A bitter-sweet feeling fills me.  God is doing so many things down here; He is helping me and allowing me to develop strong relationships to build on, much work is being accomplished, and I enjoy the many challenges.  I am grateful and blessed for God to have chosen and called me into La Moskitia. This place is pulling on me, easy by no means and somewhat unforgiving.  I have heard it referred to as “raw beauty” and I feel that sums it up perfectly.  So much to do and so few years to do it!  I miss the men and the mission development as I left Puerto Lempira this morning.  But this means that I will be with Lisa in about 24 more hours.  What a great feeling it is knowing I will be with my best friend very soon.  Oh how I’ve missed her, and even though we talk daily there is much to catch up on.  The time I spend down here without Lisa is quite lonely, and nothing or no one can fill the void felt when I’m away from her, no matter how busy or how many kids I have hanging on my shirt tails, nothing is like my Lisa.

On Wednesday the 22nd, I got up and rode to the property to meet the well man at 6:00am – praying he would be there, but he was not.  After several calls to our friend Osiris, the well man arrived at 9:40am!  We spoke briefly with Chuck as my interpreter.  The well man then began to clean out the existing well, that was dug long ago. (This was our plan initially, although the well guy had said it was easier to drill a new well, instead of cleaning out the existing one.)   As they began to clean out the bottom of the (old) well, they discovered it to be muddy and therefore had to remove the mud as solid ground is needed to begin the drilling.  They removed mud until around 4:30 pm. The well man explained to me the reason he doesn’t like to do this kind of work is that “it is difficult and dangerous” as wells have been known to collapse – but he said he is willing to get this done for the boys (and for the money too, I’m sure).

Elsewhere on the property men were laying block in preparation for a level concrete floor to be poured in the bathroom and pila areas, while Winsis and Herman were busy locating the heights of the house columns in order to have the house floor level with the existing bathroom roof.  Still other workers continued to pick up garbage around the property as it is a work zone that had gotten out of control.  As you can see by the pictures it was a beautiful day (early on).

Picture above top left shows the height of a house column to be 14′ then it will have a 12″ concrete beam poured on top of that and a 4″ floor on top of that making the floor height from ground approximately 15′.

At 2pm I called it a day and started to prepare for a BBQ for the crew in gratitude – I told the workers and their families to come have a party at the property as my thanks to them for continuing such good work.  Unfortunately by 4pm the clouds had closed in and the wind was blowing 25 mph with a slight rain.  Humbling.  We had been just talking about how perfect it was for a party and now lets see how I handle this set back with the weather…

I decided to send Chuck to the store to buy a plastic/tarp in order to make a wind break with the trees, and along with some of the form wood we managed to build an impromptu kitchen.  I had planned for 50 people and despite the weather over 75 people came!  We had grilled chicken, Chinese fried rice, chop-suey, ensalada, bread and watermelon.  The neighbors came, Alex and Laura of Instituto Vida Abundante came, Linda from Mama Tara’s came, Cenia and her husband Jose and son Cheldon came, Walter came, Pastor Ludy and his family, and all the workers and their families including the well guys.  Everyone had plenty to eat, the workers had seconds, and I even sent chop-suey home with Alex, Chuck took some Chinese rice home, and I had four left over watermelons!  Notice I planned to feed 50 and we sent people home with food after feeding 75+!! Kinda reminds me of a bible story.  BBQ for Gratitude Video

(1 Thessalonians 5:18) “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God Christ Jesus for you.” 

Between the loneliness, the issues with finding a good water source and then the storm of the trip hitting the hour of the fiesta, I am feeling God plying me.  I only pray to see God glorified, serving His people and doing what it took to get them fed.  Many came and thanked me telling how they enjoyed it.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us “Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Three of the boys we’ve been watching grow up, below left to right: Arnold, Jerbin and Marco

If you are interested in receiving our newsletter that goes out in the US mail every two or three months please give us your mailing address by contacting us at our email: mike.lisa.brenner@actionintl.org

Please continue praying for preparation of the boys who God will bring to Casa Del Camino and for the well to be completed.  Many thanks and may God bless you.

