What’s been happening?

The summer months were spent in Canada intenerating as usual.  We had an unexpected trip to Newfoundland, due to the death of Randy’s brother. Regardless of how hard that was, it was a blessing to see our family. We spent the latter part of May-July visiting 8 PAOC churches and the Rotary Club in Sudbury. We were delighted to renew old acquaintances and make new friends and connections.

The last 2 weeks of July we settled in at Spring Bay Camp. It was a special time, as always, to be refreshed and also spend time with our loving family and friends.

Our daughter Stacey and granddaughter Emily returned with us to Honduras on August the 8^th and stayed for almost 2 wonderful weeks. It was good for them to see the ministry we are doing and be able to participate in the work here.

Emily’s Special Project

Emily decided that she wanted to do something very special for the children when she came to Honduras. Without any coaching whatsoever, she came up with the idea of selling lemonade. Her thoughts were that these children never get to do anything special. She wanted to do something they would remember as many of them never get this opportunity. So she asked Pastor Lorrie Gibbons (Spring Bay Camp Director) if she do this to raise money for her little venture. Obtaining special permission, she set up her lemonade stand one hot sunny July afternoon and raised, enough money to bring 90 people from Manos Extendidas here in Honduras to McDonalds!

After church one Sunday morning in August we piled everyone into the borrowed vehicles. Some kids were hanging out of the back of the trucks, typical for here, and off we went. The kids were ecstatic and many of them hovered around Emily wanting to hold her hand and be her special friend. The language barrier did not exist in the land of Mc Donald’s time.

What a treat it was, and the amazing thing is, she came within $1.00 of paying for the cost of this! Many of the children are still talking about the adventure and they still ask for Emily.

Pastor Alvin had a word that morning that went something like this… “Who knows what future impact a 9 year old girl can have for God’s kingdom purposes, just by reaching out and taking these precious little children to McDonalds?”

Hey, she even made the newspaper!

The article is in NIAGARA THIS WEEK dated September 26/08. See http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/article/208696

Visiting homes of children we care for

Stacey and Emily had an opportunity to visit the child they sponsor and bring them much needed items. When the ministry first came across this particular family some 12 months ago, they were eating one bowl of uncooked rice and sharing one bottle of juice. Now 2 of these children are sponsored and the family is getting the help they need for school, medical needs and other necessary items.

One sunny Saturday afternoon we climbed up the muddy hill to the house where the family welcomed us with open arms. Our hearts were touched as we observed the surroundings. The house was made of scrap wood with many cracks in the walls. When the rains come, the water pours in. There was a kitchen area with a fire pit made from stones and cement. There was a small living area that was wide open. The floor was earth and there were no chairs to sit on, not even a wooden bench. They have no sanitation facilities which are common in this area, and no place to even wash their clothes. If they have enough money, they could buy the occasional bucket of water from the delivery trucks. However, the trucks are rarely able to get up to this area. Water is also collected in barrels when it rains. In the dry season water is hauled in buckets from a polluted stream a few miles down the road. Chickens were running around the house and they had a dog and several puppies that were also given free roaming privileges. There were no dishes, pots or pans to cook with, not even food in their cupboards that we could see. (The children come to the center to be fed). The only furniture in the house was 2 beds, one with just a bare spring and no mattress just a piece of cardboard. We were told this is what the girls sleep. The older 2 sisters in this family share a blouse to go to school. These people are some of the poorest in the program. The father has tried to find work for this family of 7, but to no avail. What little work he does find is minimal. We prayed with the family before we left and were deeply humbled by their love for GOD despite their circumstances.

Stacey and Emily were so impacted by the many needs of the children here. Many of the stories are the same, no work, no food, no way to educate the children, no medical help.

Emily is already planning her next trip and she wants to bring others with her. Funny thing is, she is doing chores around her house and wants Nanna and Poppy (namely us) to pay her for them so she can come again…interesting concept of a 9 year old J LOL!

Potential Missionaries

The day after Stacey and Emily left, a couple from Quebec arrived for 2 weeks to check us out and see what we are doing hin the ministry here. They had heard about us on the PAOC website and we have been contacting one another through email, phone calls and a divinely appointed visit during one of our itineration assignments. They have the anointing of God on their lives and we are praying that God will use them as HE sees fit and in the area where they can best be utilized. Please pray for them as they prepare to follow God’s leading for their lives. They are presently preparing to go through the PAOC approval process and also need to learn Spanish. Who knows what God will do through them here in Honduras? They are awaiting God’s direction as well as timing.

