2012 - Weeks 50 - 52 Photo 'n Prayer Review

WEEK 50

Jon and youth, Crisna.

Visiting kids and their families is an important part of Rancho Oasis and a very cultural practice in Honduras. I'm trying to make it more of a habit, even a lifestyle. I had Naomi accompany me to help have some one-on-one time with my daughter. PRAY for Crisna. Once a faithful 14-year-old, she has decided to abandon all things Rancho Oasis. Why? It is complicated: her father abandoned her years ago and her mother is an alcoholic. She is drawn to the tough love we show her, but can easily be offended when confronted. PRAY for her return.

The roof photo was taken from a family who was asking for financial assistance from the Ranch. Obviously, the roof is way overdue for replacement, but families have a hard time leaping this financial obstacle. Currently the Ranch as a program where families raise 50% of the funds for the roof and the ministry covers the other 50%. This is a big sacrifice for the families, but it instills responsibility and ownership into the work. PRAY for wisdom as we work with families in the community on these 50/50 projects.

Youth Group members meet Poema: Eyli, Marillyn, Tania (w/Poema) and  Lesly.

U14 Filipenses F.C. teammates play a scrimmage match.

The soccer ministry is in full swing this break from school classes. It has been amazing to watch the transformation in character of not only the boys, but Oscar. Oscar has really taken the reigns of assisting me with the boys and is not only thoughtful in his preparation for practice, but prayerful and powerful in his pep-talks. As the boys learn soccer technique and skills, Oscar and I emphasize surrender to Christ and traits such as humility, responsibility and self-control. PRAY that the boys will finish the season strong and that God would spark a desire for Him in their lives! Half-way through the season the U12 boys are in third place of six teams and the U14 teens are in last place. (Hope is not lost as the teens are playing well, but have only tied two games and lost three - each loss by only one goal!)

Naomi and Lucinda, our intern, begin classes.
Naomi is repeating her kindergarten year with an emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic.

Boys in the mid-week Bible study take time to read from the Ranch's new library.

"Which one of these is not like the other?"

Girls from the Friday Bible study hold up their advent decoration of Mary and Elizabeth.
The girls focused on the birth of Christ through the month of December.

Our little-man, Tobias Dayne, celebrates his 2nd birthday on December 14th.

Chocolate-Vanilla Bean Swirl Cake &
Cookie Dough Ice Cream Loaf! Rico/Yummy!!!

                                                WEEK 51

Christmas Dinner of Thanks for:
Oscar and his family (wife Marilyn, mother Katalina and kids Fernando & Genesis)
and Ilsy. PRAISE for God's provision of faithful, local ministry help!

Ilsy celebrates her birthday with a few gifts from her friend, Marillyn.

Tabitha and I received our most recent short-term mission team: Tracy Pepin!
Once out of the airport, we grabbed a bite to eat for lunch at the new mall.

Above: Tracy helps convert shorts into handbags and assists Juan David with his craft during the boys Bible study.

Tracy had a unique experience with us at Rancho Oasis. Unlike larger teams that stay at a retreat center in Ojojona, Tracy lived with us on the Ranch. She was a huge blessing for Marillyn, Lucinda, and the kids & I during her two week stay! 

While reflecting on her week, Tracy wrote:

"God taught me about being a Christian wife and showed me what that looks like. As strange as this must sound, I believe it was much needed. Marillyn taught me a lot about just being a wife, coming alongside Jon and supporting him. He also showed me some of my past that I needed to let go and just give it to God. I feel refreshed and my load has been lifted. Thank you, Jesus."

New Year's Eve day group photo
Tracy's last day at the Ranch 

It is encouraging to know that the Ranch is also a refuge for those who come to serve alongside us. Tracy is a single mom who longs to serve the Lord in an orphanage. PRAY that God will continue to draw the right servants to Rancho Oasis and that he will prepare the larger teams coming in 2013!

The RO4Y Team/Family at El Picachu in Tegus w/ Jesus statue ascending in the background.
The ladies participated in a missionary women's Christmas event and we did a little sight-seeing afterwards.

View of Tegucigalpa from El Picachu.
One day we hope the Ranch will be a refuge for the thousands of young people
in this city of  1.3 million. PRAY for God's timing!

Oscar reads a chapter from the biography of missionary to China, Eric Liddell.

In addition to our weekly Bible studies with the kids, we are taking time to read from a missionary biography. Our desire is to install a passion for serving Jesus in the hearts of the children by helping them learn about average men and women who trusted in God's faithfulness to them. We want the children to have God's heart for the lost and a bigger picture of the world. PRAY for the Lord to grow devoted Christ followers in these studies.

Ilsy reads to the girls from an Amy Carmichael biography, missionary to India.

Oscar prepares the U12 boys soccer team for their match.
The boys tragically lost 3-2 against the first place team after holding a solid 0-2 lead.
It was a good lesson in humility and determination to play until the whistle blows!

Local village scene:
A grandfather of a few of the RO4Y kids shucks corn.
The cobs in the rafters are drying for seed and the pile will be used for consumption.

WEEK 52

RO4Y Intern Lu stands in the midst of our Christmas Community Rummage Sale
As a ministry we choose to sell donated items to encourage financial stewardship and
discourage dependency. Both the community at the ministry are blessed!

As Mare and I prayed about Christmas gifts for the RO4Y faithful, the Lord gave us great wisdom. We had a lot of surplus left over from our previous rummage sales, but we needed a way to "package" the gifts. Mare remembered that there were several school uniform shorts that never seem to sell, so she turned them into handbags with the help of Lucinda and Tracy. They made 16 Christmas bags, so we contacted 16 families who are involved with the ministry and invited them to come the morning of the sale to purchase the bag for L100 (just over $5). Once purchased, they could enter the church and fill the Christmas bag with items from the sale for free! We just asked that the families only take one pair of shoes for those living in their home (not all their cousins, nieces, etc.). It was a wonderful morning and many of the families were very grateful!