~Mike

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

I find myself holding on to those two particular verses as I “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We are certainly finding much to be thankful for as the well tower is completed, standing on her own! Praise God. A garbage burn pit has been built, thank you God.  The plumbing has been laid for the water tanks, pila and bathroom.  Thank you Lord.  The forms have all been de-nailed and stacked, way more work than I would have ever thought.  Thank you God. Eight of 32 footings for the house have been poured and rebar placed, along with four wooden forms being built for the house columns.  It is an amazing rush to see the actual home going up.  Thank you God for this vision.  Being blessed to see this group of eight men growing in their faith with our friend, Pastor Ludy Washington coming to the property every  Mon.-Fri. mornings from 7am-8am for bible study/scripture reading and the guys attending his house church every Sunday afternoon.  I am excited to see how these guys building Casa Del Camino could become role models for some of the boys hanging around possibly sharing some of their skills? Thank you Jesus. Pastor Ludy came and spent a couple days weed eating the property at Casa Del Camino from its tall grass. Much appreciated, thank you Lord.  Majority of the pila is underway, and really coming together.  God is good.

Our “wan luma uplika” (“neighbor”in Miskito), Sandosin and his six sisters were all involved in delivering sand and gravel by “Kyuko” (canoe) to our property.   Sandosin’s family is the original holder of our property and they have much land in the area along with the sand/gravel business.  Because of our proximity to their business we save about L200 per load (roughly $10) because they deliver by boat, not truck.  Thank you sovereign Lord.  Sandosin and his brother Luciano are just rock solid, carrying 5 gal. buckets of rock all day long, I also hired them to plant the 23 coconut trees that Cenia gave us, as they know the secret mixture of dirt, black sand, salt, and fish eggs plus other stuff I knew nothing of!  They dig the holes with shovels – oh yeah, and bare foot!  I thought I was tough, what a sissy! LOL!!😂 Thank you God for good neighbors, for Cenia’s generosity and that slice of humble pie.😉

I can’t help but feel a true spiritual battle taking shape around the well issues. Praying for God to come through with lots of fresh, clean, drinking water for this home tomorrow (Wednesday Feb.22) as the well man has had multiple excuses for not showing up, asking for money to continue though not getting it.  I’m doing my best to remain positive in this most discouraging situation.  I am praying to be showing the hope of Christ that is in me, and praying for God’s miraculous ability to come fourth in the 11th hour! What an incredible gift that would be for us all to profoundly witness His faithfulness.  Stay tuned! Sure to be good.

It’s late at night and I’m finding difficulties in getting on my blog site as the internet is quite slow and I need to wait until everyone is off, then racing the generator, as they usually shut that off sometime around 2:30-3am? When all the power is out, all servers are down as well. I will be meeting the well man at the property at 6am. Please pray for the well.  I will be doing another blog on my way out of Puerto Lempira, keeping you apprised of what happens on my last day in La Moskitia.

Glory be to God. 

Mike

“You will keep him in perfect peace, who’s mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3) 

I am happy to report all the concrete work for the well tower is done at Casa Del Camino! Monday we will begin plumbing the bathroom as well as building a burn pit for our other waste. Looking ahead, I plan on starting house columns Wednesday or Thursday the 15, 16th February. Picture below: Guys tying rebar for water tank pad, looking West, NW

Chuck tying some tank tie downs he manufactured – notice the galvanized pipe used for ladder anchor. Next preparing to mix concrete, that is four, one hundred pound bags of cement mixed with four wheelbarrows of sand, four wheelbarrows rock, per 100# bag cement.  It took 5 1/2 bags cement to cast the top pad.  Next picture shows bucketing cement up to the final section, lifted by rope and as you can see those buckets were full!  Last picture showing Winsis doing final bit of trowel work. We’ll show finished product tomorrow. 👍🏻

More good news to the glory of God – Pastor Ludy is continuing to minister to the men before work each day. I am feeling led to give a supplement and am praying about that amount. (1 Cor. 9:14) says, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” We will definitely have Pastor Ludy worked into our ministry budget when he comes to Casa Del Camino to teach bible study to our boys.On another, bit more sobering note, we need much prayer over the well as they were able to drill down 57’in two days then hit rock. They spent the next four days trying to break through only to break equipment – first the bits then the coupling that attaches bits to the transmission. (Below): Picture removing ruined threads from coupling and broke bits.

