tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29086141427400766732024-03-13T08:12:16.491-07:00Wells of Living Water: The Wells Family Mission JourneyJoin us on our journey to follow God's call to share the love and hope of Jesus with those he calls us to.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-29269708288181445322015-10-19T22:00:00.000-07:002015-10-19T13:35:53.730-07:00A New ChapterAfter 3½ years of fulltime ministry in La Ceiba, we are leaving Honduras. The Lord has called us to be fulltime missionaries in Puerto Escondido, southern Mexico.<br />
<br />
This is not sudden and it is not without an abundance of pain and prayer. As with every decision we make, we want to make sure and be confident it was from the Lord and we know how prayer makes a difference. For those of you who receive our updates, you were asked to pray about this possibility which we feel has now become very clear to us.<br />
<br />
To review, we as a family recently visited Puerto Escondido and spent 13 days with the ministry and other missionaries and nationals with whom we will be working and we walked away with two obvious conclusions: 1) Moving to and living in Puerto Escondido will be challenging, and 2) The ministry was made for us.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: orange;">Honduras</span></h2>
<div>
We do not leave Honduras lightly. Honduras is our home and we have come to love much about the country and people. We are not leaving behind unfinished worked, unqualified replacements or conflict. We love the nationals we’ve worked with and those we have worked alongside and there is nothing driving us away. <b>Leaving our friends and closing out our life in Honduras is only being done because we are following the Lord. </b>We have initiated and completed several community projects that have been taken over by nationals and we know they can continue without us. We are confident in knowing that what the Lord began through us is in competent hands and will continue to be a blessing to the communities where we have served.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: orange;">Mexico</span></h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq73m6pqR6fvqlWTO_hPUOUK_ohA5fFFCFH_-KXAT1YeLYo5aH1NrGTV4yiCNfke81osHpt2VbCUp5ddE5-VB9d176-Paa-PV_K42OaEuoMQ0AMCLcSLXhvwwvWpHuKCqiyR1GHueP8W1/s1600/mexicomap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq73m6pqR6fvqlWTO_hPUOUK_ohA5fFFCFH_-KXAT1YeLYo5aH1NrGTV4yiCNfke81osHpt2VbCUp5ddE5-VB9d176-Paa-PV_K42OaEuoMQ0AMCLcSLXhvwwvWpHuKCqiyR1GHueP8W1/s320/mexicomap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We will be joining a great team of missionaries and nationals in the city of Puerto Escondido in the southernmost part of Mexico (state of Oaxaca). The official language of the country is of course Spanish, but there are indigenousness groups of people with very different dialects in villages scattered around the mountains surrounding this area. We do not plan on learning any of these dialects as the majority of our work will be with Spanish speakers and we’ll use translators as needed if we do any work in these villages. As we did in Honduras, our focus in Mexico will be to raise up and train national partners to serve their own people.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Corey will be working with an existing church, called “El Faro”, to reach out to the surrounding community through personal evangelism. We will be using the current culture of surfing, which is prominent in this town, as a sports outreach to connect with the community and share our faith. Surfing has taken off here in the past decade and is an ideal tool to reach the community to connect with them on a personal level. Corey has 10 years of experience in this type of evangelism ministry so the fit is just right. El Faro is a unique church in this area providing solid biblical teaching in a way that attracts the beach community. Corey will be teaching discipleship groups as well, sharing God’s truth throughout the week.
<br />
<br />
Kirsten will be assisting existing Bible study groups and be salt and light wherever the Lord leads. She will continue to homeschool our boys and assist in ministry in the church where needed.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: orange;">Timeline</span></h2>
<div>
We have a trip planned to the Pacific Northwest in the beginning of December. We have been slowly transitioning out of our roles here and will sell some belongings in our home before our U.S. trip. While in the U.S. we will visit some of our supporting churches and share more about what the Lord has done and is doing. Our plan is to return to Honduras toward the end of January to our current home. After our return we will pack things up in our truck and trailer and move from Honduras to Mexico, about a two day drive.<br />
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: orange;">You</span></h2>
<div>
It is our prayer you will continue to pray for and financially support our family as we follow the Lord’s clear calling to Mexico. For a long time you have partnered with our family to follow the Lord’s leading to and in Honduras, we pray you will join us in this new chapter of our ministry in Mexico. If you would like to continue to financially partner with us, <b>DO NOTHING DIFFERENT</b>. The account where you currently send regular support will continue to be our support account (World Outreach Ministries). If you would like to start supporting our new ministry <a href="https://worldoutreach.org/index.php/missionary-support-2"><b>CLICK HERE</b></a> (select our name from the dropdown list and follow the prompts).<br />
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: orange;">Pray</span></h2>
<div>
This is a hard decision for us. We would not do this if it was not clear it was the Lord’s will. We are leaving an established life in Honduras and it will be difficult to get re-established in Mexico. With any transition and change comes challenges and faith-stretching experiences. We know that this transition will be difficult and we are preparing for that. But through it, our prayer is that we grow closer to the Lord and hold onto His promises and remember His words to us. And that hopefully through this process, we may be able to encourage others in their faith. Please pray for us! With that, welcome to the new chapter for your missionaries.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-19099634782400216692015-09-23T13:38:00.001-07:002015-09-28T07:36:43.810-07:00Looking Back to Look Forward<h1>
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Planning for the future</span></span></h1>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our last update we were able to celebrate our third year in Honduras. God is good! He has done amazing things, through us and in us! You have played a big role in this by your prayers and support. This past year it has been incredible to see how God has directed us. It's very important for us to look back to see what God has done and to see where he is leading. At the end of every summer we do this as an intentional way to evaluate our ministry here, to take time to pray about the past year and year to come. This evaluation helps us to see patterns and to make changes if needed to be more effective in the future and be obedient to God's leading. <br /><br />In our recent review of the past year, we have indeed seen patterns and are led by the Lord to share those with you. One pattern we've seen is that our main ministry has been a “help” ministry to other ministries. This means we have helped other ministries expand their efforts. Some of these other ministries have been other missionaries, but most have been ministries led by local people (primarily Garifuna). All of these help ministries have had shorter timelines as far as our involvement has gone. We've initiated contact, planning, connections, funding, etc. and have quickly turned over what was begun to be led by locals. This has been great as it allows locals to lead so much better and more effectively than we can, and it empowers them to do what God has created them to do.