray. God opened the doors for a small group of people to fast for a twenty-four hour period, praying diligently for this country that we have come to love and adore.

During this time at home, during the crew-few hours, we have sat and talked about religion, God, Jesus, family, friends, governments, Obama and Hillary. :) It has been a growing experience for us as a family and I thank my God for that. However, I am also heavy hearted b/c people are still fighting, people are still hurting and people are still starving.

If you sit back and think for a minute, you start to wonder who is really getting the "worst deal" out of all of this. Its the little naked man that you see walking the streets everyday, huffing glue to kill the hunger pains and just escape life. It's the little boy, born at 5 month 3 weeks, because his mother was dying of "Swine Flu." The people most effected by all of this is the exact people that God has called me here to serve! "The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved-- they are Jesus in disguise." - Mother Teresa

God is faithful! Here are some pictures that I took, over the last few days :)

Police lined up in front of burger king, right in front of the grocery store Mas por Manos (the grocery store I normally shop at ) Mel, (the former president),is literally a block away in the Brazilian embassy.

Reminds me of people preparing for hurricanes in Florida!!! People waiting for gas!

There is graffiti everywhere!

more police outside the grocery store

Well... I just don't know where to start...

2009-09-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

Lets start from a new beginning! After some much heart tugged, tear jerking months in the states i returned home last thursday! God is so good and has allowed me to come back and serve the people I love so much.

After coming in and seeing "my boys" (and shedding some tears) we talked about what happened while I was gone, only briefly. It was late at night and I needed some sleep. I knew the days ahead where going to be some trying times. The house is still standing after leaving the boys here, alone for a good portion of the time so that was a good start. After some time in the house I noticed little things here and there broken, nothing major or anything to worry about. After I started looking closer I noticed that someone (Eduardo) decided to paint the rocks in the back yard blue. BRIGHT BLUE!!! I noticed that the front door, window, has a nice hole in it and is cracked in several places. Carlos showed me that "bugs" have eaten some of the wires in Jen's desktop computer. (However those bugs sure clean up after-themselves and sure do make nice clean cuts in wires). God is faithful, however and after much prayer and crying at night, I found the silver lining today after talking with a good friend.

Karen Vaughn, Asst. Director at Casa de Esperanza and her husband Dorian, preacher a Santa Ana Church of Christ, me today to talk about things while I had been gone. Karen informed that about two weeks ago she was sitting in church and in walked these eight or nine thug looking boys to church one sunday morning. These boys live in the Cucui Homes where Carlos, Eduardo and Saul used to live. These boys that came into the church are rough, hard heads. They love to party, drink, into drugs, stealing, beating up people, just a rough bunch. Karen told me that for the past two weeks they have been coming on Sunday mornings, and Dorian, her husband, has been studying with them during the week.

On my way home, I was telling Carlos about it. He told me, yea I know poppi, I told them a long time ago, that if they wanted to change their lives, they needed to love God. Carlos then told me that a few weeks ago that someone that the group knew as a whole was killed in Tegucigalpa. When they called Carlos to tell him he said that he was upset but decided to take an opportunity for our Saviour and talk about Him! The following Sunday, the boys where at church he said, with tears in his eyes. Today as we went to visit his friends there in the Cucui homes, i was worried. God showed me that I need let Him handle it and not I. Let me just tell you, it made this poppi proud today and with tears in my eyes I thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to help the people of Honduras, especially these three young boys. Times are trying right now, believe me, however God is ALWAYS Faithful!

School projects...

2009-05-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Carlos and Eduardo both attend a technical school run by USaid and a Catholic organization here in Honduras. The boys school had a contest last week among the classes to build an altar to the virgin Mary. Now I know that some might have an issue with this but we sat our boys down and discussed Catholicism and Christianity. It was just a fun project for them to work on together and see the results once you work as a team. Every evening for about two weeks Carlos stayed after school to work on this with his friends... It was pretty awesome!

The Altar

Carlos and his teacher

There where several angles on the floor. They were made out of saw dust!!!

I know... I know...

2009-05-27T23:27:00.001-07:00

Ok, I realize that it has been a long, LONG time since I have bloged. Life just gets so busy it is crazy!!! From getting up in the early EARLY morning to going to bed at 11 or midnight, life is just crazy. But its a good crazy!!! I love what God is allowing me to do here. From being a poppi to three great boys, serving people in the communities, visiting the sick in the hospital, preparing for several great groups of people and forming relationships with people in the dump, life is great.

I am starting to realize that serving people is great, however, forming relationships with people is what I believe its all about. While the Belpre group was here I met a boy at the dump. He stuck out like a sore thumb. He had on nice clothes and a bright clean white t-shirt. I noticed him when we first arrived and then noticed him again throughout the time while we were there. After about 30 minutes of feeding people, I went over to talk to him (in my broken spanish). We got to talking and I figured out that he was there to look for old and broken electronic parts for his grandmother, who he lived with. I took his phone number because he said that he was interested in helping us serve his fellow Honduran people. For some reason today, I saw this young man in the middle of the city. I tried to get his attention but I guess that he didn't hear me. I pray tonight that God allows me to meet up with him again soon. God just keeps putting people into my life and the more time we spend together, just talking about life and telling stories and listening and caring, I feel as if we are getting closer and closer to God. I believe this is what ministry is for me (as of now). Helping grow and form relationships so that people can see Christ through me. Me being here in Honduras isn't about me, its about the glory God receives. Of course sometimes I struggle with this, however, I am reminded of it every day. That this is all for God. My prayer tonight is that God is glorified in everything we do here, not matter what the cost may be.

2009-05-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Satan is a goober!!!

2009-05-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

My prayer tonight...

"God let the little people that are in my life find you. Let them seek your face, seek your grace seek your mercy. Allow them to be men of God. Allow them to be truthful, honest and willing to see the opportunity YOU have placed before them and to break the chain of poverty within their family. Father, you are the only one, the ONLY one that can change them. God I am tired, please Lord be with me. I love you Lord. -Your Servant and son...."

God’s Hand In What We Do…

2009-04-27T20:14:00.001-07:00

God is working on me… for me to have trust, patients, and faith, among many other things. Each month Jen and I wait for our monthly support checks. We wait to see if there is going to be enough to pay all the expenses and we wait to see what we have left over to serve the Honduran people with. To tell you the truth, most of the time (actually all of the time), we don’t get enough support to serve effectively.

