…and then God
/in Care4Communities /by The C4C BoardWe can’t believe it is already October! It’s been quite a bit of time since our last C4C blog post and an update is long overdue. So much has happened, God has been moving and we are just trying to keep up.
In March, our long-time missionaries Ron and Jamie moved on to their new assignment. Care4Communities grew a lot under their service and we are thankful for the time, heart, energy and talent they invested into Casa de Luz and La Canchita. May God bless them and their efforts as they continue to serve Him in their new adventure in Costa Rica. We know there are many kids in La Colonia who will miss them greatly. As exciting as this change was, it left us without a teacher and sports manager. Fortunately, Hector continued with C4C and his years under Ron’s mentorship prepared him to step up and take on the full responsibility of La Canchita. As for a teacher for Casa de Luz, we weren’t sure what we were going to do. The thought of closing the school even crossed our minds and we continued to pray and pray and pray…..and then God. His timing is always perfect. Within days of closing the school, Ms. Lyz, who was teaching English at the church across the street, came to the school for a visit. Lyz lives locally in La Colonia, is active in her church, and learned English when she was attending the University on mainland Honduras – we had our teacher! We are super excited that both La Canchita and Casa de Luz, is now locally Honduran lead. This is something we had hoped and dreamed of for “maybe someday”….well that “someday” has arrived.
In March we also developed a new partnership with the church across the street. Another dream come true. The mission of C4C is to share the love of Jesus with the island of Roatan through sports and education, but as the children and teenagers come to the loving acceptance of Jesus Christ, they need a church family to plug into, which we will be able to put them to.
The subsequent months have been ones of transition as we continue to develop a rhythm working with our new partners and leaders. Ms. Lyz is flourishing as our English teacher and Hector has been pouring himself into his community and the court boys as a newly married man (a great story we will share in a future post.) Now we look forward with great expectation as God continues to show us what He has next in the C4C story. Some days we wait, some days we take baby steps, some days feel like leaps, but He is always moving and in control as this is His mission and we are all His people. In the words of Ron and Jamie “God is still calling. Are you willing? Will you serve with us through joining a mission team, praying, financially supporting the ministry? Will you stand in the gap?
With love,
Gloria and the C4C Board
2018 Here We Come! December Newsletter!
/in Care4Communities, Ron & Jamie McDonald /by Jamie & Ron McDonaldDear 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
/in Care4Communities /by Jamie & Ron McDonald
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
/in Care4Communities, Ron & Jamie McDonald /by Jamie & Ron McDonaldDear 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!
/in Care4Communities, Ron & Jamie McDonald /by Jamie & Ron McDonaldRecently 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.