May Update from Honduras

      Since our return to Honduras on the 25th of February, we have been in a whirlwind of activity. God has been pouring His blessings out on us ( 87 saved since our return!) and Satan, knowing his time is short, has been fighting us "tooth and nail". It's hard to believe that it's nearly June and we have only a little over a month left here before we have to return for Mike to have his 6 month check-up on his cancer. There is still so much that needs to be done before we leave again. Below is a short synopsis of what has been happening and what still needs to happen:

Iglesia Bautista Nueva Esperanza de La Esperanza (New Hope Baptist Church of La Esperanza) :

      This church, which is located near our home, is our main work and the hub of our ministry. In our absence, the attendance had fallen to around 40-50 but we are slowly gaining ground again. Mike has started up the Bible Baptist Institute with nearly twenty students from our church and a couple of other Baptist churches in the area attending. On Saturday evenings we have youth meeting and he and Bro. Hotir, Mike's right hand man, share that responsibility. I am teaching the children on Sundays once again and loving every minute of it! Because of Mike's health, finishing the construction on this building was put on hold, but now we're moving forward once again. Windows have been ordered and we hope to get the roofs on the two side annexes when we return so we can utilize those areas for class rooms and a fellowship hall.

Iglesia Bautista El Calvario de Ojo de Agua (Calvary Baptist Church of Ojo de Agua) :

      About an hour from our home, in a mountain village called Ojo de Agua, is our church that was just recently named Calvary Baptist. We have worked in this area for several years, struggling with much opposition. But God has torn down Satan's stronghold in that community and we now have, as far as we know, the first non-Catholic church in that region.The community now accepts us and more and more people are coming to hear the Gospel and accepting Christ as their Savior. We are averaging 60-70 on Sunday mornings there, and we have a young man from that community who gave his life to the Lord at youth camp and is now enrolled in the Bible Institute and studying to be a pastor. The people of the church are continuing to help finish with the inside of the building. The baptistry has been built and they are now laying the floor tile. How wepraise God for what He is doing in that community! We covet your prayers, that the church in Ojo de Agua might be a light house and an example to the surrounding Lenca communities!

Mission in Naranjitos:

      In this Lenca community, about 2 hours from our home, we have a precious man and his family who have desired to see a Baptist church in their village for many years. Santos, who is the elected leader in Naranjitos, has faithfully stood strong against all opposition. For several years now, we have gone every other week to this community and held Sunday morning services in his home. Santos has donated a piece of his land to build a church on. The land has already been leveled in anticipation of a team coming from the States next year to help build a church building for them. I hold Sunday School classes here for the children twice a month. Please continue to pray for this work, that God will bless and it will grow.

Mission in San Lorenzo:

      San Lorenzo is a small community that is located between Ojo de Agua and Naranjitos. We have been working there for about 5 years. We have had many ups and downs in this work because of the threats of the local Catholics. We are blessed to have at least one family that has stayed strong and we continue to meet in there little adobe house.

      One of Hotir's brothers, Alex, started going to the mountains with us to help me with the children's classes. In the beginning, I had up to 30 children at times meeting for class under a big tree. When we came home on furlough in 2007, Alex took over teaching all my classes and has developed a real burden for the Lenca children.  When we came back to Honduras, he wanted to continue to teach the classes in the mountain works, so he now has the children's classes in San Lorenzo, as well as the one in Ojo de Agua. He realizes that the key to reaching these people is to reach the children . ( He knows this first hand because he started in my class 12 years ago when he was 8 years old!)

      After the threats, the class and church a have gone up and down in attendance. But we have claimed this community for Christ and we're not giving up!

Mission in Zapotillo:

      To get to this work you must first drive and hour and a half to San Lorenzo, park the car, and then walk an hour and a half. Mike has worked in this community for several years, visiting these believers usually once every month and relying on one of the local men to lead services when he could not be there. This work has been a continual struggle to keep going because of, not only the location, but the difficulty in finding a good local leader and the opposition in the community. Now, because of his heart condition, Mike can no longer walk to Zapotillo. If he goes, he must go by horseback.

      But we praise the Lord for Hotir and Clemente, another one of our workers from our main church, who continue to visit and encourage the believers there. In fact, this coming Sunday, they, along with a few other of our young men, plan to leave La Esperanza at 5 a.m. To make it to Zapotillo in time to hold services. Then they will walk back down to San Lorenzo in time to hold services there by 9 a.m. After this, they will drive to Ojo de Agua for the 11 a.m. Service there. Then, back to La Esperanza where we have services later in the afternoon. (I am SO thankful for these younger men who have taken over Mike's hectic schedule!) Please pray for the mission in Zapotillo.

Mission in Quebrada de Lajas:
      Quebrada de Lajas is a small community just outside of La Esperanza. This work was started by missionary Robert Breaker several years back. When Bro. Breaker left, he asked us to take over the work there. This work, too, has gone up and down through the years. Normally, the Sunday services there have been held around 3:30 p.m. (the only time available after returning from the mountains and before our service in our main church). When missionary Jason Stevens and his wife, Arlen, came to work with us last year, they took over this work. This area seems to need constant attention, and Bro. Jason and his wife, with their heart for the people and love for lost souls, seem the perfect fit for this struggling work. We are anxiously waiting for them and their new baby boy to return from the States next month. Right now, interest seems low among these people of Quebrada de Lajas, but I know God has a plan for this community, too!

Mission in Rodeo:
      This is a new area and opportunity for service for us. It is in the opposite direction of our other mountain works. At one time there was a Baptist church there and even a church building...but the church has been empty for several years now. When we heard about this, it broke our hearts.
      Last month, we went into that community with the medical/evangelistic team from North Dakota. In that one day, we saw 22 people accept the Lord! After the clinic had closed down and we were busy packing things up, we had a few people who showed up for treatment. As tired as the team was, they still took the time to show God's love and minister to these Lenca Indians. Little did we know that one of these men was the community leader. When he found out that we were interested in reviving the Baptist church there, he told us that we were welcome to do so. This was like God's seal of approval to us! What a blessing to not have the local leaders fighting continually against us!
      We have begun to have services there every other Friday. I also hope to start holding children's classes there soon. Please pray, not only for hearts to be open and receptive to the Gospel, but also for strength and stamina for each and every worker that reaches out to that community.

We will be returning to the States on July 6 for Mike to have his medical check up. Even though it is still lower than what it was when he was diagnosed with cancer, his PSA has gone up a point. I ask you to please pray that his results will be good so that we may return quickly to Honduras and the dear people to whom God has called us. Pray, too, that the Lord will raise up more laborers and that more people would be willing to answer His call. The fields are truly white unto harvest! There is so much to do and so little time.

You will never know how much we love and appreciate all of you who faithfully support us with your prayers and finances. With every soul saved and every church planted you, too, will reap the rewards! God bless you all!