God tells us to rely on him and believe me we do. Sometimes, all we can do is sit back and laugh. When we are both negative in the bank and have bills to pay, God always come through and places money in our accounts. We laugh because we know that God will provide, HE always always does. Most of the time, just enough to get by… which is a God thing!

God is with us every step of the way. It’s a phrase I have heard several times in my life. I have never really applied it or thought about it until moving here. Once you step back and review what is going on around you, you see God’s awesome hand crafted artwork unfold before your eyes. God has placed lots of VERY VERY special people in our lives. They support us through “thick-n-thin.” Probably not often enough do we take the time to sit down and thank Our Lord for you and your part in all of what we do here.

Part two… The House… All alone…

2009-04-26T19:31:00.001-07:00

At about 12:30 this afternoon I pulled up into the house and to my surprise everything was pretty clean and orderly. The dishes had all been done, Carlos had made dinner the night before and everything was cleaned up. I was very impressed! The only thing was, there was black stuff all over the floor. I could not figure out what it was. After walking around outside and looking at what the repair man had done to our pump, I noticed ash everywhere. There have been HUGE fires here still in Honduras and there were two or three burning today on our mountain.

Please continue to be praying for the people of Honduras. Please pray for a good down pour of rain. It is so dry here, that its getting really bad. Please continue to pray for our boys. God is faithful and always come through!

Back to our boys. I asked how their night was. Carlos said that he stayed up until 5:30 am watching TV!!! I remember doing that when my parents would leave me home alone or when I would have sleepovers. I am glad that they behaved, from what I can tell, and thank God for all the blessing he shows us daily!

First Time Alone… and I am worried

2009-04-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

On Friday Gayle and Debbie flew into Honduras. Whenever Gayle comes to the country, I love to be here to help her! Tonight (Saturday night) I spent the night out here with them in Santa Ana. Just to spend time with them and to be here if they needed something. Well, because of my staying out here and Jen having other plans, our boys were given the option to spend the night at the house by themselves or to spend the night with a “family friend,” the Garcia’s. They chose to spend the night by themselves.

Now I know how my parents felt the first time they left me home alone over night. I am worrying. I don’t know why, they are good boys (for the most part). I just worry because I love them I guess. God and I talked about it already, several times, so I know that I am just being a “worry wart.” Tomorrow, or the day after, I will let you know if we still have a house ;-) .

I have never really sat down and written out a prayer… so tonight, here is my fist.

My prayer tonight:

God, thank you for allowing me to serve the Honduran people in so many ways. Thank you for allowing me to be involved in these boys lives. God I ask that you watch them tonight and keep them safe. Put your shield of protection around them and allow them to know that they are loved not only by us but more importantly by YOU. Allow them to see your light shine in everything they do and everything we do to better your kingdom. God I thank you for Eduardo and his caring heart Lord. Even under his rough edges, he has a soft heart and God I pray that you break him of his roughness. Show him your love and allow him to see our love as well. Show him the ways of you Lord. Thank you for Saul Lord. He is such a sweet kid and so kind and so full of love. He reminds me daily of what it must be like to have faith like a child. Please be with him Father as he is away from his mother, allow him to seek you in his times of need Lord. Lord thank you for Carlos and his great spirit. Lord I believe he wishes to serve you full heartedly, we just need to break through the mess he still holds deep inside. God we can see that he is working through it and I thank you for that!!! I am so appreciative of all the great and wonderful things you have done and will continue to do in this young mans life! Thank you Lord for giving him the opportunity to step up and show his brothers how to walk in the way of you Lord. God please be with Jen and myself as we are trying so hard to raise these boys. Be with us when we fall short and pick us back up. Help us dust off our pants and get right back up there doing it again. God I want to be more like you. I want to bring these boys up in the way of you so that they may better the future of your kingdom. Please be with the Lopez family as they sleep together as a family tonight. God, with tears in my eyes, I THANK YOU from the deepest parts of my heart for what you have done for that family. To see six little boys sooooo sooooo happy to have their daddy, it just amazes me how you gave them your grace and mercy. Father thank you for all that you do for me, every day, every hour, every minute. Thank you Lord. You are a God of wonders, a God that shows us his mercy and grace daily. I pray that you forgive me when I forget all of these things Lord, when I fall on my face Lord I am glad that you will be there time after time to pick me back up. May your grace and mercy be with the people of Honduras tonight Lord. -Amen

Recap

2009-04-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Since the time I arrived back in Honduras on March 28th we have had groups here working! When groups are here, it is probably the most hectic, yet most beneficial time for us here in Honduras. From running around getting tin, wood, nails, supplies to seeing children in the hospital God works in a million different ways.

For the next couple of days I have planned to post just some random pictures for you to see God working here in Honduras over the last month or so :-). Make sure you check back!

Proud day to be a Daddy... :-)

2009-04-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months Carlos has been asking questions about God and religion. About a new start and a new beginning. We didn't ever want to "push the envelope" and force religion on the boys that stay with us. We do make them attend church with us and have devotionals with us, however we allow them to ask questions when they want to and just keep it all out in the open everyday.

About a week ago Carlos gave a devotional about a class that he attended and I blogged about it so check out the older blog posts too! Tonight Carlos told that story again to the Belpre group while they were here and of course everyone cried. After he was done, he told us that he was ready for the change. He was ready to start his in life in Christ. With tear filled eyes he told us that he wanted to be baptized and was ready for change. I am SO grateful that GOD is allowing me the privilege to serve the Honduran people. So tonight at about 10:30 pm Carlos became our new brother!!! AMEN! The angles and God are REJOICING in heaven! I wonder what type of party goes on and how loud the singing must be when we receive a new brother or sister in Christ! God is furthering his kingdom and its great to watch it unfold!

Group!!!

2009-04-06T21:46:00.001-07:00

Playing with this little guy... gotta love cars!!!

House that the group built

The past eight days, since i have been back in the country we have had a small group here. We built one house, visited a couple of children's homes, fed at the dump and visited at the hospital. It was a lot of fun getting right back into the "swing of things!"

Boys night out... Fires

2009-04-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

Not sure if you can tell but behind the stands there was nothing but smoke!