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxz4JgydH4E97LcB-4aq2uQP-AmkKgxHztjCTRB8f0foeZeI98h0Kvi4trzex48I5PWix3KBOAV3hv1xIJHx5CAnhP996FenwuibUxSIZt6GZkrIKxZ6R2nuKaZwf8yzhZwz_EOBlT1_m/s1600/boys+surfing+2012+lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxz4JgydH4E97LcB-4aq2uQP-AmkKgxHztjCTRB8f0foeZeI98h0Kvi4trzex48I5PWix3KBOAV3hv1xIJHx5CAnhP996FenwuibUxSIZt6GZkrIKxZ6R2nuKaZwf8yzhZwz_EOBlT1_m/s320/boys+surfing+2012+lg.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Corey and the boys at Pacific City, OR, in 2012.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another pattern we've seen over the past year is a “nudging” by the Lord to use surfing again as ministry. We were once involved with surfing ministry for over 10 years and saw a lot of fruit come from this type of ministry, and we left this ministry to pursue ministry in Honduras. During this time with the surfing ministry, we were also involved with the <a href="http://www.palau.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Luis Palau Association</a>, <a href="http://reidsaunders.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Reid Saunders Association</a>, <a href="http://www.passion4people.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Passion4People Int'l</a>, <a href="http://nextgenerationalliance.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Next Generation Alliance</a>, and numerous other extreme sports related ministries involved with BMX, skateboarding, and surfing. These ministries use extreme sports to appeal to a different audience. Using a sport that others are interested in can create common ground like no other thing can. And this opens up conversations about life and builds relationships giving opportunity to talk about Jesus and how he's changed our lives.<br />
<br />
Before moving to Honduras, we hoped to do something similar by using surfing as a way to reach the Garifuna along the north coast. But we soon realized surfing just doesn't exist in Honduras (no waves to surf) and we wouldn't be using this form of outreach here. We know God's timing is perfect and he would use this means of ministry if he willed in the future. </span><br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="display: block; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special Ministry Trip to Mexico </span></span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Looking back to look forward</b>, we see how nudgings from the Lord over the past year (such as former surf ministry partners contacting us) has led us to follow some obvious open doors for us to use surfing as ministry, although not exactly how we foresaw.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVe0g3H070Sd8Kxf6eXYilOEYdOqMEbnag53fclgb1fDhgh0PsPDurA8hTuLAcvXOHiWg2oK3Y6WooGZTe_3ahaV3-KWpK8OQT4JFlZhSCA_2Iv3jEBkNT_40Kp72uArkZHtumvaPSh6X/s1600/IMG_2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVe0g3H070Sd8Kxf6eXYilOEYdOqMEbnag53fclgb1fDhgh0PsPDurA8hTuLAcvXOHiWg2oK3Y6WooGZTe_3ahaV3-KWpK8OQT4JFlZhSCA_2Iv3jEBkNT_40Kp72uArkZHtumvaPSh6X/s320/IMG_2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><i>Us and the Allbutt family.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In August, we were able to take a ministry trip to southern Mexico. For the past ten years, we have been praying for our friend Mike and his family (pictured right), whom we met through <a href="http://www.christiansurfers.net/about-us/" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Christian Surfers</a>, the surfing ministry we were once involved in. We had learned ten years ago that Mike was being called by God to move he and his family from Australia (where Christian Surfers was founded) to southern Mexico to start Christian Surfers Mexico, and did so in 2007 establishing a ministry there to surfers. The community they minister in, Puerto Escondido, is known by surfers worldwide. It's a quiet fishing community that is filled with surfers, mostly Mexicans, who have caught onto the sport over the last decade or so and made this little fishing town more known for surfing than fishing, an ideal place for this new surf ministry.</span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgqJpkc-D5CV00U-u5qBrSxdGbiy277vz8QpEYkhFo3fnTyiLEIB0WliUFyouh-ktUee0uzmVNrWpP4Hb48_1WddOKH_8pBwK0xvQxmhlH4ZtsgZ1pQRdgbceWHsJobZiduS1Q89-x5o3/s1600/IMG_1910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgqJpkc-D5CV00U-u5qBrSxdGbiy277vz8QpEYkhFo3fnTyiLEIB0WliUFyouh-ktUee0uzmVNrWpP4Hb48_1WddOKH_8pBwK0xvQxmhlH4ZtsgZ1pQRdgbceWHsJobZiduS1Q89-x5o3/s320/IMG_1910.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><i>Attending Surfers Bible Study on <br />the beach.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following God's leading to do so, we went to visit Mike and his family to see what the ministry was like there. It was also a chance to show our boys several other Latin countries driving through parts of Honduras we have not seen, all throughout Guatemala, and then through southern Mexico. Just the trip there and back was an experience of a lifetime! Although Puerto Escondido is exactly due west of us in Honduras and on a map is the same distance to drive from Salem, Oregon, to Redding, California, it took three days to drive there on windy, bumpy roads. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoDOQe4063bmBxutCvIruIAz6zHFHLUdwyLRD6hVz6lBCyCqw-29OHbLXjHghBCDDIVVfnhKk-ZPY-pjW3ilj1JroJSHvwlb0dVCK9fdg9nRaDaSBq9gVj0_dimPZirDAqTRZtrge6cBU/s1600/IMG_2036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoDOQe4063bmBxutCvIruIAz6zHFHLUdwyLRD6hVz6lBCyCqw-29OHbLXjHghBCDDIVVfnhKk-ZPY-pjW3ilj1JroJSHvwlb0dVCK9fdg9nRaDaSBq9gVj0_dimPZirDAqTRZtrge6cBU/s200/IMG_2036.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><i>Visiting Martha in Oaxaca.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After our arrival, the next two weeks were filled with meeting new people, ministering side-by-side with Mike and others (such as the Surfers Bible Study on the beach pictured here), and having many opportunities to disciple new believers, be a witness to unbelievers, and encourage others.</span></span></span> On our trip back to Honduras, we were also able to stop and see our good friends and fellow missionaries Brenton and Martha Trent in Oaxaca City (Martha and us pictured right). We stayed with them a few days touring the city and spent quality time with them encouraging one another. Overall, our trip was very fruitful and reminded us of our first love: <i><b>seeing people come to know Jesus personally as their Savior.</b></i><br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64) ! important; display: block; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: orange;">Praying About What’s Next...</span></span></h2>
<div style="color: #606060; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: turquoise;"><i>“The place God calls you to is the place<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>where your deep gladness <br />and the world's deep hunger meet.”<br />
