Year End Report

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD IS PROVEN DAILY

The year 2011 is coming to a close and "What a year" it has been!

                                                                     LADIES MINISTRY

            In review, we had 4 ladies here from Illinois in January.   Ministry to several groups of women and children filled two long days.  What a joyful time for all involved!   They brought small gifts to give the women in two churches and a special time was had with the women prisoners in San Pedro.  They brought the love of God to each group in actions and the Word.   A little extra excitement occurred when there was a street demonstration  close to one church with tires burning and near rioting .  It gave us time to lean on God and just relax.   Our own little "occupy" group for about 2 hours, then we were allowed to go one our way.  

            VISTING WORK TEAM FROM GCC

            February brought a team from Grove Christian Center who did construction on buildings for the Iglesia Cristo Vive and  the church in La Libertad.  Some of the group had never been on a mission's trip before and others the first time to be in Honduras.  There was much accomplished and the churches were greatly blessed, helped to get ready for more growth       

 SOME TIME OUT FOR REPAIRS

                      April through October, Jhon was in the states.  Son, Mario was there for the first 6 weeks.  This was his first visit.  Jhon ended up with 2 major surgeries and 4 minor surgeries. Valerie was able to spend 4 weeks during his recovery time.  We are both back in Honduras and busy with the work of the ministry.  

                                                                            HELP ON THE NEW FLOOR

            August brought us money to help Pastor Rudolfo to partially put a floor in his church.  It is about one third complete.  All of these churches continue to feed children physically and spiritually with help from FMI .

    

                                                                                       CHRISTMAS FLOAT

            December 3^rd, Family Mission had a float in the Christmas parade in San Pedro Sula.  Jhon and Mario have spent a lot of hours since he returned home getting the float ready. 2 churches sent help to decorate and march. Local companies, individuals and churches provided for the parade float.  We had the only "Christian Theme" float in the parade.  The message proclaimed , JESUS IS THE SAME, HE STILL SAVES, HEALS AND DELIVERS TODAY.

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Christmas Parade

Last Saturday was a big day.  It was the Christmas parade in San Pedro Sula.  This was the second annual parade.  Family Missions was invited by the organizer to be a part of it.  The organizers ask for gifts from the schools and bands that  participate and then give the gifts to Family Missions to give out at our feeding centers.  What a blessing!  We had a float with about 20 people on the float and walking.  There were banners and Spanish children's music.  We had 11 people at the house all day Saturday to decorate the float.  The parade was at 7 pm.  It was a blessing to be able to minister to the people with the message of Jesus Christ.  The majority of our supporters here in San Pedro helped us to get supplies needed for the float.  Praise the Lord for those He has sent to help us.

Saturday's Blessing Named "JIMMY"

Lu 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, 

Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: 

for of such is the kingdom of God.(KJV)

Saturday's story began with my morning walk.  Half way along I noticed a young boy laying on the side walk asleep.  I prayed for him but like the Pharisee I kept going.  I don't carry money while walking so on the way to the house I just kept thinking about this young very dirty, skinny little boy.  My two sons were at the house when I returned so I ask them to go with me and we found the boy had moved from the side walk to under some bushes sleeping.  Most of these children stay awake at night for safety and then sleep during the day out in public.  We ask if he was hungry and his eyes lite up. Our son Mario who had lived on the street many years ago talked with him so he felt more safe coming to the house.  He had some other food someone had bought for him but when he saw Sister Valerie's waffles and eggs he dove right in.  Mario found some of his son's clothes that we keep around the house and Jimmy went to a little room we have to shower and then continue his rest in safety.  He took our cat to sleep with him and said that he would like some more gringo food to eat later.  We will talk more to him about Jesus when he awakes.  Jimmy is our blessing from the Lord today.  So are all our children.

Christmas Parade

Valerie and Laura Rivera are collaborating on a Christmas float for Family Missions that will be in the San Pedro Sula Christmas Parade on Dec. 3rd.  Just about a month away.  Mrs. Rivera is the organizer for the parade and invited Family Missions to join this year.  It will be advertising for our many business sponsors.  It will also remind people of the "REASON FOR THE SEASON".  Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me".  I am not sure how this will all come about but the Lord knows and maybe Valerie also.
We will keep you up on the progress.