Today Carlos, Eduardo, Saul, Mike and I all went to a soccer game with Mark Connell. It was great to sit and watch the boys hang out with Mark and Jonathan. To have them ask their "poppi" for a coke or something to eat. It reminded me to thank God for the opportunity to be here serving the Honduran people, especially these boys.
During the game we noticed lots smoke and a helicopter flying over head carrying water over to fires off in the distance. Please continue to pray for the people of Honduras, while they struggle with the smoke and fires.

Painting!!!!

2009-04-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

Since we moved into our home, I have wanted to paint to my room. While I was in the states my good friend Mike bought paint and tonight we started the painting process.

Tuesdays Devotional... By Carlos

2009-04-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

On tuesday we took the group to the Jesus Statue at night for a quick devotional. After about twenty minutes of talking about Honduras, describing the history of the mountains and stuff like that they said that it was time for the devotional. We all sat down and Jen and Carlos stood there. I knew that this was going to be a tear jerker.

Carlos started to tell us about his day at school. He told us that his teacher in his Pschy class made him draw a picture of his family. He said that he drew his mom and two brothers close to each other and he was far away from the rest of his family, on the other side of the page. After he finished drawing, the teacher made the kids get up in front of the class and discribe the picture. The teacher asked why he was the only one on that side of the paper. With tears in his eyes, he said, because I knew then, right then and there, that my mom did everything that she could for us. He told us that during his class he sat down and cried. He realized that all the resentment and anger that he had towards his mother was unjust and that he knew he needed to talk to her. He told us about his life growing up and the rough times that he had. Then with big ole tears in his eyes he said I am glad that God has allowed me the opportunity to change my life. He started by thanking Jen for having faith and trust in him when almost everyone else has given up on him. He thanked me for being the father that he never had. He thanked Ashley for being his sister because his died. By the end of the night, he had EVERYONE crying like babies!
He is my son and I am proud to call to him my son. It is really great to see God working in his life. God is working here in the ministry and is really changing peoples hearts. He is showing us his grace and love in many different ways. He is showing us that this thing that we are doing, is GOING to work. I thank God that he has allowed me to meet this set of brothers and thank Him for allowing me to be a father to them. I love being called poppi, daddy, father. It brings tears to my eyes every time.

Thanking God for Godly friends...

2009-04-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

I have a friend that I know I can count on, day or night, to help me whenever I need him, other then God himself of course. This person will drop everything he is doing, to help our ministry. He is a TRUE man of God and I pray that someday God will allow me to serve others like he does. He is open to suggestions, open to opinions, open to helping even when some of his closest friends don't. He really is the true definition of what a Christian ought to be. He opens my eyes every time I am around him, to see things differently. I pray that God never lets out friendship be altered negatively. I pray that God honors all that this man is doing for the people of this country.
Mark helps us in so many ways. He is willing to help us, raise our boys. He is willing to help change and shape and mold their lives to be more Christ like. He is willing to help them, when no one else would. Mark I thank you, and thank OUR God for you daily!!!! God has placed you in our lives and we thank him daily for you and your lovely wife. ( I once heard someone say, "Behind every good man, there is a great woman" this also applies here :) )

A new house

2009-03-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today we went and built at house for a family in a poor community right down the road from our house. It was a really good day, spending time with the kids in the community, watch Marvin and Saul pound in nails. They all, all of the kids, wanted to help! I really enjoy being with them.

A little girl, watching from a distance...

Marvin, hammering in a 8in spike!!! (thats my boy!!)

David Garcia and Carlos

Three of my favorite people; Marvin, Ashley and Mike.

Sunday... beach day?!!!??!??

2009-03-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

So, on the first day back to Honduras I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the beach. Now, this beach was beautiful, in its own unique ways. The sand was black and the water seemed dirty but watching all of MY boys play in the water and run from the wave, that brought out the natural beauty in the trip.

Another great thing that happened was the Chilo and Maria got to go the the beach too! (The six brothers mom and dad, then dad that was in rehab!!!) We got to watch the interact with other couples and families of the church in Santa Ana. We were able to watch them enjoy there time with their boys. We got to see Chilo (the father) hug Antonio after a wave washed him ashore. Sitting in the water watching them be a family, that was God. God has change their lives and I am so thankful that I got to be apart of that. He is an amazing God and does blesses me in the smallest, yet greatest ways.
Mario and I sleeping on the floor of the bus on the way home from the beach.... man it was a rough day :-)

Mario in the ocean!!

Carlos and I wrestling in the water... boys will be boys :-)
(I won by the way and he got mad at me, said that I made him drink three gallons of salt water. I told him he should of closed his mouth.... clearly not my fault)

Never have I ever.... until march 28th

2009-03-30T23:01:00.000-07:00

Well, on Saturday I left my house bring and early at 3:35 am to go to the airport. First we stopped at Denny's, my friend Lindsey and I have this obsession with Denny's. After we stuffed ourselves, we headed to Orlando. After switching stuff around from suitcase to suitcase, trying to get within the weight limits, I said goodbye to Lindsey and headed on through the check point.
Once I got to Miami, I walked off the plane and went straight to my next gate. I sat down for a minute and then decided to look at my ticket, to make sure that I was at the right gate. I reached in my back pocket, where i always keep my passport and ticket while I am traveling and it wasn't there. I thought, maybe i put it in my book bag and searching that and taking EVERYTHING out, I started to freak out just a little. I walked back to the ticket counter where we unloaded from Orlando and asked the lady at the desk if anyone had turned one in. She said no but she said let me check with the people on the plane.
After about 10min she returned empty handed. Tears were on the brink of flowing. I said can you help me, I don't know what to do. She said if I waited about 20min she could help me, after she got the plane loaded. I sat and waited. After about thirty minutes the last person got on the plane and then she came and sat down next to me. She said here is the number for an emergancy passport but they are only open monday through friday. I explain to her that I was traveling home, to Honduras, that I was a missionary and what we were doing here. She told me that she used to live in Columiba and that she had missionary people in her life as she was growing up. After some time passed, she said you know what, you should pray and walk back to the ticket counter at gate E5 (where my flight to Honduras was) and see if they have it. She said that only by the grace of God would someone had found it. We both laughed and said goodbye.
I prayed and prayed and prayed all the way back to the gate. When I walked up to the counter there it was, sitting there open with my UGLY picture. I said that is MY PASSPORT!!!! Tears came out then! I said out loud, pretty loudly, THANK YOU GOD!!!
Yet again God has shown me that this is my calling, to serve the people of Honduras. I wasn't sure what in the world i was going to done but once I prayed and talked to HIM he was there to save me! I LOVE it when that happens!!!

