Every year we have VBS in and around Choluteca. This year we had VBS in 5 villages and in the Shalom church. The members of Shalom consider the ministry outreach into the villages a vital part of their ministry. We had about 400 children total and were able to reward 275 diplomas for attendance of at least 4 of the 5 days that VBS was held. We always manage the logistics of the outreach ministry by coordinating all of the classes at the same time and then drop off the teachers at each village, like a circuit-riding preacher. So, the van is always very full of teachers and helpers for each of the villages. The best news of all, though, was that over 40 children accepted the Lord!

The first responsibility of the teachers is to help prepare the material. Angie comes up with the theme and the projects, but everyone pitches in to help.

Shalom congregation VBS

"7 de Mayo" group: all 96 children received diplomas for their good attendance. 19 children accepted the Lord!

San Jeronimo church VBS

La Cuchilla church VBS 

La Bonanza group VBS

They sat on barrels and  colored on top of barrels, or anywhere they could, but the children all loved coming to VBS.

The girls had to wait until the end of class to grind their corn for tortillas, since we were in the space used for grinding corn.

We started VBS in a new area, Barrio El Estadio. It did so well (16 children accepted the Lord), that some of the members of the Shalom church are holding a weekly kids' club in their home. 

Praise the Lord for the open door we have in working in each of these villages!

We are so blessed to have children who understand the call to be missionaries. Right before we left the states, we were able to go to the tropical zoo in ClevelandIt is always hard to say good-bye, but they are great about keeping in touch, especially about our grandchildren's latest feats. This past weekend we were so blessed to hear that Quinn, who is 3 &1/2, had accepted the Lord! .

Colin (two years old) and Quinn (3 & 1/2 years old). 

Larry was recognized as a pastor in the Honduras Holiness church last Friday, January 15. He was ordained at the church's annual conference in Tegucigalpa, along with two other men. The executive committee of our Shalom church even made the trip into Tegucigalpa for the ceremony. Everyone was so impressed by this gesture. In spite of the car problems they had, they said they were blessed to be there.

The executive committee of the Shalom church.

The Davila family were representatives sent to the church's annual conference by the Shalom church. It was VERY COLD to us there, since we are used to 90+ degree weather. It was in the 50's most of the week, with misty rain some nights. 

17 year old Arleth and 4 year old Kelin, brother and sister, both celebrated their birthdays before going to the pastor's annual conference. 

It has been a blessing to return to Honduras and see how the church here in Choluteca is doing. The new Shalom church continue to visit and lead the groups at "7 de Mayo", "San Jeronimo", "La Cuchilla", and "La Bonanza". Chacho and Jorge are the two members of our church who drive the people out to the villages for services. We were also blessed to have Tom and Ellen Dunbar, retired from WGM, return for a couple of months to help with the ministry in the region. The Shalom church has about 75 people who regularly attend. The men's group on Sunday morning has grown to an attendance of about 15. The women decided they could not be left behind, so they started a women's group on Sunday morning, too. The worship leaders have now started a devotional time on Monday nights. Praise the Lord for the growth we see in this group of believers!

Children at the Shalom church.

Youth at the Shalom church.

Larry doing his first baby dedication upon our return to Choluteca. Reynaldo (on the far right) is the grandfather of the little girl and one of our lay pastors in the region.

Reynaldo Lopez preaching at La Cuchilla church.

La Cuchilla church.

The holidays were very busy for our family. We had family get-togethers, and did a lot of events with our children and grandchildren. It was thrilling to be together.

We had a Hash family reunion (Angie's side of the family). It was difficult since we all missed my brother Rick being there, but we had a lot of fun, including some sled-riding. We even had David who is in Germany with us via internet, so he is included in the picture on the computer. 

Angie with her mom and two sisters

Hash family cousins with grandma.

Rachel with our two grandsons.

We got to see the zoo lights in Columbus, even though it was super cold!