Children’ health improving

Medical examinations have resumed and the children in the Feeding Centers are doing well. We have seen many go from Grade 2 malnutrition down to Grade 1 or no signs of malnutrition at all. We would like to see every child in the Feeding Centers well nourished and malnutrition a thing of the past.

Water

We have been trying for the past year to get clean, parasite free water for the children to drink. We installed 4 Bio Sand Filters with no success. The problem was identified as the water source and that the sand itself had been contaminated. Even with new sand, the filters have not worked properly. Water for the centers does not always come from the same supply so it has been very hard to regulate the filters. We cannot get to a place of the children not having parasites until we get good clean water.

With Pastor Alvin’s blessing we have been working on alternate solutions with the Rotary Club here and there is a good possibility that the Rotary Club in Sudbury will be partnering with us in this venture as well. The options may be to look into digging wells at each feeding centre. We have someone here trying to connect us with others who have the experience to do so. The other option we are told is some sort of UV ray system that can be purchased. This is what they use in the hospitals here in Honduras. As the water passes through the light filtering system everything is purified.

Nothing happens in a day here in Honduras, everything takes time, a LOT of time. It means many follow ups and constantly trying to keep on top of things. The language barrier does not help as in most cases we have to depend on others to get information for us. We would appreciate you continuing to keep this in prayer…They say patience is a virtue, well God has certainly allowed me to learn more of that in our time here.

Change is Coming

We are sensing a shift in our direction here as we have shared with some of you already. Our vision is to open a Christian, hopefully bilingual school. For the past 3 years we have been giving medicines, toys, clothing, school supplies, paying tuition fees, buying uniforms and shoes so the kids can go to public school. It has been a privilege and honor to run the Child Sponsorship Program for Manos Extendidas. All glory to GOD; we are blessed to have been able to bring the program to a place of self sufficiency and running fairly smoothly. However we cannot keep giving without finding some way for the children to grow up self supporting and successful. They don’t need to depend on handouts; they need to have a hope for the future.

The Lord is clearly saying to us “stop giving and start training” and we have to be obedient to that calling. In the near future we are being directed to build the school and start training these precious little ones coming out of the Manos Day Care Programs so they can have a chance to fulfill their dreams.

We are presently trying to get information on land that we think will be suitable for the school. This seems impossible in the Natural, but in the spiritual realm, GOD is still on the throne and nothing is too hard for HIM.

“Behold I am the Lord the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

In this particular chapter (Jer. 32) it deals with buying the fields. God is telling Jeremiah to go in and buy the Land! We have also been studying Joshua and God told Joshua repeatedly to go in and possess the land. Then came Nehemiah which I am presently studying. He had a heart for the people and he sought God’s favor for success and instructions on how to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem which had been destroyed. He wept before God and asked God to give him what he needed to accomplish such an impossible task. He left a good position to do so. He followed the heart of God. We need to be released to do the same. Every word we have been reading has jumped out at us, confirmation after confirmation.

Since I was hospitalized in April, I have been strongly impressed that this is the next step. Before that it was only a thought. Now it has made a deep impact in my heart (and Randy’s as well.)  Alone, on my bed, God ministered to me in ways that no one else could. He instilled dreams and visions into me that I know only HE can fulfill. I know we cannot possibly do it. There is no way on earth that we even have the first clue how to go about this.. I know it is all in God’s timing.  He will give the marching orders and provide the ways and the means to do the work.

Note: See more, including pictures of Emily and Stacey’s visit, the land we are looking at,

Day of the Child etc. on our web space at www.moosegrip.spaces.live.com

Are we nuts?

Our present assignment here is coming to an end January 2009. Yet we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God is not done with us yet. We still have much work to do for the ministry of Manos Extendidas. They too have dreamed of a school and we want to help them fulfill that dream. Our focus may be changing, but given the excellent relationship we have with the local ministry here, they are at the heart of why we are taking on this new venture. We want to see them succeed. We want to make this school happen, for the sake of the children.

In the natural, all things point to us going home. My health as you all know has not been the best. I have found I must pace myself now much more carefully than I had in the past. I was caught up in keeping up with the paper work and meeting the practical needs of the children. I have learned my lesson the hard way.