.... funny

2009-03-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Its funny how God works out every detail... How when you think people aren't listening or watching, they really are. God is AMAZING!!! and I am nothing without him and I am reminded of that EVERYDAY.... my friend and co-missionary friend told me of this quote and on Sunday God showed me how true it is... "authenticity always has an audience." being true and faithful about the work God has called us to do, is what we are about.

Being a poppi; in the states...

2009-03-15T21:53:00.001-07:00

Well, I have been home for almost two weeks now. It has been a good time, however, I didn't realize how much i was going to miss my boys! Tonight I was talking to Carlos on facebook and he said that he missed his mommi and poppi. I didn't really understand who he was referring to so I said who? and said my mommi and poppi, Jenny and David. Tears automatically started flowing down my face. Before I left Carlos and I hadn't been getting along too good, we had butted heads a few times, he doesn't like to be told no, which at 18, what kid does, right? It broke my heart, to hear him call me poppi out of no where tonight. I love being there, I love serving the people of Honduras! I love my boys! Thank you LORD for allowing me to serve your children!

Carlos and I (me thinks he looks cool when he makes this face)

Marvin and I

Moving...

2009-03-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

Monday, was probably one of the most hectic days in Honduras that I had ever had. It started like a normal Monday morning, getting the children to school and such, then Jen and I divided and concord "the list." Things that we needed to get done, before we left the country. By noon I had completed my list and many other things that came up along the way, however the afternoon went EXTREMELY slow! By midnight I had been all over Tegucigalpa and to Santa Lucia and to the airport and up and down El Haltio about 30 times. I had moved the boys into their new home and got them all settled in with their folks.

God is amazing at how much he allows us to do in a day. He shows us how if we trust in Him, that he will be there, through and through. I thank him daily for all he does for me and for the supports that I have.

The boys are all moved into their new home. They live about a five minute walk from their school, with their mom and dad. Maria is pregnant and is expecting to have the baby in September! Chilo (the father) finished his rehab program and has started working at a lumber yard in Tegucigalpa. God worked that amazingly! We went to talk to Don Daniel, the owner of the shop about Chilo working there. We offered to pay his salary, while Chilo worked there. We just needed Chilo to have a job. We explained the entire situation to Don Daniel and he said that he would be willing to help. We were excited, then he told Jen that she wouldn't have to pay Chilo's salary, that Don Daniel was willing and wanting to help in this families lives. God is a God of wonders! So the father has a full time job and really is enjoying it, from what I hear. The boys love being able to walk to school and are enjoying being back with their father.

Thank you for your continued prayers for these boys and their parents!

Is God opening the doors?

2009-02-24T13:23:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it has been almost six months since God moved my heart and allowed me to move to Honduras?!? God has opened many MANY doors for me to serve him here, in ways I NEVER would have excepted. If you have been keeping up with my blog, (takeyourcandlegolightyourworld.blogspot.com), you can see all the great ways God is blessing our ministry. Currently we have nine boys living with us, two sets of brothers. They are a hand full but I love them.

I am writing you to seek your advise. I know that you all are a very wise and knowledgeable people so I am hoping that you can help. We currently sold our Chevy Suburban that we owned due to many many weeks in the shop. Currently we are renting a vehicle and it costly. We have been looking everyday for a new(er) car and haven't found one. Yesterday, however, we got a phone call from a random person that said he had a 2004 Ford F-150 for sale. When we went to look at it, it is in PREFECT condition. The man is a certified ford technician from the states. He is Honduran but has lived in California and Detroit for some time of his life.

I feel like this is a gift from God. We have been praying for answers and I think this might be it. The cost of the truck is $7,409 (that is converted from 140,000 limperas, the Honduran currency). Please tell me what you think. We looked up the car from Carfax and it has a clean record, only one owner in the states. He showed us the history of the car here in Honduras and he has been the only owner. Also, it has just under 60,000 miles. If you think it is a good deal, let me know! I would LOVE to have a way to purchase this car and have it be my personal ministry vehical. If you have advise about how I can come up with the money let me know too!

Valentines Day

2009-02-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

I know that this is late, however, its better late then never right? I have a great friend Lauren Branard in California who shipped some Christmas presents to the six brothers. Of course they got here late and then i could not locate the box in the warehouse. Finally I found it and on valentines days the boys got their presents! :-)

More pics

2009-02-21T17:59:00.000-08:00

More pictures of Valentines day presents from Lauren!!

After visiting their dad

2009-02-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

Well, after tears and prayer we stopped at a place that our friends own in Olancho. They have a restaurant and a small pool so the boys went in naked! It was great for them to have fun after a HARD day.

Coming Home... God said NO!

2009-02-19T17:46:00.000-08:00

God works in crazy ways! Days before I decided to change my ticket, I felt sick about going home. I felt like God was telling me to stay. The day I was supposed to make the trip to San Pedro Sula, I decided to change my ticket. God allowed a great and close friend pay for my change fee and God allowed the airline to wave the extra cost of the difference in a ticket :).
God had me stay to help the six little boys that I now call my own. On Tuesday we went to visit their father in the rehab center and as of Feb 28th he will be free to go. He has fulfilled his 60 days in the treatment center, however, the rehab center wishes for him to stay and he seems to think he is ready ( I pray that God is working in HIM!) So I am asking you to pray for my boys and their parents. Pray for us as we make decisions about their future and our future as well. Pray for wisdom and discernment.

Seeing their dad for the first time in two months! ;-)

On the way home Antonio had to poop!

.
Marvin and I waiting for their daddy

Jovanni and Jen walking out of the center... It was a hard time for all

Showing His Love

2009-02-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

Tonight we were stopping at the store to pick up some popcorn for the boys, being valentines day and all we wanted to hang out with them and watch a movie and stuff! As we were walking in a lady stopped us and started asking us for money for some medicine. She had diabetes and had a oozing sore about the size of a half dollar. Her leg was black from the middle of her calf down and in tears for help. My heart melted. After going to four pharmacies we found three outof the four medicines she needed and told her to visit the pharmacy near the hospitals.

