Hello from “hot, sweet and sticky” Honduras. It is hot, the food is sweet, and between the hot weather and the sweet food it makes you sticky.  Reminds me of an old rock n roll song!  I am happy to report that my heavy heart has lightened.  As Lisa and I continue to experience all the changes that come with moving to another country, being surrounded by a different culture and our need to learn a new language, we are truly grateful for the one thing remains unchanging – our loving Father who is unchanging and forever faithful in His word and action.

As I reflect back on the emotions I have been going through as shared in my last Blog, the “detox of materialism” and the realization that I had wrongly placed an emphasis of who I was in my business, my career, my accomplishments, my things… self check,  it was a necessary experience, one, for me to truly realize that “we” as Christians should have our identity first and foremost in Him.  When we receive the Holy Spirit, His love becomes our love, His joy becomes our joy, His peace becomes our peace, and His strength becomes our strength, helping us always to be growing in likeness to Him who has called us.  Secondly, we needed to lighten our load in order to step out and understand that though God blessed us with “our things” for a season, there comes a time when He will ask something more of you and me.  It was a necessary response to let the “things” go that I was holding on to so that we could more tightly cling to Him.  God knows what is needed for the ministry in La Moskitia and He continues to provide for it.

Lisa and I have been surrounded by people who have been able to help us adapt here. Help with the residency process, help with the drivers licenses process, and help with the purchase of a Casa Del Camino ministry truck.  Even being blessed by folks Earl and Sharon who have a ministry here and are from Maple Valley! A sweet couple who have been here in Honduras since the mid ’80s and have come along side us, sharing what has worked and not worked in their experiences of working with the kids of Honduras.  They learned of CDC when Sharon was back in the states in August and had visited ACTION (our sending agency) and she saw our newsletter so after returning to Honduras they reached out to us.  God is faithful in bringing His people together, helping to support one another in every way.  We are continuing to learn the language though not speaking proficiently (yet) we are getting the conjugating of the verbs down and growing our vocabulary.  Asking for continued prayer with the language.

The truck purchase was an experience all in itself and began with a four-hour bus ride into San Pedro Sula at 4:30 am.  We were fortunate enough to have my spanish teacher Danny come along to help with the transaction and he had his girlfriend pick us up at the bus station as we arrived.  Alejandra was very sweet and drove us all around to look at the trucks.  First truck was supposed to be a  2006 F250 4×4 7.3 Diesel and instead a 2015 F150 4×4 V6 shows up! Apparently the other truck was sold 4 months prior.  As I’m explaining they should probably take down the old listing as that was not what they were selling, I had a chance to explain why we needed a rig of the sort we were looking for, and he told us he knew someone who had a big truck they were selling.  His buddy’s truck was a Dodge 2005 4×4 big Cummins Diesel with a four-inch lift.  When first looking at it I thought it was pretty cool but a little on the big side so we kept looking elsewhere.

After looking at multiple trucks with multiple issues, everything from no oil in the truck to people trying to sell trucks that weren’t theirs, we decided to go with the second 2005 F250, a truck that was owned by the bank and therefore required the transaction to take place at the bank.  This is where God stepped in again.  The bank was to close at 12 noon this day so we arrived at 11:35 to discover the bank decided to close at 11:30 instead of noon.  God’s way of letting me know this was not the truck.  As I began to feel this was a wasted trip, the first truck we looked at came back to mind, and the more I thought about it the more I began to see, this is exactly the kind of truck we will need in La Moskitia!  We called the owner back and he was happy to show the truck again. We began to negotiate and were able to agree on a price.   He had all the paper work notorized and we were able to complete the transaction effortlessly!  I must believe God is behind us getting this truck as it was not even on the radar –  the first truck we saw and after multiple issues with other trucks and a bank closing early!  I mean what bank have you ever heard of to close 30 minutes early?  God knows best, that is our story.

Tight truck, mechanically sound, big diesel has us ready for La Moskitia!

Next week we will be visiting the school and housing ministry Earl and Sharon began in the ’90s.  Looking forward to gleaning more from them their years of experience and insight they have in relation to the various situations that we are sure to face in the coming years. Photos and more to come.

