Merry Christmas from Mike and Debbie Lane

Dear Beloved Ones in the Lord,

    As we enter this Christmas Season, as children of the King, we understand that the true meaning of Christmas is not Santa Clause, trees, tinsel and gifts.  It is a time to honor and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I believe there is no better place to do this than with those we love most - family!  

Normally, the word “family” means our “blood relatives”, but it may also encompass others outside of that sphere with whom we feel a special kinship.  For the missionary, that may also mean the people with whom God has called them to work.  I know that we certainly have a special love and kinship with the precious people of Honduras and we truly count them as family!  In fact, our plans had been to be at home in Honduras by Christmas.  But our return to Honduras has been delayed for a couple of weeks.

I also had a desire to be with my mother and sisters since it would the first Christmas without Dad.  (He passed away last year, 5 days after Christmas.)  Although this, too, did not work out, it just seemed right to be there with my family.  I know this first Christmas since Dad’s home going will be an especially difficult one. 

I love that phrase, “...home going”!  “Home” is another word that we associate with family!  They even have a song about it that says, “I’ll be home for Christmas...”.  It’s a great comfort to me to know that Dad will also be celebrating in his Heavenly Home with family, many of whom he has not seen for some time - his parents, several of his brothers and sisters, and other relatives. But the greatest thrill, I would think, is that he will be in the presence of the One who lay in that manger so long ago! He will hear the same Heavenly Hosts singing, “Glory to God in the highest”, just as they did so long ago!  I would not have Dad miss that for anything!

But, this Christmas will be very special for Mike and I, too!  God has worked things out for our son and his family to travel from Washington to Nevada where they will spend Christmas with our daughter and her family!  Other than Dad’s funeral last year, we have not all been together for at least seven years!  Understandably, Dad’s funeral was not a fun time, nor one that any of us remember much about. Anyway, Mike and I will have the rare blessing of being with all our children and grandchildren this Christmas!  Only our Heavenly Father knows when we might all get to be together again!  It is for this reason alone, that we have delayed going home for a couple of weeks.  We will spend Christmas together with our family!

You know, when you think about it, that very first Christmas was about family, too!  That was why God’s precious Son confined His infinite self to finite human form!  Because He wanted His children to come “home” for Christmas... and stay for eternity!  He, too, wanted to be surrounded by family!  But, for that to happen, He had to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life, be crucified on a cross as He bore our sins, and rise again - victorious over sin and the grave!  
    What wonderful, awesome, inconceivable, unfathomable love!  But, only those who accept His wonderful  gift of salvation are accepted into His family!  That is the only reason He was born!  

He was born...

...to die...

 ...so that we could become part of His family!

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”  ~ John 1:12

Our prayer is that you will make the Child and Saviour of Christmas the center of, not only your celebration this year, but also the center of your life!

Have a Wonderful Christmas and a 

Blessed New Year!

Mike and Debbie Lane

Missionaries to Honduras

My Thanksgiving Wish For You

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.  Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to clean up' the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude.  John, in desperation, threw up his hands!  Then he grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.  Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Feeling guilty about his actions and fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.  I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the immediate change in the bird's attitude.  As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very softly,  

"May I ask what the turkey did?"

* * * * * * *

The above story is a copy of an email that I received last week!  I thought it was SO funny and just had to share it with you all!!  All it took was one look at that frozen turkey to completely change that parrot’s attitude in a hurry!  

Have you ever called anyone a turkey?  Or, for that matter, has anyone ever called YOU a turkey?   I’ve been called a turkey before - by my mom!  Can you believe it!  My MOM!  

I can’t say that I’m exactly sure of the connotation of being called by that name, but I would imagine that it is similar to calling someone “silly” or a “goofball”.  But my husband, wise man that he is, said that he thought that it was possibly just a nice way of telling someone that you think they have an ugly neck!  Either way, I don’t think I want to be called a turkey.

Now, back to that story.  At first, I have to admit that, I felt a bit sorry for that poor,  ol' frozen turkey. But you know, the more I thought about it, the more I am of the opinion that I would rather be the turkey than the parrot!  

Here is my reasoning:

The parrot was rude, obnoxious, profane and abusive! And John did NOT enjoy being around it.  In fact, rather than bringing him comfort and pleasure, the parrot was frustrating, was causing him embarrassment and stress, and it brought the worst out in John!  Even if it had not been so rude, all it would EVER do is just repeat whatever it heard others saying!  Talk about the ultimate gossip!