We ended up trying to see what water would be produced from where we were at 57 feet, and found it not to be sufficient. They will be relocating the drilling equipment on Monday and try again. I am confident in God meeting our need for much clean, fresh water for Casa Del Camino and the boys we will be serving. We are seeking God’s work, prayerfully doing it in God’s way, to serve God’s people, for the glory of God. This is how I know He will provide much clean, fresh drinking water on this property, also we read in 2 Cor.

2 Corinthians 9:8                                                                                                

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiently in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

I feel that if we would have just drilled down 75′ in one or two days and hit water easily, it may not be seen as the muraculous gift from God that it is, as we will  through this experience of struggles and trial.

I want to share a couple more pictures that may help to see what a different world it is here.  For example one of the men’s bicycle handlebars rusted through the other day and you can’t just order Amazon to be delivered next day- so they made a set out of scraps.  (Below/Bottom pic) From the job-site also you will see locals paddle by in their kyukos (Miskito for “boat”) like our neighbors at home driving by in Range Rovers heading to store for milk and eggs. What a difference there is in the world.

Grateful for this calling, and to be able to share with you all. Please continue in your prayer and support as there is much work to yet be done. All glory and praise to our God and Heavenly Father.  ~ Peace ~ Mike

Hello y’all, I’m trying to start writing this first thing in the morning because I am having difficulties finding a quiet time as the need here is great; there seems to never be enough time. First I would like to ask for prayer over this place, Puerto Lempira, over my time management skills and for the boys God is working in, and also those He will yet reach and change.

Pictures below: Jerbin gathering coconuts, Marco and Jerbin enjoying frozen fresco on a hot day.

A boy’s home where they find joy, acceptance, encouragement, support, protection, purpose, identity and rest.

Through conversation with our friend, Walter, I was able to locate our common friend and Miskito Pastor, Ludy Washington. Ludy is who we first came down here to serve along side in 2012 with medical clinics and church building projects in remote villages outside Puerto Lempira – and for each of the following three years we continued serving with him. Pastor Ludy’s heart is to reach his people with God’s Word and the free gift of salvation that comes with it.  Approximately two thirds of the Miskito people live in NE Nicaragua, making it a logical choice for Ludy to move there, but God had other plans and has closed some doors and opened others.  Because of this Ludy has changed his plans and decided to move his family to PL and to grow the church here.  We are praising God for bringing another great resourse to this area that will surely help grow our Lord’s kingdom, not to mention the blessings he will provide us and the boys at Casa Del Camino.

Below are a few pics of our first gathering for service and worship at Pastor Ludy’s house this past Sunday.  Four of the work crew came and four of the local boys I’ve been ministering to also joined in. Picture (below left) is of Pastor Ludy and then from left to right – Pastor Roberto, our freind and translator Walter, our crew foreman Chuck, Herman and Ebenor fondly referred to as Romeo.

Work is progressing nicely on the well tower as today they were able to finish the top beams, leaving only the top pad to be formed, rebar placed and tied and concrete poured. Tomorrow, Thursday the 8th we should be able to build forms in place, and Friday we will place and tie all rebar and on our half day Saturday, we will pour the last of the concrete for the tower construction. All God willing of course.

The well is also coming along, getting close to having all the drilling done.  I am very excited to see fresh, clean water come out of the ground.  Still waiting for materials I purchased in Ceiba to be delivered.  The boat was in and was off-loaded on Monday, I also was sure to go and pay shipping charges straight away to ensure a timely delivery. Like any third world country they seem to operate on a different clock – I was told materials would be delivered Monday afternoon or Tuesday at the latest, tomorrow is Thursday and we’re still waiting. I’m quite certain this is part of my training and I have to say it is getting a bit easier when I put things in the correct perspective of who’s really in charge, and let go of wanting to be in control.

