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.