July 2013
Greetings from the “white unto harvest” fields of Honduras. We arrived in Honduras the first of January
and I can hardly believe we are now already into the month of August. It has been a great year, although
it had a trying and sorrowful beginning for our churches here with the final struggles and home going of
our beloved Leonidas, a deacon in New Hope Baptist in La Esperanza and leader in the mountain church,
Calvary Baptist of Ojo de Agua. The family continues to adapt and remains faithful, and thanks to the
generosity of Liberty Baptist Church, Kingston TN, a home is being built in Ojo de Agua for the family.
It has been a productive year in the winning of souls. I have been privileged to win 15 adults and teens,
some to which we have witnessed for years. Our very traditional Indians in the mountain villages can be
especially tough. Belief and trust in Christ alone for salvation, laying aside Catholic tradition, like works
for salvation, faith in Mary, saints, priests, the church, and the Pope. is very difficult for them. However,
especially in the Calvary Baptist Church in Ojo de Agua, we have seen steady growth, with an average of
50-60 in attendance each week.
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| Wedding decorations were streamers, balloons and flowers. The floor was traditionally covered with pine needles and flowers. Our only addition was the unity candles on the front table. |
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| The sign at the front of the church said, "Welcome to the Wedding of the Gómez & Rodriquez Family" |
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| Many who attended the wedding had to stand outside and look in the windows. Some were there more out of curiosity than anything! |
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| Cecilio and Belinda had the VERY FIRST non-catholic wedding EVER performed in the Lenca department (county) of Opalaca. |
The following week, five followed in Biblical baptism. At least 23 children and teens have been
saved in the classes in our various works, and recently over 70 received Christ in a Baptist medical-
dental brigade held in Ojo de Agua. They held their services each night in our church building, and since
then, we have seen a change in a number of people.
Another pastor, Florentino, whom we recently helped
in the rebuilding of his motorcycle engine (only $150), has been using it to evangelize in different
communities and has won 17 souls in two village campaigns within the past weeks.
Altogether, in all our
works and evangelism efforts, we have seen at least 125 saved this year. This doesn’t include the other
churches that are now independent or have been turned over to other missionaries. I know the count
would be much higher, to the glory of God!
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| My husband, Mike, rides his Rokon to Zapotillo for the first time. |
In April I had an interesting experience. A “friend of the ministry” (who wishes to remain unnamed) bought two Rokon motorcycles (moto-tractors) for us. They are two-wheeled drive with fat tractor treaded tires on the front and back. We used them to climb to a remote village, Zapotillo, with whom we have worked for 10 years. It physically very hard for me to make the climb. It usually takes about 2 hours of steady climbing. The trail is so steep and the switchbacks are so tight that no vehicle has EVER been able to reach the village, but with the Rokons (and a little help from Salvador and Obdulio), I and my assistant pastor, Hotir, made it.
The result: Four adults and teens accepted Christ and the church was reestablished.
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| Obdulio and Salvador. Salvador preaches there every Sunday. Obdulio leads singing and teaches the children. |
The work there has been VERY HARD, with many threats (still going on) and recently, a man with a machete chopped up all the adobe blocks that they were using for seating in the building. Please pray for them and the work in Zapotillo.
Thank you so very much for your faithful prayers and support. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
In Christ’s Love,
The Lanes
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