Quinn had a list of things to ask from Santa. However, it was wonderful to hear him tell the Christmas story to us.

Larry's step-mom has been ill, but we have had the opportunity to be with them several times.

We are so proud of our son-in-law Jared who graduated with his MBA from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in December. He did all that with a family and working full-time. He never seemed to miss any events, even though he spent a lot of late nights studying. Congratulations, Jared!

How do we begin to adequately express our thankfulness? Words sometimes seem so futile when we try to describe concepts that are so important.  Being Christian missionaries from the United States to Honduras with World Gospel Mission and being part of a great extended family gives us ample reason for being thankful.  As I think about a partial list of all that I am grateful for, I realize how all of God's blessings in our lives are inter-related. It is difficult to even categorize them.

1. Above all, I am thankful to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and for his promise of eternal life. Jesus said "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." (NKJV) John 6:47. I'm not like many other people I know who can remember the date when they were saved, but I clearly remember the circumstances of 40 plus years ago. I am grateful that I was raised in the church and had great Sunday School teachers. I was about twelve years old and a former pastor returned to our church to preach revival services. He had only been gone from our church for a short time so he remembered me. I am continually challenged by how natural sharing our faith and participating in evangelism can be. When our former pastor greeted me, he simply asked if I had accepted Christ yet. When I said no, he asked me, "Isn't it about time that you make a decision?" I don't even remember the time of the year, but I vividly remember that the church baptistry was broken and the creek was very cold.

2. I am thankful that God called me to missionary service. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (NKJV) Romans 10:14 My call to missionary service came during a camp meeting when the challenge was presented for people to totally turn their lives over to God. Even though I had been a Christian for a couple of years there were aspects of my life that I wanted to control, especially having to do with my career. The last thing I had ever considered was being a missionary. Having responded positively to the altar call to give my life entirely to God, I felt the Holy Spirit quietly asking if that meant that I would even be willing to be a missionary. Every single day I wonder why God chose Angie and me for such a great privilege of working with the people in Choluteca, Honduras.

3. I am thankful for family. Even more specifically, I am thankful for God's institution of marriage. "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Ephesians 5:33 (NKJV) I have had the honor of looking at marriage from the middle of three generations of faithful marriage vows.

Looking back at my parents, things were often very difficult economically when we were growing up, but there was never any doubt of the love that Mom and Dad had for each other. I remember Dad working two jobs just to provide the very basic needs for the family. The worst punishment I ever got was when Mom would tell me that, "Your father would not be happy if he knew what you did." Fortunately, the fact that Dad would not have been pleased kept me from doing many things that might have enticed me to make mistakes as a young person. I guess that is the way it is with our relationship with our Father in Heaven. Instead of following a legalistic list of "Do's and Don'ts" I realize that God sees all that I do and I do not want to displease Him.

I am especially thankful for 34 years of marriage to Angie. It seems like only yesterday when her father Rev. Hash pronounced us "Man and Wife" in Sidney, Ohio. Our marriage has produced three great children. We anticipate that God will continue to bless us as we see His plans for their futures.

I also have the good fortune of being able to look forward a bit at the next generation of marriage through Rachel our oldest daughter. While the institution of marriage is being attacked on all sides, we are encouraged that there is still evidence of strong young Christian families. Not many young families could stand the scrutiny of having the wife's parents live in the same house with them. We are grateful that Jared and Rachel allow us the special privilege of staying with    them while we are on Home Ministry Assignment.      