But, you might be thinking, 'Well, at least the parrot was alive!  That poor turkey was as dead as a door knob and frozen as hard as a rock!'

 And, you are right!  

But, think about it!  Even if that turkey had spent it’s entire life just walking around  pecking at grains and insects and then finally dying of old age, what use would it have been to anyone? What purpose would it have served? NONE!  Whereas, by giving it’s life and being prepared for someone’s Thanksgiving dinner, it would be a blessing and benefit to many!  

Yes, it’s true, it would have to die,  but at least, it would be giving it’s life for a good cause!  AND, I venture to say that John received much more pleasure from that turkey than he ever did from the parrot!!  

Just think about it!!  I could be wrong but, I believe there must be some deep, theological lesson in this story - some spiritual insight from which we should glean!!

Yep!  I’m sure of it!  After much thought and meditation on the subject, I’m sure that I’d MUCH rather be the turkey than the parrot!

* * * * * * * * 

Mike and I would like to thank all of you who support and pray for us!  Only our Heavenly Father knows how much we love and appreciate you all!  Our prayer is that God will richly bless you, that you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving and...

May You Be A Turkey!

Americans Need to See this Video Before the Election

If you have not yet seen the movie, "Agenda -Grinding Down America," please take advantage of this offer from the producer to watch it online without cost in the coming week before the national elections in the United States of America.  It is highly informative, well researched, full of 'heart' for the best principles of truth and honesty, and full of competent commentary contributions by highly respected and God-fearing leaders.  Every American parent with one iota of concern for their children and grandchildren and the life they will live in the future should watch this.  If they are listening closely they will inevitably have their eyes opened to the reality of the agenda being carried out by the sworn enemies of the vision for America held by those who sacrificed their lives for the liberty we should cherish. 

Encourage everyone to share it immediately... especially pastors, teachers, and those who are unashamed to influence others for the sake of shedding light on the thinking of those who have been compromised by the darkness of wholesale deception.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO WATCH 'AGENDA':

http://vimeo.com/user2695043/agenda

Below is a personal note from Curtis Bowers, the producer of the movie, 'Agenda' 

Friends,

AGENDA  is now on Vimeo to watch for FREE until the election. We would appreciate if you would help this go viral.

Please forward and share this everywhere, and encourage your contacts to do the same.

Americans need to see this film before the election.

We praise the Lord daily for the amazing response to AGENDA, and we pray this final push until Nov. 6th will make a difference.

God bless,

Curtis

Copybook Heading Productions LLC shared this with you:http://vimeo.com/user2695043/agenda    AGENDA: Grinding America Down (Full Movie)

http://vimeo.com/user2695043/agenda

Unexpected, Unbelievable, Overwhelming Blessings!

       Sometimes it seems that the faster I go, the behinder I get!!  (Is “behinder” even a word?) Oh well, you get the idea! I’m behind in posting my weblog updates, answering email, thank you notes, and sleep!   But, you know what, no matter how busy we get in the Lord’s work, God always makes it worth your while by throwing in unexpected, unbelievable, overwhelming  blessings!
For a general summary of what has happened since my last post, we (Mike and I, and Kara) finally made it back to the States, Mike has had his cancer checkup, we had a quick visit with parents, found and packed our “cold weather” clothes, flew to Washington and had a “too short” visit with our son, his wife and three of our grandchildren, put together a new and updated video presentation, and we are now in Alaska visiting some of our supporting churches.


The general summary above is for those who want to know what is going on with us, but just want a “quick read” and really don’t want to have to sift through my “long winded ramblings”!  


But, for those of you who like to “ramble” with me, here a few more details:



1.  Kara loved the Honduran people (and they loved her!) and she is already saving money for a return trip.  When she returns, she is hoping to stay with us a year!  (WOO-HOO!)  
      She was a tremendous blessing to all of us!!  You may read the testimony of her time there under the tab marked “Mission Internships”.


2.  We praise the Lord that Mike got a “good” report on his prostate cancer.  Scans showed that, of the two small tumors left, one showed no change, although the other was a bit smaller in size.  BUT, even though very small, there was a new spot that showed up on the scan.  He is to continue his current mode of treatment and return for another scan in a year.



~BRAYDEN~
GrandSON #3
GrandCHILD #7!

