The summer season ended with a BANG!  For months we have been praying for the completion of roofs on the ministry grounds.  A new roof for the hospital, preferably one that didn't have 100+ leaks, a roof for the missionary house for our family, and a roof for the little building close to the hospital that we affectionately call "the snack shack". 

God answered above and beyond all we could ask or imagine.  In a matter of three weeks time in August all THREE roofs were completely finished.  It is nothing short of a miracle.  Knowing where we live and the logistics involved it is a HUGE miracle!  Can you say with me, "nothing is too big for OUR GOD"?!

On August 8th, Healing Place Church and their group of 15 men hit the ground running.  They arrived late and were up working before the sun was shining.  They began ripping off  the old leaky roof from the hospital and putting on the beautiful new metal roof.  They had five days to put take off the old and put on the new, a considerable project considering that the building has over 6,000 sq. ft. and much of the wood substructure had termite damage that needed replacing.  But God was in the house, and this incredible roofing team FINISHED THE JOB IN TWO DAYS!!  On the third day they began tackling the roof on our house.  The team decided to give up their free day at the beach, the normal way to spend the last day in the country, so they could work on our house one more day.  Day #5 left the house about 70% finished and we were ecstatic.  These guys were our heroes!

            


Another week of prayer and a phone call to our good friend Brenda Jones of  Life Givers International.  We begged her to send us some of the guys who put the roof on our dormitory building last year.  Three days later she had three guys on a plane headed to Honduras!  Kenny, Archie and Travis worked for three days and completely finished our house!  Three more heroes to add to our growing list, not to mention Ms. Brenda!

            
                                                            
More prayer and one more building to roof.  We had the left over supplies needed and desperately wanted to get the snack-shack roofed before the heavy rains began.  I mentioned it at our women's Bible Study and a friend working with the orphanage in Urraco, Give Hope 2 Kids, suddenly said she would send her husband to see us.  Four days later he's here and working on the third and final roof.  Ten hours later we have our third hero, Jared Tippy, plus his helpers from Rio Viejo, Jacob and Misael Urbina.

                                                   
We are celebrating and praising God for his incredible goodness.  "Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine... to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

 "A good measure,  pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. "

 That's how our God blesses.

        

We were starting to think that all of our remaining summer teams were going to cancel due to the political unrest in our country, but God gave us a breath of fresh air brought by a team from Seacoast Church in South Carolina. Although the team only consisted of 6 people, the dining room of the dorm was once again filled with laughter and love. 

        

Jubilee Church fromDaphne, Alabama spent a Holy Spirit packed week with us in early July. Their 3part team of medical personnel, community educators and detail mindedconstruction workers catapulted us into the next level of service. Despite theresonating political humm in the background Jubilee served it up Jesus Styleand put the "flex" in flexibility. 

       

They painted, decorated,doctored, organized and sawed their way through the week so quickly that whenthe time came we were not ready for them to leave. The medical team helped usnavigate through a normal week of clinic and sort though tons of donated medicinesand supplies. The community education team painted and redecorated the RioViejo Kindergarten. They also taught healthy eating classes and brought theparable of the lost sheep to life by performing a skit to tell of God'sunfailing love for his people. The all-star construction team put the finishingtouches on the second story veranda by custom building and installing screenwindows, photo-cell flood lights, hooks for hammock chairs, and sealing ourstone staircase. They also built and installed screen doors and windows for theintern housing, saving them from the heat and the bugs in one fell swoop!

                                                   

The whole team hiked 2hours out into the thick jungle, crossing 4 rivers and 7 creeks to reach avillage never before visited by a doctor. The hike was absolutely breathtaking,both in beauty and in level of difficulty. We all became a part of the medicalteam that day as we ministered to close to 100 people who had been waiting atthe school house since the early morning. The education team performed theparable of the lost sheep and taught the hygiene-healthy eating lessons toyoung and old alike. 

       

The Holy Spirit showedup mightily in our times of devotion and led us to finally dedicate thedormitory to the service of our Lord. God moved in the hearts of everyonepresent and called one man to be baptized here in Honduras. At the baptismalservice 17 people came forward to commit or recommit their lives to the Lord,two of which were our Sam and Rachel. 

                                                          

What an incredible timefor us as a ministry! We can't wait to see what God has in store for thiscountry and the people of the Cangrejal River Valley. We firmly believe thatGod has special plans for the Honduran people and we thank Pastor Rife foranswering God's call to come and serve with us. God continues to move mightilyin this country, and we intend to bring Him all the glory as the internationalcommunity looks on. Stand with us in prayer that God's will is done in thiscountry and in all of His creation. 

For a video slide show of their time with us at: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1176142489862!

 

        

In June, we had 2 weeks of medical mahem as a team from Lee University brought the thunder! We saturated the area with medical coverage by hosting brigades in 7 different villages, including a 2 night, 3 day stay in Las Minas. It was incredible to finally see medical, dental, optical, and community education all going at the same time. Their team compriesd of Lee students, alumni practitioners, faculty and family was an incredible work force. We were able to dig-in and minister to many of the hurting people of our area. 

        

In June we had the pleasure of hosting a medical team from Westmore Church of God in Cleveland, TN. At the same time we had the opportnuity to welcome two nurses from another team visiting in La Ceiba and a couple of old friends (and now RNs) Doug and Pam Lolley. It was incredible to see how God made a way for each one of the group members to find a way to Honduras specifically for that week. 

        

With all of the media attention that Honduras is receiving this past week, we wanted to give everyone an update. The government in Honduras is going through a challenging time, as the struggle to remain a democratic nation has become the primary topic of conversation. Here in Rio Viejo, you wouldn't even know there was a problem except for all of the people talking about the situation.