Honduras is experiencing some difficult political times.  Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, fills our daily news with political problems. 

Recently, presidental candidate, Pepe Lobo, visited La Esperanza, landing his helicopter on our church property.

Even though our world would prefer to tell us otherwise, trying to keep our eyes focused on the bad or evil, our God is still worshipped and adored!

Since 1989, the last Sunday in September has been celebrated as the "Day of the Bible".  Honduras' national congress decreed the Holy Scriptures as a principal guide for Christians in Honduras. 

On September 27^th, 2009 our "More Than Conquerors Church" families left the daily norm...

...and took to the streets to express their love of God and His Holy Word.

Our church joined many other churches of La Esperanza to declare our faith to the whole city's population.

Our voices rang out praises as we walked the one and one-half miles from the entrance of town to the downtown city square.

The moms and youth of our church worked hard to prepare Noah's arc.

 Several of our church members walked the parade for the first time.  Church leaders Ronney and Claudia, picured to the right of Bob, testified their faith to the La Esperanza community as they marched in the parade.

 "Of my 37 years of being a Christian, this is the first Day of the Bible parade that I have participated in", said Fatima (dressed in black and white).                   

Community members leaned over their home or business balconies allowing us to greet them and encourage them in their faith walk.  

The men from our church's drug and alcohol rehabilitation program carried high the banners of Jesus.  Many of our city's police force observed the parade as they assisted us.  Others had a bird's eye view from the walls of our city's prison. 

Contemporary Christian music, Biblical encouragement as well as the preaching of God's Word rang through the downtown area as all the parade participants shared in a street service. 

God is very clear in His word. He says "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession" Psalms 2:8.  Join with us in asking God to give us all of La Esperanza for his inheritance - salvation from sin now, and eternal life with Him forever.

  Since 1997 the Gospel Message to the youth of La Esperanza has been a key ministry.   These youth chose to intentionally seek a deeper commitment to Christ during their Independence Day (weekend) retreat, September 2009. 

Youth leaders took time to communicate one-on-one with many of our group.  Felecia (photo above) and Tyler (below, top left) are World Gospel Mission Volunteers that are directly working with the youth.

Awesome teaching was provided by Pastor Raul, Pastor Noe Antonio and Kathy over topics that really mattered: Maturing Spiritually, Inner Healing and The Teen's Behavior as He Confronts the World. 

One teaching looked at distorted perceptions of the real God - or Impossible Expectations.  The objective was to help the kids know that God is available...not allusive or absent. Bob played the part of God. In distorted perceptions, God can never be reached... always allusive.  Many youth without fathers are inclined to believe this.  But in Biblical truth we know and teach that God is always available.

The character and nature of God, what He is and does, absolutely define what is good and what is bad.  He is pure! 

The youth looked at their purity in a world that is bombarding them with hazardous waste.    

And... we added a LOT of fun to the weekend with an obstacle course!!!!!! 

Dunia lost her shyness and repeatedly took the challenge on the slip and slide!  Tyler recived the medal for quality of form on the slide!

As you have seen, down hill water slide, agility in tire stepping, throwing yourself through the tire hoop and over the head ladder crossing were followed by the belly crawl!  Fernanda (pictured above) still came out smiling!  All the kids were covered in mud!!

A race across our fish pond and rope climing finished off the course!

There is no doubt, kids love to have fun!

They love to be challenged!

They love and need to be heard!

Pray often for these young people's spiritual maturity. 

Let us walk you through our weekend marriage seminar held in Punta Gorda, Roatan.

"Matthew 19:4 tells us ‘the Creator made them male and female' (NIRV); in other words, very different."

". . .a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. . . . each one of you ...must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband" (Ephesians 5:31,33 NIV).

"The good-willed husband is ‘concerned about . . . how he may please his wife' and the good-willed wife is ‘concerned about. . . how she may please her husband' (1 Corinthians 7:33-34)"

"The Bible teaches unconditional respect: ‘Show proper respect to everyone. . . . not only to those who are good and considerate. . . but . . . harsh' (I Peter 2:17-18 NIV)."

"No matter how hard it gets, ‘husbands, love your wives' (Colossians 3:19)."

"In a marriage especially, ‘thoughtless words cut like a sword' (Proverbs 12:18 NIRV)."   The above are timely quotes from Dr. Emerson Eggerichs' book, Love & Respect. 

The weekend seminar was blessed with four AWESOME cohorts in ministry.  Their stories go something like this....

"After a four hour plane ride, three hour car ride and a rocky boat ride that almost made me lose my lunch, I was thankful to be safe on the island of Roatan" (Erica's Honduran Adventure, blogspot.com).

"It has definitely been a crazy few days!....I have been hot, sticky, enlightened, and enjoyed my time immensely. Punta Gorda is a fairly small town consisting primarily of Garífuna people....Besides being stared at a little more than normal, I mean we stick out quite a bit,...

...all the people we've come in contact with have been friendly.  Yesterday we did some touristy type things in the morning when we went down to a waterfront community called Oak Ridge (that's the actually name no translation needed).

Most of the people build their houses right on the water because it's the only semi-flat part around" (First couple of days, Tylerjfrazier.com). 

"...there are some absolutely amazing things about living here...like being close to the ocean; I love the ocean!  We get to see really cool things like thatched roof huts...

...We can walk down the beach and pick up conch shells and coral...

...The people on the island are wonderfully nice and friendly. We can't always understand or communicate very well, but they are willing to try to talk to us and are eager to include us...

...There are a variety of church activities to attend and we are greeted by a chorus of greetings everywhere we go" (sarahmay86.travellerspoint.com).

A visit to West Bay was the grand finale!  It is the further most west point of Honduras' Island of Roatan.  Our La Esperanza brother in the Lord, Carlos, emmensly enojoyed the trip!

God blessed us greatly allowing us to see two sea turtles among the beautiful coral, fish, white sandy beaches and blue ocean waters!  We praise His Holy Name!