You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17
Jill and Jon receiving a loving welcome from the students in Porvenir
Jon working with the students in Corazal. Shaving cream, food coloring and creative hands, a great combination
Oh my! It is July! But that means we are not in dry season anymore. When you live in other parts of the world, you realize how important water is. It is important in the States but the vast majority there never goes without. Sorry, I am not counting when it may get turned off for a few hours. When we lived in Tegucigalpa, my children and I lived through 2 1/2 months with no water in our house except for maybe 8 days. Although that was many years ago, that experience left a mark on me. To this day, I love to immerse my hands in water. Just as it is with the Word of God. I need that constant immersion in God’s Word and His presence. So grateful that I serve a God who deeply desires a relationship with me. He likes me and more than our works and good deeds, His Spirit is compelling us into His presence and love.
Lately I have been enjoying hosting for several weeks. First, my daughter Jill and her boyfriend Jon arrived in late June. We had a very full week of visiting schools, traveling up the mountain to the medical clinic and to attend a village church and also enjoyed a couple of days on the island of Roatan. Jill’s heart has always been in Honduras and she and Jon had a fun art project that taught colors for the students in Corazal. Jon developed a tender place in his heart for this country before he left. Perhaps it was the beauty of the mountains, the turquoise waters of Roatan, the wonderful Honduran food, but probably just as much the warm hugs and welcome that the children in the Porvenir school gave in the picture above. It was a wonderful week, that went all too fast. There is always next year. Already looking forward to it.
Then I hosted Gloria Sloan and her son, Alan. Gloria is a dear missionary friend whose base is in Tegucigalpa. She was our speaker for Iglesia de las Naciones’s missions conference that began this past weekend and will continue all month with special programs for the youth, children, women and pastors and leaders. This week, Nicole, has been with me. She is from a missionary family here in Honduras. We have sorted teacher supplies for donating, ran around the city on all sorts of missions and, of course, loved on some puppies.
I can’t end this post without talking about the puppies. Paul was a sent one also and he made tents to enable him to fund his work. Well, I don’t know how to make tents so we made puppies. Dottie, my boxer, should get Mother of the Year award. She has been great although at this point (the puppies are 6 weeks old today) I think she is thinking of them taking on their own responsibilities. So, it is now time for someone to buy them. I do have one dilemma though. One of them was born albino….all white with dark blue eyes and a cute black nose. I may not be able to part with her. Dottie needs company, don’t you think?
Lastly, I would like to list a few items to agree with us in prayer for our ministry here with the children in Honduras.
* Volunteers to come here to join with me. I would like to expand some services and much more could be done with more hands, brains and hearts. (Luke 10:2)
* Divine connections both here in Honduras and in the States. We are the body of Christ and only function at our fullest when we work together as God has called us. (Ephesians 4:16)
* God’s protection and guidance. Honduras has received much media attention, having been designated as the nation with the highest homicide rate in the world. Parts are dangerous and God gives us wisdom. I have always been safe and I am thankful I have the Holy Ghost directing my path. Those figures in the media don’t consider the protection of the angels. We have that. (Psalm 91, 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3)
* Most importantly, for God’s truth and power to flow through this ministry whether that be through our educational help with the students and teachers (education should be the process that prepares us for the call that God has for each one), through preaching or conversations and daily relationships with the people here. We have been given much. We may not have all the answers but we know how to help others know how to find the answers and all that they need. (I Thessalonians 1:5, Ephesians 3:19-20)
Thank you so much for your prayers and your interest in God’s work here. I heard a quote recently that moved my spirit. “The gospel is good news only if it gets there in time!” We must be about the Father’s business, following His Spirit and reaching out to others. We can’t delay in what the Father has called us to do.
Bendiciones!
Nicole, my house guest this week with all six puppies. Lots of love, licks and puppy breath.
seedsofloveim.org 