Tonight Dr. and Betty Jo Green hosted a dinner for those who have visited us on short-term missions. There were members of several groups and it was such great fellowship as we reminisced about the people and events. As we told Dr. Green, they are always welcome at the mission center; people have even asked "when is Dr. Green coming back?" At the end of the meeting we had a very special prayer time; it was a wonderful evening.
We are in the countdown now, as we will be leaving in just a few days; on Wednesday. As always, so much happens these last few days and we have trouble keeping up with everything. Last night we were invited to a fish fry with old friends from years back who have maintained an interest in Gathering Hearts. We certainly are grateful for all of them, their friendship and their prayers.
This morning I wrote Nicholas and told him to get Marlon back on the job as we will need him to help us with installing the satellite. Also, we have received some starter funds for construction of the dormitory that will allow us to at least break ground. It's not a large amount, but at least it's a start, and hopefully Marlon is available to begin and continue on the project. I also communicated with Jerome Garrett this morning regarding installation of the satellite and told him that Jim Redyke has just installed one. Earlier this week there was an article in the Tulsa World about a massacre that took place in San Pedro Sula, the city where we lived our first 10 years in Honduras. According to the San Pedro newspaper the incident was gang related. The article said a member of one of the gangs stepped into a shoe factory and began shooting, killing 17 people. We have our share of violence here in the U.S. but these acts seem unthinkable. I remember the first time I encountered something like this. Shortly after we arrived in Honduras we went to the youth reformatory one evening to show the Jesus film. I say "reformatory"; it was really a maximum-security prison for adolescents found guilty of murder, robbery, drug trafficking, etc. We were warned of the dangers and had made a plan to be sure that the two most violent gangs, Mara Alvatrucha and Diez y Ocho would not come near each other at any time during the evening. As it turned out, something went wrong, and the two groups began showing up in the cafeteria at the same time. It was too late to change anything so we began to pray our best prayers. God was merciful. It was as if one side of the room could not see the other; as if there were curtains down the middle of the room. Both groups watched the film without even glancing at the other. At the end of the evening there was an altar call and several members of both groups came forward.... nothing short of a miracle.
Tonight we had dinner with Larry and Ruth Ann Wells of First Baptist Church Broken Arrow and with the Brister's from Parkview Baptist Church in Tulsa. Over the years they have been very successful in church planting and church growth in Venezuela. It was they who sponsored Eliezer and Karina Bermudez's visit to our mission center in the springtime to hold pastor training and education sessions. Last night they described to us a plan that Eliezer and his group have developed to evangelize the entire nation of Venezuela. It is incredible. That really typifies something we have had in the back of our minds as we have said on occasion that the pastors are the hope for the future in Honduras. I hope that we can gain from their experience and understanding to begin developing such a plan for Honduras.
Today we picked up an entire load of fabric, some very expensive fabric, from Cisar- Holt, Inc. When I say load, I do mean load! Mary Ann and David Carey had taken all but the front seats out of their van and we filled it up. We are most grateful to Kirk Holt for his generous gift. He is moving his business and has donated decorator fabric and trim to our ministry for the sewing class. As we have said, one of our most important new projects is to begin producing handbags and other accessories to sell here in the United States. This was an important next step in that project.
Tomorrow Cheryl will be meeting with Moe Rouse, an old high school friend of mine from Cincinnati who has remained interested in the ministry.
Nickolas wrote yesterday asking what he should talk about at the Mission Center staff meeting on Thursday. We try to have a luncheon and meeting on the first Thursday of each month. They of course are very interested in our success in getting support while we are in the States. He can tell them that Cheryl has had good succes in generating interest while traveling in KY and OH. As a result of speaking in church and meeting with various individuals, there is a team of physicians and dentists interested in coming, as well as a college and career Sunday school class. She will be returning the first of next week.
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