Note on my health. The Doctor had said there was no way I could return to Honduras without an MRI, due to the symptoms I was having. She also told me there was a year waiting list. Well, God got me in, the night before we packed up to come back to Honduras! PTL! My symptoms have lessoned and I am doing much better. I still covet your prayers

Another factor is the funds are not coming in; we have not met our budget since November 2008.

I miss my family and long to be there for all the special occasions we seem to be missing. Yet we have this burning desire inside to keep on going here. To press on and do more for the children who otherwise may be without hope for their futures.

The loneliness factor is there as well. It is hard to admit, but not having a social life outside of the ministry does put a huge strain on us. Our relationships are important but let’s face it, we all need friends.

So are we nuts? Maybe so…but in the spiritual realm

We would rather be in God’s will than out of it, so we are choosing to stay here in Honduras and press on until God tells us otherwise

But we can’t do it alone…

Will you help us? Please pray for us and support us so we can do what we are called here to do. We are counting on you. We are all in this together. Let’s see what Great things God has in store for Honduras. Hand in hand we can make this happen.

Dream with us. Dream big dreams for God.! As James Guskjolen, our Regional Director said to us lately,” Get ready to say a few WOWS!!!” We already have!

Donating Items

We received many donations again to bring back to the children. Thanks to those who contributed back packs, toys, medicines etc.  Your donations were greatly appreciated.

However, due to airline regulations and the increasing cost of shipping items, we are no longer able to accept any donations to carry back with us. We used to be able to take two 70 lb. bags each with us. Then it went down to 50 lbs. each bag. Now we pay for every bag and although we greatly appreciate all the efforts, it is just costing us too much money to bring the items with us. Not to mention, we usually have to leave personal items back home because so many donations come in and it is hard to say no, we can’t take them.

We will only be accepting donations now through teams incoming. That way the weight can be evenly distributed amongst team members. We will however gratefully accept all cash donations to buy the needed items here

Thank you for your

Prayerful   and

   Financial    support

God bless each and every one

“I  was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, a stranger and you took me in, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to me…insomuch as you have done this unto the least of these you have done so unto me.”

Matthew 25:35-40 

Contact Judy and Randy at hondurashope@cablecolor.hn

Or 905 228 1360 (Internet phone)

Here in Tegucigalpa, school begins in a few short weeks from now. We will be busy buying school supplies and materials and ensuring each child is enrolled in school (a requirement of the program). Our Day Care centers will be operational starting February 11/08. We have 42 new children (age 3-6) enrolled at Centre 2 and 18 at Centre 1. We do everything we can to assist the teachers to get set up for the programs. Many of the supplies have been donated.

Training will start February 1^st for our teachers who will be helping us gather information and profiling the children for the sponsorship program. We depend on them to help us determine the needs of each child.

Translators are still a primary concern. There is a shortage of totally bilingual interpreters and translators that we can depend on.

Sadly enough, some of the little children in the program who graduated from the Day Care last year, are still waiting to see if they can get in school. Public schools are full and we still don’t have a school of our own. More and more we realize how important it is for a child to get an education. Then and only then can we have any sort of impact on breaking this heart wrenching cycle of poverty.

We take so much for granted that a child can go to school in Canada and get a free education. Not so here. They attend up to grade 6, if they can get in and if the parents feel like sending them. The education system itself is not up to North American standards. Far from it. SO the chances of them getting a good solid start in life already are against them.

Our personal dream is to open a Christian School to see these little ones have the best start in life that we can give them

Some of things that limit us from opening a Christian School here in Tegucigalpa Honduras are:

In the meantime, God knows the plans and everything happens in HIS timing. He holds the keys to all the closed doors and He will open them when the time is right.

We can only do what we can to try and make things better for these precious little ones here. We have learned to work with what we have and make a difference to the best of our abilities, one child at a time.

We don’t get hung up on drawbacks, roadblocks and things that seem to hinder the work from going forth. We know that what we do is not in our own hands but in the Lords. Therefore, we just press on, persevere and persist.

Thank you once again for helping us help the children. We could not do it without you.

I hope your Holiday Season was a blessing and that you enjoyed spending time with your families. I am so blessed to have a family that loves me so much and believe me the feeling is totally mutual… I least I think it is. LOL.

The time we spend together is so precious and always brings warm fuzzies to my heart.It's a wonderful thing to know that our family relationships are strong and a very important part of our lives.

