Yesterday we went to San Pedro Sula (north coast of Honduras) and we were able to visit some very good friends.  Francisco and Vilma Castro were the directors at El Sembrador when we first came to the field in 1982.  Vilma is a teacher and was the principal of the primary school, while Francisco was the general director.  They were there our whole first term and then when we returned for our second term on the field, they left and moved to San Pedro Sula.   Several months ago don Francisco had a heart attack, but God graciously healed his body.  Recently he had some sugar problems, and he is just now recouperating from that.  It was so good to see them again and renew aquaitences with two of their children, Lucy and Josue.  Josue is the same age as our son Ben--we have a cute pictures of them sitting on the couch in our house when they were about 3 months old.  God continues to use them even in their retirement years.

Belzasar Nunez, the rector of our theological education program, has been planning a pastor's conference for many months.  Yesterday evening we met at our national church retreat center, Villa Gracia, for the beginning of the conference.  There are over 250 pastors and lay leaders in attendance.  The emphasis has been on Christian Education.  Last night the conference opened with a message from the national church president, Oscar Estrada, and a praise team from our national church in La Paz.  It was excellent!  

Last time we all met together in January, for the national church annual conferance, we were crowded into a small chapel. Many of us couldn't even sit inside, so chairs were set up in the halls and a lot of people stood.  Since then the facilities have been undergoing a lot of changes.   Last night was the first time we have been able to use the new auditorium.  What a beautiful facility.  This building was built when Terry's mom and dad first arrived in Honduras in 1948.  Since that time the church has grown and changed until we no longer fit into the chapel.  Thankfully all the old architecture was preserved.

There's still some work to be done, but how we thank God for His provision for this place where our pastor's can receive training and spiritual renewal.  It will also be used for our annual church conference, youth conferences, weddings, ladies retreats, our annual missionary conference. and all kinds of other church activities. 

This past week we made a visit to El Pinar--the church that we helped build for the Lenca Indians.  There are some great things happening up there.  A literacy program is being taught by a retired school teacher in the area.  He is donating his time, and it was fun to see how excited the ladies were to be learning and hear their desire to get at least a 6th grade education.  It's also a blessing to see this older man using his talents and feeling useful in his retirement years.

They also have a feeding program for the kids in the area.  While we were there the kids were in class.   A school teacher volunteers her time to teach the kids a Bible class in the afternoon and then they give the kids supper.  Here are some of the kids waiting for their supper out in front of the church 

Christian, the pastor, has started a blackberry project.  The income from these plants will go to support the church and be income to help fund some of the programs they are starting up there. 

He also showed us the water tank, and took Terry down to see where the water source is.  Hopefully this project can be done soon.  He also said there should be electricity there in a few weeks.  God is really using this young man in this very remote area of Honduras.  Please keep Cristian in your prayers.

Jeremias is 18 months old now.  He's walking, and is a very happy, healthy, busy little boy.  When we were at the farm recently, I snapped these pictures of him while he was playing.  How we thank the Lord for the way He has touched his eyes.

He's not crazy about wearing his glasses, but will put them on if he thinks he's going somewhere.  Hopefully he will start to realize he can see better with his glasses on.  His mom, Marla, will be taking him up to Miami for another checkup the end of this month.  Last time they went, the doctor's saw a lot of improvement, and didn't feel like he needed anymore surgery.  We are expecting another good report.

Tim and Sharon Hawk are now our regional coordinators so they came down for a field visit in August.  They attended our annual field retreat and then we traveled with them so they were able to see most of our stations.  We went to El Sembrador first, attended church, and visited with some of the Honduran staff.  Several days were spent here in Tegucigalpa visiting with missionaries and Honduran pastors and leaders in the National church, then we headed for Choluteca.   Tim preached in the Limones church that is pastored by one of our Bible Institute graduates, Jairo Fonseca.  It was a great service and there were many at the alter. 

Jenny with one of the little girls in the church

The next day we had lunch with all of the Choluteca team.  It was a good time of fellowship together.   What a great bunch of dedicated people.

We traveled to El Salvador to see David and Debbie, and Daniel and Dania, the Honduran missionaries who work with them.  We shared supper together--some of David's fish from his hydoponic project.  We were able to see the building they are renting for their church building.  God gave them the perfect building with a large meeting area and rooms for Sunday School classroom.  Their church is growing and people are coming to know the Lord.

David's home grown fish

Sharon, Dania, Colleen and Debbie

Breakfast at David and Debbie's

Inside the church in Jucuapa, El Salvador

The outside of the church building

We returned to Tegucigalpa and Jenny returned to the States to start her final year of the nursing program at Indiana Wesleyan University.  It was so good to have her home for a few weeks.

The next day we traveled on to La Esperanza to visit our missionaries, Jerry and Sherri Murphy.  We also spent time with Dany and Carmina Pineda.  Dany is the pastor of one of th churches in La Esperanza.  They feel that God is calling them to be missionaries in Mexico and plan to go the first part of next year, if they get their support raised.

Samuel, Dany and Carminda (El Sembrador Bible Institute graduates)

Tim preached at our home church here in Tegucigalpa.  It was a good service with 21 people graduating from the discipleship program.  It was also Day of the Pastor, so there was a lot of celebration.

There were tons of other things that happened along the way, but it was great to have Tim and Sharon back in Honduras.  We look forward to their next visit.