Yesterday was such an amazing day!! First we went evangelizing and I got to talk to so many kids and people, the people hear just love talking to you about Jesus. Sometimes when we are talking to other people others will be interested and start to listen or stand there and wait for us to talk to them its really cool how they want to see what we are talking about and are so receptive. Ida and I got to  talk to so many, once the day was over we realized we had 27 confessions of faith. We had one young man that didn’t want to receive Christ so we just tried to encourage him and we gave him a bible, tract and Christian book. So please be praying for his heart.

Later in the day we had a 2 hour VBS for kids. We had so many that came and they seemed so excited to be there !! While the bible story was going on I got to hold this little girl and she ended up falling asleep on my shoulder it was so sweet. Some of you know how much I love babies so this was so precious to me. Then outside, Wes and I got to lead games, we did some relay races where they sent frisbees down the line to see who was fastest. Then we did duck, duck, goose they loved it and some of them had never played it. I ended up sitting by a little girl I had witnessed to that morning she ended up giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek when we left. It was so cool!!

Last night we went to a worship service. The spirit was so moving and they turned the lights out while we sang songs and just lights were on the stage, the worship service was so awesome and humbling. Then Ida, Beth and I sang “You are God Alone”, I told the people to worship with us in Spanish even though we were singing in English. Eric gave his testimony it was really moving. Rich’s sermon was also very awesome afterwards we had an invitation and a few people came up. One was a woman we had talked to that morning and she had been hurting in the back and neck, Ida and I just laid hands on her and prayed for her in English even though she couldn’t understand us she still prayed to the heavens and worshipped God. You could truly feel the Holy Spirit moving in that place. Afterwards our interpreter who name is Gerson (Harrison it makes me think of you because he says it that way!!) said that the woman said that the woman said she was healed, that made me so happy.

Well now we are getting ready to drive an hour up into the mountains where it is a little cooler than where we are now. We are going to evangelize, do a skit (fiesta) and a church service we are taking lunch with us and won’t be back until dinner. So pray for us today as we go out!! Love you all and thanks for all the wonderful comments!!

In Christ,

Stephanie

Share on Facebook

Wow! God has done so many amazing things so far. And I cannot believe we’re already 4 days in. It is all passing by too fast! There is so much that I have already experienced God do in the lives of the people in Honduras and in mine. Way too much to share! We have already experienced 66 salvations in only 5 hours of door-to-door evangelism!!!! I’ve been in the most humbling worship services. I’ve seen 8 people baptized in one service. Been a part of a church’s Communion. And attempted to speak some Spanish!

I could go on and on, but one simple thing that has stuck out to me is how beautiful God’s creation is here. The mountains here are simply breathtaking. And in actuality, the creation and scenery in our own hometowns are just as beautiful. But how often do we actually take the time to enjoy God’s creation and worship Him through it? I took this picture from a bell tower we were able to climb. In these moments I feel so small in God’s presence. His power amazes me.

God is moving so much. I don’t want the trip to pass by too fast, but I cannot wait to see what God is going to do tomorrow!

Share on Facebook

Today was another great day. I ‘m sad that it is already half way over. There is so much to talk about that I do not know where to start. We went out door to door this morning. This has never been something that I was comfortable with doing even though I was willing. This week has opened my eyes and I have a new found courage to share God’s word. The more you do it the easier it is.  This week has tought me that even though doing cards and making phone calls at GROW is great,door to door is truely an awesome expirence in it’s self. It is going to be much easier and I will no longer be so relunctant to go.

We did a VBS with the children today and it was greater than I could have imagined. Adam lead the bible story as the rest of the group acted out the story. we sang songs with the children and played games we had about 130-140 kids. at one point we played a game and we had enough children that when they lined up they filled the room from wall to wall it was truely amazing. Tonight we had one of the best worship services yet. Rich had a wonderful service and it is so amazing to know and see that our God is their God even when we can’t speak the same language. Attiendance was not high tonight due to the wheather,there was probably only 20-30 people excluding us but that place was alive. When we worshiped through singing the noise was louder than our church packed to capacity, at one point we were singing “Here I am to worship” in spanish and without even realizing it Amy and I were singing along with them in spanish. the work that God has done here is unbelieveable and this has been a trip that has truely touched my heat and changed my heart forever. God is truely amazing.

