We are not big fans of saying goodbye and it seems it happens more times than not while on the field. God has allowed us over the last three years to build some wonderful relationships with the people of Honduras. What a gift He has given us in learning the culture and language. We have enjoyed teaching and discipling but also can reflect on how God has used the people to teach us many things as well. We pray we are able to share effectively to the people in the states as we travel around on HMA how the Lord has worked in the lives here.

In Honduras as a person leaves an area there is a despidida given. Our first term in Honduras is drawing to a close the first week in June. Therefore, a despidida was given. It was a special night for us to hear encouraging words from the staff and students and their hopes of us returning soon. It has been so fun to minister in El Sembrador under the leadership of Travis and Lori Hawk. They do an awesome job! It has been also special ministering with Rhonda and Kent Harmless and two volunteers, Gwen and Amy. All have made us feel very special since our time began in January.

Lori and Gwen presenting a wooden tray to us that the boys had made.

Pastor David and his wife, Raquel, giving encouraging words.

The ladies group had prepared tutti frutti for us all to enjoy afterwards.

Alberto and Jerry

Evelin (on left) with her cousin Andy. Evelin surprised us with a song! What a surprise to see this timid girl grab the guitar and sing!!

Juan Luna, Jose Miguel and William

Some of the clean up crew afterwards. 

We look forward in returning to the states to see family and reconnect with our churches and church family. However, we know a huge part of our heart is in Honduras. It is hard to imagine leaving the people behind, even though for a little time, but we look forward in hearing how God continues to work in the lives of the people as they seek Him for the direction of their lives.

Goodbyes are hard to think about so instead we look forward to the next hellos when God allows us to return to serve in Honduras and see all the people we dearly love!

One of the pastors we worked with in La Esperanza was recently offered a position in a Hispanic church in Kentucky. After much prayer and paperwork the couple left for the states on Tuesday. Fifteen of the congregation came to the airport to see the family off.

Cesi (on right) with her friend Sharon. 

Pastor Ulices, Doris and their two children, Cesi and David. 

We count it a blessing to have worked with the pastor, his family and the El Way Church in La Esperanza. This special family will be missed in Honduras. We pray God provides all their needs as they make the transition from Honduras to the states.

The team had various jobs they accomplished while in El Sembrador. They worked on finishing up the three on three basket ball court, painted some rooms, the boy’s cafeteria and kitchen.

Painting the cafeteria

The kitchen area

The clinic on campus was thrilled the team brought some educational material in spanish and some different items for the clinic.  Our home church also helped fund the construction of a church in a nearby village in the past. One night the team went to the services of the church to visit and encourage the people.

Amy went along to translate for us. Our pastor. Mark, spoke to the church and a family gave their testimonies.

The children of the church perfomed several songs.

Pastor Ochito and his family pictured with the team. 

Mother’s Day is always special in Honduras. The Bible students put together a very nice program for all the mothers who attended.

One of the students drew a beautiful drawing of a mother and child which hung behind the stage area.

Angie, the daughter of a staff member, and Luatany, a Bible student, led the activities for the program.

The ninth grade class presented a drama, the Bible students presented a drama on Solomon and the two mothers. They also sang the theme song for Mother’s Day. The children’s Sunday School class presented a mother acronymn. Yuny, a Bible student recited a poem about mothers.

Ninth grade drama

Bible students singing the Mother's Day theme song.

The children presenting a special for their mothers. 

Each year a family of a student at El Sembrador is selected to receive a gift of the basic food supplies to provide help. This year Miguel’s family was chosen since his father was in the hospital and his family was in need of help.

The mothers present were presented with a bread towel that was made by one of the Honduran ladies.

Afterwards a chop suey lunch was provided to each family member along with the other students.

Jose Antonio, Alberto and Osmen finishing lunch.

Eduin Leonel, Edwin Joel and Moncho.