Jhon

anniversary

It is not really an anniversary as such but after many dates and goals for Jhon's return to Honduras, he has now been here for one week.  Valerie and Mario kept everything going with great results.  
I thought I could return for a time of just observation but it didn't happen.  Some of the ducks scattered when the plane landed and we are still rounding them up.
Six months is a long time to be away.  We were in touch daily but I still forgot about some of the daily hassles that Val and Mario had to deal with.  I am still learning to walk straight and am slowed using my right hand and arm after the open heart surgery.  I have come a long way from not being able to walk just 5 months ago.  I had good care from professionals, loving friends and family when Valerie had to return to Honduras 3 months ago before I could head for home here.
Some mission business things have had to be worked on and several people have expressed they were glad the I didn't die and leave it all on Valerie.  You don't always know how many things are depending on you until there is a permanent hole or just when you are away for a few months.
God has been merciful to me, Valerie and to our family.  Also the mission continues and has new opportunities to share the love of Christ.  I have made one visit to the prison and was well received.  What a bunch of special young men and women.  They all wanted me to know how much they were praying for me.  All those praying for us were felt continually.
I am glad to be out of the cold weather just starting in Oklahoma.  The months of very hot weather in Oklahoma were very testy as I was re-cooping.  Here in San Pedro Sula where it is usually hot or hotter, the weather has cooled off some and comfortable.  I am so glad to be back.
Jhon

Jhon

Jhon had surgery on his first eye this morning.  He was in the outpatient about 1 hour.  He called me from home and said he felt fine just tired.  He was going to turn off his phone and rest.  That is the most important is rest to allow his eye to heal.  One more step to getting him back to Honduras.

Update

It has been awhile since I have blogged.  Here is the latest.  I left for Oklahoma on the 22nd of May.  Jhon was needing me there with him after he woke up from the heart surgery.  We landed in Tulsa just hours after the tornado had hit Joplin.  Jhon was a half mile from the hospital that got hit.  We were in the hotel when hail hit.  Our friends from Grove couldn't get to us because of the weather.  They were receiving tornados, rain, and flooding. My first look at Jhon was on Monday.  It was a shock to see him in the hospital.  I don't know if I can explain my feelings.  Jhon spent a month in rehab and then came home to our house in Grove.  He was nauseated a lot of the time and we thought we were looking at a reaction the medication.  He went to have a blood test done on the 19th of July and ended up in the hospital at Grove with emergancy surgery on a twisted bowel.  He was planning on coming back to Honduras with me.  It looks like it will be around the first of September before he can get here. He is back at our house in Grove and having many friends and family checking on him.  God has truly given him his health and given him life.  Thank you all for your prayers.

Praise the Lord

The ventilator tube is gone and so is the feeding tube.  Jhon has been up in a chair.  All of this happened today.  He is a little confused by having been asleep for a week.  He is eating some but not really ready for a big meal.  Praise God for this big step that he has awaken and is going to get stronger and clearer in his mind.   God is so good.

Update on Jhon

Praise the Lord!.  I was just talking to Jhon and his niece was holding the cell phone.  He was trying to talk to me.  He is waking up.  This is a great time.  He is improving.  His chest tubes are out and all that needs is for him to wake up.  God has restored his health and given him life.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Valerie

Update on the Allard's

Jhon has been in the states for the last 4 weeks.  He has been working hard with Mario to get the house ready for me.  This last week, he has been in the hospital.  He went in on Monday with severe pain in his arms and on Thursday had a quadruple bypass.  He has been sedated and on the ventilator since then.  They are working to get him off today or tomorrow.  He was in an atrial fibrillation for a few days.  God woke me up at 11:40 one night commanding his heart to be in a normal rhythm.  I found out the next morning that about midnight, his heart rhythm had changed into a normal rhythm.  Praise the Lord.  Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers.  Audrey-Dawne and I are still in Honduras.  We thank the Lord that we have church family as well as blood relatives that are there beside him when we can't.  Even with him on the ventilator, I have been talking to him and praying the Word over him.  He can't talk back to me but I know that he hears and knows what I am saying. At this point, Audrey-Dawne and I will be going to the states June 4th.  That is our original date to leave.  Audrey-Dawne has finished her PACE's today and we will be doing one day at a time to see what we do.  She still has some other classes to do but they will not be a problem is we need to go earlier.
Thank you again for your prayers.
The Allard's

Update on the Allard's

Wow! It is already over a week since Jhon and Mario went to the states.  They have been busy as when they got up the first morning they were there, there was no water in the house.  A piece just above the faucet has a hole in it.  Jhon thought they would have to get a plumber but Mario fixed it.  The car had to have the mechanic out to check it since the radiator had no water in it.  What a way to be greeted!  Here we celebrated Semana Santa with our son, Garlon and his two boys.  It was a good time for Audrey-Dawne.  Jhon and Mario are finishing up a conference at our church in Grove.  It has been a good conference from all the reports I have been getting.

Just before Mario and Jhon left, they showed a film in the prison to about 90 people.  After the film, 19 people came up and gave their lives to God for the first time.  What a blessing.  The film was The Secret of Jonathan Sperry.  It is really a good message about salvation and living the Christian life.