Share on Facebook

Worship was awesome tonight! This church had less people attending than the others but they were very passionate, loud, and demonstrative in their praise to the Lord. We did have electricity and we did sing You Are God Alone. The neat thing was a lady who we had prayed for during evangelism time attended the service. We prayed that God would heal her back/neck pain earlier in the day. The lady went forward and prayed at the end of the service. Stephanie and I went to pray with her. We found out that she had no more pain after we had left! Praise be to God for His healing hand!

Share on Facebook

This morning we went out evangelizingng. I went out with Wes and Eric and our interpretor, Jasmine. I got to share the message of Jesus with 5 kids at one time and all of them accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Eric and Wes were talking to their father who was a Jehovah’s Witness.

We had a VBS session this afternoon and we were only expecting 30-40 kids and 130-140 kids showed up.

One of the things that we did was we taught the children to play duck, duck, goose (pato, pato, gonzo) and they had never heard of that game before. They liked the game, but I have never seen a game of duck, duck, goose turn to violence. Two young boys got into a scuffle when one tripped the other while he was trying to catch the goose. The other, even though he was smaller, decided to hit the other kid. We had to seperate them, but this is what happens when you have someone who is not a Christian playing a game and wanting to win.

We still have to go to church tonight sI have to get ready.

Share on Facebook

This morning we loaded our backpacks with Bibles, Christian books, stuffed animals, and candy. We started out going from house to house. Eventually there was so many people in the street that we just witnessed to people in the road. Stephanie and I were a team. Whew! What a spiritual workout. We took turns witnessing and between the two of us 27 people accepted Jesus. It seems so surreal to see so many people accept Christ. I pray they are all planted on good soil. After lunch, we held a 2 hour VBS. We did a drama with the Bible story that Adam presented. I was one of the disciples in the boat when Jesus was walking on water. Totally fun! Then I was in charge later of the preschoolers who colored. They are so sweet. They talked to me but I couldn’t understand them. My interpreter had already left me. So I smiled, clapped my hands, and gave them the thumbs up when they would show me their work.

Now I am waiting for church to start. Beth, Stephanie and I were supposed to sing a song tonight but we hear they have no electricity, so we will do it tomorrow night. I’ll have to take my flashlight to church.  🙂

Share on Facebook

When we hear this, most of us think of the prayer we learned as a child for meal time, but let me tell you  there is a totally different meaning to these words.  I have yet to post since we arrived, so bear with me this will be long…

Since we have been here, we have been blessed with so many different things.  The first service we led on Sunday had a Baptism (in a portable  pool in their building).  There was also a family from Switzerland that is living in Comayagua for his work and his parents and grandmother had been visiting.  So Pastor Mario had them speak to the church.  We heard them speak in German, the son translated it to Spanish and then Jasmine interpreted it into English.  The son was one of those that were baptized.  Then Sunday evening we went to the CCI church and they had Communion.  We were able to participate, and what a joy that was.  Both the Baptism and Communion are not done every service.  Isn’t it amazing how great God is, to have these events for the services we were at.  Monday took us to the streets in the morning.  We divided into 3 groups for evangelism with Pastor Mao’s church.  We saw a total of 21 salvations professed, every team had at least one.  Monday afternoon we went to the Hospital.  We took stuffed animals for the children, Purse filled with goodies for the women and hats for the men, and of course candy for all.  It was definitely a step up from the Hospital Rich and I visited in Choluteca in 2008, but the others on the trip still felt the impact of their misfortune and our appreciation for the Hospitals in the USA.  Then we had our “free time”.  This was a little strange for Rich and I as last time we did not have “free time” until the last day.  They took us to two Souvenir shops and two parks and to the oldest Clock Tower in all the America’s.  This is attached to a Church and we were allowed to go into the church and take pics, and they let us go up to t he top of the Bell Tower and look out.  The stairs were interesting, as they were not evenly spaced, but it was amazing view of God’s glorious creation in the sky and on Earth.  We then headed to the local mall, just like ours only smaller.  Oh, and there were armed guards in the parking lot.  Back to the house after the mall for supper and share time and prepped for VBS on Tuesday.  