4. I am thankful for friends. "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother". NIV (Proverbs 18:24) I am blessed to have many friends among missionaries whom I work with, among Hondurans, and among churches that we have known in the States. This year has been especially difficult because of the death of a great friend, Angie's brother Rick. I had known him since I was 14 years old. We had roomed together in college. Rick was one of our greatest encouragers throughout our careers as missionaries. Even though we still have the pain of not having Rick by our side any longer, we are thankful for having the time that we had with Rick. We are even more thankful for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

5. I am thankful for our country. The history of the Thanksgiving holiday is rooted in the very beginnings of our history as a nation. We thank God for the freedom that we have. "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." (NKJV) Colossians 4:2-4

6. I am thankful for the "Shalom" Church. Though we have always been involved in a variety of different ministries, our entire missionary career has been focused on establishing and building the church. We have participated in helping establish new congregations, we have taught Sunday School and we have been involved in discipling new Christians, but we have never been a part of a congregation in the way that we are with the Shalom Church. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." NKJV (Acts 2:42)

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV) Psalm 107:1

It is so great to be with our grandchildren. They come up with great sayings, and love to be with "Pa with the mustache" and grandma.

They love dressing up!

Woody and Buzz Lightyear!

Buzz with his daddy, Jared.

Jared just finished his MBA. We are so proud of him!

We continue to travel every weekend, and have the joy of seeing supporters around the country. We cannot possibly put pictures up of all of the people we see.

Kevin and Luann Hansen (to the right of the picture) have been on two work groups and are excited that their church is interested in sending a team down next year.  We also had the opportunity to see a former missionary to Argentina and Bolivia, David Wilson (to the far left). He is now an attorney in central IN.

We also had the privilege of sharing in Kentucky. The beauty of traveling in the fall is great to see! 

These are certainly difficult days around the world. We know people who are not able to find employment at this moment. Others, while still working, are finding their economic situation becoming increasingly more difficult. There is political turmoil around the world. Some of our closest friends have faced family crises of illnesses and other problems. Our courses of study have been negatively affected at the vocational school. Funds that had been anticipated from international organizations for operation of the school have been frozen. Classes have been closed periodically due to the political unrest.

We are continually attentive to the situation in Honduras. At times it is difficult for us to stay focused on what we need to get done because our thoughts are focused on fellow missionaries and friends who are under the constant stress of wondering what the future holds.

Sometimes we tend to get frustrated with the present situation because we are limited in what we can do to help. It is difficult to even imagine a positive outcome based on human efforts but we want to be in Honduras doing something. I often find myself thinking that all we can do is pray. I quickly remind myself that the best thing that we can do is pray. Prayer should not be what we do as a last resort, but it should be our first response to any suffering. James 5:13 says "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms."

We especially pray that Honduras will find true peace, the peace that that "passes all understanding" which only God can provide. Join us in praying for the leaders of Honduras. Pray for Church leaders who must respond wisely to current issues. Pray for our missionaries who have chosen to follow God's calling to minister to the people of Honduras. Pray for our local churches, that the members would be salt and light in their communities.

We continue to find reasons to be cheerful. We praise God for the way that He has been providing for our needs. The Shalom congregation in Choluteca continues to grow. They are looking into the possibility of obtaining a property. An agreement has been made to rent them a property with the option to purchase it in the future.

We had faced the prospect of possibly having to close our vocational school refrigeration course in the middle of the year since funds from an international source had been withdrawn due to the political problems in the country. Enough private donations have been given to allow us to finish classes in December.  

We have been given several items such as mechanics tools and a laptop computer which will help us in the ministry in Choluteca. It is amazing how God provides in ways that we do not anticipate.

God has provided several vehicles for the vocational school. Having real cars to work on at the school meets several goals. We need to obtain ten vehicles in order to certify our auto mechanics students in the classroom. The vehicles can be fixed up and resold with the income being reinvested in the school. The repaired vehicles also provide a quality product for the community. Recently, we had been able to purchase three old cars, but had no idea how we were going to be able to afford to purchase more vehicles.

We just had a used Volkswagon donated for the school. It looks like all the details have been worked out to send it to Honduras. It is a long story, but we found a Christian man from Honduras who will be transporting the car. We have also been offered a Ford van which we are considering driving back to Honduras early next year.

We do not believe that it is a coincidence that God continues to provide our needs in exciting ways.  We thank Him for blessing the ministry in Choluteca.