I first arrived in Honduras as a missionary in June of 1992, and I serve on Roatan Island off the North Coast of Honduras.

Life on Roatan Island has a tangy, Caribbean flavor. The Garífuna [gah-REE-foo-nah] arrived on Roatan Island over 200 years ago, bringing with them their own culture and language. The Garífuna people today still practice witchcraft, food sacrifice rituals, and other satanic ceremonies of their African and Caribbean ancestors.

When, as a young adult, I first sensed God’s call to be a missionary, I was reluctant. I didn’t see that God had been preparing me for ministry since childhood. I was raised on a dairy farm and attended a small country church. I understand now that these circumstances provided the experiences I needed to minister to the Garífuna people in Punta Gorda.

I was raised in a privileged position:

—A Christian environment of godly parents, grandparents, and family members.

—A healthy home church that, for more than 150 years, had preached, taught, and lived the Gospel.

Multiple generations of both family members and church members had prepared the way for me to become one of God’s children. Faithful Christians taught me that the way of salvation is through Jesus’ sacrifice alone, and that the Bible is God’s Word. Yearly Cherry Run Camp evangelistic meetings presented solid teaching on the sanctified life and opportunities to hear God’s voice calling me to missions.

My task as a missionary is to help the believers in Punta Gorda who never had anyone to model the way for them. The congregation in Punta Gorda is largely a first generation church. None of the adults in the church were born into a Christian home. They have no personal model to follow in order to raise a Christian family. My brothers and sisters in Christ need someone to guide them and prepare them to be what God calls them to be.

I have been deeply involved in just that. I teach Christian principles about family living, dating and purity. I give instruction on evangelism, biblical doctrine, and the importance of ministering to your pastoral family. I help the church council members learn leadership skills of evaluating the church’s ministries, setting goals, formulating and following a work plan, and being financially accountable.
Forming leaders is not just classroom teaching but also a hands-on experience. My interaction with the church council, Sunday school teachers, and the ministry team gives me many occasions to reinforce and cultivate their leadership potential. God has placed many faithful examples in my life, and He calls me to be the same in Honduras.

God prepared me for the life of a village missionary. Growing up on the farm gave me several practical skills to use in a remote mission station. Knowing how to use a circular saw, vise grips, and a pipe wrench has made life easier. I praise the Lord for his hand on my life—preparing me for exactly where He has me today.

My current ministry is that of church visitation. Throughout this calendar year I will be informing churches in the United States about the continuing work of World Gospel Mission and the Honduran Holiness Church in Honduras. In particular, I share about our ministry among the Garífuna people on Roatan Island.

The vision I have for this next term of ministry in Honduras includes the following:

* I want to be deliberate in mentoring women and couples.

* I will be involved in the construction of a larger, fully accessible church. The current building is located seventy steps up the hillside with no access road.

* I will continue theological and leadership training for the local church pastor and leadership.

* I will assist the pastor, Efraín Núñez, in whatever area he feels the need.

* The Lord providing, I will be returning to Honduras in January 2007.