–Frederick Buechner</i></span></span></h4>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The quote above is one of our favorite as of lately. It speaks to our God-given gifts and how those gifts collide with the world around us. In our annual ministry review we see that God has given us many good things to be involved in. We have taken what God has given us in Honduras and have done as well as we can with the opportunities he's put before us and it has been a joy to do so. It has been humbling and awe-inspiring to see God use our weaknesses and strengths for His purposes.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcwBlKmaR0Zoyt6DoFumiW9-8cVxuVCsC9pEYjLgmsNwY_IkMvmewe_a30_v-0gat7XT-e4-HYpGPqUIBq8j6AUEmgQm0KrZWsItbn92tV_2mvkvaf8Q0U9ZpPG6Gs5TcO3Ln4a8J1KfX/s1600/IMG_2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcwBlKmaR0Zoyt6DoFumiW9-8cVxuVCsC9pEYjLgmsNwY_IkMvmewe_a30_v-0gat7XT-e4-HYpGPqUIBq8j6AUEmgQm0KrZWsItbn92tV_2mvkvaf8Q0U9ZpPG6Gs5TcO3Ln4a8J1KfX/s320/IMG_2024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Attending the Wednesday night Bible study at El Faro.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although we were very encouraged by our trip to Mexico and were able to be used by the Lord in many ways, we weren't quite sure what it all meant. We have been praying that the Lord would reveal this to us and we believe he has. In the past month since our visit to southern Mexico, the church we were involved with there (“El Faro”) has<b> <span style="color: darkorange;">invited us as the Lord wills to become part of their team</span> </b>to reach out to the surf community through relational evangelism and discipleship. We are honored by this request, especially knowing our personal passions and spiritual giftings in these areas. With this invitation, of course, would come a relocation of our ministry to Puerto Escondido, Mexico. With our annual ministry review since our return and being able to look back, we have seen obvious patterns leading to something like this.<b> <span style="color: darkorange;">So we are prayerfully considering what this would look like for us and our family in the future.</span></b></span><b> </b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In light of our current ministry in Honduras, a change such as this can only be done in God's timeframe. A lot of the work we have started here has come to completion or is in progress of being completed in a short time. So we see the Lord's timing in this and how a transition may work well. But there is still much to pray about. We will be communicating more in our future updates what God puts on our hearts and what doors may open or close. In the meantime, <span style="color: darkorange;"><b>we ask that you please pray with us about this as we also prayerfully consider how this change might be more impactful for the Kingdom and bring God glory...</b></span> because in the end, that's what it's all about! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
To us, location doesn't matter. And we believe that it doesn't matter to God either. What matters is our availability and obedience. We have changed a lot in the past few years and have drawn closer to our mighty God in many ways and for that we thank Him. Please pray we would obey, no matter the location, so that we may glorify God in who he is and what he does!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64) ! important; display: block; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: orange;">Praise God!</span></span></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHO8E50qgof4MVr4XytLxDs7IZXYgwRPZTG1AQxQLd_-UPmwNBLgUdWeCrYs4PpPZtUeHwDU1R1b1xYHgm-UvUfFr2ou5wTX9FbBRYC29VaL4t-yUj-JjbxhMRipo8RT7y_FQMtW1qypz/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHO8E50qgof4MVr4XytLxDs7IZXYgwRPZTG1AQxQLd_-UPmwNBLgUdWeCrYs4PpPZtUeHwDU1R1b1xYHgm-UvUfFr2ou5wTX9FbBRYC29VaL4t-yUj-JjbxhMRipo8RT7y_FQMtW1qypz/s320/IMG_2164.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lowering the pump into the well.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Please take a moment to praise God with us as <span style="color: orange;"><u><b>our water project in Nueva Armenia has been completed!</b></u></span>
The well was connected to the community tank and pump was installed.
The tank filled overnight and the community, over 2000 people, were able
to turn on their faucets the next day and have water running in their
homes for the first time in over 3 YEARS! Imagine not having water in
your home for this long... and having to haul buckets of water (several
times a day) from a dirty river to your home... Praise God we were able
to be a light and blessing to this community in this way!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<first name="">
<br />
<i><b>Thank you to all who contributed to and prayed for this project!</b></i></first><br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><first name=""><b>Prayer & Praises:</b></first><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""> </first></span></span></span></h2>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;">Praise that the water project in Nueva Armenia is complete! We were able to install the well pump, wire all the electrical, and connect the well to the community water tank. They now have a continual source of water!<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></first><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></first></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Praise that we sold our SUV and we have purchased a truck. We outgrew our SUV—more leg room was needed, better parts availability, as well as needing a truck bed to haul things. The Lord worked out our SUV sale to a new missionary family and we were able to buy a 2002 Dodge Ram Crewcab truck from a missionary family leaving on furlough. Praise God for his timing and provision!</span></span></first><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></first></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Continued prayer for Kirsten as she homeschools our boys. </span></span></first></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pray for our boys as they grow rapidly into fine young men devoted to our Lord Jesus. </span></span></first><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></first></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pray for discernment and wisdom in moving forward with ministry plans and about the new ministry the Lord has put before us. </span></span></first><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></first></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pray
we would all, daily, be drawn closer to the Lord and hear his sweet
voice. </span></span></first></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><first name=""><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pray for protection spiritually and for Satan's plans to be
defeated.</span> </span></first></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>We want to remind you to keep us daily surrounded with your prayers. </b></span>They
are vitally important to us and to the Kingdom. Thank you for your
support and partnership in ministry! We are grateful to you for the
sacrifice of your time to pray and financial gifts to us to allow us to <span style="font-family: inherit;">be salt and light <span style="font-family: inherit;">where God leads us.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Living all for One,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: darkorange;"><b><i>Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</i></b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-57286070078473449022015-08-13T12:00:00.000-07:002015-08-19T12:04:54.720-07:00Three year anniversary<h1 class="null" style="color: #606060 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
Three Years!</h1>
Today, August 13, marks end of our third year in Honduras. Can you
believe it? It is amazing to us to think about all that has happened in
the past three years. It's amazing to think about how God has changed
our hearts to be more like his. It's amazing to think about lives that
have been changed through our own. And it's amazing to think about how
God will use us in the coming years! We wanted to take a moment to
