That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.    Psalm 67:2

As God leads us on the path of the purpose and call that He has ordained for our lives, the foundation or passion does not change but throughout that path the scenery, at times, does. As I’ve walked with God I’ve learned to keep on walking and trusting Him during those times of change and to push aside those thoughts of wanting to understand all the plan right then. During these days, the Spirit of God is at work with many ministries and individuals tweeking, realigning, reassigning and leading us into new ways that we haven’t walked out previously.

I also have been walking through a transition. I have changed some of my steps during the past several months. Although things felt a little strange at first I chose to follow the Spirit of God and walk it through. During the past 2 weeks while here in Honduras I have experienced some of the fruit and the wisdom of these newly ordered steps. I am one who does not like being “put in a box.” When out shopping with my daughters and one of them says that a particular item doesn’t look like me, I immediately look inward to convince myself to buy it. I don’t ever want to be in a rut or to go over the same steps day in and day out. If I perceive from another that they cannot envision me doing something because of what they have seen me do in the past, something in me rises that wants to prove them wrong. Realizing this in myself, I am disciplined to talk to God about my steps when those feelings overtake me to keep my walk and desires in keeping with His will.

Last year the Lord began talking to me about not maintaining a house in Honduras but to travel back and forth. The detail came out bit by bit. God spoke to me about writing Christian curriculum in Spanish and also about working on a book that He had put in my heart many years ago. The book is to be about raising a child with disabilities in faith and under the authority of the Word. So, in October I did close my house in La Ceiba and began to look at different ways to carry out our work in Honduras in the new steps that God was giving me. Suddenly technology options appeared that allowed me to support and provide for the teachers and schools that God has connected me with. During those times that I am in the States I can easily access tools and resources and then immediately communicate to those in Honduras and also send documents and materials in digital form by internet. To be honest, it has been a challenge of time management and organization to combine this with daily demands while in the States. But again and again, the Lord is showing me His new plan. I must admit that I believe I had my idea of how to do missions in a box. As this year has unfolded I am thankful that I did not stay in that old box.

During the past two weeks I have been able to provide 4 schools with new curriculum packets, training and supplies that I wrote and compiled while in the States. I was also able to give activities to teach the children about God, His love for them and all He has given them.  I now see that with my day to day work in the schools over the past years have given me an entrance and a wide open door to the schools in this area of Honduras. It has also gave me very intimate working relationships with the teachers both in the city, villages by the sea and in the mountains.  I did not totally understand all during my steps of the past 6-8 months, but I did know that I was responding to the leading of His Spirit. At this moment, I feel the awe of seeing another aspect of God’s plan made plain. The vision and the passion is the same. The scenery has changed a bit with the steps. As long as the presence of God is there, the scenery is always full of His glory.

I want to express my deep gratitude for your support of this ministry, both in finances and in prayer. God has given me a vision and instruction but it is only possible with the support and work of those who also respond to His heart. I would like to especially thank you for your continued help during this transition. While we no longer have the expense of a home in Honduras, it takes money for printing and compiling curriculum and also for traveling expenses to reach those in the cities and villages.  We are in a new time. It is a time for God to shine through us. It is not time to shrink back but to move in His strength and wisdom and in keeping up with Him. I pray for God to bless you with His abundant glory and grace in your lives in all areas. May all you’ve given in time and funds be multiplied over and over. Bendiciones! (Blessings!)

Below are some pictures from our recent time in ministry in Honduras. Rejoice with us in His goodness!

I love it when the three of us get together. We plan and put together great things!

Divine connections are the best. Anne Fowler and Iris Carranza

Letter stamps, paper and an ink pad gave these children such joy in learning!

Another precious time with the special school in Corazal!

God placed the desire in my heart before 2001 to provide a library in a Honduran village. Just look He did it and He used us!!! I’m so excited and amazed to see it. God really does more than we can ask or think!

I love working with Iris. She has a great vision for her school, loves the children and is giving her life for them.

The Anne Fowler Bilingual School, in the village of La Union, about 40 minutes outside of La Ceiba. It is growing, alive with lots of learning and fun!

