EBV (VBS)

Whew! We finished VBS tonight! After a crazy morning of running errands and eating lunch in the car to get to the church on time for our worker's meeting before VBS, we made it right at 1 and set to work on final details for today. We had VBS as normal, but afterwards, we brought all the kids in and practiced for the Parents' Program. During the Progama del Padres tonight, the kids sang the songs they learned this week and shared some of what they learned during teaching time. There was also a short time where Pastor Sam shared the Gospel with all the parents. Afterwards we gave out gift boxes to pretty much every child that came, giving priority to those that had received diplomas for attending all 5 days. 

This is Carmen and Marjorie. They were in the class I taught and helped with. During their snack time towards the end of VBS the last two days they have been constantly by my side talking to me and asking questions. Such sweet girls. I can tell my Spanish is improving by the fact I can hold decent conversations with so many of the kids. And also, I'm thankful because I was able to teach the lesson all in Spanish one day this week and have been leading the class in learning verses, reviewing the lessons and such on my own.  

 A picture of all of the kids practicing for our Parent's Program. What a blessing to be a part of this VBS here and seeing so many kids here the Gospel several times. The seeds have been planted in many hearts this week.

Honduras Happenings

Lots going on here the last few days...

Friday was our youth rally - we had about 168 youth from 5 different churches in attendance! I helped with running some of the games and then the group from Florida had some special music and their youth pastor preached. They are here until this Friday and have done a couple puppet shows for the kids at VBS and are helping wherever is needed.   

 Sunday, one boy was baptized.

 We had about 103 kids Monday at VBS and today were at 130 or so. I counted 51 in the oldest class where I am helping. We said kids could come up to 11 years old, but the class also has some that at 12-15 years old and have come. Today after Hermana Maria taught the lesson, I worked on reviewing the songs with them - both singing and then asking them what the one song meant when it said we will win  victory with Christ. We had a good talk then about Christ and how we are sinners and need Him as our Savior. That was a stretch to my Spanish skills - all on the spot. I hadn't planned ahead of time what songs we would do or that I would be asking what the song meant.

Tomorrow I will be teaching the lesson - wouldn't you know it's on Naomi and Ruth! Pray for me to have the words (I know it well in English, but teaching in Spanish is another story) and for the children here to be learning from the lessons.

 This is Angie and I. She is Mrs. Conover's niece.

More VBS preparations

This is Hector, our ant. He used to be Oscar la Ormiga, but everyone was aghast at the fact that Pastor Sam had actually written "Ormiga" instead of "Hormiga" so they asked me to repaint new wording for our lovely ant. Since Hector was one of the ones saying about the missing "h," we thought it would be fun to rename the ant to Hector, just for him. 

 Here's a picture of the inside of the church. Hoping to feel these pews up with tons of kids next week for EBV (VBS)!

 Wednesday's task was to finish painting this sign and get it put up at the church.

San Marcos trip and other ponderings...

We left at 7:30 this morning for San Marcos of Santa Barbara. I did my demographic survey there, so we learned a lot about the town and people there. It is a poor town, but many are poorer. Pastor Sam said you know it's a small town when asking directions consists of finding out where the pavement begins. We also checked up on the farm for Hermano Carlos. It is also a possible sight for a camp in the future. My but it was an adventure getting there - crossing a creek and several mud puddles. No doubt about it, if I end up living in Latin America someday, I most definitely will have to break down and get a 4 wheel drive vehicle. No little car would ever survive the roads and floods!

Something I was struck by again while in San Marcos was the hospitality of the people. A lady who'd never met us before welcomed us to her house with the words "mi casa es tu casa" (my house is your house). And the pastor of the Baptist church there told us much about the place. His church is 80% women and 20% men. Oh for more men interested in serving the Lord! 

Catholicism is dominant there, although we met Mormons and JWs today as well. Speaking of Catholicism, tonight I saw a parade from the Catholic church here in San Pedro Sula. So many walking down the road with a statue of Mary singing "ya alegres los catolicos" about how happy the Catholics are and they joy they have. It was an interesting and sad sight to me. To see so many from tiny children to adults following on in this parade believing they have true religion when false teaching casts a pall over them and leaves them in spiritual darkness. I have been reading a little Spanish booklet by a Catholic priest who read the Bible and how God brought him to the light. What gets me is how he said in his testimony that they are taught (even the sacerdotes) that they cannot understand the Bible. It is sin to try to interpret the Bible on your own, so while they have Bibles and the people are allowed to read it, the vast majority do not at all. There is no point to read a book you are told that you cannot understand. And in this way, the people are left depending on the church and the interpretation of the priests, bishops, and pope. And in this way, Satan keeps so many from finding the truth. Oh how I want them to know the truth that gives true joy. I don't know what joy they were singing about having in the Catholic church tonight, but it's not true joy, the kind Jesus gives.   