Marillyn helps keep Xiomara honest and revises her Christmas bag before she takes it home

Our Christmas morning was simple, but memorable...

We tried out new gadgets, opened stockings and napped!

Finally, after nearly two years of paper work and bureaucracy, we are technically Honduran residents. Well, almost... we get our ID cards this month. Now we need to start Poema's paperwork.

Below: Tabitha is being inscribed into the system with out lawyer, Guillermo.

Ilsy reads to the girls on the Ranch's soccer field.

Oscar and I were encouraged before Saturday's game as the referee, Rafael, preached to the starting line-up about discipline, hope and Jesus Christ. Unexpected, but awesome!

Mare and I enjoyed a nice Italian meal together for her birthday in Tegus.
She is quite the amazing woman!

Then the Lord turned to [Gideon] and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

Judges 6:14-16 (NLT) - emphasis mine.

2012 - Week 48 & 49 Photo 'n Prayer Review

Week 48

Some of our check-in luggage for 5:30 AM departure.

Our return to Honduras was good, but harder than expected. The travel day went relatively smooth both in the US and in Honduras. However, what was unexpected was the cultural shock in returning home. 

PRAISE the Lord for his faithfulness in extending travel mercies.

Our house was in good order (and clean, thanks to Ilsy), but absent was the "new" routine that we developed in the States. Some things we can only experience in the US; like the kids spending time with their Uncle Steve and Auntie Mel. 

PRAY for us as we continue to re-adjust to life at the Ranch.

Our newest intern, Lucinda, went through her initiation travel experience quite well. Her help was immediately noticed (and a blessing), as Tabi got sick on the plane a few times. 

PRAY for Lu as she adjusts to her new home and to her new family!

Ground work with Nyssa; teaching her some manners.

An extra bonus to our return home was the addition of Marillyn's long-time friend and horse buddy, Michele. She worked with the horses every day and was excited to report their intelligence and progress. 

PRAY for our horses and how we can incorporate them more into the ministry. Also, PRAY for an assistant to help Marillyn.

Lu helps inventory books for our new library.

Tobi and Mare give Poema a bath in the kitchen.

One of the many fix-it projects that awaited me upon our return to the Ranch;
 the shower valve leaked and fried the GFI outlet above the sink. Thankfully, damage was minimal.

Ilsy leads the girl's Bible study in some acapela worship

Jon was unable to attend the girl's Bibles study because of errands in Tegus, but he was blessed to return to the Ranch in time to see Ilsy closing the study with some worship. It was awesome to know that the kids were still receiving Bible teaching in our absence. 

PRAY that God will continue to raise up Ilsy & Oscar as well as other local leaders.

Filipenses F.C. U14 team in orange play to a 1 - 1 draw in Ojojona.

Again, it was a blessing to watch Ilsy and Oscar lead the two boys soccer teams during our games on Saturday. Both teams played well, as the day presented many teachable moments. The U12 team scored a goal to tie in the closing moments!

PRAY for this outreach to form not only skilled futbolistas, but men of God.

The crew on the coach

RO4Y Sunset... it is good to be home.

Week 49

Traditional Nativity Scene displayed at a Honduran mall.

This Christmas season we've been reading through a daily advent and craft. It has been fun to see the girl's interest and talent in helping them to know Jesus. (An additional bonus is the use of the material for the Ranch Bible studies). 

Below: Mare and the girls work on a craft of a kings crown based on Isaiah 9 and the girls re-enact Mary's visit to Elizabeth.

PRAY for the Beard kids to know Jesus as savior 

and wisdom for all the adults in parenting them!

We say good-bye at the airport to our first short-term team of one, Michele.

Marillyn watches on to gleam some of Michele's skill at "ground work" with Zoeva.

Oscar, Aylinson and Jon wait at the registrars office for 21 original birth certificates, required for this year's players in the local soccer league. (5 boys were discovered to have been lying about their age last year. No surprise, but still disappointing. Needless to say, most have not returned to the team.)

Lu's Spanish has been improving leaps and bounds as she is forced to work with Ilsy and the kids in the only language they know. 

PRAY that we will all communicate clearly (both speaking and listening)!

Jon and the girl's tried to attend the local elementary school 6th grade graduation ceremony, but we ran late. (Jon had to run an urgent errand to get gasoline for the generator because the power was off.) We fortunately made it at the end to take a few shots with some of Jon's English students and Rancho Oasis faithful: Daniela on the left and the beloved Nexser on the right. (We joined Nexser and his family for lunch!)

PRAY for wisdom in knowing how to work with these graduates. They must wait until they are 14 before they can start high school (if they even go, most don't because of increased cost). This presents a unique window for Rancho Oasis to work with these kids.  

The people who walk in darkness 

    will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,

    a light will shine.

 

You will enlarge the nation of Israel,

    and its people will rejoice.

They will rejoice before you

    as people rejoice at the harvest

    and like warriors dividing the plunder.

 

For you will break the yoke of their slavery

    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.

You will break the oppressor’s rod,

    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.

 

The boots of the warrior

    and the uniforms bloodstained by war

will all be burned.

    They will be fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us,

    a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

    And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

His government and its peace

    will never end.

He will rule with fairness and 

justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

    will make this happen!

Isaiah 9:2-7

New Living Translation (NLT)