Several years ago, in 2001, I was in my first year in Honduras and in Tegucigalpa. I was visiting at the house of a missionary friend and while I was there saw some pictures of the north coast area of Honduras that I later came to know as La Ceiba. As I looked at those pictures I felt the presence of God come over me very strongly. I left my friend’s house and drove around for a bit asking God why I was feeling this so strongly and what I was to do. All He said to me was that I was to collect and save things for a school. I had already begun to do that and it was confirmation of what was already in my heart. During the years since, I have collected wonderful things, boxes and boxes of curriculum, learning aides and books upon books, things for Science, Math, English, Spanish, Geography, etc. including Bible Curriculum. I have used these things again and again in schools I have taught in, where I was principal and those I’ve helped but I had never found the school where they were to be. I knew that there was a purposed place for them. I moved many times during all my 14 years in Honduras and each time all the very heavy boxes of books, and learning aides would be moved also. At times, I felt frustrated and wondered if I missed God and that is seemed silly to keep caring for all of those things. It required a lot of work and storage space to keep them from ruin in the humid, damp climate of Central America.

Then in the past year I came to know Iris Carranza and her school, the Anne Fowler Bilingual School. Actually this came through my friendship with Anne Fowler. I donated some things to the school and then God placed it in my heart to donate many English books, readers and some curriculum and learning aides. Last month I visited the school to see the library which we had made possible for the school. As I walked in I was amazed at how wonderful everything looked. For years I had the dream of making a wonderful library for a Honduran village and now I was looking at it. God spoke to me then and told me that it was for this school that I had been saving those things and moving them from one place to another for years. I cannot express how much joy this has given me. The vision that I had carried around for years came to reality before my eyes. I didn’t miss it and I have been so grateful that God gave me the grace to continue in what, many times, seemed to be a crazy waste of time. It wasn’t. So, now more than 2 more truck loads of books, curriculum and supplies have been donated to this school.

What are the things that God has placed in your heart? What desires has He given to you that may, at times, seem crazy or elusive? Don’t lay those aside. When they are from God and, at last, they become reality in front of you, they will bring much joy and fulfillment. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13

Iris Carranza the Directora of the Anne Fowler Bilingual School and I in the new library. It is beautiful!

God is so good! After years of saving books and learning supplies as God told me, they finally arrived at their intended home…..and it all looks so pretty!

Today a Reader…..Tomorrow a Leader! A lot of leaders are going to come out of this school!

Another donor came forth and supplied new computers and desks and the new computer room. God is blessing this school! The library is at the other end of the room.

More donations for the Anne Fowler Bilingual School. I’m looking forward to returning to see it there!

…speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:15-16

I’m so thankful for the diversity of the body of Christ and it blesses me so to be a part and experience how God has placed us together with our specific gifts to accomplish His purpose, to bring His love and kingdom on this earth. The past few months have been a blur of working with students on a new reading program, traveling to conferences in the USA, Nicaragua and Texas…..Isn’t Texas another country?!?…. and, of course, Honduras. We receive from each other when we gather, from fellowship, the Word shared, and encouragement that reignites each other’s visions. Paul’s words were very on point when he commanded the believer not to miss the assembling of the saints.

A full day at day one of the First Special Education Conference held in La Ceiba. Lots of information, presentations by the children and time with other professionals. Honduras is moving towards helping those with special needs. Blessed to be a part!

A couple of weeks ago I was encouraged as I attended the first conference on Special Education by the Honduran agencies. Presenting were speakers from different areas of Latin America and the national director of Special Education for the nation of Honduras. Inclusion was the main topic as the Ministry of Education has decided to improve this area of education. Inclusion currently does not exist here. Currently, a very small portion of those with special needs receive any education and even then the quality is very lacking. But Honduras is stepping out in making this a focus.

Speaking to the teachers of The Cuenca, the area of mountain villages near La Ceiba.

I was a speaker at a conference in the mountain villages where over 100 primary teachers attended. We participated with two other ministries and we were well received by the teachers. We shared techniques for education and effectively working with children and also shared the Word of God. What a blessing to be in a nation where that door is open! I’m taking advantage of it! I so appreciate having relationships with other ministries and working together with them, all contributing their God given focus to flow together. The way it is supposed to work.

Melvin, proud to receive a well-earned certificate. He completed the first part of the new reading program in record time. He could not read before…..He can now!!