~MAKAYLA~
Brayden’s big sister
& Dakota’s little sister.
3.  On our recent trip to Tacoma, Mike finally got to meet our newest grandson, Brayden.  At five months old, he is really beginning to show his personality.  He adores his big brother (who turned 10 yrs. old while we were there!) and sister ...and, the feeling is mutual.  



~DAKOTA~
Our first and oldest grandSON
celebrated his 10th birthday while we were there.
     We did get to spend a little “down time” with our son and daughter-in-law, but the fact that we had to have the new video ready in less than two weeks really hung like a heavy, black cloud over my head.  




Before leaving Washington, Kara met with me at our son’s home to show me what she had figured out about the video program that I was going to use.  (I had asked her to to really pray for me since I understood nothing about the program!)








4.  I was able to get an updated video done and finished the day before we needed it.  It’s a little longer than we really wanted (14 minutes) but, so far, everyone seems to be receiving it very well, THANK THE LORD!!  If you would like to check it out, just click on the Ministry Video, close to the top of the page on the right.


5.  We receive several calls a week from different ones in Honduras.  The majority are from those heading up our ministry team there, calling to give Mike reports and updates on the works or ask questions and advice.  We thank God for each one of those Godly young men and women (and teens!) who continue the work at home while we are here and for the good reports we are receiving!  Occasionally, we also receive calls from some of our ladies or some of our teens and children, who just want to talk and tell us they miss us.  They will NEVER know just how much we love and miss them!!




     So far, our time in Alaska has been amazing!  God has SO BLESSED!  It has been so good to see the pastors and precious people that have been such dear friends and prayer warriors through the years, as well as the many new friends we have made.  Some of our most faithful supporting churches are here in Alaska and we feel so very blessed to represent such wonderful servants of God in Honduras! It has been a thrill to show them what their prayers and mission dollars have enabled God to do on the mission field. There is no way we could do what we do without them!  

This is the bear that I shot!(with a camera, that is!)


     Alaska is such a vast and beautiful state and, as we travel from church to church, we have seen such unbelievably gorgeous scenery, as well as several glaciers and a myriad of wildlife, including sea otters, beluga whales, bald eagles and a bear!  We are hoping the Lord allows us to see caribou and moose while we are here.  That would just top things off and …OH, WOW!  YOU’RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS!! I had to leave off typing to run upstairs to get my camera!  I am working on this while sitting in the dining room at a friends home in Anchorage ...AND while writing about hoping to see caribou and moose, a moose just walked past the picture window!  That is something that you don’t see everyday!!!  That is, I guess, unless you live in Alaska! I’m glad that we have two more weeks here before heading back to the “lower 48”.




     As you can see, God has been incredibly good to us in so many ways!!  Now you see why I entitled this entry "Unexpected, Unbelievable, Overwhelming  Blessings!”.  


What else would YOU have called it?


     Please, keep us in your prayers as we travel from church to church and report on the work in Honduras.  Pray for our safety, but most of all, pray that God will use us to be a witness, testimony and blessing everywhere we go. 
Also, please pray that there will be those that will love Him and trust Him enough to answer His call and give their lives to serve Him in whatever capacity He wants!  It is only when we are willing to “pour out” our life for cause of Christ, that He can begin to "pour out” His unexpected, unbelievable, overwhelming  blessings on our life!


     May God bless each of you that are faithful prayer warriors and witnesses for the advancement of the cause of Christ!


Maranatha!


Debbie




Below Are More Photos Of Alaska



We stayed in Palmer for a while with some long time friends.
This was the scene we saw every time we left their home.



EVERYWHERE you look, there is unbelievable beauty!



This was just ONE of the gorgeous scenes we saw on
our way to an appointment with one of our supporting churches!



As beautiful as the majestic mountains and lakes are,
there is just as much wonder and beauty
 in the smallest flower and plant!



I was able to shoot this picture of the Matanuska Glacier.



Sometimes the beauty is nearly overwhelming!

Could I Buy Some Time .....PLEEEZE!!!

I TRY to take one day at a time…
but lately, several days have attacked me at once!!

Since my last post, nearly 2 1/2 weeks ago, so much has happened!  I have wanted to write it all down and share with everyone, but there never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done!  

Maybe some of you remember the commercial with Ben Stein some years ago where he pulls up to a drive through and, with a weary look and a dead pan voice, he asks, “Could I buy some time, please?” Well, that has certainly been my sentiments of late.  However, along with the time, I would also like to buy some much needed energy!

