{filelink=9}

Message From the Missionaries

Matthew 16:1-4 “The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, When evening comes you say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red, and in the morn-ing, Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot inter-pret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. Jesus left them and went away.”

Everybody is looking for a miraculous sign. People of today are looking for a perfect leader and the signs to come with that perfect leader. It is the same in the Barrio Rincon. In the last few months, we have been under some persecution from those who criticize the ministry and our presence in the Barrio. They told our boys that our youth group and the programs we have are a waste of time. They claimed they wanted a sign to ensure them we are sent by God. We are talking about Christians and non-Christians. “Looking for some sort of miracle.” As we were told this, I was looking at the youth playing and the new school building in the back ground. I thought, I now know what Jesus must have felt when the Israelites asked for a sign. The signs were there, but they chose to ignore them. I did respond to our youth, “If they were given a big miracle they would chase after man and not God.” If the world today searches for a miracle and does not really see the ones that are being performed, they are going to be fooled when the anti-christ comes. People are poised to run after the “Sign.” Jesus knows the man’s heart.

Prison Ministry

Each year during the third week of Septem-ber, the prisoners in Honduras celebrate the Week of the Prisoner. During this week, the men and women who are incarcerated play soccer, have special talks given to them, party, and have longer visits by their families and wives. It is a time for the incarcerated to basically do nothing. Every year, we celebrate with ex-gang members by hosting a chicken dinner. As all of you know, each prisoner receives one cup of beans and rice with two tortillas for each meal. It is the same plate of food every day, so our guys look forward to this special day. In fact, they were talking about the chicken dinner back in August. We cooked 72 chicken breasts with my special sauce. Unfortunately, we can’t show you photos of the joy each man had when eating his chicken. They did want to pass a huge thank you to all of you for this gift!

Missions

One day as I was checking on Pastor Giron at the Fuerzas Armadas School, I noticed that all of the desks and teacher’s desks were missing from the soccer court. I realized that the teachers returned to the first floor classrooms and were giving classes to the children. When I peered my head into each classroom, I noticed that the teachers had already redecorated their classrooms. They used big sheets of construction paper to cover the walls. The classrooms were very organized and the teachers were super happy. Why, you may ask; because they know that in the following year, and with faith in Jesus to provide teams, they will be in their new classrooms. I still noticed that they took furniture like cabinets and used them as dividers so they can have two classrooms in one. Pastor Giron never knew about this problem until this day. He was tearful and said, “God has called you to fix our edu-cational problem in the area of space, lunches, and scholarships, so the children of Honduras can learn.”

Community Work in El Barrio Rincon

Love does have a face. Just look at the photo at the bottom of this page. This was taken in our home on my Birthday. It was a normal day for me, or so I thought. It started out with the same routine and with a phone call home to talk to my family. While I was talking to my family, my other family was ringing the door bell. It was a couple of our kids. They came to wish me Happy Birthday. As I got up to hug them, the doorbell rang again. It was more of our kids. The word got out in the Barrio and they decided that they wanted to be with us on my B-day even though Tropical Storm Matthew was hitting Honduras. They walked in the rain from the Barrio Rincon to our home, which is about a 25 minute walk. They brought gifts that they purchased from their own money and a cake as well. I was deeply moved and knew that the impact we were making was leaving a mark on their hearts. Love has made room and has made friendships to last a lifetime. The kids stayed from 11:00am to 5:30pm and really didn’t want to go. They played games, soccer in our street, and jump rope. But the big thing they wanted to do, was spend time in our home. They said as they were leaving, “it is so peaceful here and there isn’t any fighting or mani-pulating.” We were missing some of our youth, because the parents wouldn’t allow them to come. We know what Jesus meant in John 17:6: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”

School Sponsorship Programs

September is a busy month with the Dia del Nino and the Week of the Prisoner. Well, it is also the time of Independence Day for Honduras, which is celebrated the 15th of September. Each year, the country of Honduras has a big parade that hosts the majority of public schools. It is a great honor for a student to be picked to represent his or her school. This year, we had Yoel and Yoevanny (that I wrote to you about in the last month’s news-letter) representing INFOP Technology School. Also Mauricio Palma, who is sponsored by the ACTS group from Elmira. He is seen in the photo top right; he had to purchase this spe-cial uniform and walk in procession with his classmates to the National Stadium in front of the President of Honduras. We are so proud of our sponsored children. The reason I say this, is because the schools pick the best academic student to represent them.
Other happenings with our sponsored children: We have been receiving the report cards for the 3rd marking period, and Glenda is working very hard trying to get them out to each of you that sponsor a child. Also, Glenda and Carolina have been checking on each child’s conduct and attendance, and to see if they need any special help with their studies. We found that a group from High School needed special atten-tion in Finances and Marketing, so we called our friend Alvaro, who has his Masters in these areas, and he willingly came and tutored our sponsored children. We also are proud to announce that we sponsor 130 children plus two for Technology School. We still have a list that keeps on growing of children in need. We were just given a stack of report cards, letters, and photos of children in need from schools we work with.

BBM Happenings

Our board has been so very busy with prepa-rations for this year’s fundraiser. We have so many ideas swirling in our minds and so much work that needs to be done as well. On top of this, Cheryl Cleveland, our Financial Secre-tary, has been getting our 3rd quarter state-ments ready that will be mailed out to each of you shortly. This has been a huge help and service to the ministry. Also, Lisa Edger, our Missions Director, is working on lining up teams for 2011. There are teams coming from Penn Ave UMC, Victory Highway Wesleyan Church, and also from David Pearson in conjunction with the home schoolers. If you are interested in participating on team, or forming your own team, please fill out an application and be in contact with Lisa. Lisa is also forming a sub-committee of experienced short term volunteers to work on promoting more short term mission trips from our area and from other states as well. It is our goal to receive 10 teams a year so we can continue to help the public schools. Lastly, and most important, is prayer. Our board meetings are focused on scripture and prayer. Outside the meetings we are focused on scripture and prayer. We feel it is the heart of this ministry to be obedient to God’s word and to pray for His direction in serving the Honduran people. We would like to invite each of you to take a few minutes each day and lift up this ministry in prayer.

Prayer

Father, We are so thankful for your anointing upon these different ministries we have in one big ministry you have in this world. We know Lord, that even though the world doesn’t want to know you or see your will in these trouble times, you are in control. I’m reminded Lord when Peter said, “I’ll never leave you” and we have done just that. We have left you in our decision-making, in our plans, and our relationships. Lord, our prayer is that we will realize what we are doing to our relationship with you. Our prayer also, Lord, is that many will turn away from the darkness and turn to the light for direction in how their lives should be lived. We have become stagnant with our faith and have complicated our thinking to institute confusion in our decision-making. Lord, put a child-like faith in those who are in need of change. Our prayer is not of growth, but of service: How we can serve the men and women in prison better; How we can serve the children and adults in the Barrios better; and how we can serve you better. This is our desire and passion. We know that growth will come with obedience. Father, hear our prayers, and look to our hearts, and see we Love you.
In Jesus name, Amen.