reflect on where we've been and give God glory for what he has done over
the past few years...<br />
<br />
<h3 class="null" style="color: #606060 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: darkorange;">A Look Back: Year One</span></h3>
In our first year in Honduras, we lived in the mountain town of
Siguatepeque surrounded by pine forests and small mountain villages
where farmers grow coffee among other higher altitude crops. We studied
Spanish at the <a href="http://www.ispeakspanish.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Honduras Spanish Institute</a>
for nine months. During this time we explored the country, using the
Spanish we learned in the prior days, weeks and months. We visited
numerous Garifuna communities and villages, learning as much as we could
about their culture and people since it would be our future ministry
area. At the same time we learned more and more about the Latin culture
of Honduras. It was a very memorable time as it was a huge change in our
lives! Hard, yes, but through it we saw God's grace upon grace helping
us to overcome many new challenges. We met many wonderful people, all
who played a big part in our new lives as "Catrachos" (the Spanish name
for Hondurans).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="left" height="199" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/4a853b12-0839-4b69-959f-1f1fd618905b.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 199px; margin: 5px 10px 10px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vic & John proclaiming the gospel from their BMX bikes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We also we able to host a team from the U.S. with <a href="http://www.reidsaunders.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Reid Saunders Association</a> and minister to many through medical clinics and a festival held in the middle of town. Our friends Vic and John with <a href="https://actionsportsoutreach.wordpress.com/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Action Sports Outreach</a>,
a BMX ministry, shared the Gospel along with Reid and the rest of the
team. One of our joys from this team, apart from the many people who
accepted Christ as their savior, was that in the weeks following the
festival a new church sprung out of a handful of new, young believers
who rode BMX bikes and heard the Gospel message at the festival from our
friends Vic and John. They partnered with the local YWAM group and
started "BMX Church" based out of the YWAM base using their covered
soccer court as a place to ride bikes. The ramps that were left from
Reid's team were donated to this group and they now have a very active
BMX ministry in Siguatepeque. Praise God! Our first year in Honduras
finished well.<br />
<br />
<h3 class="null" style="color: #606060 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: darkorange;">Year Two</span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="right" height="262" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/dd6d16d0-5daa-4d98-aea3-e379b21a8122.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 262px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 350px;" width="350" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corey helping a work team put a roof on a church member's home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our second year began with our completion of language school and
exploratory trips to the north coast of Honduras to determine the best
place to begin ministry. The Lord led us to move to La Ceiba in October
of that year and began working with a Garifuna Bible Institute and a
Garifuna church association. We met many new people and made great
connections.<br />
<br />
Much
of our second year was spent working alongside other ministries to get a
better idea of needs and culture and helping to grow God's kingdom
through our partnerships. We were able to come alongside one ministry to
help provide roofs for churches and pastor's homes. We came alongside
another to provide homes for very poor families. And Corey was able to
teach at a pastor's conference to over 100 pastors and church leaders.
Through this work we realized the need to connect the existing church in
Garifuna communities with the people in the community so that the
church could have a greater influence in the lives of unsaved people and
with discipling new believers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="left" height="200" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/1d53d993-8026-4ba4-b738-02ba1bcc7468.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 200px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A team from Calvary Community Church helping<br />
us in Honduras.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later
in our second year we were also able to work with Calvary Community
Church from Albany, Oregon, our second team team to assist us in
ministry. With them we hosted a Garifuna pastor's conference and
ministered in schools in two different communities.<br />
<br />
We also began work in Nueva Armenia, the main community we work in
today. Working with an existing work group of about 10 people, we were
able to multiply it to around 40. The Lord has opened doors for us to
use this group to bless others in the community and to share our hope in
Jesus through it. God has formed many new relationships through our
work there and through the work of our partner ministries. We thank him
for the unity he creates!<br />
<br />
<h3 class="null" style="color: #606060 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: darkorange;">Year Three</span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="right" height="262" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/768ae49a-b47b-4b9c-80a8-42a36b478bf3.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 262px; margin: 10px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 350px;" width="350" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corey with the initial work group in Nueva Armenia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As
we moved into our third year, we realized our need to focus on one
community. So we began meeting with leadership of Nueva Armenia to
discover their needs, both physically and spiritually. Much of our third
year was spent building relationships in Nueva Armenia and meeting with
local leadership. It was here that we began a water project in January
in order to meet a basic need and give opportunity for the body of
Christ to show their faith in word and deed. The project is nearly
complete as we have drilled a well and have plans to install a water
filtration system in one of the local churches.<br />
<br />
We were also blessed to be able to help start a feeding center which is
in its beginning stages. The feeding center is a way for the local
church to care for the children and elderly in the community and to
share God's love with them. We anticipate our involvement to be minimal
and mainly to help get the center started with resources and connections
we have made to relief food sources.<br />
<br />
We have spent a great amount of time finding sources for food, clean
water, and other resources to add to "Mutatio Ministries", a ministry we
launched in May to help connect churches and ministries to basic needs
resources. The idea of this ministry was to help the Garifuna churches
be a conduit of help to their own communities. We thank God for allowing
us to be involved in this work!<br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
So what’s in store for year four?</h2>
As our projects in Nueva Armenia wind down we anticipate changes in our
ministry in the near future. Prior to moving to Honduras many people
asked us how long we planned to stay. Our answer was always “as long as
the Lord allows.” To us that could mean two years or twenty years.
Bottom line is we were, and are, available to our Lord to serve him
wherever and for however long.<br />
<br />
With that said, we have planned our ministry here in Honduras with an
“exit plan”, meaning we have always intended to work through local
ministries and people so that any movement that God created through us
would be easily transferable. So to answer the title question, the
answer is “we don't know exactly!” But we do sense God moving in ways that, if
all goes in the direction we see it going, we can only give HIM GLORY! He has been rekindling in us something we thought long past. We ask that you pray for wisdom in our ministry direction as we discern His leading.<br />
<br />
<b>So stay tuned....</b><br />
<br />
<i>Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. (Psalm 115:1)</i><br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
<b>Please pray and praise with us!</b></h2>
<ul>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray for our future ministry and that God would make clear the "what, where, why, and how".</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray for our involvement in Nueva Armenia and that the projects we are involved in there would be a way to be "salt and light".</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray
for wisdom about our ministry/family vehicle. We would like to sell it
and find something more reliable for long trips and a vehicle with more
parts availability.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Praise
for an answer to our prayers about Gavin's schooling situation. We will
be homeschooling him and Garret both this coming year!</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray for Kirsten as she prepares homeschool materials for a new school year.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<i></i>As always, thank you for your financial and prayer support. We thank God
for you and your faithfulness to him and supporting his work through
us!<br />
<br />
In His mighty grip,<br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: darkorange;"><b><i>Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</i></b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-69270986904815779162015-07-06T13:05:00.004-07:002015-07-06T14:03:14.909-07:00Water and food: check!<b><span style="color: orange;"><i>Here's a quick update on what's been going on in Honduras!</i></span></b><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #073763;">
Water Project</span></h3>
The water project we started back in January is still moving along in typical Latin style. Although water is a great need in Nueva Armenia, the main community we work in, locals have resigned to the fact that water just isn't available in their homes. They understand that the process of getting something done here takes longer, and in our case, this is true as well. We were blessed with the donation of the majority of the well pump and parts to go along with the installation. But with this comes the delay from shipping the pump and parts from the U.S. The quality of this pump is way beyond what could be purchased here, so we are OK with waiting (as are they) and giving this community something that will last into the future.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Phase II:</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIHLvCB1IIHQEEYX_xdbdMqmNYA1d2mw2tis2FXzFQGwncVPXfpaj0yJfdesYlSEq4jb_Bb1fXoY_LInSJ2BSLjXyX87YCYf1H4_BlbcbZ7KQ0u_HqC-iskk0UsDZ2F1xjp_Y_7k4tbOS/s1600/July+update+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIHLvCB1IIHQEEYX_xdbdMqmNYA1d2mw2tis2FXzFQGwncVPXfpaj0yJfdesYlSEq4jb_Bb1fXoY_LInSJ2BSLjXyX87YCYf1H4_BlbcbZ7KQ0u_HqC-iskk0UsDZ2F1xjp_Y_7k4tbOS/s200/July+update+-+1.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Existing structure to house <br />
the water filtration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While we've been waiting for the pump we've been talking with two pastors of two churches in the community about starting a filling station for filtered water. One of the churches had at one point already had this idea and had started the project a few years earlier. Due to lack of funding and no water flow to the community, this project had stopped altogether. Because they had already started this project in the past, there is already a small cement slab, roof and semi-secure area next to the church. The next step will be to extend tubing to the street and create a clean filling area next to the main road through town. The filtration system can be setup in the already existing cement slab and then fully secured. The filling area will be a huge blessing to the community, and will be a way for these two churches to connect to people in the community on a different level.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #073763;">
Community Service = Food for the Hungry</span></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALY_Agb2PQFSBRWaVyW8m6Y3M_QmtiU977ELZ209Vk3_1w-CwIMCGpD5ViaJtVF0YKaR00X8BTQX_H0cf-AU9ue1c_oNVAwDxCba4MzBiKKcG7nNoM04yc_2bbvPhl1js6UbKyK_5fK07/s1600/July+update+-+1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALY_Agb2PQFSBRWaVyW8m6Y3M_QmtiU977ELZ209Vk3_1w-CwIMCGpD5ViaJtVF0YKaR00X8BTQX_H0cf-AU9ue1c_oNVAwDxCba4MzBiKKcG7nNoM04yc_2bbvPhl1js6UbKyK_5fK07/s320/July+update+-+1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corey with the original members of the work group.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
About one year ago we began work in Nueva Armenia by helping to supplement food to a community work group, which at the time was about 10 people made up of 2 to 3 families, mostly women. We provide food for the group in exchange for community service (cleaning up trash, clearing frequently used trails, repairing structures and/or homes for elderly, etc). Today it has grown to around 40 people including a larger group of men and young men who do the majority of the heavy work (construction, digging, etc.). The purpose of helping to expand this work group was to create unity in the community and to also expand the influence of our message of hope in Jesus Christ. Since October of last year, we've been able to include two churches in this work program expanding their influence as well by giving them a way to share Christ. We anticipate turning this project over completely to the churches by the end of the summer. Praise God!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #073763;">
Feeding Center</span></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8is4Mmlf7EuNmF1k0uq1Z8jaQluc-tAom2d7uLHXiManEuoa4z4FBzV4A6Okd0yp218wknfPb3o4GR6aCCMxsMd7cyl9BCvWqEUcsIE4_N8Bt-oxjHYWpnbl3LhY1GAFmS5dFQUCvTUo/s1600/July+update+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8is4Mmlf7EuNmF1k0uq1Z8jaQluc-tAom2d7uLHXiManEuoa4z4FBzV4A6Okd0yp218wknfPb3o4GR6aCCMxsMd7cyl9BCvWqEUcsIE4_N8Bt-oxjHYWpnbl3LhY1GAFmS5dFQUCvTUo/s320/July+update+-+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding center location (cement slab) next to the church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Because of our involvement with the community work group, we've made connections with various organizations and ministries who specialize in providing food for needy communities and people. We recently heard from one of the pastor's wives, Oneyda, that she has had a desire to start a feeding center for the children and elderly of the community. With our existing connections to these food sources, we are in the beginning stages of helping her start a feeding center in Nueva Armenia, centered out of one of the churches. Her dream is to build a center with a kitchen, food storage area, and dining room/eating area. The feeding center would start by feeding children a protein and vitamin rich breakfast and also teach them God's Word using the Garifuna Bible. By doing this, they are teaching their culture and language all wrapped into God's Word. Eventually, as God provides, they wish to expand the program to breakfast and lunch giving around 70 children and elderly at least one solid meal a day.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: #073763;">
Transferable & Multipliable</span></h3>
One of our ministry policies working within Garifuna communities is that in everything we do, it must be transferable, multipliable or both. It must also be their idea, not ours—led by them, not by us. Ownership happens when the idea comes from them, even when we think our way is better. Our role is to help carry out their plans by connecting them to resources that are already here.<br />