The most exciting progress that I have had in my work with children is through a reading program that I am translating into Spanish. For 15 years I have thought I would love to have this particular program in Spanish. Well, the time came, through working with a young girl who has autism. It is huge project but I currently have almost half of the first year translated and will have more time to work on this over the upcoming break. I began using it at a village special school and it has been so exciting and rewarding. Several students who are in their teens and have never read are learning. Their excitement in learning is wonderful and the other students are wanting to work more. It is an exciting time. My goal is to write words into the program so the children can quickly begin to read simple scriptures from the Bible. Working with God is so much fun! Pictured aboveis Melvin who received a certificate for completing the first quarter of the first year. He is now about to complete the second quarter. I am so proud of him. We are working with him so they he can attend normal school in the future.

I will leave you with a photo I like of the coast of La Ceiba which I took from the new dock that was built after a storm destroyed the former one last January. The old one had holes all over it and after walking on it several years, I vowed it would be the last time. The new one is beautiful and also is the view to look back at the city. Be blessed! Thank you for contributing your supply in this work. Your part is very important. Thank you for saying yes to God in your giving and prayer.

A recent photo taken from the new pier in La Ceiba at the end of the day. Beautiful, isn’t it!

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.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.     John 15:7

Ahh! The quiet afternoons with a tropical rain. So nice. All six puppies are bathed, fed and sleeping. I have been in the midst of sorting and organizing supplies to donate to schools here. I am in the middle of the project so I’m currently looking at various piles of stuff…..wonderful stuff….but stuff. A great time to take a break and write a blog entry, right?

If you’ve never experience a tropical rain, all I can say is they are great. So cleansing, like someone has just turned a huge watering can upside down. As the water is falling the palm trees are twisting and turning with the wind. The breezes blow, breezes that you had forgot existed in the hours before in the hot, hot, humid sun. There has not been much rain here this year so water has been rationed and turned off at least every other day and wells were running dry. This rain is very welcome. So refreshing. I wish I could share this with you all here. There is so much I wish I could share, the face of the children, the joy you see in the teachers faces as we help them with learning supplies and ideas, the interest in ideas as they see different methods reaching children who before weren’t learning and just the plain fun or working with kids.

We have a new school that we are helping The name of the school is Semillas de Esperanza (Seeds of Hope). They were excited to hear the name of our ministry. It is a public elementary school of about 200 students and is very poor as you can see in the pictures. The village neighborhood of the Semillas school has much poverty and many children grow up spending their days in the streets. If their parents have a job they are left alone from early in the morning until night at least 6 days a week. So, many are not enrolled in school. One boy like this is Carlito in the picture. Every time I drive up to the school he runs to greet me and stays by my side constantly seeking my attention and promises that he will come to our group. He is 10 years old and is not enrolled in school. In talking with him, you can see that he is very intelligent but right now does not have the concept to think about tomorrow and the idea of how an education can help his future is something that doesn’t really seem to have anything to do with his current reality. But I’m going to keep on trying.

I strive to be led by the Holy Spirit in where I go and who I am helping. I find it interesting that in every school where God has led me are Christian teachers. Teachers who know God’s Word and believe that their job is a ministry. Several times they have said, “We were praying that God would send help to us.” Or there may have been parents praying. Just know that God does hear us and responds to our requests. He is waiting for us to ask.

I prayed for new tires about a month ago and we did receive the funds for the new tires. They are on the truck and are taking me to new places safely. I am so grateful! Thank you Church on the Rock-Indiana for those. Besides the Word of God they are my most important tool! Jesus said to go  and i’m going with the help of you all. Bendiciones! (Blessings!)

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy   Col 1:11

I thought I would share some of the faces of lives we have been able to work directly with this past year. These are children that are from two different schools here and a few that I work with directly from the downstairs part of my home. These children are unable to attend a “normal” school due to special needs and/or poverty. Even the public schools require school uniforms which many are not able to afford. Honduras is a country of 8.5 million people with 71 percent of the population living in poverty. God loves these children as powerfully as He loves every child in the United States. We get the privilege of being God’s hands to give them a portion of what we have been given.  “Freely you have received, freely give.” Matt10:8 .Several of our students have shown improvements in their abilities and self-confidence. But just as rewarding is to see their joy in learning. I just love what I get to do. I would encourage you that if God is speaking to you about things He wants you to do (which I am sure that He is as He constantly is) then go after those things with all of your heart. It will take you to places and blessings that you never knew where possible.