After pulling away, I realized that God provides for the least of His (in many ways!). My support has been a little tight, so I haven't been able to help everyone all the time but I am able to help some! So without hesitation the older women and I walked into the pharmacy and I paid with my debit card and with anticipation i waited to see if my debit card would be accepted or declined. My card was accepted! Then the fear of over drawing my account set in. When I sat down, I looked at my online account and someone put $50.00 into my account today. Thank you! That paid for this ladies medicine and will help her

for the next month! God is great and has put GREAT people into my life! Thank you!

Honduras Vs. Coasta Rica!

2009-02-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday we went to watch Honduras Vs. Costa Rica! It was fun!!! We were with lots of Honduran people and it was great to see them all come together and watch a great game. In the end, we (Honduras) lost 2-0, however, they played a GREAT game!

Jen, Ashley and Gina!

Carlos and Ash

The Boys (Jared, Carlos and David! )

COLD!!!

2009-02-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

It has been cold here at night! Dipping down into the 30's some nights! I could not imagine living on the mountains when its this cold. I thank my God daily for what we have here, thanks to you all! In our house we have a fireplace in the living room and jen has one in her room. I took these pictures the other night. I thought they turned out pretty good. The kids LOVE the fire. They sit and watch it burn for hours.

Jen Caved!

2009-02-12T10:39:00.000-08:00

For months I have been saying that I wanted to get a dog. Jen has always told me not right now, we cannot afford it and she was right! Well, I guess that she had some money set aside from her Christmas money and she saw this dog last night at the pet shop while we were buying Yoni's presents and fell in love. I didn't say a word! I let her decide.

I much rather would of had a lab or some type of bigger more ferocious looking type of dog (more manly is what i keep telling her) but I am falling in love with Toby!
The boys LOVE HIM, they are already fighting over who he is going to sleep with!

Chicken Pox!!!

2009-02-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

So, a couple of weeks ago Mario had chicken pox.. now Antonio, Yoni, Carlo and Edwardo all have them. I love KIDS!!!!

Yoni's Birthday!!!

2009-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Yoni's birthday! He turned 13 years old! We celebrated with a small cake and he got a new outfit!

My Family

2009-02-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, my parents have been going through a hard time. Of course I have been having a hard time dealing with not being there to help them. All I have been able to do is pray!
Back in the beginning of September my dad lost his job and about three weeks ago, he was working in the yard trimming some tree and feel off the ladder. He broke several verterbe in his back and cannot currently walk. My mom has been trying to find a second job but of course with the economy the way it is these days, no one is hiring.
Since September my dad has been trying to get on unemployment and his employer kept postponing the phone hearing. On Jan 6th was the last time that Kirk (the employer) could appeal and he didn't answer the phone. Yesterday my parents recieved a check in the mail for over $6,000. Back payments since Sept. God is SO FAITHFUL!
My dad plans on going into the hospital when I return and hopefully medicade will kick in.
Thank you SO much for your prayers and concerns! Thank you for being there for me while I was struggling what to do about staying here or going home to work. Thank you!
God is faithful and comes through right at when you need him most.

Sector 8

2009-02-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

There is a family in sector 8 that we go and visit regularly. We met them while Gayle's group was here in Nov. and fell in love with the kids!

Pics!

2009-02-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

Carlos's scar from having his appendix out three weeks ago

Marvin and I wrestling

Mario eating at the soccer game that Melissa Wood took us to!

Carlos and Saul (brothers!)

Montalowa Church of Christ (the old San Miguel)

2009-02-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Arnold and her Husband Josue put on children's church at 2:00 every Sunday in the Old San Miguel. For the past six weeks we have been going to Los Pinos so we decided to do something a little different, and the kids LOVED it!
Saul as King

Antonio going down the river as Moses (w/ help from Papi Carlos)

Moses (Antonio)

Carlos helping Yoni get dressed

They have on average about 75 kids a week!

Valentines From Melbourne

2009-02-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the Melbourne Church of Christ Childrens Worship for the Valentines! My children LOVED them and they have them hanging from their beds!

Marvin!

Fransico!

Mario!

Jovanni

All of them opening their cards!

Passing Out Shoes!

2009-02-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Margret Whaterah! (sorry I know I spelled your name wrong) Thank you so much for sending my those shoes. When we unloaded Gayle's container about three weeks ago, Carlos (the oldest boy living with us, age:18) asked me if he could take some of the shoes to families he knew in the Ka-Ko-EE (I have NO idea how to spell it) homes. These are homes that TORCH/IRC helped build right on the IRC property in Santa Ana. I was very pleased to see that he wanted to help. We gave away about 40 pairs of shoes there and plan to give the rest away at the dump in the near future!
My friend Janet organizing the shoes in my room

Us with the kids. (I am in my suit b/c we had a meeting earlier that morning)

Carlos with the family that is the poorest in the community

Carlos putting shoes on the little girl!

Report

2009-02-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

God called me to Honduras years ago, I just didn't know what my purpose would be here. When I finally decided to move here in August of 2008, I knew that he had started to open doors for me here, I just didn't realize what they where. I thought that God had called me here to help the children that lived on the street, to help find resources for other organizations but really his a mediate goal was for me the serve these nine boys that I now call my own.
Currently Saul, Mario, Jovanni, Fransico and Marvin are all enrolled in Hamilton School where they attend kindergarten. They will be in kinder until they can speak enough English to proceed onto the correct grade level in the fall. About the third week of February Eduardo and Yoni will start in the public school system. They are too old and too far behind to catch up in bi-lingual school. We plan for Carlos to start back to school at that time as well but he will be taking night classes, hopefully so that he can work during the day :). Antonio is only three years old, however, I have been working with him on his English and math some! He is a very bright kid for being only three!
During my down time while the children are at school I am still able to serve the people of Honduras. Weekly I have been visiting the hospital with my friend Janet Garcia and Sam. We have been visiting families that we have grown close with in different villages and I have been able to use some of my nursing skills to treat some minor wounds and illnesses throughout the villages.
God is GREAT!

