Message from the Missionaries

Deuteronomy 11:13-15 “so if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today-to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in you grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.”

I love this scripture because it shows us the way in how we should live our life in good times and in bad times. With plenty and without. The scripture says to, “faithfully obey the commands today and with all our heart and soul” and also one more key phrase to, “love the Lord your God.” These words to me mean to have total involvement and total commitment in seeking God. We have many obsessions that are “worldly” so why not be obsessed with God. Why not trust in God to take control of this journey we have called life. The world as we know it is obsessed with themselves or things and this is why there is wanting during the hard times. That is why there is a desire in people’s hearts to change but cannot because it means sacrifice and commitment. This sacrifice is not to man but to God. This problem is something that is going on throughout the world and especially here in Honduras. These entire words boil down to one thing and that is TRUST. Trust the Lord with all your problems and successes and don’t lean on your own strength but acknowledge Him for everything.

Prison Ministry

Since the explosion from the grenade attack some things have gone back to normal. There is still a lot of healing going on and the scars and wounds are still very visible both on the outside and on the inside. The tattoo removal process has still been going on and all of those who were receiving this removal are still continuing on. Even the ones that were affected by the explosion. One of them lost an eye and he said to us, “loosing my eye motivates me to remove all my tattoos so I will not be associated no longer with a gang.” Two men have been fighting in what to do. Whether to continue on with the process or to just quit and fight and retaliate for had happened. With these two men it seems the more we talk to them about Jesus the more they pull away. Satan has put another scar on these men and another tattoo on there hearts. We now have a job to continue to walk with these men and work on removing the tattoos from there hearts.

Honduras Kairos

Kairos Honduras is struggling. This last Sunday we had our second teaming and only 12 women could commit to the upcoming June 11-14 weekend at PNFAS (Tamara women’s prison). We had our kitchen team all committed and agape coming in from all over the world, the prison director was excited and the Kairos community inside excited and prepared for new invites. What looked like everything was going well turned out to be a cancellation because our volunteers could not commit in doing God’s work. Each invited volunteer had many excuses or said they would give a true commitment the week of the Kairos weekend. Frustrated-maybe. We however took the time with the 12 women and 3 hours last Sunday to exhort them to go and talk to the other volunteers about the meaning of commitment, knowing that God will provide all there needs to cover each of there excuses in why they couldn’t. The scripture above is true. If we love God we would know that commitment is big in the eyes of the Lord. So we encouraged our Kairos community men and women to pray with us daily for a change in the hearts of people so we all can experience the change we see in each invite that makes a Kairos weekend. Our upcoming weekend is no scheduled for November 19-22, 2009. So would you join with us in prayer for our community and also for this upcoming weekend? Also pray for me and Mario to participate in an upcoming men’s weekend in Nicaragua.

School Projects

During the month of May we had two teams visit us. Team #5 from Victory Highway installed the roof, installed all of the rough wiring for both floors, installed the insulation for the second floor in the metal studs, and also primed the entire building outside and also inside on the first floor. Cheryl Cleveland also provided sewing classes for 5 days and the class made pillow covers and pin cushion scrap basket. The women who participated in these classes were blessed by Cheryl and are thankful for the last two years of classes that Cheryl has provided. (We will be sending out photos of all the work that has been done.) Team #6 from Pennsylvania Ave. UMC. This team worked also just as hard. This team installed the drywall for the second floor walls, taped it out, sanded it, primed and painted the walls. They also installed the drop ceiling for three rooms and ceiling fans and lights. (We will be sending out photos of all the work that has been done. In the following weeks.) Director Flores and the teachers are very excited and will be installing ceramic tile for the second floor. The tile will be paid for by donations from the community. The building is looking like it may be completed by the end of this year. Our third team (team #7) from Victory Highway will be arriving July 27-August 5, 2009 to work on painting the outside of the building, building shelves and so much more work that needs to be done to finish this project. Please keep this team in your prayers.

One thing we want to express is this; We have many invitations from other public schools that need help as well in renovating there school. These schools are worse off than the Venezuela school. So the more teams we receive and the more volunteers we have come to Honduras means more public schools we can help and lives of children we can affect and change the opportunity in receiving an education. Many thanks to all those who have made an impact in the community of Rincon and with the Venezuela school. We know that the fruit that will be reaped from this will be huge.

Community Projects

The youth groups are going well. They have been extremely blessed by the teams that have visited us by there love, generosity, and willingness to play with them, hug them, and interact with them. The kids love this. It doesn’t matter how young or old they are. They always remember the names of each team member and how they impacted them in some special way. The community has also received us and our teams very well. Each team visited Pastor Giron’s Baptist Church and each team had someone to preach the word to them and exhort them. Pastor Giron’s congregation expressed to us they love the teams and the excitement they bring. What we have noticed is that it bring into focus that we as Christians can Love our Lord and work together for one common cause. Out of this love and work together we will see fruit.

Another project Glenda and I have been involved in is helping Mario from Choluteca in building him a home made out of Adobe block. (Mario is an ex-MS 13th st. gang member who we have been helping removes his tattoos) We are working with his Aunt from San Pedro Sula which is 8 hours from Mario. The house will cost $1,200 to build and this includes roof, doors and window shutters. BBM will be helping with half of this amount. This project is giving Mario and his family a chance to survive. He only makes $2 per day and he is just making enough to put his child through school, put food on the table and pay rent. This is what rehabilitation is about. We are helping ex-gang members outside prison as well.

A Personal Outlook

What a blessed and busy two months we have had. Between burning tattoos, our past Nicaragua trip for Kairos and our two visiting short term mission teams we have been truly blessed by all this activity. Border Buddies Ministries has grown so much and has kept itself with in our mission statement in “Increasing the Possibilities and Decreasing the Prisoners.” All this work and all that has been accomplished in the last two months have made an impact on the community in Rincon and also with the community inside Tamara Prison with the ex-gang members. We know with growth it demands a huge responsibility by all those who support this ministry to keep uplifting the work the Father has called us to do in Prayer and Thought. By your love and determination to make a difference in the world through this ministry it is making a huge impact on peoples’ lives and also planting seeds throughout the country of Honduras. This is one thing that our returning short term mission team members say, “It is amazing to see the seed that has been planted years ago in various persons and see that seed sprout.” People like Alvaro, Sendy, Jesus Lanza, Allan Ortiz, Director Flores and so many others. Glenda and I want to say Praise God for His Purpose and for all of you to make this happen!

Prayer Requests

Prayer for each team member that has returned home as they come down from there high and as they reflect on there experiences. Prayer for Emyln, Lenin, Gustavo, Donny, Douglas, and so many more of our boys who are on drugs. Prayer for our school sponsored children. Prayer for the ex-gang members. Prayer for Mario from Choluteca. Prayer for Pastor Giron and his sister who has deep depression. Rincon community and the huge drug problem.

Prayer

Father your word comes to mind from Deuteronomy 4:30-31 “When you are distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. I know Lord that through these good times and also difficult times with Kairos and the lack of commitment, the ex-gang members wanting to go back to their old ways, and also the kids in the community dabbling with drugs and satanic things you are in control. Your oath will not be broken with us and that is that every tongue will confess that you are Lord and every knee will bow before you. You are in control of these times and in control of each person. We pray that we will continue to be used for your Glory and that our focus will always be on you and for your Glory. Lord we know that you are speaking and that you are directing everything that is going on. This gives us security and patience to continue on to bring your Gospel to all those who are in need. Lord we thank you for your Love and for this ministry!

In Jesus name, Amen.