2013 - Weeks 48 - 49 Photo 'n Prayer Review

Week 48

Naomi & Tabitha share their school work during a parent-student "show & tell"

PRAY for the girls as they continue to study

& Lucinda as she continues to teach every weekday morning.

RO4Y youth group & GAP year missionary students watch The Gospel of John film.

PRAY for these young adults to grow a passion for Christ & His Word.

Tabitha bottle feeds Princesa, the only female kid from the recent goat litter.

Naomi's grandfather, "Papi" Wayne Goranson,
teaches her how to work with shaping clay into jewelry.

PRAY for Wayne and Brooke Goranson's discipleship ministry:
"Go and Prosper"

You know it is windy when:
Your 200+ pound dog house takes flight and lands on its roof!

At soccer practice, U-12 player Cristian receives a pass from Alesandro.

PRAY for the soccer boys to grow in grace & truth.

Oscar takes the U-14 boys through the book of Proverbs.

PRAY for Oscar as he has taken the reigns of the soccer team.
(Jon has intentionally stepped back to let Oscar grow
and now functions more as team manager.)

Got lamb? Mare preps Thanksgiving dinner!

Thanksgiving 2013 with Marillyn's parents, Wayne & Brooke Goranson; GAP missionary students: Madison, Andrea and Eric; and RO4Y staff Lucinda, Ilsy and the Beard family!

PRAISE for the opportunity to share Thanksgiving with friends and family.

Lucinda and Tobias find some diversion
before the local elementary school graduation ceremony.

As volunteer English teacher, Lucinda was invited to participate in the village's elementary schooll graduation ceremony. She stands between school director,
Napoleon and teacher, Brenda.

PRAY for RO4Y's community involvement to be a blessing and an in-road to communicate the Gospel of Christ to the children and their families.

6th grade "Graduates". What awaits in their future?
High school? Trade School? Nothing?

PRAY for RO4Y as we learn how to navigate through Honduras' new law requiring students to complete their education through the 9th grade. (This was changed from 6th grade.) Our trade school, Taller CDP, found a nitch in the community to minister to this age group once they finished elementary school. Now they are required to continue their education. Yet, how many of them are actually planning to do so? Most don't have the resources or interest to continue. Interesting...

Week 48

Taller CDP cooking students Lesly, Tania, Keyla and Dunia work to make banana bread
to sell during the Ranch's quarterly rummage sale.

PRAY for these young women to gain skills in cooking
and to honor God in their work.

Lesly & Naomi: bonding and baking!

GAP student, Madison, and RO4Y staff, Ilsy, set up for the rummage sale!

To buy or not to buy? Village teens rummage through the sale items.

GAP co-director Brooke Goranson, with students Andrea, Eric and Madison.
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP GANG!!!

PRAY for these students as they seek God's direction and trust in His provision to place them in various ministries over the next 3 to 6 months. (Andrea is planning to serve with us at the Ranch starting in January!)

Beard Family Nativity Projects:
remembering the birth of Christ advent-style

Introducing Honduras' latest foreign resident: Poema Alizay!!!

PRAISE Poema's residency process is 99.5% complete. 

We get her card in January!

Marillyn discusses the trade school craft student's work with Mario and his wife Ana Mari.
They own a souvenir shop inside the Tegus airport
and we are discussing a business agreement for the students!

PRAY for wisdom in how to continue to move forward with the Taller CDP trade school - spiritually and fiscally.

Monthly grocery shopping in Tegus... still waiting on the Durango!

Oscar's uncle and local mason, Jose de la Paz, marks out the Beard's new home
on the new property in Payaguagre, Ojojona.

PRAY for wisdom as we move forward with the work on the new property. Jon has been working with the local community group to advance the effort to bring electricity into the community. (He was named treasurer of the group!) God has been amazing in His timing. Our neighbor in Payaguagre is Jon's friend and coach of the opposing soccer team in Ojojona. His wife was just elected assistant major in Ojojona. Coincidence? I think not! PRAY for favor from the major.

Friday girl's Bible study with guests from Unashamed Missions.

PRAY for Ilsy, Lucinda, Marilyn (Oscar's wife), Marillyn Beard and Jon
as they instruct these girls in God's truth.

We studied many of God's promises based on His promise of a savior
through the baby messiah, Jesus!

Oscar reflects with the U-12 boys over their loss during a friendly, pre-tournament match.