Today we went out in the morning for evangelism with Pastor Orlando’s church.  Our team experienced a total of 45 salvation’s professed.  We also invited everyone to the church service for tonight and the children to the VBS we were putting on at 2pm today.  We then headed back to the house for lunch and regrouped.   We then headed back to Pastor Orlando’ s church for VBS.  There were at least 140 kids plus the adults and our team.  Adam did a great job leading the Bible Story.  He chose when Jesus walks on water in Matthew.  He had others act out the story as he read it from the Bible and then he reemphasized the importance of the story.  Erin asked questions and Beth and Eric gave out the prizes.  I had the kids come up (5 boys and 5 girls) and tell their favorite bible verse.  If they got it right, they got a prize.  We then led them in a few songs and a game of Hot Potato.  The kids lined the walls to play this game.  We then had real game time where the guys took the boys and the ladies took the girls to play games, while Ida, Beth and Erin took the younger ones to color and jump rope.  Then at the end we gave them all candy.  That 2 hours went by so quick.  (Those of you who know Beth will have to ask her about her pants.  She sat on the stage during VBS and ripped her pants on a nail, clear down her leg.  Thank goodness someone had a jacket she could wrap around her waist.)

We are all now relaxing and waiting until we have to get ready for church at 7pm. 

Of course the food is so amazing.  It has been tempting to “cheat” and drink something while I eat, but I am being good so far and having to chose wisely.  Fanny is a terrific cook, and a great housekeeper.

Isaiah is doing unbelievable, although I do not think I should expect any different.  Yesterday he presented the gospel once and today three times.  Today he had presented it to a group of five boys and they all excepted and this is while his other teammates were speaking to someone else.   It is a blessing to see God work not only in your own live, but even more when God works in your Child’s life. 

Well, I think I need to wrap up for now, I will try blog everyday, so it is not so long.

God Bless,

Amy

PS

Adam, Austin and Amber – We love you so much and miss you all.

Mom and Dad – Thanks for the comments and the prayers.

Valerie – Thank you for the encouragement and the prayers, I miss you so much and wish you could have come with us, you would love to be serving God with us.

Work – I do no t regret coming, and although I miss you all, I do not miss the work and the interference with God’s service.  I hope you all enjoy our blogs and can appreciate the work we are doing here.

Share on Facebook

Today has already proven that God is with us!! Today I was with Ida and we got to witness to several kids and adults. We has 27 confessions of faith!! God is truly amazing. Just to see the excitment on the kids faces when we first tell them about the Lord is truly awesome. This afternoon we are going to have a VBS for the kids!! Continue to pray for us as we do God’s work!! Today total we had 45 confessions of faith, total this week is 66!!! Praise God!!

Stephanie

Share on Facebook

Today we are going out door to door again.  This is a wonderful opportunity to share what Jesus is doing and has done for us.  This morning as we did our daily devotion we talked about how our salvation is not about us.  It’s about what Christ has done for us.  It’s not about what we have done or what we did in our own lives.  Its all about God and his mercy he has showed us.  Today, as we go out in just a few minutes, and as we share our testimonies and as we share how great and wonderful God is we have to focus on Christ alone.  If we take our eyes off him even for a second we will lose focus of what Christ is about.  This afternoon will be extremely exciting for me as we do a VBS.  I have such a passion to see young children come to know Jesus Christ.   We’re talking about how Jesus walked on water.  Bus is leaving I have to go!!!!

ADAM

Share on Facebook

It is such a blessing to have hot water this time. I was not looking forward to having cold showers this week, so I am glad that we didn’t have to. Today we are heading out to do some more door-to-door and then later we are going to be doing a VBS in a day. It has been a blessing seeing people step up to volunteer to help plan and organize these events even though they may not know what to expect.

For th most part everyone is working well together and Arlene told me that this group is doing great, so the team gets an “A” for day one and I am proud of their efforts and look forward to what they can do today through Christ!

We all know that Jesus is the strength, power, and purpose of all that we do, and as we are studying this week in our morning devotions, “It’s Not About Me!” My prayer for today is that we all remember that simple message of wisdom from Max Lucado. I know that the easiest way to wreck a trip is to take our focus off of Christ and to turn it ontoourselves. That is when the complaining begins because we are more concerned with our own feelings or wants. I thought it fitting that the Bible story that the team chose for VBS was Jesus walking on the water because in that story Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. If we want to walk with Jesus we need to remember to focus on him and him alone and leave our fellings and our selfishness behind.

Rich

Share on Facebook