I am learning that this culture is blessed to be poor, for the poor shall inherit the earth, but they also look at the gringo Christian as being here to give them monies and to help them in all their need.  I feel that desire, the desire to help many and then again, just like home, I realize giving money to beggars isn’t always the best answer yet it can be difficult to say “no.” We will need to remain focused on our particular ministry in order to do it well, and God willing that will help to perpetuate a love for our Lord and a desire to follow Him by those with whom we interact.

Thank you all for reading and like the beggars continually begging to be given something, I too am a beggar of Christ constantly praying and asking for Him to “do this” or “provide that” and definitely to “forgive me for this and forgive me for that.” I am grateful for His mercy and consistent grace, surely answering all my prayers.  I give our Heavenly Father praise and thanks for each of you reading this, for praying over this ministry and for your giving that helps to support what God is accomplishing through this ministry.  Your brother and friend in Christ ~ Mike

As you may or may not know, I left Monday night (Jan. 30th) on a red-eye arriving in Houston Tuesday morning just in time for sunrise.  I transferred onto a smaller plane, to San Pedro Sula, Honduras and went through customs, then to exchange monies which is always exciting -bartering for a fair rate; then transferred to an even smaller plane, a twin prop jet stream 3100. The 3100 carries 21 passengers including the two pilots and it took me to La Ceiba where I got a room after 15 hours travel time. God willing, the flight into La Ceiba is always scheduled to land at 3:30 pm, which allowed me to get checked into a room and make it across town to Ferrecomsa (building materials store) that is open till 5 pm.  Once there I bought needed supplies to be shipped via boat to Puerto Lempira – a three or four day journey depending on weather.  The two passenger flights daily from La Ceiba to Puerto Lempira are both early morning flights so I was back at the airport by 5am on Wed. Feb. 1st.  The picture above is what it’s like as you disembark the smallest plane of the four leg flight, and it only holds 17 including the two pilots.  You must be remote when they drive up to top off the aircraft fuel with the fuel truck towing the luggage cart all while you’re mulling around.

I arrived into PL safely, minus one of my bags. I’ve come to realize your bags don’t always arrive when you do, (but I’m thankful that it did come later). I was glad to see Chuck our project forman who was there to greet me at the airstrip.  We then went to the hotel I normally stay at (Yu Biwan) which is “sunrise” in Miskito.  At that point I was met by our other friend and Director of IVA, Alex, who had kindly brought my bicycle to me, my mode of transportation while working here.  Thankfully I had the foresight to ask another one of our friends, Osiris to reserve a room for me because the hotel was full and since check out wasn’t till 10 am, I asked to leave my one piece of luggage at the desk and headed to the property with Spanish study bibles in hand for each of the property workmen.

Pictures below of the Houston sunrise, our friendly security at Ferrecomsa, and the guys building forms to hold rebar and concrete for the well tower.

The first week was spent tying much rebar, building forms and pouring concrete for the well tower, all with two of my closest allies hanging from my shirt tails.

Picture below of Marco and Jerbin, two of my closest amigosOn Friday they began drilling the well.  A BIG thank you goes out to our church, Highlands Community Church for coming along side us, as well as to all our supporters who have helped immensely in making this well project happen!  We are continuing to pray for good clean water and asking for God to pour out His blessings upon each one of you for partnering with us, as it could not be done without your support -both in finance and prayer.  Please continue to pray for good clean water to be reached.

Only yesterday, Saturday the 4th, was I able to track down and purchase a different SIM card for my phone along with some internet. Thanking God for helping me resolve this issue as I had begun to feel quite defeated not being able to share His work that is happening down here.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in everything for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus” It is easy for me to feel as though this would be possible, I know I love the Lord, and I am certain He loves me, and still I am finding these soft areas in my life where I see much work to be done. I am still accustomed to my creature comforts; it’s part of the blessing or a curse that comes with being a gringo in the United States. Anyone can thank God after the prayer is answered it’s the giving of thanks for the trial while your struggling that I feel God stretching me, all the while strengthening and growing my faith. In this I am truly grateful.

Asking for prayer over the work men and their families, and the boys as they come to know our great Lord and Savior; for the work to continue safely and mostly for God to be glorified in my words and actions with the Honduran peoples. Thank you for reading and thank you for joining me in prayer, may you too be blessed. ~Mike