PRAY for the soccer tournament. We have so many U-12 boys that we've formed two teams, along with our one U-14 team!

Honduran transportation at its best!

PRAISE that we have a new donated 15-passenger van
coming to the Ranch from the States very soon!!!

Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children.
Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.Proverbs 14:26-27 (NLT)

2013 - Weeks 46 - 47 Photo 'n Prayer Review

Week 46

Lucinda, missionary friend, Melissa Goodwin with Poema, and Marillyn
at the annual Women of Purpose Missionary Conference

PRAISE God for the opportunity for Mare and Lucinda to reconnect with many missionary friends at this free conference. God is good.

Rare Honduran White Howler Monkeys are often seen at the Ranch.

PRAISE God that Jon & the kids survived three nights without mommy!

Esther and Mordecai (background) sniff their way around the property.

PRAISE God for these new pups. 

PRAY that they continue to adjust to their new home & role at the Ranch.

Mare takes some time with a local mother, Lupe (Gerson and Genderson's mom)
to address some health concerns with her daughter, Sofia.

PRAY for more opportunities for Mare
to use her health knowledge to bless the community.
On a side note, Lupe shared with us that Gerson (14), a long time Ranch kid, considers us family and even defends us when others complain.
PRAISE God!

Can you find Poema?

Taller CDP trade school student, Ana Melissa, opens a savings account at the local co-op.

PRAISE God for the great success the students had selling their jewelry & scarves during the furlough. PRAY that God would continue to open doors for the students to sell locally and that He would give Jon & Mare wisdom on teaching financial stewardship.

Crisna, Yovanis, Yahaira and Ana Melissa show off their savings account booklets
(Much like a check book with deposit and withdrawal columns, but no checks.)
They agreed to use 25% of their earnings to open the account!

PRAY for the Taller CDP school

to have a blessed year of learning and spiritual maturing in Christ.

Pick-up (pun intended) for Friday afternoon girl's Bible study!

PRAISE God for this loaner vehicle! What a blessing!

Continue to PRAY for a new passenger van!
Also continue to PRAY for the Durango SUV,
it has been in the shop for 3 weeks.

Week 47

Marillyn and GAP Missionary Student, Madison, teach Kayla and Ana Melissa crochet.

PRAISE for the arrival of the GAP program missionary students.
They are with us for three weeks, living first hand the missionary life!

GAP student Andrea works with Yahaira to learn crochet.

PRAY for Andrea,
she is praying about her long-term placement with us at the Ranch!!!

Something missing? Naomi's first!

PRAY for our kids, Naomi, Tabitha, Tobias and Poema, as they grow up as third culture kids: not fully Honduran, not fully North-American.

In between cultures!

Oscar prepares to lead Bible study with the soccer season's first practice!

PRAISE God that we can use futbol to draw these young men and boys closer to Jesus! PRAY for their salvation & understanding of God's Word!

Warm-up was both comical and, well... stretching!

PRAISE God for the first practice turn out!

PRAY for RO4Y youth group member, Jose Miguel (far right),
as he assists Oscar and Jon with the team.

Kayla, Lesly and her younger sister Karen crochet with ease!

PRAY that this art/skill/hobby can be profitable financially and spiritually!

Even the boys get into the act and make stocking caps with the yarn!
(L to R: Yahaira, Yovanis, Carlos and Crisna's little cousin, Mildres)

PRAISE God for the bond felt between these students.
PRAY that the continue to draw closer to Jesus.

Jon and Yalbana: August of 2012

PRAY for this young woman.
Many of you remember me sharing about Yalbana's miserable home life during our furlough of 2012. (Her mother has died and her father is an alcoholic). We had high hopes for Yalbana this last ministry season to join the trade school and grow in her relationship with the Lord in the youth group. However, she choose a different path, met a boy and now is expecting her first child. PRAY that God would direct us to be able to minister to this sixteen-year old mother to be and that her heart would be softened to the Gospel.

The GAP students introduce a new game; much like hot potato, but with a cup.

PRAISE God for these faithful girls.
PRAY that the Holy Spirit
will draw them into a deeper relationship with Him!

Marillyn and her father, Wayne Goranson, explore the new property
and let their taste buds in on the adventure. We think they are elderberries.

PRAISE God for His provision with the new property.
PRAY for us as we prepare it for our arrival & ministry!

Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”

“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

Ruth 2:10-12 (NLT)