Nevertheless, I will try to condense and summarize some of God’s latest blessings that He has sent our way and I will try to do so without minimizing how AWESOMELY He has been working!

Sunday, July 8th:  In my last post, I told how our drive to church most probably differs from yours.  If you thought THAT was interesting, you will certainly enjoy hearing about our baptism service on this particular Sunday.

New Hope Baptist Church of La Esperanza and Calvary Baptist Church of Ojo de Agua both have a baptismal in their church buildings.  However, in some of our other works, we still have to make a trip to the river to baptize believers.  That is the case at the In Christ Baptist Church in Naranjitos, our farthest work.  

On this particular Sunday we had three ladies to baptize.  Across the road from the church is a river with a good sized waterfall that flows into a small pool that is just deep enough for baptizing.  That is where we normally baptize.  However, there had been a heavy rainstorm the evening before that had left the pool very muddy. When we arrived, were informed by the people there that, because of that fact, it would be better to go to another location. 

So, we loaded everyone in the back of the flatbed 450 and drove another 10 minutes up into the mountains.

When we arrived at the designated spot, I could see no river at all.  That was when we were told that we had at least a ten minute walk to get to our destination.

Now, I love to walk, especially when there is beautiful scenery around me.  But this was NOT a “stroll in the park”!!   

It was DOWN a steep, muddy, mountain path, something for which I was NOT prepared!  Trust me when I say that slip-on sandals with a low wedge heel are NOT the best shoes to be wearing in this situation!  But I’m game, and so, walking behind Mike, with both my hands on his shoulders, we started our downward hike to the river for our baptism service.

The Lenca Indians are used to walking these muddy mountain  trails and seem to be as sure-footed as mountain goats.  However, it’s a different story for us city-bred gringos!  Believe it or not, although Mike did slip down in the mud a couple of times, I didn’t fall even one single time! That fact alone is just more proof that we serve a God of miracles!  

Sure enough, about ten minutes later, we finally made it to the bottom of the trail and to the river!

While standing in the cold, mountain river, Mike once again explained to the people about scriptural, deep water baptism and it’s significance to a believer’s identification with Christ and their new life in Him. 

Then, with young and old alike watching, these three new believers took a great step of obedience and went down into that cold, muddy river to be baptized.  

It was not only a picture of our loving Savior’s death, burial and resurrection, but also a picture of the death of these ladies’ old lives, lives that had been buried under the cleansing blood of the Lamb, and the resurrection of their new lives in Christ Jesus.  It was a sweet, sweet service!

If you look very closely, you can see the people
who made it to the top of the hill
long before I did!

Afterward, we faced the long climb back up the hill to the truck.  Somehow, it seemed much harder going up than going down and I had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath and rest a bit.  At one point, I thought I was going to pass out!  You may ask, “Was it worth it??  

"You bet your sweet life it was!!!!

That evening, back in La Esperanza at the New Hope Baptist Church, two more were baptized and, although it was not as exciting a trip to get to the water, it was just as significant and a tremendous testimony to their new life in Jesus Christ.

Monday, July 9th:  The next morning, we left cool La Esperanza for HOT San Pedro Sula.  We had 3 things on our “To Do” list that made it necessary to make this 3  hour trip, once again in our small, unairconditioned, 21 passenger bus:  1.  There were some things that we needed to look for that we cannot get in La Esperanza (like canned green beans and stewed tomatoes).  Not necessities, but more like luxury items for us.  2.  We had to take a transmission back to where it had been bought to exchange it for another in hope that  it might work this time. This would be the third one, and you know what they say ...”Three’s a charm”!   and...   3.  We were going to the airport to pick up Kara, who was going to stay with us for a month!!!

Kara is a young woman from Faith Baptist in Tacoma, WA.  (This is the church where Mike was pastor for 14 years.)  We have known her parents since “forever” and count them as dear and precious friends.  We remember well when Kara was born. She has grown up with loving and dedicated Christian parents, attended and received her diploma from the Christian school that we started years ago and, all her life, has been in that wonderful church being saturated with good Biblical teaching.  Although she was just three years old when we left the pastorate to become missionaries, we always saw her when we would go to Tacoma and visit our son and the church there.  It has been such a joy to watch her grow through the years, not only physically, but spiritually, as well.  Kara is now a beautiful, godly, 21 year old woman.  