CDC Update:  The construction of the home is winding down as the plumbing is finished.  We are waiting still for the door hardware to arrive (purchased and sent three weeks ago) so half of the doors can be installed with the remaining doors still needing to be purchased and made.  The outdoor kitchen and dining areas are progressing nicely also.

Lisa and I will be heading to La Moskitia to celebrate our 17th anniversary next weekend!  Time flies when you’re having fun! We will be lining up the remaining work to be done at the home before we arrive, with a projected arrival date on Lisa’s birthday, December 1.   Praying for the outdoor kitchen and eating area to be completed as well as the mission team rooms to be laid out with rough floors poured and beginnings of walls built before our arrival.  It is also time to begin with the transportation of the container from Seattle to Puerto Lempira – the cost of $5500.00 is needed and does not include the import tax of which we are uncertain of that amount.  God knows the details of this and we are resting in Him for the successful and smooth shipping of it all.

We give thanks to our God who lets us come to Him as He is our loving Father.  Thank you Jesus for saving me, thank you for your daily mercy and patience with me, thank you for the love and support both prayerfully and financially of the people you have chosen to join in and lift up the Casa Del Camino ministry.  We pray for each and every person reading this to be in continual surrender to You and your will for their lives God. As they do this Lord, may your Love, Joy, Peace and Strength be a visible sign to this world of the power that is in You – our mighty creator living in each of us. Amen!

I love you and am blessed to call you family, friend, brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for your continued prayer.

All for His glory,

Mike

 

 

Psalms 23:6 (HCSB) Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Lisa and I have been in Honduras for a month and we have continued to be full of joy and graditude due to our opportunity to be here. Praising God for all the pieces that needed to fall into place in order to get us here and the experiencing of all we continue to experience in this new culture. God has given us several new relationships that have been an encouragement to us. By being called we are free to rest in Him, as He tells us “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mathew 11:30).  Knowing, just as we were, and continue to be helped along by God’s chosen, we also, will be helping God’s chosen as we pour into the lives of La Moskitia kids helping them to understand their God-given potential, as an unlimited source of power and protection.

We continue to have class five days a week 8 am till noon with a half hour break at 10 am. We each have our own instructors and are in seperate classrooms. Lisa is doing very well with her English speaking instructor Ligia – they have built a strong relationship together.  I have been struggling a bit as they gave me an instructor who speaks zero English, and after 4 weeks I tapped out and requested a new instructor, as the frustration level was getting unbearable.   On Monday I will be getting a new instructor who will be able to speak some English – I’m more than excited.  Then, somewhere along the line the house mother/codirector of the school (Maria) decided she had a problem of some sort with Lisa, making it uncomfortable at best, until now where she is outright rude to both Lisa and me. God is working in us, patience, forgiveness and helping us to keep in mind the log in our own eyes.  I would ask for prayer concerning the softening of all of our hearts toward one another and reconcilliation.  Also prayer for Lisa and myself to be good students and to be a good reflection of the love of Christ who is in us. That we would be blessed with a gift of communication in Espanol, and for the Lord to continue strengthening us allowing us to be people that glorify Him in word and deed.

As you are probably sensing our time here hasn’t been without some struggle as I felt it necessary to find us different living arrangements after three weeks of very uncomfortable, almost hostile conditions in more ways than one.  A room that was unbearbly hot, on top of that the power was out many days for about 3 hours at a time with not even a fan to create some air flow – it was miserable, then the Lord stopped the flow of water in our bathroom for three days and with the personal tension, I’d had enough!  After many emails to the director of the school (Maria’s husband Manuel) we were refunded the amount owed for rent that we had prepaid. God then delivered us to a small two room unit including a kitchen, hot shower and a/c for less than the school was charging us. Thank you Jesus. The new landlords have also befriended us and they invited us to Geraldo’s (landlord) birthday party at their home outside the city.  On Sunday August 19, we spent the day hanging out with Geraldo, his wife Gladys and their family. Good food, good times, good fun. There was lots to talk with Geraldo about because he is a civil engineer and builder. Geraldo also has a friend with an aquaponics system farming tilapia and has offered to draw up plans for above ground fish pond. Again God putting all the resources needed at my disposal! Thank you Lord.

