Home for the Holidays

Big news! We're coming home for the holidays! This will be our first trip back to the States since we left for Honduras in the summer of 2012. We are excited to see our family and friends! Our flight comes into Portland, Oregon, on November 18 and we plan on flying back January 6, so we'll have about 7 weeks to see everyone (and of course to go to Target... believe it or not, that is the store we've missed the most!). Although we have come to love many things about the culture, place, and people of Honduras, we are excited to be on American soil for a while! 

New Home, New Ministry

Feeding free lunch to kids at a soccer outreach in La Ceiba.

We've gotten settled on the north coast of Honduras and have been learning more about our new home and the surrounding Garifuna communities. It struck us recently as we've been getting settled that this is really the beginning of our ministry here. Our first year in Honduras was learning the language and culture and adapting to so many new things. As our first year progressed we researched many Garifuna communities to understand their culture and needs as well. We have realized now we are just starting, and this "start" will probably be another year as well!

Pastor (Garifuna man on right) sharing the Word with street
people at Comedor de JesuCristo in La Ceiba.

Now with language school behind us and having learned much about the culture (it's an on-going process!), we have begun connecting with various ministries, churches, and other missionaries in order to understand more the needs of communities. Already we have seen many doors begin to open and lots of connections and opportunities before us. Most of these opportunities are to come along side other ministries and help expand them or start new ministries. This will most likely be the focus of our ministry as we seek to work through locals who are already doing work for the Kingdom.

Some of the things we may be working with are clean water projects (well drilling, water purification, etc), building projects, aquaponics (and other self-sustaining projects), formal Bible training for Garifuna pastors, sports ministry (water sports, soccer), and street ministry such as a feeding program. Of course, all of these are ways to show and share the love of Christ in action and word. We are so thankful for your on-going prayers and partnership with us as we begin!

Prayer & Praise

Praise for:

• God's gentle leading and showing us exactly where He wants us to be.
• God providing a beautiful home for us in a safe community.
• Many friends we have met since our move to the north coast.
• Our friends and family who support us in so many ways to allow us to minister here. 

Pray for:

• Discernment and wisdom about which ministry projects to be involved in. We want our primary focus to be on the Garifuna people, but don't want to limit our work if God wants us to do more.
• Safety in-country as national presidential elections take place November 24. Many times protests take place and crowds can take over streets and bridges prior to elections.
• Safe travel to Oregon from Honduras November 18 (we intentionally planned our trip prior to elections for safety reasons).
• Family unity and balance as we enter a new phase of life and ministry here.
• Homeschooling as we continue to teach the boys.

We thank you again for your on-going support of us prayerfully and financially. Please continue to pray that God's will would be done through us, that His glory would be seen in us and would be heard through our words. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

In His Mighty Grip,
Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret