2018 Here We Come! December Newsletter!

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Dear C4C Supporters,
Happy Celebrate Jesus’ Birthday Day!
This month is the school maintenance month. We have been repairing desks, tables, windows, etc and painting. Please pray that we can find and repair the few minor leaks in the roof.
In January Jamie will begin accepting applications for the open positions we have for new students. Then she will do the testing. As you may remember, we require that the students can read and write in Spanish before we start teaching them English.
In January Jamie will also do the final preparations of the theme of how she will be teaching at the start of the year. Last year she taught the armor of God per Ephesians 6, the fruit of the Spirit per Galatians 5 and the Creation as per Genesis 1 through 2:2.
God willing we will begin the new school year on February 1st.
The court boys Bible study continues to go well. A few weeks ago I started stepping up our talks to include the question “What are you going to do with what I gave you?” I’ve been explaining what it takes to be saved and how to know if you are indwelled with the Holy Spirit for months now.
I continue to hear responses like “I’m not ready yet and I need to get some things right in my life first”.
Of those that tell me they have accepted Christ, only a few have professed their faith through water baptism. When I press the boys on this the most common response is the “I haven’t got my life right yet” response.
Please join us in our prayer that these boys will truly understand and decide to truly stand for Christ.
Last month I reported we were raising funds to send Maynor (pronounced Minor) to school to complete high school. Praise God, for we received the commitments for funding that is needed. A big thank you to those that God led to donate to Maynor’s education.
Jamie and I have lots of things God has put on our hearts and in our minds for 2018. Please pray that we have clear discernment of His will in the coming year.
Again, as we wrote to you last month, as you are winding up your 2017 year we want to encourage you to reflect on how God has worked in your life this year. What has He been preparing you for? Are you open to the opportunities He is putting before you? Please be in prayer about what is from Him and what a distraction.
Reflect on the fact that God is calling. Are you willing? Will you serve Him in ways that you have not thought of before? He is asking you to step out in faith to something He has laid on your heart? Will you stand in the gap?

 

Always, In Him, Ron and Jamie

A Much Needed Break in the Heat

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Care4Communities

 

Praise God, the rainy season is here.  The last few nights we have not even used the fan at night; and we have actually had to start using a thin blanket later in the night.  By mid January we will most likely be saying “enough with the rain”, but for now it’s “Yeewho!”  As you can see boys still play even in the rain.

The wood decking between the court and the school has been completed.  Wow, what a wonderful improvement. Poco-o-poco (little-by-little) the C4C property is improving in functionality.  Each improvement results in cultivating a better teaching environment.

Due to some continuing minor vandalism, we hired a watchie for just over two months.  This was a good thing for two specific reasons.  Good because, with a watchie, the vandalism immediately stopped.  It was also good because it provided income to a local that really needed the work.

During the time we had the watchie we were able to find and hire a local contractor to install three strands of barb wire along the top of the fence that surrounds the school and court.  This was good for similar reasons.  It provided work for locals and it secured the property.  While it ended the need for a watchie it also allows us to use those funds for other needs.

The Honduran school year is nearing its end for 2017.  Most schools will end their year by mid November.  Casa de Luz ends its year on November 30.  Therefore, at Casa de Luz, Jamie and Ivonne have begun preparing the students for the year-end presentation to their parents and siblings.  Please pray for Casa de Luz.  Pray that the students are prepared for their year-end testing and that each is prepared to display what they’ve learned in the presentation.

A couple of months ago Jamie took on a private student (Maynor).  She’s only done this once before.  Many of you know her first private student, German (pronounced Herman).  German has gone on to continue improving his English which has led him to much better jobs that help him give more support to parents and siblings.

 

 

As a policy, Jamie normally does not do private students, mainly because she just doesn’t have the time. Maynor (pronounced Minor), like German, is an exception.

Jamie and I both have learned the hard lesson of allowing too many “good works” into our lives.

The number of worthy needs on this island literally can be overwhelming.  It really takes the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern which ones to do and which ones to say no to.

The result of over committing to too many needs results, eventually, in frustration, exhaustion and in some cases total burn out.

Fortunately Jamie and I have a good support system.  Most importantly people pray for us.  We have friends in the States and friends here that pray and lend godly council to us which greatly helps us to better discern God’s will.

As a result, Casa de Luz has experienced another successful year of God’s Word being taught through English.  Relationships have grown and the fruit of the Spirit has been practiced.

Concerning the Court Boys, the Court Boys Bible Study is continuing to evolve.  Many boys are regulars and there is a continual rotation of new boys.  Boys, and young men, that are new players on the court.  Many are new to either the island or the Colonia.  Some are new to both.

As you are winding up your 2017 year we want to encourage you to reflect on how God has worked in your life this year.  What has He been preparing you for?

God is still calling.  Are you willing?  Will you serve with us through joining a mission team, praying, financially supporting the ministry and/or missionaries?  Will you stand in the gap?

Always, In Him, Ron and Jamie

Obedience, Children’s Day Prep, and the Battle Within

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Dear C4C Supporters,

We have had another interesting month of our serving in the Great Commission in Roatan.

The Court Boy’s Bible Study (CBBS) is continuing to bring boys back to hear and learn more about salvation through Jesus Christ. Much of what we teach is new to these boys. Most have only heard salvation through Jesus Christ through works. It doesn’t matter how well-meaning the teaching is, if it is not in the bible it’s not Christ.

Please pray for these boys. As I make eye contact with the boys during the study I can see that they are listening; they are trying to come to terms with the battle within them. We constantly talk about how each has to choose and that, once they have truly chosen, no one can tell them they are not saved because only God knows a person’s heart.

When our volunteer, Stephanie, was here, one of the things she did was she taught the Casa de Luz students some new songs. Our songs help the kids learn English but some of them only teach English. As you know, English and Soccer are just the vehicles we are using to teach Christ.

That is what is neat about the new songs, they are in English but they are about Christ and Christ-like behavior.  Thank you Stephanie.

This week we started planning for Children’s Day. It’s a very popular holiday in Honduras. It’s a fun day for all. This year we are celebrating it on September. A team from Magnolia Baptist Church of Anaheim, Ca. will be here that week and will be helping us with the event.

Praise God, the installation and connection of the school’s new cistern is almost complete. We received the funds from this project as a gift from the Honduran Fellowship of Missionaries and Ministries; which Jamie and I belong to. It is through our membership with them that we obtained our missionary residency status.

The court boys did the hard labor of digging the hole for the cistern. Our friend, Robert, helped us with connecting the rain gutter drain to the cistern. I was able to connect the pvc piping from the cistern to the tank on tower. Robert is going to help me install the pump and wire it to our breaker box. We hope to complete this in the few days.

We had some guests (The Trawicks) come to Casa de Luz yesterday (Thursday). They put on a puppet show that explained 1 Samuel 15:22  “ Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (the learned the shortened version) , It was obvious the kids were listening intently and there was a lot of excitement as they got into the performance. Praise God for continually providing new ways for the kids to learn Christ-like behavior.

God is still calling. Are you willing? Will you serve with us through joining a mission team, praying, financially supporting the ministry and/or missionaries?  Will you stand in the gap?

Always, In Him, Ron and Jamie

These Last 5 Years!

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Recently Jamie and I were reminiscing about our time thus far serving the Lord here in Roatan.  All the people we have met.  All the people we have developed relationships with.  All the people who have come on short term missions to serve along side of us and all the other missionaries that we have collaborated with in the Great Commission.

As all who serve the Lord, we have had many trials and tribulations.  Way more so we have the blessings of being here to experience not only what the Lord is doing through us but through those who serve with us and those that we are here to serve.  AND WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN!

When we are asked the inevitable questions concerning how many salvations, baptisms, re-dedications and life changing experiences there have been, our answer is “Come see”.  If you have, come see again.  If you can’t come and see for yourself, ask those who have what they have seen.  We don’t keep ‘numbers’ of what God is doing, we witness it.

Those of us who serve here full-time and those who come on short term missions are just one part of the Body of Christ.

We cannot serve as God intends without those of the Body that pray for us, or those that provide the financial support for the material items, or the support of the missionaries.

Has all this made a difference?  Has the Kingdom of believers increased?  Are people being discipled in how to live Christ-like lives?  Come See.  Come see again, or ask someone who’s been.
God is calling.  Are you willing?  Will you serve with us through joining a mission team, praying, financially supporting the ministry and/or missionaries?  Will you stand in the gap?

Always, In Him, Ron and Jamie
Viviendo el Sueno.

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The long wonderful winter we have so enjoyed here on the island is pretty much over.  It was definitely the nicest winter we’ve experienced in the five years we have live here.  As of today we are still using a blanket when we sleep at night.

Normally from about mid-March until about mid-October it is too hot to sleep with even a sheet over you.  When the power goes out and the fans stop, you literally just sweat.

So thank you God for such a comfortable winter here in Roatan.  We will make it through another summer, God willing. And we will enjoy the heat for we always have our joy.  And we know that in just seven months it will be winter again.

A cute picture of our new students

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Our middle class has the majority of our new students so I took a cute picture of them today. 23 in one class!! new school year pics 2 new school year pics

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Well today was the first full day of school. Yesterday we registered all the kids and gave them their school supplies and today we had class.  It was a really nice day. It is sweet to see the look on the new kids faces when they aren’t sure what to do (English and Spanglish only in class). They either ask a friend or follow along.  We have a few “regular” kids that haven’t showed up yet but we will see if they come next week.  It was also nice today to see tons of boys on the court. New faces and “old” faces.  The weather was nice today to play on the court (no rain).  One of our friends, Esteban, has been building relationships with some of the court kids and taking a truckload of them to play on the grass field in Coxen Hole.  It is quite a treat when they get to go.  Our verse for the next two weeks is: Esten siempre alegres, oren sin cesar . 1 Thess 5:15-16 Rejoice always, pray continually. Have a good weekend.

Cast your burden on the Lord , and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalms 55:22 ESV

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And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; – Philippians 1:9

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January 25, 2017

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There are so many tales I could tell about our adventure being Missionaries here.  How five years ago, come February 25th, Jamie and I started another adventure in our life together.
We could tell tales of how we’ve struggled together through trials and tribulations; or how we’ve missed so many of the people we left in the States.
We could tell tales of strained relationships with other brothers and sisters in Christ; or failed projects that we’ve had to let go off.
We could tell tales of financial difficulties; or enlighten you on what it’s like to lay in a pool of your own sweat late at night when the electric has gone out; again.
Praise God that none of the above holds any weight compared to the blessings God has so generously, graciously, mercifully and so wonderfully laid upon us.
Over the last five years we have been literally saved from ourselves.  Saved from dwelling in hardships, failures and lost focus.
Jamie and I can truly testify how God has, not only sustained us, but has revealed to us the joy of our salvation.
How can we describe what it is like when God gives us glimpses of how the work He does through us changes not just the lives of those we serve but our lives as well.
We tell you the truth, serving others; particularly those who have what the world calls very little, has such amazing results.  Results that we get to witness, first hand!