December

2009-01-03T16:21:00.000-08:00

This month has flown by!!! I cannot believe that it has been almost a month since I last blogged! My appologies!
We started out this month with preparing for the Malone Trip, headed up by Ashley! From ordering wood, to purchasing dinner foods the first week went fast. The group came and built two houses, held prayer groups in the feeding center of Nevo Orental, visited the sick and lonely, fed and showed the people at the Tegucigalpa Landfill the love of Christ, even after a camera was stolen.
While the group was at the dump, a younger Honduran child asked for one of the American boys shirts. After some deliberation, they swapped shirts soon everyone was exchanging shirts. I felt like it was a great way to show the people of the Landfill, that we are NOT above them!
While the group was here, we had the five brothers (who where taken back from Casa De Esperanza) come and help us! They brought lots of fun and great smiles to the week! While they were with us, at various different times, they told us about their lives at home. The brothers informed us that their father was drinking more and more and that was getting more violent. They had told us in the past that there dad wasn't so kind, but know it had became clear that we needed to do something different.
After hours of prayer Jen, Sam and I decided it would be best to confront the situation when we brought them back after the group left. We met with Chilo (the boys father) and Maria (their mother) at Wendys. We didn't go into detail about what we knew, we just informed them that it was time to change the course of actions. We offered to send Chilo to an Alcoholic rehab center, and offered to take Maria and the boys in while he was there. He said that he wanted to some time to think about it and asked us to come up to their house on Christmas and re-discuss the issue.
On Christmas day we made our way up the mountain to visit their family! Sam had some money donated from her church for boys christmas, so we were able to buy them a few things! After opening presents and eating Nock-A-Tamailas (i know i spelled it all wrong!)we sat down to talk. Chilo informed us that he was still on probation and that he owed his boss about $100.00 (us). We informed him that we would handle getting the paper work from the Judge and paying off his boss. He told us that he needed a few more days to think about it and this time we brought God into the situation. We had brought our friends, David and Janet Garcia, they are full time missionaries here from Miami Florida. Janet asked Chilo if Christ was an influance in his life, he replied no. After some talking and prayer, Chilo accepted Christ into his life right then and there!
A couple of days later, after they had time to pack up their things we went and brought them home! Sadly Chilo decided to hace one last Hoo-Rahh and drank about $100.00 worth of alcohol in about a days time. We brought Maria and the boys home and Jen and I brought Chilo to the treatment center. The center is very nice and would meet every standard in the states. ITs very similar to the 12 step program designed by AA. He will be there for two months. They boys and Maria have to go and visit with a counsalor as well, so that will be good.
So as of now our house consists of Jen, Sam, David, Maria, Carlos, Edwardo, Saul, Johnny, Jovanni, Marvin, Mario, Fransico, Antonio!!! Its a lot of mouths to feed! I feel like i have started my own children's home and I love it!
Maria had asperations to start the Mi Esperanza program soon and once the father is out we hope to find job placement for him too.
As you can immagine having all these extra mouths to feed is costing way outside my projected budget! God says knock and the door shall be opened. Well the Lopez family knocked on our door and know I am knocking on yours! Fincaial support would be greatly appericated! We are all broke and living by faith. God keeps providing as the needs araise! I am learning to lean soley on him. Its really hard! Considering I have been working since I was 13.
I love you all and thank you!
David

Board Meeting Update | Prayer Request and more!!!

2008-12-07T20:37:00.000-08:00

Since deciding to move to Honduras three months ago, my faith in the Lord has increased traumatically. God has shown me to rely solely on him, and showing me that he is faithful thru and thru. God has shown us as a group our mission and our purpose for being here, while also showing us our own personal missions. Below you will find a summary of our Board Meeting the other day and ways you can help! We plan on working with each other, to help achieve higher and more effective ways to serve the people of Honduras, while showing them the face of Christ.
Sam plans on working with the people in the dump more effectively. God has given her aspersions to help take the people out of that situation. In previous discussions Jen, Sam and I have talked about creating a community where people can come and live for a period of time. The people would be able to attend a Church, have three meals a day, children will be educated and more importantly the parents or adults living in the community will be taught a trade of some sort, that way they can go out and provide for their families. I say all that, to say, we feel as if God wants us to take small amounts of people, about ten families every eight to nine months and bring them into our “compound” and allow them the opportunity to better themselves and the future of their family, while serving and learning about the Lord we all serve.
God has placed hurting people in my heart. He has given me the heart to care for the sick, needy and abandoned. My plan is to create something like a store or supply center inside the state run hospital, Hospital Escuela. The poor and needy of Honduras travel for hours to come to this horrible hospital to receive the worst of the worst medical care. Please do not miss understand me, most of the doctors and nurses there are caring and loving, but the hospital itself does not have the means of supplying medications, surgical supplies or even just basic necessities a hospital should have such as IV tape. Within the supply center I want to be able to offer people all the necessary items that their family members would need for free or at a reduced low cost rate; from everything such as tape, to medications, to surgical supplies for the doctors. Along with helping people with material items, I believe that this is a great way to introduce people to Christ. We will offer spiritual guidance to families and information about churches in their area.
Jennifer plans on working with the kids at Casistis Kennedy. These kids are taken off of the streets and put here, before they are placed into a child’s home. God has placed the kids of Honduras on Jennifer’s heart, and she yearns to form relationships and bonds with the teenage girls at Casistis. God has also placed a community in Santa Ana on her heart. She has aspirations to dig wells that would supply clean drinking water to the community there. If these wells are successful, we will start implementing them in our TORCH homes that we build during the summers. They are very affordable, only costing about $50 total.
As a group we will be working with other organizations throughout Honduras, helping the street children. Currently, we are working on establishing a relationship with USAID and UNICEF to help in an effort to help the street kids of Honduras. The children of this country break all our hearts and we hope and pray that God opens more doors to help in better ways.God has blessed us with enough money to feed at the dump two times already, send some medical supplies to Hospital Escuela, donate 50 blankets to a clinic for street kids, work with other missionary families, join a church that preaches in English on Sunday evenings and learn the ropes about starting a new ministry. We have been able to help at a children’s home in a remote part of Honduras and serve in the mountain communities. God has allowed us to donate two computers to Cadena De Amor and we are anticipating on donating ten more to a local public school! God has shown us each our own personal missions as well as our mission(s) as a whole.
God is working in our ministry. He is opening doors left and right to serve the people here!!! Thank you for continuing to support me in serving the people of Honduras!
Currently our plans are costing more than expected. Also, our car stopped going in reverse. We need a new transmission and it is more costly than in the states. Since we know it will take months to get the parts in and things like that from the states, and our ministries are going to start exploding soon, we are in need of another car. For a decent reliable vehicle, we project that we would need somewhere between $5,000 and $7,000. We plan on purchasing a more cost effective vehicle; that will serve dual purposes. We have looked into purchasing a Toyota FJ Land Cruiser (an older model) for $5,000 from some friends here. Purchasing a Toyota or something similar would be best, so that we have the opportunity to have it fix faster and cheaper.
Please take the time to pray and ask God how you can help. We are praying that God opens doors within the next couple of weeks, because we need to take our Suburban into the shop before it gets worse and creates more problems.
Thank you for your prayers, support and love for the people of this country.