<br />
Our plan is to eventually turn the ministry over to a local group or entity. So far, <a href="http://www.mutatioministries.org/" target="_blank">God has grown this ministry</a> very quickly (especially for a Latin country!). He has connected (and proven these connections through our projects) to provide basic needs of water and food to this needy community. Community leaders have responded to lead their people. Pastors have volunteered to use what God has provided to challenge and love their community members. <span style="color: orange;"><b>THIS is what we desire</b>. </span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #990000;">
THANK YOU! </span></h4>
We thank you for your continuing support for our ministry and for our family in so many ways, prayerfully, financially, and in the form of special gifts and help that many of you have provided. We thank God for you!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The Wells Family</i></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-41497088823899833482015-06-19T12:40:00.002-07:002015-06-19T12:45:52.612-07:00May/June Ministry Update<h1 class="null" style="color: #606060 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
A New Partnership</h1>
In the first few weeks of the month of May, we received news that our in-country “covering” organization, HFMM (<a href="http://www.honduranfellowship.org/" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Honduran Fellowship of Missionaries & Ministries</a>),
had partnered with Networking Honduras, a non-profit org based in the
Atlanta, Georgia, area. Networking Honduras has been working for more
than 8 years with NGOs (Non-Governmental Orgs) and ministries focused on
Honduras. Most of these organizations are based in the U.S. and take
teams to Honduras to help people “on the ground”. HFMM helps
missionaries and ministries within Honduras (such as us). The
partnership between these two organizations has opened up many more
opportunities and will help to ease our work here and work of others
through the resources they provide.<br />
<br />
One of the greatest benefits of this new partnership is that of being
connected to many more ministries whose desire is to help the Honduran
people. By working together we can accomplish a lot more in Honduras and
expose our work, the work of others, and the need in the communities we
work in to a larger audience.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/8e6a3ff8-cb10-42c3-8994-b96df72428e8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="right" border="0" height="200" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/8e6a3ff8-cb10-42c3-8994-b96df72428e8.jpg" style="border: 1px dashed; margin-top: 5px; outline: medium none; text-decoration: none;" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family selfie in <br />
“Downtown Disney”.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
A Trip to Orlando</h2>
Through
Networking Honduras and HFMM, we also now have the benefit of being
able to participate in conferences for the purpose of networking and
sharing resources. We have taken advantage of this new blessing by
attending a conference at the end of May in Orlando, Florida, hosted by
Networking Honduras. We took a short 8-day trip to Orlando to both
attend the conference and enjoy a family gift of tickets to a popular
Florida “theme park”, of which we are very thankful! It was a much
needed break and very refreshing in many ways as a family and for our
ministry.<br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
Meeting the Vice President of Honduras</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/85d97dcb-ca2c-4aac-a3e3-e79fba6598b6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="left" alt="Vice President Alvarez" border="0" height="156" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/85d97dcb-ca2c-4aac-a3e3-e79fba6598b6.jpg" style="border: 1px dashed; margin-top: 10px; outline: medium none; text-decoration: none;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vice President Alvarez opening the <br />conference in Orlando.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One more benefit to attending the conference in Orlando was being able
to meet the Vice President of Honduras, Ricardo Alvarez (pictured) and
his wife Lucrecia. Ricardo was a keynote speaker at the conference and
Lucrecia led one of the breakout sessions. Both have had extensive
experience with missionaries and ministries and volunteer with
various ministries on a regular basis. We had an opportunity to speak
with them in an informal meeting at the end of the conference. They are
committed to helping missionaries and ministries in Honduras accomplish
what God has called them to do. It is amazing the doors God has opened
here in Honduras, not just for us, but for every missionary, ministry
and NGO doing work here.<br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<img align="right" height="302" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/6a84a0cf-145f-4ae5-a869-16e8e7a0c3ce.jpg" style="border: 1px dashed; height: 302px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 5px; outline: medium none; text-decoration: none;" width="250" /></div>
The Forgotten People of Honduras:
<br />
Garifuna & Moskito</h2>
Two
days after our return from Florida, I (Corey) had the opportunity to
join a team whom I connected with over a year ago called <a href="http://riodeaguaviva.nationsbridge.net/page/Rio-de-Agua-Viva" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #6dc6dd; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">AHMEN</a>
(Alabama-Honduras Medical Education Network). They invited me to join
them to La Mosquitia, the eastern most part of Honduras known as the
Mosquito Coast, for a 5-day trip. This region is home to the Moskito
people, an indigenousness indian people group, as well as
to Garifuna communities living among them along the eastern coast. This
team has been providing workshops to help lesser reached people groups
learn new skills and to provide needed resources. A main goal of this
group is to train local leaders in order to train others
(multiplication). The focus of the workshops were to address local
problems such as water filtration, infant care, nutrition, and how to
form community groups to initiate positive change. All the workshops are
done through local pastors/churches and include a message centered
around the Lordship of Jesus Christ and as the ultimate source of hope
and lasting change.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="left" height="201" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/f1e830a3-6e33-4a95-9ca5-053c13be27bb.jpg" style="border: 1px dashed; height: auto ! important; margin: 5px auto 10px; outline: medium none; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workshop in Cusuna at a local church with pastor leading.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It
was a great team with 4 doctors, 3 national pastors, 3 missionaries, 2
educators, 2 water experts, and a handful of others from the U.S.,
England, Columbia, Costa Rica and Honduras. After five days in La
Mosquitia and a very adventurous trip there and back (I was one of the
drivers/navigators), I came back with lots of new ideas for ministry.
One of those ideas is that of workshops that we've already begun to
develop. These workshops will go hand-in-hand with what our ministry
already focuses on (namely empowerment of local people with a
Christ-based message and providing connections to resources). Please
pray with us about developing these workshops and that they would have
lasting impact.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="right" height="264" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/3381cd1f-d280-44b6-bdbb-c7e5d1b20bcb.jpg" style="border: 1px dashed; height: 264px; margin: 5px auto 10px; outline: medium none; text-decoration: none;" width="250" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corey and Chris in La Mosquitia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another
blessing on this trip with the AHMEN team was meeting a young man named
Chris. He is from a Garifuna community that we stopped and visited.