This is her first time out of the United States, as well as her first mission trip.  I think that, so far, it has been a real eye opener.  She has already been such a joy and blessing to have around.  (I have felt badly that we have been so busy, though!) 

While she is here, Kara is keeping an online blog of her experiences and thoughts.  If you would like to check out what she has to say, you can go to www.karaplein.blogspot.com where her blog is called Honduras Adventures.

Saturday, July 14th:  Unfortunately, during Kara’s first week with us, I had to spend nearly all my time writing, and then translating, several lessons and student study sheets, preparing for a meeting that was scheduled on her first Saturday with us. 

Arlen with some of the children
in San Lorenzo.

I have been praying for some time that God would give us more Sunday School teachers to help in the many works that we have.  I can no longer teach everywhere, every Sunday, indefinitely. (This ol’ gal just ain’t as young as she used to be!) 

That schedule even took it’s toll on Arlen Stevens, the young missionary wife who took care of all my classes while I was in the States ... and she is in her early thirties!

I had 7 prospective teachers show up at my house for teacher training.  Their ages ranged from 13 to 21 years.  Thirteen is awfully young, but they can always start out as helpers and work their way into more responsibility as they prove themselves.  Also, if they so desire, they can occasionally teach the children in San Lorenzo where we normally have a smaller group of children who, no matter what their age, are at the beginner level. 

Since the training, which included lessons such as “Requirements for Being a Sunday School Teacher”, “The Importance of Teaching Children”, “The Five Methods of Learning”, “How to Maintain Order”, “How To Be An Interesting and Effective Teacher” and “How to Make the Bible Come Alive!”, I have had two more tell me they are interested.  It would be wonderful if we could have a “teaching team” that could rotate going to the mountains on Sunday!  Please pray for God’s perfect will in this matter.

Sunday, July 15:  This was Kara’s first Sunday with us, and it really turned out to be a “doozy” of a Sunday!  

After being bumped and jostled for two hours, we finally arrived in San Lorenzo for our first service.  I think it was Kara’s first time to attend a Sunday School class where children had to sit on sacks stacked against the wall. 

Then it was on to the church in Ojo de Agua where there were 34 children in my Sunday School class!  At the end of the service, the children joined the adults to watch a couple of young people get baptized.  For some of the children, this was their first time to see Biblical “deep water” baptism, rather than sprinkling.  

The first one baptized was Marlene, one of my prospective teachers who has been living in La Esperanza with missionaries Jason and Arlen Stevens this past year so that she might further her education.  (Lenca schools in the mountains only go through the 6th grade). Every weekend she travels back to Ojo de Agua to visit her family and attend services in the church where she grew up.  (For years, we met and had services in her grandmother’s house where Marlene lived.) Actually, she has already been a helper to Arlen with the classes there during this past year. Many who have visited Honduras and Ojo de Agua will recognize her face and sweet smile.  Marlene, who just turned 14 last Friday, has been faithfully attending my Sunday School class since she was only 5 years old.  It was so good to see her finally follow the Lord in baptism!

The other one baptized was Kenia, who has become Marlene’s best friend since moving to La Esperanza!  She is such a little sweetheart!  Even though she is the only one in her family that attends services, her mother gave her permission to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.  She has also been traveling to the mountains every weekend and helping some with the little ones in the classes.  Just look at those smiles!   You can see the joy of the Lord on both of their faces!!

That is Marlene and Kenia
standing on the tool box.

After the services, we all loaded up in the truck and started the two hour trip back to La Esperanza where Mike was to baptize two more in the evening service at New Hope Baptist.  

When we were about 30 minutes away from La Esperanza, we came upon a bus stalled in the middle of the narrow road.  We had to restrict our already slow pace even more to get around it.   We had barely passed the disabled bus when we began to hear the people in the back of the truck banging on the top of the cab and screaming for us to stop because someone had fallen out of the truck!  

Kenia, had apparently been standing pretty much in the same spot as in the above picture, but she was trying to grasp some leaves of a tree branch as we went under it, lost her balance and fell, breaking her wrist and some of her teeth.  Instead of going home, Kenia, Kara, Silveria (one of the ladies from our church) and I were dropped off at the local “hospital”.  (I put that word in quotation marks because I have my doubts about the validity of calling it a hospital!)  

Several hours later, she was released with a cast on her arm.  We made it back to the house with just enough time to change clothes and make it to the service at New Hope Baptist where we had two other  baptisms and then celebrated the Lord’s Supper.

