Once again we want to share with you another special graduation. Iris graduated on September 25th from a University in Tegucigalpa. She is one of our young adults in our church. What a blessing to see how the Lord has led her to such a time as this! She is such an added blessing to our church and to our lives here in La Esperanza. She is involved with the youth, the praise and worship team and is willing to fill in to teach Sunday School. Iris is a joyful young lady who loves to serve the Lord.                                                                                                                   We had planned to attend her graduation while in Tegucigalpa for a pastor's conference but the date changed and we were unable to attend. We are very proud of Iris' accomplishments and know she is ready to serve the Lord wherever He leads.

Iris with her mother Christina. Christina also helps us in our home.

We celebrated "Dia del Niño" (Day of the Child) the next Sunday - it's officially celebrated on the 10th.  We had special celebrations planned for the children of our church. They played games, had piñatas and some received door prizes. Pastor Dany presented information to the parents on the development of their child at the various ages. Afterwards the congregation and children ate and fellowshipped together. Before leaving the children received a small bag of toys. We had around 75 children attend this year.  

Up to 5 years old 

Door prizes

Pablo

     6-8 years old

Some winners

9-11 year olds

William

Adolescents

                                                  Dunia and Larisa with the pinata for their class.

   September is a busy month as far as celebrations.  Independence Day for Honduras is September 15th.  It's a big thing for the school children to march in a parade. You can hear many drums leading up to the big day.  We had parades on three separate days. The kindergarten children marched on the 13th, the grade school children on the 14th and the secondary school children on the 15th. It is amazing to see so many children marching in a small area such as La Esperanza. There was representation from bands, acrobatics, cheerleaders, majorettes and some wearing the typical clothing of the indigenous people.

One of our young adults, Ena, is a teacher at Southwest and had some in our church construct this Noah's Ark for her Kindergarten students.                                        

  We were able to attend a college graduation of one of our young adults recently. Ena is very involved in the church with the youth, our praise and worship team, as well as teaching the Kindergarten age children in Sunday School. She is a wonderful example to the other youth. She teaches Kindergarten at Southwest Bilingual School where we teach Bible classes and does and excellent job! She is a special young lady that we know God is going to use mightily for Him.

We continue to have our Bible Study with the youth on Thursday nights in our home. We have around 23 each time. We enjoy working with them. God has blessed our church with many youth. It gives us an opportunity to train them up in His ways so that they might be an influence in their own families.

                                            Dunya and Larisa

Ada and Merlin

                                                                                                                                           Clarisa and Kristhel

                                    Sherri and Olman

Rafael, Javier, William, Carlos, Olman

Nelson, Luis

Jerry beginning his 8th grade class with prayer.

We began another year of teaching Bible classes at Southwest. Some things are a little different this year. The school added another 2^nd grade class and moved the older students into a new area they have just constructed. There is still much construction going on to finish the new addition.

We have begun the year teaching about the courage and faith David had in fighting Goliath. Also, how the students can use their faith and their "armor of God" to protect them from the enemy.

2nd grade girls

4th grade class. 

We look forward to serving again at Southwest Bilingual School. Please pray that the hearts of the students would be softened to hear His Word and penetrate their hearts.

Pastor Alfredo (far left) is from Yarmanguila and Pastor Osael (yellow shirt on left)

is with the Central Church here in La Esperanza.

Each month Jerry travels to the location of the monthly pastor meeting. The men discuss upcoming events and plan for the future.  Pastor Noe is the Regional Coordinator for our area. He pastors a church in Jesus de Otoro. He does an excellent job!

The month of September Jerry was able to take a suitcase of clothes that had been donated for the pastors and their families. What a joy to watch them find clothing for their family!

We are honored to have Danielle Hess with us in La Esperanza as a volunteer with World Gospel Mission. If you look at our past blog from July 12, you will see she came with her mom, dad and brother on a team to help the AFE project. She had just graduated from college and wasn't sure where the Lord was leading. We asked her to go home and pray about coming to La Esperanza to teach at Southwest Bilingual School. So....here she is! God worked all the details out for her to come quickly and be ready to begin the first day of school.

She is doing an excellent job teaching and the students love her! She is also getting involved in our church by getting to know the youth on Saturday evenings. We are looking forward in having her with us this school year. She is a big blessing in our lives already.   

Please pray for her as she is making adjustments with the culture, and being away from her family.