Raise the Roof!

It often rains here for weeks at a time durring the winter.  You and I may never have to worry about having a dry place to sleep at night, but that is not the case for one of our friends and her family of 5.  They live in a two bedroom house with a roof that is litterally falling apart above them.  Her husband continues to patch holes as a temorary fix, but the tin is rusted through and there is no cover on the ridge of the roof.   The rain pours down day after day and they scramble to keep their things dry. 

Our friend works, but it has been very hard for her husband to get jobs in this tough economy.  Roatan has an unemployment rate of 56%.  Our friend makes less than $400/mo and without consistent work, there is no telling what her husband will bring in.  They are amazing people commited to their community and the church.   By carrying some of their burden, they can be even more of a light for Christ in their own community.

Thanks so some generous partners in ministry, are able to provide the materials for the husband to install a new roof this week!!! 

You are talking about what....??? - Sex Ed

Seventy teenagers were giving me their undivided attention as I shared my heart and testimony of sexual purity.  They were then all challenged to make a commitment before God in that moment to save their virginity for them husband or wife.  With heads bowed, I asked for the blessing, protection, wisdom and strength of the Lord to fill them as they pursue their purity and protect the most physically intimate part of their lives for the one person God has set apart for them.  This was the scene two weeks ago as we closed out our first biblically based sex education class.  

The topic of sexuality is often avoided within Christian circles, especially in Roatan, Honduras.  The Christian schools on the island have never had a sex education class to my knowledge.  The result is young men and women relying on their peers, movies, the internet and other sources of media to explain the changes and feelings they are experiencing in adolescence. Throughout my three years of teaching in Christian schools here I have seen and heard of countless "Christian" teens who have gotten pregnant out of wedlock before the age of 18.  Many of these teens come from great homes and are "educated" but they have not been exposed to any real wisdom on the topic of sex.  They are raised in an environment where more than 70% of the families are broken and sex is viewed as a cheap commodity.

Last week, we held the first Sex education course at my school.  I collaborated with a community doctor and another teacher to put together a curriculum which taught God's design for sex and the risks of having sex out of wedlock.  We are also realistic and talked to them about protections but were clear with the emotional and physical risks and responsibilities that come with having sex.  The students were engaged, asked many great questions, and then asked if we can make this a year long class next year.  I was encouraged by their interest and receptiveness to the wisdom which they received.  We will have one more class to answer any final questions next week.  I pray for God to preserve these young men and women and lead them in strength and wisdom.  If you have adolescent children, please take the time to talk with them about Sex.  They have more questions than you could ever imagine.

The stench of marijuana, alcohol and sewage filled the air......

The stench of marijuana, alcohol and sewage filled the air as I walked through the community and down the dark path to Bebe's house.  It's not quite the scene you expect to be entering for the first night of a community bible study.  I found Bebe who said that the other guys were coming, but we needed to go get them from the pool hall.  They had just started a game of pool and had already paid and put up their bets.  They threw out a few complaints, but Bebe quickly responded, "hey bra, whats more important, playing pool or learning the bible?"  The other guys quickly put their sticks away and we headed to the house picking up 4 more young men along the way.  After 3 hours of reading scripture and discussing every topic a young man wrestles with, I had to cut them off and say my goodbyes until next week.  God has opened this amazing door for us to have a bible study in the center of one of the darkest places on this island, pray for His light to spread and illuminate the lives of these young men and this community!

The stench of marijuana, alcohol and sewage filled the air......

The stench of marijuana, alcohol and sewage filled the air as I walked down the dark path to Bebe's house.  It's not quite the scene you expect to be entering for the first night of a community bible study.  I found Bebe who said that the other guys were coming, but we needed to go get them from the pool hall.  They had just started a game of pool and had already paid and put up their bets.  They threw out a few complaints, but Bebe quickly responded, "hey bra, whats more important, playing pool or learning the bible?"  The other guys quickly put their sticks away and we headed to the house picking up 4 more young men along the way.  After 3 hours of reading scripture and discussing every topic a young man wrestles with, I had to cut them off and say my goodbyes until next week.  God has opened this amazing door for us to have a bible study in the center of one of the darkest places on this island, pray for His light to spread and illuminate the lives of these young men and this community!

Generosity, Newest members of our family!

Oscar lives in a 10x10 cement room that he built by hand.  There is no running water or plumbing and he does not have a steady job.  He is extremely poor by the worlds standards, yet was able to show us amazing generosity today.  You see, Oscar raises chickens in his yard and one day, Kendall mentioned to him that she wanted chickens.  To our surprise he immediately responded, "I got 2 for ya right here, come and get them whenever ya ready". Today was the day, we finally went by after church with a cardboard box and our Sunday best on.  Little did I know that I would be chasing the chicken down and wrestling with a dog to get the chickens in the box.  After a few minutes and a muddy shirt, we caught the chickens and were on our way.  We offered to buy the chickens but he refused to take our money.  This type of generosity is humbling when we consider all that we have been blessed with and how much we give.  I'm so thankful for Oscars generosity and friendship.  We now have 2 hens below the house and are looking forward to some fresh eggs.

Creative Ping Pong in Honduras

So life on the island is wet right now, very wet.  Rainy season is in full swing which is not so good for a PE teacher without a gym.  So, Ping Pong it is.  I came down with 16 paddles and about 15 ping pong balls because I was told that the school had 3 ping pong tables!!  little did I know that they are about 10 years old and have been exposed to the abuse of teenagers and humid salty air for all 10 years.  Needless to say, they are not quite functional....

We have had to get creative with our tables and learn how to play the cracks in the picnic tables.  The kids don't seem to mind and I think it actually makes the game a little more interesting.  As of now we have games being played on 4 ft long picnic tables, a sheet of ply board and long skinny cafeteria tables.  The ply board table has definitely become number 1.

God's Spirit in the last days!

"Jesus' disciples came to him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?'  And Jesus answered and said to them, 'See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will mislead many.  You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.  But all these things are merely the beginning of the birth pangs.  Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.  At that time, many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.  Because lawlessness is increased most peoples love will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.":

Matthew 24: 3 - 13

Jesus was asked, what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

We are living in a time that looks strangely similar to the above description given by Jesus.  There are wars and rumors of wars, famine, unimaginable natural disasters, increased lawlessness along with the rapid decline of morality throughout the world.  Whether you believe we are living in the last days or not, you must agree that we are living in a very dark time in history.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the doom and gloom or the fear and propaganda fed to us from mainstream media, but I would like to remind us of the way light shines in darkness!  If you light a candle with every light in house on, the brightness is barley recognized.  On the other hand, if you light the same candle in a pitch black room, the brightness fills every inch.  

We are living in darkness, but you and I are the candles!  

God says in Joel Chapter 2, that He will pour out His spirit in the last days!  The darkness seems to be increasing by the day with terror attacks, war, deception, immorality and so on, but God says His Spirit will be poured out.  It is being poured out, The body of Christ is alive and well!  We are taking ground for His kingdom and welcoming new believers into the family daily.  You are on the front lines and the light of Jesus can touch every life around you if you will let it.  Rocognize that God sent His son to die in our place so that we could know Him and have life now and eternally.  THIS MESSAGE IS URGENT! Please accept the call to

Preach the Gospel

Make disciples

Love God 

Love you neighbor

Pray for the lost and suffering 

God has not given you a spirit of timidity but of power and love and a sound mind!