Wedding Report & Our Final Day

We're back in Tegucigalpa, getting ready to catch our planes back to the states tomorrow.  The 9 days of our mission trip have flown by and God has greatly blessed us!

Ricardo and Karla's wedding was a beautiful experience in every way.  We all felt honored and blessed to be guests on such a special day for our leader.

Words can't begin to describe how honored and humbled I was to officiate at the weddings of 34 couples from towns and villages all around the area.  The civil part of the ceremony, led by the mayor of Victoria lasted about an hour and a half.  The religious ceremony added another two hours--but I think everything turned out pretty close to perfect.

Christian principles were both taught and exemplified before all the guests and family members present. All the couples were given individual moments in the spotlight and the opportunity to publicly state their vows to one another and the Lord.  At the end of the ceremony family members or friends brought rings to each couple to exchange.  There were tears of joy, in addition to many smiles and hugs.

Among the couples married were several that we have personally worked with in the past.  Thank you Jesus for seeing your fruit in the lives of these precious souls and letting us know that our efforts here have not been in vain because of the work of your Spirit!

As we went through the ceremony many different things about these couples caught my attention.  Some were so young.  Others were probably as old as me!  There were many embarrassed to be in front of such a large crowd--even shy about kissing each other.  Others were obviously thrilled to be able to publicly promise their continuing love for the  rest of their lives.      

The Lord did such a wonderful thing in my life as the ring bearers were coming forward to present the rings.  He gave me  a deep sense of love and compassion for these individual couples.  I can't quite put it into words, but I was greatly humbled to be involved in such a sacred moment--particularly as I saw the joy exuding from those bearing the rings.  I will go home to North Carolina remembering different couples and praying that God would meet the needs of their particular situations and bless their marriages.

I'll have more to share about the weddings Sunday at East.  I'll have to write another post about our visit to Los Chorritos.  There's a reason I don't do Twitter!  God bless you all!!!

El gran dia en Honduras!

Sorry to anyone who wanted an update on our trip and found nada thus far... internet connections have been hard to come by.  We have stayed busy on multiple fronts:

-Some have been working hard at Mercy House to put finishing touches on several items needing to be completed before staff can move in and groups hosted there.  It's going to be a wonderful blessing when finished.  The ability to host larger or more numerous groups will be an immediate benefit.

-The marriage conference was held yesterday (Friday) and today with numerous couples from the area receiving great teaching from our conference leaders, Courtney and Mark Donelson. (East Baptist, you will probably hearing some of their material in the future!)


-A group of us took a strenuous hike to El Membrial on Friday.  We sought to encourage and strengthen the young believers there--and saw their new church building!  Pray for God's direction and strength in their leader, Omar's, life.

-We will be heading within the next hour to the wedding of Ricardo Venegas--leader of Mercy and Grace here in Honduras.  Pray for God's blessing on his marriage!

-Tomorrow is the big day for the civil and religous ceremonies for 30+ couples.  We are praying that it will be a wonderful testimony of Christian couples wanting to do things the right way!  Pray for me; I'm humbled to be asked to have a part and want to do it right!

-Monday should be another hike to a mountain village.  I'm sore and tired, yet I'm delighted to be with such a wonderful group of fellow believers all seeking to do our parts to grow the kingdom.  To those at EBC and my family:  Thanks for allowing me to be away and participate in something so close to my heart.  Taste and see that our God is good!

(Pictures may or may not upload)

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Honduras With Mercy and Grace 2017

I've got to send a big "thank you" out to everyone who has had a part in sending me on this mission trip to Yoro Province, Honduras.  I have had many wonderful experiences where people have let me know they are praying for me, have collected clothes or school supplies, took part in our fish fry last Saturday, or simply slipped a check or some money into my hands.  I have been blown away by the interest people have expressed and I've had to stop and thank the Lord that it's evident that this mission has found a way into many of your hearts, as it has mine.  Gloria a Dios y

muchas gracias hermanos y hermanas!

We will be the first group to experience the blessing of staying in Mercy House, the new mission center outside of Victoria.  The ministry has been working and praying for this day for years and now it's finally arrived!  The ministry will be able to house more groups, host local groups and individuals for training and so much more than the small rented house we have been using.

Pray as final preparations for the marriage conference come together in the next few days.  It will be held Friday through Sunday with a mass wedding of 42 couples culminating the conference on Sunday afternoon.  This is an answer to many long-standing prayers.  God is working to change peoples hearts!

I'll be posting a few pictures and updates along the way.  Thank you again and much love to everyone!  God bless you!!! (And who would believe I was at the airport at 5 a.m.?!)