Good yet Sad Day

2008-12-04T08:58:00.001-08:00

On Tuesday morning Sam Ashley and Mike got up early and prepared over 200 peanut butter sandwiches to hand out in the Landfill. We left our house at about 12:00 to head out to buy some bags of water then to the dump. We purchased over 210 bags of water, because that is all the stores along the way had. We arrived at the dump, and people surrounded our car. Men, Women, Children of all ages, faces dirty with God only knows what. Normally, when we visit the dump, there are a lot of people. Today for some reason, the amount of people seemed to had doubled or even tripled. There was a lot more women and children!
Please keep the people living and working in this area in your prayers. Sam, Jen and I have been working on a plan to get some of these people out of this environment and into a program that we wish to start. Pray that some doors start to open and that we will be able to effect people lives positively.

Thanks

2008-11-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

On Thursday Sam, Jen and I celebrated Thanksgiving at Casa de Esperanza. It was probably the best thanksgiving I have ever been to. Marc Tindal had each of the children say what they were thankful for. Starting with the oldest children to the youngest, to brought tears to my eyes hearing that they were thankful for their new families their at Casa and the new friends that they had made.
After lots and lots of food, we went to unload a container that Jen shipped from Nashville. Jen received a phone call at about 4:30is pm. to be at Baxter Institute to unpack the container. Ashley and I were heading to San Pedro to pick up our friend Mike, so we turned around and went to unload the container. After about waiting for an hour or so, the people called and said that they would not be there until 8:00am the next day! Jen had already organized about five other people to be there; WELCOME TO HONDURAS!
Ashley and I went to San Pedro and back on Thursday - early Friday morning. I was at Baxter after only 3 hours of sleep, fully awake and ready to start unpacking. I should have known that the people needed to inspect the contents of the container wouldn't show up until at least 11am. Thus being the case, we didn't finish until 5 pm. unloading and trucking the items to their proper places. But God is good and faithful; he supplied us with more things to serve the people of Honduras!!!

Giving Blood :-)

2008-11-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

We went and donated blood! It was a great thing! We were able to try and help save Dr. Gomez's life by donating blood but unfortunately Dr. Gomez passed away late Sunday Night. Here are some pictures of us donating!!! :)

Helping Others...

2008-11-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

Well, since I have been able to, I donate blood on a regular basis in the states. Its one of my favorite things to do. After being in Honduras, by law, you are not allowed to give blood for one year. I was always frustrated when the blood mobile would could to the church or school because I would never be able to give.
Yesterday, after getting back into Tegucigalpa, we met up with Gina Larios and her family. Both of her parents are doctors and at her fathers office they had set up a projector to watch the soccer game against Honduras and Mexico. Gina's mom went and talked with a close, family friend in the hospital there.
After the game, we went to visit the man as well. He is losing lots of blood among many other problems. I left the room for a minute to use the bathroom and when I returned Ashley looked at me and asked, "David, want to donate blood for Mr. Gomez " Without even thinking, my automatic response was yes! I was excited about it!! I asked if I was the right blood type. They said that it didn't matter because the blood bank told the family that if they got people to donate, they would give him blood first. So they have recruited the four of us and more are expected to be there! We are all anticipating what and how the process here works!
We are leaving now, to go and donate!!! I'll you know how it goes!!
ps. Honduras won the soccer game last night, therefore, they can now go to Africa to start preparing for the World Cup. The people of Honduras spirits are lifted today.

Made It!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-17T07:52:00.000-08:00

Well, after staying up all night Friday and traveling all day Saturday, I finally made it here to Honduras!! I love this country. After arriving in the San Pedro Sula Airport and standing in the passport line for about an hour, I found both of my bags and went to catch the bus. Since I had stood in the passport line for so long I missed the bus to the Grand Centeral Station. So I found a taxi driver to tax me there, which actually cost less then taxing the bus :). After finding the right bus station to go to, I met a lady by the name of Danielle, she was a older Honduran lady, but she spoke perfect english.

As we departed on our four our bus ride to La Esperanza, we got to know eachother very well. I found that she moved to the United States about thirty years ago. She had traveled the world baisicly. She told me about her career as a real estate agent in California, about her children in Ohio and New Mexico. I learned of her family here in Honduras. The best part about talking to her was when we started discussing our religions. She is a Jehova Witness and it was really good to sit and listen to what her beliefes were. It was a total God thing, because we got to discuss my faith as well. For about two hours of the trip we had our bibles open, discussing differences in our faiths. It was very uplifting.

Sunday morning was very excitting for me. Church was supposed to start at 1 pm. At about 1:15 the substatute preacher still wasn´t there. Ashley and Sam both begged me to do a short lesson. Good thing Joe had made me teach his class a few weeks ago. I was already prepared!!! As I got up to start my lesson, I was reading from Ephesians 6:13-15, when the preacher came running in. He was very apologetic about being late, he was picking up about 20 more people for the service. He went ahead and preached and did a very good job.

After being here for only a day and a half, I have already been able to witness and talk about God´s love several times. Thank you, my family, for giving me this oportunity to serve the people of Honduras.

2008-10-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

Fund raising…

For years I have heard, watched and witnessed missionaries coming and going into my home church speaking about their ministries in third world countries. The thing I didn’t realize is how hard they seek to earn their support; the support that they need to live on, to work with and to show people the love of Christ with.

I am seeking your prayers as I continue to seek support for the ministry God has placed before me in Honduras. I am more then one third of the way there. I still need over $1300 monthly to fulfill God’s work in Honduras.