Honduras Hope News Update                        August 16/07

We arrived back in Tegucigalpa on Monday with no hassles and all our baggage! Wow, we were impressed! First time ever we got back with all our stuff!

There were a few "surprises" awaiting us though…The car did not start. The battery cables were all corroded, but Randy, being the “jack of all trades” that he is, cleaned them all up, and fiddled and faddled with all the wires, ran the car down the hill and eventually jump started her in 2ND gear. Yea!

Then our first night back here, the water pump gave out and we were almost 3 days before it was fixed. Randy was getting anxious for the water to come back on... but we were at peace and did not sweat it. (SO TO SPEAK) After all, it was only in the 80 degree temperature range.

So Tuesday we went to the cable company to reconnect our cable. Three hours later we got back to the house, and still had to wait till yesterday for our internet phone and Internet service to be reconnected. One hour later the power went out with thunder storms. (We are in the rainy season) So that was fun too.

Our land-line telephone was cut off and our cell phone was out of minutes.

But Randy was happy, the TV was on :)

But in all fairness, we really are just laughing about all this, we really are!

Our favorite expression is "Welcome to Honduras" so we are learning to just go with the flow!

This is just a continuation of our lessons on "patience, perseverance and pressing on"  and as our dear friends added, God's peace as well is certainly here with us.

In Canada: It was an adventurous trip home to Canada having visited 8 churches and spent most of our time on the road between Itineration and trying to see family and friends. We thank God for all of them. All in all, we were blessed to be there and have 20 more lbs on us to prove it :)

Also, in Canada, we had a few difficulties with the van which cost us quite a few bucks and we nearly blew 2 tires. However in both situations God's hand of protection was definitely upon us. Both times the tire was showing the steel and we could have had an accident, but God is soooooooooooo good!

Unfortunately we lost our camera that we use for the Ministry here, just a week or so after we got home. We searched everywhere and it was no where to be found. We were on the road so much it literally could have been anywhere. Every time we went to buy a new one, we felt like God said to "wait". God again is faithful, a few days before we left, a couple came to us and gave us the funds specifically for a new camera. Praise the Lord!

Our Itineration Co-coordinator has resigned her position. Nancy has been a tremendous help to us over the past year, helping us get into several churches to present the mission of what we are doing here. She did an amazing amount of work and we would not be where we are today without her help. She will be dearly missed and hard to replace.

The best thing about being in Canada was just seeing our kids and grand-kids and just loving up on them and getting my momma/ granny “fixes”. Although there never seems to be enough time to stock up on all that lovin. I would have loved to have seen them all more. Better still, I’d love to just pack them in my suitcase and take them all with me. Leaving the family behind is always the most difficult part for us, especially when our 3 year old granddaughter Leah, the day before we left, looked up at us with an expression of horror on her face, , and said, quite passionately ,“you’re leaving??” My heart broke.

We were blessed to be at Spring Bay PAOC Camp and take in all the wonderful speakers and worship for 2 whole weeks! This really built us up and helped rejuvenate us to come back to the field. (We really needed it)

We will take a few days to regroup and get settled back in before heading back up to the mountains to work with the children. Monday is back to normal, Lord willing. Then again, we never did quite figure out what "normal" was here. So we intend to pace ourselves more, put in a good weeks work and actually take a day off this time around. Pray that we stick to that! With so much need here, it’s hard to just sit back and let it wait. But we have come to realize that if we burn ourselves out trying, we are no good to anyone, including ourselves, much less God being able to work effectively through us!

Reality check, we have all been there! “Lord send more labourers..Please”

We appreciate all the help, encouragement, prayers and support that you give us. We are so blessed to have you in our lives and part of this team. You are making a difference here in Honduras by being the hands that send us. We could not do it without you either.

For those of you who would like to come and experience the Mission field first hand, or just revisit, NSPC (New Sudbury Pentecostal Church) is planning a 2 week Missions trip for April 2008. For more information, contact the church at 705 566 9447. The team leader is Anna Burton.

Please continue to pray for us and be encouraged yourselves. God is in Control and HE is still on the throne. No matter what you are facing today may HIS peace, joy and love flood your soul and bring you closer to HIM. No matter what, if we keep our eyes on Him, He sees us though every storm.

We will be in touch.  Until then, God Bless all of you