Tuesday's trip

Tuesday we went to Melgar and visited a pastor. Then he went with us to visit an orphanage!

 Here is a picture of Joy and I - the 3 of us rode in the back of the truck on the last bit o the trip home. Since there isn't a law that we knew of against kids riding in the back, they were allowed back there sitting down with me the whole time. We had a good time and sang a lot of hymns and songs while we rode.

Saturday's Project

VBS DECORATIONS!!!

We are using the same theme (Bug Zone) as they are using back home in Huntingdon for VBS, so these lovely insects will be some of our decorations for the church. 

Lessons from the trip to Choloma

         Yesterday after meeting up with a native pastor and his wife in Choloma, Pastor Sam taught me a few more things about ministering and living in the Honduran culture. First of all, did you know you can learn a lot about a people by their driving? Well, I certainly am. Central is a selfish attitude. "I am the only person on the road" is the mentality. This means very little precaution for what your driving might mean for others on the road. And if I want to stop in the middle of the road and jump out to buy some fruit quickly, others just have to wait. Wow! And parking so close to another person so that they can't get out of the parking space they are in? (If you want to go to Latin America, be thankful for all those parallel parking lessons to get your license!)And driving on the sidewalk. Pastor Sam told me I'm not official until I've driven up on the sidewalk to get around other cars as the Hondurans do here.

        1 Chronicles 16:35-36 - For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

  But it was what he said about his talks with a Catholic lawyer that really got me thinking. They've been meeting, and he's been answering questions the man has. Well, he told me that one day, they met in the food court in the mall where the guy's office is, and the last half of the meal, the guy's phone was going off every two minutes and one time he even said he had to go work on something in the office quickly and was gone for 20 minutes. I voiced my thoughts aloud. "They just need to turn off the cell phones, right?" Mrs. Conover said no, and Pastor Sam explained. Here, being always "on call" means you are a good worker and dedicated to your job. And if you are available 24/7, you have the chance of making more money. To turn off one's cell phone would be unthinkable. Always on call for the world. Then he began commenting how money is the god here. Church and God are not the first priority; they are just something to be fit into the schedule around work. Work and money is the god, and education is a close second. Pastor Sam mentioned about how people bring homework to church and work on it during the service, or they even skip church because of homework. And when this happens, money or education has just become your/my idol. So the question is: in my life, in your life, does God have first place? Is God really God of my life? I read in my Bible 1 Chronicles 16:25-26 last night, and it was amazing how these verses (above)  fit so well with what I'd already been thinking on. The gods of this world are idols. Vain, useless. But the LORD. He is God, my Creator, and He deserves first place in my life. Actually He deserves more than that, but knowing we are but frail human beings, He only asks us to give our all, to give our best to Him. So, where is He in my life? In your life?

Pictures :)

This is Hermano Edu Gutierrez. I believe he is one of the deacons at Faro de Luz and preaches regularly (I think both at Faro de Luz and Fuente, the downtown work). The front of Faro de Luz. Such a wonderful church. The singing is always a blessing - everyone singing out their very best in worship. And the special music is normally done by different families in the church. Whole families come up and sing together. We hiked to the Coca Cola sign this morning. I think it took us 1 1/2 hours to get to the top with a couple rest breaks for the girls. I think I got my work out too, because I carried Aida for a while when she was sore and after she fell the one time. (She wanted to hold the dog's leash, but he took off when a runner came by and she was knocked down). It's a nice hike - mainly paved road - and there's a beautiful view of the city from the top.

a trip to Cofradia

Sunday 3/6/12 Something I am learning is that it is very important to be prepared for anything and be flexible if you want to be a missionary. Case in point, Saturday. In the afternoon I changed houses (to the house I will stay with at nights for the rest of my time here). Saturday evening we all went to Cofradia to attend the anniversary service of another church. This town is 35-45 minutes away. The daily rain began right after we got into the car and started trying to find our way back to the main road. After some exploration, we finally found paved roads and made it to the street we needed to head back towards SPS. However the heavy rain and fog slowed us down, so it took double the time to get back than it should have. I was thankful that both girls fell asleep on me in the car with it being so late and all. After dropping off another hermano that rode with us, it was too late to take me to my new house (I don't have keys to that house yet) so they decided I'd stay at the Conovers' house overnight. Gracias a Dios, I had decided to put my toothbrush in my bag, so at least I had that! Hermana Maria gave me clothes to sleep in, so I was set. Thankfully they were able to take me over to my new house in the morning before church though. But I'm learning I can be very flexible if I need to be. I also learned we are ever spoiled in the US to have most roads with painted lines and street lights. It was especially noted Saturday night during the rain and fog over the mountains... And, if there are lines on the road, it doesn't mean anything. A two lane road here can mean at least 3 lanes, and you never know when a motorcycle or bike is going to be riding in between the cars. Oh, and the police do not enforce any type of speed limit, so have fun!