All of this made for a very long, but very exciting day! I am sure that it was a Sunday unlike any that Kara had ever experienced before, and one she will never forget!  The next day, she was still feeling the effects of her first Sunday with us here in Honduras!

In the near future, we will also be taking Kenia to see a dentist.  Even though the accident was not our fault, we feel that it is only right for us to take care of the medical and dental needs of the little girl of this poor family.  Her parents have been very understanding during this whole situation.  Our prayer is that, through all of this, God will bring them to accept Him as their Savior.

You know, Satan is never happy when people come to Christ, accept His salvation, and begin to really fall in love with Him and serve Him.  He tries one thing after another to knock them off track.  But, we serve an awesome, all powerful, all knowing God! How we thank the Lord for His protection in this accident that could have very easily been a potentially serious or fatal one. 

Hotir passes around the cup of grape juice
that is to remind us of the blood
that Jesus shed to cover our sin debt.

Sunday, July 22:  Yesterday was another day filled with God’s blessings!  It was our Sunday to go back to Naranjitos (we go there every other Sunday). Yesterday, that church celebrated the Lord’s Supper for the first time!  The attendance was down, but the fellowship was sweet!

In Ojo de Agua, the service was well attended and that church, as well, celebrated the Lord’s Supper for the very first time.  Also, I was able to lead five children to the Lord while, at the same time, Mike was leading a lady to the Lord!  

Then, before we left, the male companion of Dora Belinda, one of the ladies that I led to the Lord three weeks ago, wanted to talk to Mike.  Cecilio and Belinda had decided it was time to get married so that they could get baptized and become members of the church.  

You must understand that the majority of the people we work with are not married!   In rural Honduras and among the Lenca Indians, it is an accepted practice for a couple to live together, for a man to have several different “families” and father dozens of children, or for each child in a family to have a different father.  It is an accepted practice because the Catholic church has never taught them that the Bible says it is sin, nor have they taught them about the importance of marriage. 

For this couple to make this decision, it is a great sign of spiritual growth and a love for  God and His Word.  This is a fine couple, and they have much potential to affect other new believers in this Lenca community.  We are so thrilled about this step of obedience and growth on their part.  Please pray for them.

At the service at New Hope Baptist in La Esperanza, we were thrilled to see slightly over 100 in attendance, one of those being little Kenia who had fallen off the truck the week before!  Before the preaching, Kara gave a wonderful testimony with Mike translating for her. It was such a blessing to our people. The Hondurans, and especially the children, have fallen in love with her (which is easy to do)!

Mike interprets as Kara gives
her testimony.

The children (as well as some of the young men)
 are enamored with Kara!

Then, as another special blessing from the Lord, 16 year old Hector, one of the finest young men I know, expressed his desire to teach children about Jesus Christ!  He will be coming to my house this Saturday for “basic training”.  

Well, there you have it!  And that’s really just skimming the highlights on what has happened in the last 2 1/2 weeks!   God has been tremendously good and He is blessing our efforts here!  

That is NOT Mike on the radio tower,
but rather the man that was hired
to do the work!  

In the midst of all of these happenings, Mike has been calling churches and setting up appointments for our time in the States at the end of this year, as well as trying to stay on top of vehicle repairs, buying the needed building supplies, trying to adjust the Bible Institute schedule, studying and preparing messages and,  with the financial help  of others and under the direction of former Honduran missionary, Jim Foster) helping to facilitate the extension of the radio tower at Voice of the Good Shepherd (a ministry started years ago by Jim.)

As for me, in addition to my “wifely duties”, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and so forth, I have also been busy preparing the weekly lessons and illustrations, etc, for the new teachers, as well as working with them in the classes on Sundays. Moreover, I have been engaged in trying to finalize our travel plans, car rentals, Mike’s doctor appointments, etc, for when we are in the States. Furthermore, we are also preparing to receive a Mission Team from the Pleasantview Baptist Church in Arlington, TX, who will be coming on the 31st of this month for a week of ministry in Honduras!  (We are so looking forward to their visit!!)

As you can see, our lives as missionaries in Honduras are full and active, with never a dull moment. (Even now, I’m finishing this article in the dark because we lost electricity about an hour ago!) 

In fact, our lives are so full that I could really use a little bit of “down time” every now and then.  Like Ben Stein, I would really like to know  

...”Could I buy some time,  …PLEASE?”