Honduras: Day 3

I didn't really expect today to be as powerful as yesterday, but I was wrong.
We arrived at Compassion Project No. 283 today and received a warm greeting. The children sang for us and we had an opportunity to hear from a Project Coordinator. A Project Coordinator is responsible for 15 Projects. Each project has an average of 200 children. I can't fathom the magnitude of her job, but she is passionate about reaching children for Jesus.
We served the children a meal and then we were able to bless this church by painting two of their classrooms. We had a ministry moment to pray for the pastor and be a support in some really difficult times. We also learned that there are 19 children in Project 283 that do not have sponsors.
Another woman asked us to pray for her. Her 15 year old son has left home, become involved in drugs and running from people who want to kill him. She has many other needs in her family. She believes in the power of prayer.
At the end of the day we visited another family in their home. This family has 7 children and lives in extreme poverty. When we asked how we could pray for them the wife asked that we pray that her husband would come to know the Lord. It was a moving time together.
Over and over we are reminded that only the hope of Jesus can change the lives of these children and families.
Compassion provides opportunities for children to learn about the hope of Christ and then they take this Hope back home to their families. Only Jesus can satisfy their soul!
Please pray for sponsors for the children in Honduras.

Honduras: Day 1 and 2

Let me begin by saying that I am already a day behind... sorry!
We are here this week with an awesome group of people who are anxious to touch the lives of children and churches through ministry.
Day 1:
After landing and getting checked into our hotel, we went to lunch where we met our Leadership Development Student, Milcian.
Milcian is a 19 year old college student. She is in Compassion's Leadership Development Program. Our church now supports Milcian as she strives to complete her education and then have an impact on the people of her country. She knows and serves the Lord in her local church and was a Compassion child for many years. We all fell in love with her.
We were able to take her shopping for school clothes after lunch. She was so excited when we told her, especially because her suitcase, full of clothes, had been stolen recently.
Day 2:
We started early this morning. We went to Compassion Project #283. What a blessing! We were warmly greeted by the pastor and his wife and the Project Director. There was a sweet spirit in that place. When we arrived we were surprised to find that the child we sponsor (Fernando) was waiting at the entrance for us. We first met Fernando and his mom, Lesley, 2 years ago when we made our first trip to Honduras. He was so excited and it was a long time before he would leave Ed's lap. Angel Padilla and Mildred Ashworth also met their sponsored child. We also met the sponsored children of Steve and Kim Greenwell and Fred and Karen Miller. It was an incredibly special time for all of us. We helped serve lunch to the children, washed dishes, helped shampoo the hair of many children, played soccer and built some shelves for one of the classrooms.
After eating lunch we were able to go into the homes of some of the children. We visited Fernando's home and got to see his mom, Lesley, again. What a sweet reunion we had. Lesley and I bonded almost immediately the first time we met. She is so precious. She loves the Lord and loves her children. We cried together over the recent loss of her dad and I shared with her about my own dad's battle with cancer. We all gathered in their very small, one room home, and prayed for Lesley and for each of her children. My heart was overwhelmed with the poverty but vividly reminded of the reality the Christ brings hope to the darkest places.
There are no words to describe the blessings we received today - the many children we loved on - the prayers prayed on behalf of the work being done by the pastor and church - and the love of many project workers who give of their time to teach the love of Jesus to over 200 children in this one project.
I will post more pictures tomorrow. My camera and I were separated for a day but should be reunited tomorrow.
Please pray for our time here. Pray that God would use us to share His love and joy and that pastors and churches would be encouraged by our visit.

They shall walk and not be faint

Four years ago on this day, the Lord supernaturally touched me and healed me from severe pain and complications following my knee replacement. Today I stand to give Him praise and all the glory. For you see, my healing was never about me. I did not deserve to be healed. I could not do enough to earn healing. I was not anymore special in God's eyes than anyone else in need of healing. My healing was simply a means to share with others the wonder and marvelous deeds of our Almighty God - our Jehovah Rapha.
So this morning as I was walking, I was reminded again of what God can do in a life - of the power of HIS touch. I was thankful for the ability to walk and not grow faint. I will be faithful to tell others of my great and mighty God.

20 Years!

We thought we felt it, when God called us to First Baptist Church, Magnolia 20 years ago. It was the feeling of roots settling deep. Here we are 20 years later and we are so incredibly thankful that God has allowed us the gift of FBCM for all these years.
In 20 years, personally, we have seen our children graduate from high school, go to college, get married and have babies (lots of them). We have seen Jess totally grow up and now she is a junior in college. In our church, we have celebrated births and watched those little ones grow up. We have mourned the deaths of many friends and watched God bring healing to broken hearts.
We have seen children come to know Jesus and grow up to love God and serve Him. We have watched our church campus renovate and expand and then watched as the buildings were filled with people from all over our area. God is so good!!!!
I have loved watching my husband lead and pastor and pray over this church. He loves this church with all of his heart.
I am thankful for friends that have loved us unconditionally and for a church that has allowed us to live out our lives before them as openly and honestly as we knew how. Not all churches will allow that. FBCM is a special place.
Thank you for loving my husband and my children and embracing us fully. We are honored to be called your Pastor and family.
We can't wait to see what God has in store for the years beyond. We want to fight the good fight and run the race well.

Planned Parenthood Director Now Stands for Life!

Happy Birthday to my 21 year old daughter!!!!

Jessica came into our lives as a wonderful surprise - an unexpected blessing from God. We have never stopped thanking God for her and for revealing Himself through this amazing plan.
Jess you complete our family - we can't imagine life without you. I have loved watching you grow into a woman who loves God and is not afraid to be what God designed you to be.
I am so proud of you and proud to be your mom!
I love you more!!!
mom

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing father ever - my husband, Ed. After loving and serving God, his family has always been his priority. He has shown an unselfish love toward our children that pointed them to Christ. He is incredibly generous and nothing brings him greater joy than to be with his family. Thanks, Babe. You have been a great role model and will leave a legacy of faith through your children and grandchildren.

Happy Father's Day to my sons - Chris, Brian, Robbie and Rusty. What a blessing to have sons (I claim Rusty as a son) that love the Lord, their God, with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. This love for the Lord reveals itself in the way they love and parent their children. We love you guys and can't begin to put into words how proud we are of you all.