Jose Lorenzo 

With the other soccer tournament completed the boys were given the opportunity to select their own team members to have another soccer tournament which was played on the small futbolito court.

This allowed the work team to come and cheer them on each evening and get to know the boys. 

The team had collected and brought many suitcases of items for the boys clothing closet on campus as well as MANY other items. We were in awe of all the things brought.

Heather helped some of the other ladies organize the items they brought for the clothes closet. 

A bag of special items were taken to each staff member’s child. The families were very thankful for the time they took working and ministering with their children throughout the week.

The ladies presenting a gift to the children of Lilian, our campus nurse.

We brought the five Bible students and the pastor’s wife and daughter into the conference center one night for a special time. The team had brought clothing, shoes, and lotions to give to them as special gifts. The students all expressed their thanks to the ladies on the team for making them feel so special and helping them become better teachers by bringing their ideas and materials for them to use in their classes. We thank God for sending and using the ladies on the team to bring encouragement to our Bible student girls on campus and our pastor’s wife and daughter.

Cesia, Luatany and Sonia

Raquel, Bessy, Yuni and Karely

Sherri with the Bible student girls, the pastor's wife and her daughter Cesia (pictured in green).

What a blessed time with this home town team! 

We hosted a team at Escuela El Sembrador from Sherri’s home town area in St. Marys, West Virginia. The team came prepared to do project work and any opportunity to minister to the people of and around El Sembrador.

The ladies brought Bible materials and activities which they presented to our Bible students to work with the children of all the staff on campus. It is always a joy to see children’s faces light up when a puppet is brought out and used to bring forth the message. Our pastor’s wife, the Bible student girls and the ladies of the team led songs, dramas and a craft time.

Some of the ladies on the team teaching some songs to the children in Sunday School.

The pastor's wife and two Bible students, Sonia and Karely singing songs.

Two students, Amly and Keren praying before the drama began.

Raquel and another Bible student Yuni performing the puppet drama for the children. 

One day we took the activities into a nearby village of La Paz to minister to the children. Thirty or more children came to hear about Jesus’ love for them!

The team making puppets with the children after hearing the Bible message.

The completed puppets! 

The team took an opportunity to minister to the families along the road, prayed for an elderly lady who was ill and provided a food basket.  The team expressed how visiting the village had touched their lives.

Each day in the hot sun the team continued the work on the boys’ dorm the previous teams had worked on. Half of the renovated dorm now has the roof partially done.

Pastor John and John took time out to play a tune!

Lisa and Heather helping on the dorm.  

There are always other small projects to do as well, so some painted an employee’s apartment and some conference rooms, others helped Sherri clean and organize the library, some worked on a three person basketball court being constructed.

Annette in the library organizing the curriculum.

Vanessa organizing and moving some books.

Jewel worked hard on filing the books.

Jerry and others working on the ball court.

We as a staff were impressed with how this team encouraged all the students and staff as they interacted in the various activities throughout the week. Each person in the church and on the work team had a name of one of our students they had been praying for before coming to the school. Bonds were made quickly with the students through those prayers!

The favorite past time of the boys is playing soccer whether it is during a break in their day or of an evening.

Recently Jerry and Travis were able to form ten soccer teams to play in a tournament. The teams played against one another for eight weeks on the small field by our home.

The winning teams received t-shirts.

Jerry and Travis handing out t-shirts to the two winning teams.

David 

Edwin Joel, Gustavo, Jimmy and Josue enjoying time together after the game.

1st place winners

2nd place winners pictured with Travis and Jerry

Two of the Bible students, Rigoberto (left) and Mario (right) 

At El Sembrador we have the privilege of hearing the messages of the Bible students in our church services. Recently, Rigoberto, spoke in an evening service. The altar call was given and 15 students went forward. What a blessing to see the students respond to a fellow student’s message!

We pray the Lord continues using the staff and Bible students to touch the lives of all the students at El Sembrador.