Half

Half is the number of totes that arrived today at Toncontin Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Fourteen entered the check stand in Indianapolis and only seven arrived causing a delay in our departure to Comayagua, but we had cool heads and big hearts and I was proud of everyone who were simply like Gumby…very bendable.

Half is also the amount of sleep most of the team received last night as the majority had to leave around 1:00am in order to get to the airport by 4:15am CST.

As we begin this journey we realize that throughout even the most difficult of beginnings that God is the leader of this team and through him all things are possible. Though we have half of the supplies as of now, all of what we need for the first half of the week is here and we do not need the rest until the second half of the week. (Pray fervently that it all arrives!)

In my reading tonight in Colossians 1:11-14, I read the following:

11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

That is my prayer for this team this week, that we are strengthened from our weariness with the power that only comes from God, I pray for all endurance and patience for both the team but especially for myself as I feel the pressure of being half here since my wife is at home healing still. I pray that even through the hardships that we will certInly face this week, that it will be a catalyst to drive us to our knees in thanksgiving to God the Father for all he has done and is continuing to do in our lives. I am now calling on the truth of His word in that he has delivered us from the domain of darkness and that he will continue to protect us this week from that darkness as well. And lastly, I pray that as we realize our own redemption, our forgiveness from sin, may we also have the desire this week to see others share in that same redemption through both boldness in speaking and serving others and through the preaching of God’s Word.

We are blessed to have such a diverse team, but even more blessed to have so many others that serve through Open Eyes Ministries that make it so easy to come and to work on a foreign mission field.

Unfortunately, as I lay here at the end of the first day and think about spending half of our day in travel, I can only imagine how many “Christians” are only willing to give half of there hearts to Jesus when he has asked for our whole heart. Lord, may we ever be changed to a state of discipleship where half is never good enough and may it begin this week.

The 24-Hour Window

Well, we are within the 24-hour window. Isaiah, Valerie, Adam and I have arrived at a hotel in Indianapolis and are getting ready for bed. Hopefully we will get to sleep early since we need to be up by 3am. The rest of the team will be leaving around 1am to make the drive over. Pray the weather holds out for them as we ran into some ice and snow on the way over, however the 85 degree reception will be a nice reward for the lack of sleep.

As the new year begins I pray that this week begins a new life for many in Honduras, but I more pray that the lives of the team will be even more impacted and that they will forever impact the lives of those around them for many years to come.

My heart still aches that Amy is not with us, but her heart and prayers are and hopefully we will be able to make her proud through these blog posts.

Pray for safe and easy travel and for rest so we may all serve faithfully.

Also don’t be afraid to leave comments on the blog, questions or just an encouraging word, either goes a long way for teammates to know that folk back home are following along.

Good night for now.

In Christ and 4HisService,
Rich

It’s Almost That Time

First off…MERRY CHRISTMAS! And it is Merry Christmas as Happy Holidays just not mean the same thing.

Second off…It’s Almost That Time for each of you to follow the mission trip on the Mission Blog. For those of your reading this on Facebook or another media site, you can find the blog at http://www.4hisservice.com/Mission_Blog/.

If you register your email address on the site you will receive an email each time we post an update to the page. I will be encouraging every member of the team to put something on the blog each and every day so also share the Mission Blog web address with your friends and have them register as well. You can also “Like” the 4HisService Facebook page and you will be able to see the posts there as well.

We leave early on the 30th from Indianapolis in order to head to Comayagua, Honduras. There will now be 14 of us on the team since Amy is now recovering at home from her fall and pelvic break.

For those of you who are techno-geeks like me you can download the flight tracker app and follow our flight (see below). Also we simply ask that you continue to pray for the Team:

  • Ashlei, Adam, Cassie, Connie, Greg, Isaiah, Lucas, Mark, Natalie, Rich, Tailar, Wes, Wesley, and Valerie

While you are praying for us you can also pray for the Missionaries:

  • Terry, Arlene, Jennifer, Hans, Pamela, America, and the rest of the staff

Lastly, pray for the people of Honduras, that God will prepare the way for the gospel message to go forth.

God Bless,

Rich

  • 12/30/2013 – 07:10AM EST – 08:50AM EST – DELTA #DL 1575 – INDIANAPOLIS TO ATLANTA
  • 12/30/2013 – 10:08AM EST – 12:54PM CST – DELTA #DL 0849 – ATLANTA TO TEGUCIGALPA
  • 01/06/2013 – 2:00PM CST – 6:27PM EST – DELTA #DL 0552 – TEGUCIGALPA TO ATLANTA
  • 01/06/2013 – 9:55PM EST – 11:36PM EST – DELTA #DL 1898 – ATLANTA TO INDIANAPOLIS

Keep your Eyes Open

Keep your eyes open because the next trip to Central America has been planned and we are going. December 30, 2013-January 6, 2013 are the dates for the trip and we ask that you begin to pray for the team as we prepare to be blessed through service to Christ once again in Comayagua, Honduras.

Here are the names of those I would ask you to be praying for:

  • Rich, Amy, and Isaiah Barnett
  • Valerie and Adam Bates
  • Wesley and Lucas Hahn
  • Greg Wampler and Tailor Monti
  • Connie Dawson and Wes Pepper
  • Mark Shipman and Natalie Lewis
  • Cassie Pinkston
  • Ashlei Tuel
  • Amanda Wood

Also continue to pray for the leaders and staff from Open Eyes Ministries (www.openeyes.org), and for the people who we will meet that God has already prepared their hearts to hear the gospel.

