Summer Teams

On Saturday, our summer, short-term team 'season' begins. I guess that means that the last month or so has been 'preseason'. We have been working together as a team to prepare to host 16 short-term teams this summer. It is a lot of work, but it is also a huge blessing.

Three years ago, Ashley and I came here on a short-term trip. I had no idea, when I got on the plane to come, that this would eventually be my future home. I had no idea that the Lord was preparing me to become a cross-cultural missionary. He used a week long trip to show me that this was His plan for my life. All of our teammates were a part of short-term trips before they became full-time missionaries as well. We all know the huge impact these trips had on each of our lives.

Now, as we prepare, we know that these trips can impact those who come and those who are here. We are ministered to by getting to know others that have the heart of sharing Christ and we are loved on by those whom we know that come. Also, the people of La Fe are about to see more attention from those who have more physically then they do. They will also see the love of Jesus manifested in new ways! We hope and trust this summer we are able to glorify our Creator by sharing His Truth.

Please pray that Ashley and I would enjoy this busier schedule and that we would constantly put our focus on our Savior. Pray also that God would teach us how to love and be humble and be patient with those who come and with the people of La Fe and with each other. Pray that we would remember our relationships with our Lord and with each other and that we would to continue to grow closer to Jesus in all aspects of our lives.

More Soccer!

On Saturday, I got to once again take a few boys from La Fe to an indoor soccer facility to play soccer. It was a lot of fun. I asked Hector, Arlington, and Christian to go and they all had a blast!

We met up with our teammates Mike P. and John and some kids from another community, Armenia Bonito. All in all, there were 18 of us. Three teams of six. We played ten minute games, with each team taking a turn on the sideline.

Telling the kids that Jesus is the only hope there is.

After the first hour of playing, we took a break and I was able to share the Gospel with the group! It was a fun chance for me to interact with the kids in Spanish and challenge them to think about things that are more important than school and soccer. After our break, we played for another hour. The kids had so much fun. today I saw Hector in La Fe and he was still smiling ear to ear!

 At the same time as we were playing, the Final of the Champions League was being played. It was a game I had wished to watch, but instead got to hear through the cheers from the rest of the people that were watching on the tv just off the field we were playing on. Soccer is such a big deal, but we are hoping to show, through word and deed, that a relationship with Jesus Christ is more important.

Church Without Electricity

The church we have been attending in La Ceiba has its main services on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon and evening. We usually go in the afternoon on Sunday. They also have a Wednesday night service. This week we decided to go to this service especially because they were going to announce the engagement of a good friend after the service. 

It turned out to be a really neat service because the power went out just before the service started. The music part of the service is always loud with a full band and lights and everything, so this was kind of a big deal. It, however, did not stop everyone to singing to our Savior! I think it actually brought about a special time of worship that was different than normal. We sang songs with just an acoustic guitar. It was really cool to see and hear God's people sing to Him in the dark and without all the extra music. 

One of the songs was newer to me, so I did not know the words, but I was able to talk to God in my own way and listen to the sweet sound of music in a different language. Another of the songs I did know, which was fun because I could sing out as well. 

Sometimes less is more and sometimes we need to strip some things away to see what is real and true. I am so thankful we went to the service and that I was able to worship my Father in this way. The lights did come back on and we were able to see and hear normally the message and the announcement of our friend's engagement!

Truck!

Our ministry here in La Ceiba, Honduras has been richly blessed with the addition of a truck! We had funds donated to us and have found exactly what we were looking for and need for our ministry as well as daily activities!

We have been here almost 5 months and have been getting around by walking, using taxis, and bumming rides from our awesome teammates. That (for the most part) is now finished since the Lord provided us with this used Nissan pick-up that just so happens to be red - just like almost every other vehicle on our team.

We want to say a huge THANK YOU to our supporting churches that gifted us the money to be able to buy this truck. It is a huge blessing to us and will help the Lord's work in La Fe and in La Ceiba!

The new (to us) truck in its new parking spot.

Even Ritmo (our puppy) likes it!

God has provided this gift at just the right time - the first of our summer teams comes in just 4 short weeks! The truck will get quite a work-out hauling all of the short-term missionaries that will come this summer.