A couple of weekends ago we flew out to Puerto Lempira to check on the progress of the home. It is amazing!  All the windows have been completed, the floors have been finished and all the floor sealer has been purchased.  We have now started to make all the doors, and all of the plumbing for the home is about finished.   We have also started to layout the foundation plans for the outdoor kitchen and palapa for the dining hall where all the food prep and cooking will take place.  A large palapa off the kitchen is where we will share family style meals.  Additionally, we were also able to get a good idea of future plans for mission team quarters to be built under the home.

Over another weekend Lisa and I went to the island of Utila with two other students, a girl (Emily) from England and a Irish guy (Adrian). Nice break from school and we enjoyed sharing time with some other foreigners. I gather there is quite a bit of history between the Irish and the Brits due to all the off-the-cuff remarks that flew back and forth between the two.  We had a lot of fun.  I’m always saddened when we come across the lost, someone who for one reason or another is not willing or ready to put their hope in our loving God. Please pray for Adrian, very much the doubting Thomas.

In Utila we went diving and enjoyed an afternoon of snorkeling. Much needed time away from the school. The rest of our time we have been out and about in the city of La Ceiba, meeting people and trying to practice our Spanish.

 

It can be difficult at times as I now realize how much I enjoyed my career.  I reflect on how easy life was, having everything, needing nothing. I must remind myself of how much God has taken care of me my whole life. “If then, you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Luke 11:13 (HCSB).  Then I can’t help but feel peace knowing God will surely continue to provide for our lives here, as we look to Him for our every need. Believing that the only blessing that really matters is the one we receive when we put our trust and faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as payment for the sins of the world.

Thank you all for your support and faithful prayers. Please know we thank God for you and pray for you as well.

In Him,

Mike

 

Well if one has to travel mass distance this is the kind of travel day we all hope for, uneventful.  I did sit across from Brock Huard on the plane from Seattle to Houston,  and I was dieing to ask him if “he was a good person” LOL, but he mostly kept his hoodie pulled way down over his eyes the whole flight; I think he was trying to get some sleep.  As we were getting ready to disembark I was able to ask if he perhaps was traveling to announce a bowl game?  Sure enough he is covering the Sugar Bowl then proceeded to ask where we were going so I was able to quickly share how God has put it on our hearts to go and share His word and serve in an orphanage in Puerto Limpera.  Brock told me how he had a friend who also did that sort of thing and couldn’t understand how we can do it – having to put up with the conditions (weather, food, etc.) I then told him how Lisa and I feel every bit as blessed as we hope they feel blessed by our serving them and sharing in God’s love for them.  This timely experience, along with part of today’s reading about the “futility of fame and fortune” has once again affirmed God’s truths Ps. 39:7 “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?  My only hope is in you.” I have to say going on a trip with a loving, helping purpose in mind can be more satisfying and rewarding for me than most any other kind of trip.

Just a quick recap, from midnight on Monday to 4pm today we caught three planes  3080 miles in the air, 2995 miles of that was traveled at 35000′ and as smooth a ride you could ever ask for, we arrived safely and just finished having some great ceviche at our hotel.  Lisa is already asleep as it is very difficult to sleep on the plane or in an airport.  Big day tomorrow, we catch a morning flight and need to be at airport before 5am.  That should put us at Casa de Esperanza around 7:30 am.  Very excited to see everyone again we were last there in February ’15.

i have one more thing to share.  Someone very close to me shared a great word with me today,  Psalms 40:1-11.   As I looked at and read over these verses they spoke to me in a way that washed over me a feeling of gratitude and a feeling of being chosen by Him, and for Him.

Prayer requests, Asking for God to go before us make the way ready, soften hearts and to give us the words to build up and strengthen those who’s paths we cross. Amen.

Thanks again for reading and prayer. God Bless