January 23, 2014

That was the day the Patterson Family departed MEDA to go on a short furlough to the states for some R&R and medical care.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, they have been delayed for a short time.  We sure do miss them.

Greetings from Honduras.

We thought it may be time to write a few words about our experiences this year as 2013 is coming to a close.  Pat and I are not writers of any importance, so please overlook any grammatical and punctuation errors.  The intent here is to just share some thoughts with all of you.

Pat's sewing ministry has been very popular and successful.  I am impressed with her courage to teach a class to Spanish speaking ladies in our church when neither of us can put a full sentence together in Spanish.  Christy Patterson assists her with translations and instruction.  The ladies have made several projects for themselves to include aprons, handbags and blouses.  Most recently they have started making baby clothes.  A group of Christian ladies from Riverbend church in Florida came down for a week and donated more than 10 yards of soft diaper flannel and helped us make more than 87 cloth diapers of varying sizes. 

 
These diapers are being distributed mostly to a small village about a fifteen minute drive from our town where our church is helping out with a new church plant.  Those mothers there were so very grateful for the diapers because they were using rags for diapers and/or letting their babies run naked.

Pat is planning a new class for the teenagers of our church during their school break.  For our regular group of sewing ladies, the next plan is a service project to make school uniforms for all the Dayhome kids for the next school year starting in January. Eventually, we would like to see some of the ladies from her sewing class reach out and teach others how to sew. Ideally we would like for them to become proficient enough to support themselves with a little cottage industry. (I know that's way too North American)

Pat also helps Emily Mitten with the Wednesday evening classes at church for the little kids.  She has helped the Montoya family make Christmas stockings, and done some mending for a couple of families.  She has also made curtains and pillows for our home and several other projects.

I participate in a men's devotion Monday through Friday at 7:00 am with the other MEDA workers with Mark Patterson as the facilitator.  We are currently reading through the entire Bible in Spanish.  I am also involved in a men's group study of the book of Ephesians facilitated by our Pastor Melvin Romero on Wednesday nights.  Pat and I both are part of Mark Patterson's small home group study on Friday nights also done in Spanish.

Somehow, we find time to maintain the flower beds, pull weeds, rake leaves, cut up fallen trees and plant new trees. I have been mowing nearly every day for the past three four months.  We are nearing the end of the rainy season so I will be able to mow maybe once every other week for a few months.  We always try to do a little extra before the Seminary students return for their two week modules and before each three day conference.

We are not officially enrolled in a Spanish class so we learn through our conversations with the Spanish speaking public.  We enjoy singing the worship songs in Spanish, Digno es el Señor (Worthy is the Lord!) and we keep a dictionary handy.  The Hondurans are very merciful and patient with us.  Several of the Hondurans want to learn English but find it very difficult so they empathize with our struggle to learn Spanish.

Our transition to this new culture has been mostly easy.  We love the food, the people and the scenic landscape.  Honduras is very mountainous with lots of pine trees.  Several of the flowers native to Florida can be found here.  We have several fruit trees in our yard including, tangerine, orange, avocado, mango, banana, and more.

We have a spare bedroom for those of you who would like to visit and experience for yourselves the wonder of Honduras.

Siguatepeque is cooler than San Pedro Sula (North of us)  and Tegucigalpa, the capital city south of us.  However, it does get hot March thru June.  So, come and visit.  Please continue to pray for our sanctification, health (physical and Spiritual) and for our ability to speak Spanish.

Building Dedication

Our Church is growing.  With the love and support from many friends, near and far, our little church grows.  Various groups from different churches have come to visit us and have helped with the addition and remodeling of the church.  When short term mission groups come to visit, they almost always help out with painting and cleaning and some form of remodeling.  Some have replaced and laid new tile floors and others have helped with sound systems and microphones and electrical issues.  Still others, have helped with shovels and rakes and hoes.  We also appreciate the financial gifts to buy supplies (cement, gravel, paint, electrical parts, etc.)

Pastors from Riverbend Church in Florida give words of praise and encouragement

Listening to the dedication

Ladies in the kitchen prepare a delicious lunch

The Fellowship Hall was overflowing more more dining outside

We gratefully appreciate your love and prayers

Our First Conference at Emanuel Baptist Church in Siguatepeque.  Our guest speakers came from Riverbend Community Church in Ormond Beach, Florida.  "La Ley y El Evangelio" -- The Law and The Gospel was the title of the conference.

Dr Roy Hargrave (right) from Riverbend Community Church was one of the featured speakers

Pastor Luke Davis, principal of Riverbend Academy also led one of the sessions

 The session ended with a Q & A with the pastors answering some of the most pressing questions. There were more questions than the 1-1/2 hour time allotted to answer.

Translator and Pastor Hernan from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Pastor Luke Davis from Riverbend, (Florida) Pastors Mark Patterson and Melvin Romero from Emanuel Baptist Church in Siguatepeque.

Make a joyful noise.

Add caption

 Make a joyful noise.  The ladies of the church sing beautiful songs of praise and worship

It's a sweet time of fellowship after the service as folks just don't want to leave church

More Conference Pictures

Dela in the foreground, other attendees in the background

My friend, Dela Rodriguez, traveled from Tegucigalpa, a 2+ hour bus ride to be at the conference.  We always enjoy her company

God answers prayers