-DEL

2008-07-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

It gives me great joy and pleasure to know that even in Honduras we serve the same mighty and powerful God. The God that allows us to see poverty in its worst times, yet at the same time, the God that allows us to see his beauty and gentleness in a child. A child sitting in a puddle of parasite infested waters.

Matthew 5:14-16 calls us to be a light to the entire world. Matthew 25:31-46 tells us to serve those who need to be served, in the name of Christ. Since 2002, I have been coming here to Honduras serving the Lord, showing people my light for Christ. I knew at the end of my trip in 2002, that this day would come, I just didn’t realize God’s plan until now. Until I have seen it unfolding before my eyes.

After spending my winter, spring and now summer breaks here in Honduras; I know that God is calling me to complete His ministry here, through me. God is the master craftsman, and He has been molding my skills and knowledge and now He is ready for me to be a light to the people here in Honduras. He has moved my heart to see the vast need here in this country.

The children on the mountains are constantly in need of medical help. Most families cannot even afford simple Tylenol for a fever. Our TORCH teams come in during the summers and give out medicines, but what they get when they see the doctor, last only for a few months. I want to be able to create a system that would allow me to go into a community and allow me to give people the medication they need, year round. Once I get well established in the mountain communities, I want people to be able to contact me, if there is an emergency, or a dire need of some type. Almost all of the communities that TORCH works in, are not accessible to emergency vehicles. I feel as if God wants me to be there for these people, when they need help the most. During my trip to Honduras in December, I was in Nuevo Oriental where I have lots of families that I have grown to love. One family has five children and a mother. Their father was active in the children’s lives, but two weeks prior to me coming he was killed in an accident. The family was not able to go to see the father, have a funeral or get closer, because they didn’t have any way of obtaining the body. I want to be able to help in circumstances like these. I feel as is God is calling me to be there, when they need physical help the most.

Something else that God has placed on my heart, are the children that walk around the streets of Tegucigalpa, begging for money and food each night. Once or twice a month, I want to be able to have a street party for the children. I want to be able to buy 100 pizzas and give every child two slices of pizza and a coke. Since we would most likely be seeing the same children on a regular basis my hope and prayer, would be that they wouldn’t need to “work the streets” as much. Moreover, I would like to have a doctor, once every month or so, come out with us and examine the children. Check them for parasites and just make sure that they are physically healthy. Once you bond with a person and learn more about them, you seem to be able to find more ways to help them.

I suppose the most impacting thing that God has opened my eyes to this summer, is the dump. Could you imagine living in the dump in Melbourne? The dump of Tegucigalpa is hideous. People are digging through trash, trash that has already been gone through by dogs, mice, rats, maggots. Just imagine a dump truck pulls up, full of trash and see people flock to it like its money. They run and as the trash is being dumped, they start digging through, as to not miss a thing. They are picking through the trash, separating plastic from paper, rotten vegetables from rotten fruit. Most of the men walking around are high off of glue that they have been huffing. It has been said, that once you start huffing glue, you have about four years until you kill most of the brain cells inside your head, and become a vegetable. I want the other people of Honduras to realize what is happening, right in their own country.

My love for medical help to the poor hasn’t died. God has given me a great respect for treating and working with children that need medical assistance. God has allowed me to meet a lady here in Honduras that runs an organization that sends children born with hydrocephalus to the states to have shunts implanted to help the fluid drain off the brain. Also, children in Honduras get burned more easily due to the fact that most families cook with an open flame. This organization helps the burn patients as well. God has allowed me to meet with this organization and I hope to continue finding resources in the states to help the children that need it the most.

God has allowed Jennifer Wright, Samantha Butterfield, and I to foresee something that could be so great. We envision a community of people who cannot afford food, clothes, shelter, or an education; God has instilled in us something great for the least of his people. We want to create a community where people can live, eat in a common dining hall, and during the day be learning a trade of some type. We want to have an automobile shop that teaches the fathers and young men how to work on cars. A place where women can learn to sew, cook, and possibly even a hair solon. We will have a bi-lingual school on the property as well, so that their children can be educated, thus hopefully, breaking the cycle of poverty in the lives of that family. Along with this vision, God has given us aspiration to operate a children’s home on the property as well in the future. The children from the home would attend the same school as the children from the community, as well as eat in the same common area. God has given me a special place in my heart for children that have been abused, so we would accept the worst of the worst, to help change them. After working with children at Casa De Esperanza, we haves all realized that most Children’s homes don’t want to deal with the children who have special needs. We believe God wants us to be that Home for those children.

Overall, God has showed me that if we as humans form bonds and connections, we can impact more people, at the same time. There are several organizations that I want to connect with each other, so that in the long run, we can all work together and become untied and help the poor and needy of Honduras.

God has placed Honduras on my heart for the past seven years. I have served both state side and in the country itself, and now I am ready to serve full time within the country. The time is now; God is calling me here to serve the least of his people, here in Honduras. Will you help me in this endeavor? Attached you will find my budget report for my first year starting August 1^st, 2008.

I pray that you can see the flame that burns deep within my heart for the people of Honduras. I pray that God moves your heart, and that you see my passion, and how great it is for His kingdom!

In Him,

-David

Budget

Ministry Money : $500.00 (money to spend on the poor and needy, when the need arises)

Transportation: $500.00 (car payment, insurance, gasoline/diesel)

Housing: $300.00 (Room and board, and utilities)

Medication: $300.00 (Medication for the poor and need on the mountains)

Living Expenses $300.00 (Food, and misc.)

Subtotal: $2,000

Total monthly expenses: $2,100 ($100 for overhead expenses because people always need help)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

If I can get 100 people to sponsor me monthly for only $21 a month, ($252 for a year), I will be able to serve the people in Honduras more effectively for the next year.

Please detach the bottom piece of this paper and indicate if you are willing to sponsor me finically through my journey in Christ, serving the people of Honduras.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me:

E-mail: david-logue@hotmail.com or dljesusfreak@hotmail.com

Phone: (US) (321)-403-3173 or Honduras 011-504-3296-7444

Blogg Spot: http://www.takeyourcandlegolightyourworld.bloggspot.com

Go light your world...

2008-03-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Go Light Your World,
Chris Rice

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hepeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world