This community is home to a medical clinic that was established through
the help of AHMEN. Chris' family has been helping at the clinic since
it's opening several years ago. One doctor who works at the clinic
joined the team as well as Chris to help in whatever way he could. He
speaks Garifuna, Spanish, and some English so was a great help. Through
the trip, we were able to talk about ministry and his desires. He has
studied social development in the university level and has an interest
in joining us in ministry. We're giving Chris an “internship” to help us
and learn firsthand about the ministry. Our desire is to eventually
hand-off the ministry we're developing to nationals, preferrably young
Garifuna men such as Chris, with a desire to serve. Chris' Christian
character and desire to serve is evident, so we ask you please pray for
him and his involvement with our ministry in the near future. Thank you!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="right" height="320" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/1bdbad10-78eb-4edd-b06b-86fac28823ff.jpg" style="border: 1px dashed; margin: 5px auto 10px; outline: medium none; text-decoration: none;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darren hiking across a suspension bridge <br />
in the Pico Bonito jungle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
</h2>
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
Meet our college intern, Darren!</h2>
Darren, who is a university student from Louisiana, is with us for six
weeks as he helps our missionary friends and us in various aspects this
summer. He's learning what ministry is like in La Ceiba and experiencing
the culture of Honduras. He's been with us for a week now and is
feeling more part of the family every day. Pray God would show him his
glory and purposes while he stays with us. We're glad to have him!<br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
The Need is not the same as the Call</h2>
God called us to Honduras, not because of the location, the need, or to
serve in a certain capacity or vocation. God called us to a people
called the Garifuna, a rich African-rooted culture with a troubled
history and a need for hope. We often recall how God “called” us. It was
not a need to fill (although there are plenty) or a desire on our part
(and plenty of those as well). The need is not the same as the call we
receive. <u><i>The need is the opportunity for us to exercise the call.</i></u> It was an obedience to God telling us to share the hope we have with these people.<br />
<br />
We also realize that this call is not only to change others, but to
change us. God often works in mysterious ways, but one thing we know for
sure about him is that he wants what's best for us and desires to shape
us into his image through whatever means he desires. Our calling most
likely will shift and change someday, but until then we are to be
obedient to do and be what he has given us to do and be.<br />
<br />
So our message to you is this: <b>Be a missionary where you are at!</b>
He may call you overseas to a foreign land, but more likely is he is
calling you right where you are. God can use you in amazing ways if only
you obey and follow. Count the cost (because it is high) and realize
his calling and your response to that call is what matters.<br />
<br />
<i><span class="Acts-20-24 text" id="en-NLT-27614">“But my life is
worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me
by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the
wonderful grace of God</span><span class="Acts-20-24 text">.</span>”</i> <i>(Acts 20:24)</i><br />
<br />
<b>What work has been assigned to <i>you</i> to carry out?</b><br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
<b>Please pray with us!</b></h2>
<ul>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Our
water project is still underway. We are waiting for a pump to arrive
via the States that was donated to us. Praise God for this blessing! And
please pray for the remaining details to fall into place.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray for Chris and his involvement in our ministry.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray for healing for Kirsten and her family as they mourn the loss of their aunt who was very close to the family.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray
for the process of getting Gavin transferred to a new school. The
process is difficult, but we trust the outcome will be best for him.</li>
</ul>
Thank you for your on-going prayers and partnership!<br />
<br />
In His mighty grip,<br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: darkorange;"><b><i>Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-26097769845223041672015-05-01T10:20:00.000-07:002015-05-06T10:22:50.349-07:00May Ministry Update<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
The
water project in our community has been on-going and has ran into many
delays. But through all of the delays we have had many opportunities to
speak to the leaders we work with in the community (and the usual small
crowd of people who surround us while we are there) about God's timing,
patience, and the blessings of God.</div>
<br />
It has been a busy time here in Honduras through the month of April.
While we had some good family time at the end of March during Samana
Santa (Holy Week, considered the “spring break” of Latin America), we
have had a busy schedule since then.
<br />
<h3 class="null" style="color: #606060 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.5px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
Water Project</h2>
<a href="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/35773811-b153-4b38-8420-7618ff5e5b54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Drilling in Nueva Armenia" border="0" height="320" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/35773811-b153-4b38-8420-7618ff5e5b54.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 400px; margin: 15px 15px 15px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;" width="240" /></a>We praise God for providing 100% of our need for Phase I of our project!