Tomorrow, I will be teaching the lesson I was going to teach last Sunday.  Being Easter, last Sunday, many of the families go off to someplace to relax.  It may be the river for the day or if a group is going then to the beach but most Sunday Schools close down.  I also didn't have an interpreter as her family has previous plans.  I will be teaching on the resurrection and will have a paper for the children to sign if they really believe that Christ died for them.  It will be a reminder to them of what Christ did for them.  It is a piece of poster board with a cross on it and at the top is the words Cristo murio por mi (Christ died for me).  My goal is when I teach to leave the children with a way to remember what we taught.

Our God is so good.

ANOTHER FIRST TIMER

         One week from tomorrow on the 19th of April our son Mario will be making his first trip to the United States.  He will accompany Brother Jhon to attend the "INTERNATIONAL HARVESTERS 2011 CONFERENCE" at Grove Ok.  It will be hosted by Pastor David Knox and wife Rhonda. www.grovechristiancenter.org   Missionaries and guest speakers are coming from around the world including Nepal and Honduras.  Grove Christian Center has been a center for more than 30 years where missionaries have come and been sent out around the world.  Mario is excited to visit the States and also visit with team members that he met just a couple of months ago that came to work with us here at Family Missions.  Mario and I will also be visiting some of the churches that support FMI's work here in Honduras.  He will also be visiting Branson, Silver Dollar City and some other spiritual sites.  I told him that I was going to weigh him coming and going.  God's favor is on Mario to begin to travel the world for the gospel's sake with signs and wonders.  Pray for him as God opens doors of understanding and directions for the days ahead.

First trip

My First Mission Trip to Honduras February 2011

 Elmeda Matzenbacher

It is so hard to know just where to start.  So many things touched me and blessed me each day.  I loved going to the prison and to see the things that I saw.  The men and women for how long they will be there I don’t know but they were praising God with all their might in spite of where they are.  They were not just smiling and clapping their hands, but they were on fire and passionate in their worship.  We felt that we made a difference and God made a difference in us as well.  It was an answer to my prayer for so long to see hungry people for God.  The last night at the prison I look outside the church and God moved me to reach through the gate to let those outside know that Jesus loved them also.  In me heart I realized that even at our home church there are those outside that need to be touched by the Love of Jesus.

The next day we visited one of the many city dumps where people live and also the projects the mission has that are making a difference in lives.  It was a sad sight but we wanted them to know that we were not just there to give out candy.  We were there because we cared about them.

I had prayed that God would allow me to go somewhere like the places we visited today.   Jhon and Valerie were used by God to answer my prayers.  We visited, Wendy, Gerson, Wendy girl, Bryon and Allan.  What can I say?  Looking at these 3 disabled children was like looking into the face of God.  I prayed that God would reach down and heal.  I will continue to  pray and believe for these healing.

Audrey- Dawne is the 11 year old granddaughter being raised by the Allards and she is full of life and personality.  I can see her doing drama and reaching the lost for Jesus.  She kept me laughing with her humor.  Mario (a son), Arnold (a young helper), Blanca, Jose and Andres blessed me and they are now my family forever. I will be praying and supporting them to the best of my ability.

Jhon and Valerie are true servants of the Lord and pulled in so many directions with people needing help, answering questions, wanting money exchanged, preparing food and help with the phone to keep us in contact with friends and family back in the states.

I want to say thank you to all the team for everything that you put aside and supplied to make this trip.  God sees everything and will someday  To Jhon and Valerie, my prayer is don’t give up or get weary and to rest in Him.

I will not forget my first trip to Honduras and yes, I will be back.  God Bless you and family

Praise the Lord

Our son, Mario, went to Tegucigalpa to get a visa.  Hallelujah!  He received his visa.  He will receive the total information next week when he gets his passport back.  He is on his way to the states with Jhon to learn about the ministry up there.  Thank you for all of your prayers.

Children's ministry

A wonderful Sunday Children's ministry.  We were at La Libertad and San Manuel with a total of 100 children.  Our lesson was on Reflecting the light of Jesus.  We made foil stars to remind the children to reflect the love of Christ.  After the craft, the children had a good meal and drink.  At La Libertad, Pastor Tercero had several young men that were listening to the lesson for the children.  He ministered to them and prayed with them for salvation.  These will be the nucleus of a class for young men. We were able to use the tables that were made by Family Missions for the two churches.

March 24 Ministry update

To give some of you who may never have met us a brief background.  We have been in Honduras for over 24 years.  We started on the Island of Roatan and was there for 7 years.  We started a Christian School out there with 20 students.  That school is still going.  We moved to San Pedro Sula and worked with some churches.  We started feeding children about 16 years ago.  We are now working with churches to meet the needs of needy children with a good meal and the Word of God taught to them.  We also work in the prisons of Honduras visiting the prisoners and encouraging those who are Christians.  We take food into the prisons for the prisoners and the guards.  It is important to show  the love of Christ with both teaching and actions.