Bring Her Home 13

I emailed one of the interpertors in Honduras and asked if she had seen Allison lately. She replied back and said yes she saw her two weeks ago and that she had started talking.Thank you Jesus ! I recieved another email that had the full names and birthdays of the girls in the Home Of Hope. Under Allisons name it had no information available. We don`t even know her birthday. I shared this with a co-worker friend of mine and she said ‘ Angels don`t have birthdays,’ how sweet. I still have a picture of all the girls of HOH on my dresser and on my refridgerator.I am dissapointed about the present circumstances but I am not discouraged. I still put my trust, my hope, and my faith in almighty God the creature of all. I still hurt and long to see her and hold her in my arms and call her my child. I want to give her the world and I want to hold her hand. I want to show her what it means to be loved. I look forward to seeing you again Allison Bonita.

Bring Her Home 12

After not hearing from the lawyer for two weeks I sent her an email. She replied that not only is my age an issue but that there is a line of people who have been wait about two years to adopt and that I just couldn`t pick a child out.She wanted to know if I had my Dossier ready. I replied that the the adoption agencies told me I had to get a lawyer first. I think my age is the real issue and no one wants to say that because they don`t want me to sue. I am dissapointed bot not discouraged. I will keep on keeping on waiting for God to intervene! Some how some way I am going to have to learn Spanish. Beunos naoches Allison Bonita!

Bring Her Home 11

The lawyer sent me an email wanting some more information! I sent her the info and also a picture of Allison. Of course she replied ” She is beautiful!” I told her about my experiance in Honduras. How the people their were so welcomeing and friendly. That Honduras should be known as the land of beautiful peolpe. I wish everyone in the United States could visit Honduras so they would know how to treat people. And if I got the privaledge to adopt Allison that I would like to change her middle name to Bonita. That means beautiful in spanish and that way she would always be reminded of the beautiful people from which she came. I aked one of the translators if she had seen Allison lately and how was she doing. She said yes she had just came from the home and that she was doing fine. She wanted to know if I was aware that Allison had not spoken since she had been at the home, she believes she is still in shock. I was not aware of that. I did remember that she did not say anything while we were there. I told her my youngest daughter did not speak hardly at all when she was little . The doctors thought she might be deaf. But I knew she wasn`t because she would talk to me. She was just very shy. She communicated mostly with body language.
I had a dream Thursday night / Friday morning. It was of Allison, she was reaching for me with her right arm. When I woke I wasn`t sure were I was at . The dream seemed so real. I became overwelmed with emotion and began to tear up. This is such a difficult place to be in. I think of her and it brings joy to my heart, and then comes the sadness of not being with her. Mz A is suppose to send me a picture of her, can`t wait. We voted on a revised offer on our contract today and it passed! Thank you Jeus! I really wasn`t loking forward to singing Waylon Jennings….Got the only Daddy that wlll walk the line ! I wonder if this is how God hurts when he is drawing someone to him but they just don`t come. All he wants to do is love them. I am not implying that Allison refuses to come, she is just not able right now.I wish I knew how to make it happen. All I know to do is to just pray and ask my friends to pray that God would intervene and do what I can`t. Father I am desperate and incapable I need your devine help with adopting Allison, please in the name of Jesus allow this to happen. Good nite Allison, love you.

Bring Her Home 10

I got an emai from the lawyer and she said she would try to help us! She seemed very enthusiastic. I sent her all the information I had on Allison. We voted on our contract proposal and turned it down and we also voted to strike. When it rains it pours. Even with all the battles going on, I have not wavered on my desire to adopt this beautiful child. Mz A says she has taken a photo of Allison and is going to send it to me as soon as she can. When I get to adopt her I am going to see if I can change her middle name to Bonita! I believe that means beautiful. Allison Bonita Vibbert. It has been 6 weeks but I can still feel her strong hug around my neck. Today is my sisters birthday. Good night Allison. Till we meet again xxxooo

Bring Her Home 9

I found another agency and they had an office in Indiana. So I emailed the manager. I waited 2 days and I got no response. I got an encouraging email from a friend with some good news about Allison. I wish I could share but I can`t right now. Our contract at work will be up next week. The union is in negotiations right now. The company has already cut our pay and took away 2 plant raises and 3 holiays and my insurance has gone from costing me $60 a week to $104 a week. And now the company wants more from us. My Aunt died last night, she is 80. She was older than my Dad. I surfed the net last night and I found a lawyer that does adoptions in Honduras, so I sent him an email. He sent me an email today saying he no longer works with Honduras but he knew some one who did and he gave me her email. Then I got an email from Dillon International who said they had gotten in touch with Marta the lawyer from Honduras and she said we would not be able to adopt Allison because we would be turning 51 before she would be eligable for international adoption. Well at least I got a response. I have a friend at work named Kathy who said she knew of a website that helps with foriegn adoptions and it was started by Stephan Curtis Chapman. I will check it out. I sent an email to the other lawyer in Honduras and now I am waiting for her response. Father I am doing what I can but I need your help in Jesus name Amen.