Monday, June 18, 2012

2012 - Week 23 & 24 Photo Review


Cathy, Mare, Nyssa and Katie
 Week 23 saw some special visitors to the Ranch. Cathy and Katie Knepper traveled from their ministry in El Salvador to spend a few days with us. Katie, 12 years old, has an interest in horses (a natural rider according to Mare) and the mother-daughter pair relished the time with each other, our kids and animals. It was great to see God use his creation to renew the hearts of two of His servants. Dios les bendiga, Knepper ladies!

Katie enjoys brushing Zoeva & Mare takes the girls out for a ride.



Crossing Pedestrian Bridge in Tegus



Dona Rosa joined Crisna for the raised be garden project /
Leandro and Gerson assemble the divisions

Crisna's Garden - 12 squares / Zanahoria (Carrots)
PRAY for the project; attendance can be spotty.
   



An hour and a half in line to "actualize" our three phone numbers;
Honduras recently passed a law that all phones, including pre-paid phones needed to be registered.


14 year old Crisna and me at birthday party (Photo by Naomi)

Loving-correction is a challenging thing, whether it is in Honduras or the US. After months of working with Crisna at various RO4Y activities the Lord impressed upon my heart to go a little deeper with this young woman and talk about some areas she can mature in. Well, as you can imagine, Crisna wasn't to excited to hear me encourage her to be less critical and more encouraging. Sure, she has a tough life living with her single, alcoholic mom, but if Jesus lives inside her, He wants to be seen in her actions and speech more often. 

As what happens with most RO4Y kids, once confronted with sin, they vow never to come back to our church again. Thankfully, after a few home visits, including a birthday party, Crisna hasn't fulfilled this vow. In fact, she's been coming to more activities. Without a dad in her life, I felt it my responsibility to exhort her and despite her first reaction, I know she is grateful for the fatherly advice. PRAY for God to continue to soften and transform Crisna and all the kids we minister too.


Rosibel and Nexser match English and Spanish phrases during English class
PRAY for continued relationships to be built between RO4Y & the community.


Girl's Bible Study - Gate Scavenger Hunt:
Yaime, Dania, Lisy, Karen, Tatiana, Carla
Jesus said "I am the gate" John 10:6-10
These girls have all started coming to the girls study
as a result of VBS and English Class Outreach in the elementary school
Left: Darlin and sister / Right: Eva and Yerlin
PRAY for spiritual growth within the girls and Ilsy

Studying John 10 with the girls and Ilsy (walking with blue shirt)




Family hike with my girls: Mare, Tabi and Nomi
(Tobi's riding the photographer's back)
Week 24 was Student Week in Honduras - a.k.a. no school classes.
Torn between doing more with the kids or less,
I decided to take a little rest myself from normal
RO4Y activities to be with the family.


Worship leaders in the making:
Naomi on vocals, Tabi on guitar and Mare on smiles!
PRAY for the salvation of the Beard kids
and wisdom in raising our kids to love Jesus.


Picking mora (black berries) from our mora bushes! 

Timely picking for my father's day treat the next afternoon!
Mango-Mora Ice Cream Pie! Yummy!


Mare & baby #4 at 21 Weeks
PRAY for Mare. She has crossed the half-way point in this pregnancy!


Douglas avoids the wall of blue midfield, Eric and Michel
I set up a "friendly" game, but the big boys' (ages 13 - 15)
opponents didn't show up! So, we had a full uniform scrimmage.
It was a great training exercise 
and the little boys (ages 8-12) tied in their game against some orphans (3 - 3). PRAY for this outreach to not only create great futbolistas, but servants of Jesus!

Ayli kicks a goal kick and Gerson throws the ball in

Josue, his first friendly game with us, winds up to strike the ball past Humberto;
Elam throws precaution (and decency) to the wind while relieving himself.
Boys will be boys, but prayerfully will become men of God!


After nearly a month with minimal (at best) attendance,
a record attending group of teens followed up the theme of "God works all things for good"
by viewing the film "Soul Surfer", the true story of Christian teen-surfer Bethany Hamilton.
Left to right: Maria, Eyli, Jose Miguel, Kevin, Tani and Lesly with the girls.
(Leandro, first timer, and Crisna were also present, but not in photo)

Desvio (Fork in the Road) to Ojojona



The Word of God continues to be the focal point of my time with Oscar,
studying together at least once a week.
We spent well over an hour discussing 1 Timothy 1:12-17
PRAY for Oscar's spiritual maturity & unity in our relationship

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.


15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NLT)



Until next time...

























1 comment:

Josy Tarantini said...

I love that the girls' Bible study has been going so well!!! And everything else is awesome too! Tobi is getting so big!!