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| 2015 Taller CDP Trade School Students |
Arriving
in February of 2010 we focused on establishing our home as well as beginning
outreaches and activities for the community.
We
have now completed five seasons of ministry at the Ranch and have been blessed
to be flexible and sensitive to the leading of the Spirit in how we minister
the Word of God into the lives of those we serve. A ministry season is November
– August. Ministry slows down in September and October because these are the
heaviest months of rain.
Guitar
and youth study have continued to be a staple of the ministry, but the original
Sunday service has been divided into a Friday afternoon children’s study and a
Wednesday afternoon adult Bible study. We have also expanded the fútbol/soccer
club outreach into two divisions: elementary (8 to 12-years-old) and high
school (13 to 16-years-old). We will be starting our fourth tournament this
school break in December. Lucinda has started teaching English in the local
elementary school twice a week to keep “a door open” to new relationships with
kids and their parents in the village. We have also incorporated the horses
into riding lessons during Sunday school, as well as inviting some local
orphans for lessons during the school break. In 2015 a new round pen and riding ring were constructed and we are excited to see these "tools" used in outreach/ministry. Three of our newest ventures have
been a community square-foot-gardening program with some youth, a form of
micro-lending as we help some local families get over the hump to complete
needed building projects and a trade school emphasizing arts and crafts with young adults 12 - 25 years of age.
Every
activity at the Ranch includes prayer and Bible study because it is our desire
to show that Jesus wants to be included and leading in every aspect of our
life!
We have so many more plans
and goals to improve the spiritual and physical lives of our community, the capital (Tegucigalpa) and
beyond, but wait on the Lord for his timing and more help. God has also raised
up local leadership to help in RO4Y activities. It is our heart to disciple and
equip these young, Honduran-Christian adults to be leaders in their community
for Christ.
We also actively involve
short-term mission teams into the long-term vision of discipleship. So far, larger
teams offer help in a variety of outreaches (building/work projects, Vacation
Bible School and health seminars) and on-site building/work projects, while
smaller teams offer assistance in daily life and ministry at the Ranch. Rancho Oasis also has a goal to help prepare Christian servants for full-time service in an internship program lasting three months. RO4Y interns assist in the daily
functions of the Ranch, as well as use some of their specific gifts and talents
for the Lord. (For example, flute/recorder classes, girl's art class and a girl's soccer team.) The possibilities are truly endless!
Life
is challenging in Honduras, but we are excited to see God working here.
(Updated August 2015)
(Updated August 2015)