That joy of the Lord in what I do is what keeps me loving being here in the hard times. We are currently in the rainy season and for a rainy season, it has been dryer than usual. However during the week of Thanksgiving it rained and it rained and it rained. Here the city floods rather quickly and these rains bring what are similar to snow days in the States, a day when school is cancelled, it is hard to get around and it is time to stay safe and warm in your house. Yes, it was cold, 70 degrees, which can be very cold with a lot of humidity and when your body system is acclimated to 90. I know you may be doubting, but really it can! So, sometimes those days can be a welcome time to hibernate and get things done at home. However, this week of rain, it was not as easy for me. The house I live in has had a problem with leaks and I am waiting for the landlord to fix them. But with the strong rains and winds many more leaks popped up and there were at least 20 all over. Hearing the drip, drip, drip in the buckets and repeatedly laying down and drying towels was my main activity of my days and into the nights mixed in with moving furniture. The first day I was doing fine, knowing that it would pass. But the the middle of the second day, it didn’t feel fine anymore and I was losing the perspective that it would actually ever pass. Well it did. We are dry now and I enjoy the house once again. But I am praying for resolve of the “rain in the house” problem.

I have two exciting things for the near future. We are planning on beginning classes to develop into a Center for Special Needs in the village of Porvenir. I have been working closely with a teacher there who will be participating. We will be using her classroom in the beginning but will be needing another space before too long. I know that God has the perfect place for us. 

We are also developing a Children’s Bible Study time that will coordinate with a feeding program in the same village. I am working with the coordinators of the feeding program and a local pastor there. What an opportunity to teach and share God’s love.

2014 is going to be a wonderful year in the things of God!

                                       How many towels does it take to catch all the drips? A lot!

The Kinder class wishing all a “Feliz Navidad”
“Merry Christmas”

But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God. Isaiah 50:23

Greetings to everyone! It’s national election day in Honduras. La Ceiba is the quietest that I have ever seen it. Elections are always held on Sundays here so people can travel to their villages and hometowns to vote. This is an important election for the country as there are some candidates and parties with very opposing views. So, we are pretty much lying low until the day is over and all is settled down. For me it has been a welcome peaceful day in the house to pray, be in God’s Word and get caught up on some things like …… writing a blog post.

We are closing down this school year here and have been busy with assessments and using those to plan for next year’s strategies. I’m a planner so I like this part. I would like to thank the precious ones that donated items that I brought back with me in October. I had posted a request in Facebook and several responded with markers, clothespins and matchbook cars. A big Thank you shout out to Pastors Mike and Linda Baskett from Church of the Living Word in Booneville, Indiana for all the egg cartons. This may seems like an odd collection of items, but they are being used to make learning activites for the students that are hands on and fun. First to teach the teachers how to use them. We like fun! And they do too!

This past week it was a joy for me to have Gloria Sloan and Rachel Rapha as guests. Gloria is a missionary here in Honduras however she travels all over Central America and is from El Salvador, Mexico and the States. Rachel is from Singapore. She has served in Korea, Africa, Indonesia, Nepal and the Mid-East and it seems that God is now sending her here to la Ceiba. Also in the picture above is Olguita Lainez, the pastor’s wife here and a dear friend. So, we had several cultures coming together and our fellowship was rich as our hearts were immediately joined in our love for serving Jesus.

This week as we approach Thanksgiving we are more conscious about a grateful spirit. I have been hearing of the freezing temperatures from home and honestly am very grateful for the 70/84 forecasts here. But a big part of my heart will be with my States Christian family on Thursday. I will be celebrating with several other missionaries about 1 1/2 hours up the mountain. Sometimes you see chicken here instead of turkey, but I am planning on Mary Applegate’s Pumpkin Mousse. My mouth is already watering. If you want some, come on down.

Included in the photo collage above is Milagros in her new shoes. I mentioned her in the last blog. She had not been able to go to school since she had no shoes and had a condition with her feet that required a certain kind of shoe. We bought those for her and she is doing wonderfully at school.

I love you and am so grateful that you a part of this ministry with me. The children in Honduras here are strong in God’s heart. We get to be His hands and help to them. If not us, then who? Please continue to pray for me here as I travel to other schools and work with the teachers and students. God is opening doors and I desire to walk in those paths prepared ahead by Him and be a vessel for His love and rescue.

Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!