We had so much response, some financially, logistically, and in the
form of sending us supplies. Our next steps with the well will be to
build a pump house that will include a cement slab to secure the pump
and electrical components.<br />
<br />
Phase II of the water project will be to install a holding tank and
water filtration system for purified drinking water. It will also
include a path and covered area around the well site for filling buckets
that we will distribute to the community. The filtration system depends
on our water test results. If the results show the water is drinkable,
obviously we can eliminate the holding tank and filter. Either way, God
will provide!<br />
<br />
<h2 class="null" style="color: #404040 !important; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 26px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -.75px; line-height: 125%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;">
<b>Please pray with us!</b></h2>
<ul>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray
for the water project and for God's timing on the well drilling. Pray
for patience for us as we see God's purposes in the delays.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray
for Corey as he will be traveling to La Mosquitia (eastern Honduras) at
the beginning of June. He will be assisting a training and development
group from Alabama and will be teaching, driving, and translating among
many other things. Pray for safety for the group as there has been
ongoing conflict in that area between “narcos” (drug cartel), the
Mosquitia people, and Honduran/U.S. military groups.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray for the development of our ministry and for continued partnerships and resources.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Pray
for our decision to move Gavin to a different school next year
(August). We feel the Lord leading in this direction, but need continued
wisdom. Pray continually for Kirsten as she homeschools Garret.</li>
</ul>
Thank you for your on-going prayers and partnership!<br />
<br />
In His mighty grip,<br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: darkorange;"><b><i>Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</i></b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-67586204830241800312015-04-10T12:00:00.000-07:002015-04-11T18:03:54.632-07:00Water Project UpdateThe water project we initiated at the beginning of February has gotten
off to a good start. We were able to raise 70% of the funds we needed to
start Phase One of this project! Praise God!<br />
<br />
<b>Phase One</b> consists of drilling the actual water well,
purchasing the pump needed for the well, and building a pump house to
secure the pump and electrical components.<br />
<br />
<b>Phase Two</b> is installing a filtration system which
consists of a water purifier and holding tank. Phase Two is dependent on
water tests from the well as it may not be needed depending on those
results.<br />
<br />
<b>Phase Three</b> is building a filling station around the
pump/well area. There is a community water tower nearby the well site,
but we are reluctant to use it (and its existing water pipes into the
community) due to contamination and years of neglect. So the filling
station will be for the community to use with water buckets we will
distribute as part of Phase Three.<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="Corey meeting with pastor" height="225" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/cc1e70ef-0a9c-4ef9-bc9a-374ce691cfc2.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 225px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 300px;" width="300" />Although
our funding is nearly there for Phase One, we have run into some
problems. As with all of the work we do here, we try to involve other
ministries who specialize in the areas we are working in. We have
selected a ministry here that specializes in well drilling, however,
during tests prior to drilling the hydraulic pump broke down on the
drilling rig. The past few weeks have been spent getting this pump
repaired, tested, repaired, and tested. Parts are not readily available
so this adds to the waiting time that we have grown accustom to living
here.<br />
<br />
Through this waiting time, we have been able to talk with the community
leaders about God's timing in everything. More opportunities to share
with them and others around them have came up because of the delay. For
this, we thank God!<br />
<br />
We are nearly there for our Phase One goal and ask that you would give,
if led, to this project so we can be good stewards of the work God has
given us to do. We thank you in advance!<br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/water4garifuna" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPTVF0kSjCOtxU4SIlBTIMOn6JmmfCGqyrOgTv36GLNDtfgK5Gt7iXhyphenhyphenp729WgT2Bk2fxs_vKvG1lB9i0wkjHdqA4rvAuC4VWCw3XxJkbPEfxD10aGaTWXdfmSFoTTc2SlPQqLcaQmU0f/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-11+at+6.49.12+PM.png" height="58" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<b>Please pray about this project:</b>
</div>
<ul>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">That the well drilling rig is repaired and funds for such repairs are available to the well drilling ministry.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">That
we are given more opportunities to build up our community leaders, two
leaders in particular: Margarita and Pastor Miguel. Margarita leads a
community work team of 30+ people and needs perseverance in what she
does. Miguel donated the land for the well, and we are working with him
to involve his church in the project and to have influence in the
community as well as with Margarita's work team.</li>
<li style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">That
people who are a part of the work team for the water project have soft
hearts to hear the nudging of the Spirit, and that our opportunities to
speak into their lives line up with this nudging.</li>
</ul>
Thank you for your on-going prayers and partnership!<br />
<br />
In His mighty grip,<br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: darkorange;"><b><i>Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</i></b></span></span>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-22869636217773350762015-02-19T08:00:00.000-08:002015-03-28T13:33:38.048-07:00Giving "living water" to a Garifuna CommunityWe have begun a water project where we work in Honduras in the community of Nueva Armenia to first meet the felt-needs of the community. They lack clean water and is their number one need (from their perspective). We are providing a new well, new holding tank and filtration system, and a community filling area where all can come and get clean drinking water. We have put in place a plan to begin educating the community on the benefits of clean drinking water and will be using the project as a way to share our faith in Christ.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">
What is “living water”?</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTQLf3WtvSPPs31UDmxJYgNEaKpB23tqU3NbaRY6ss94JgsToniGHAGD9LIm-IC84mujckDO1Hf4s9XT2MYQlUC2DdY7eh3GaftYJulKLflp6rohQZQcvbXTEg2lH0Ft5cIMDxZb-39qI/s1600/boy+with+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTQLf3WtvSPPs31UDmxJYgNEaKpB23tqU3NbaRY6ss94JgsToniGHAGD9LIm-IC84mujckDO1Hf4s9XT2MYQlUC2DdY7eh3GaftYJulKLflp6rohQZQcvbXTEg2lH0Ft5cIMDxZb-39qI/s1600/boy+with+water.jpg" /></a></div>
Remember the Samaritan woman at the well? (read it in John 4) The same thing that the woman thought she needed (felt-need) was what Jesus used to explain her need for “living” water. He touched on a sensitive subject: the woman’s five husbands and the one she was living with who wasn't her husband. Now isn’t that culturally relevant! We encounter this same thing in Nueva Armenia and other communities we work in here. The water project is an ideal way to unite the community, address problems, and give them solutions to their problems based on God's Word all wrapped around the “wholeness” that we have in Jesus. This is true wholistic ministry just as Jesus did!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">
Water Project Update:</span></h3>
So far we've raised $920 toward our water project. Thank you!! We need an additional $1,580 to meet our goal of $2,500 to begin the first phase of our project which will be drilling a well. Our time frame is to begin the well the first week of March.<br />
<br />
The land for the well has been donated to the community by a local pastor. Praise God! We are working with this pastor to form a long term spiritual plan for the community. And the “junta de agua” (community group in charge of the water project) has been created. We’ve already been able to create a ton of unity and have empowered many to begin ideas and dreams of their own. We've also helped in forming a youth work team getting the young men in the community involved. Everything we do is community led and the land we use is community owned. This gives true ownership of the project so it is never “ours” to turn over when we’re finished with the project. This project is just the first in several to come that will allow us to touch every area of this community.<br />
<br />
Please help us reach our Phase One goal so we can begin the actual drilling of the well. This will impact this Garifuna community of over 2,000 people in HUGE ways! And it gives us incredible opportunities to share Christ’s love with a forgotten and overlooked community and people. Believe and pray with us that this goal can and will be met! Thank you for your faith and prayers!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/water4garifuna" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQPaMNasmVeAp5rLzgJpT6MlDQNwSMnzRqNG5gP8f1kmhOivuDWcWt_XKCGIKplZE0hyTDDqNACI463r3gSuuH5bOGL3M1G3h3qAbnjxHot7vyonw1RJBDznsfjPDX4Ntb6u595zEdxOV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-28+at+2.29.38+PM.png" height="56" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTDgdIhk4VHVg1KiOFnytZOGnaqkym-Hh8I-Vh2lKmsukMDUwiMjgvoIXzzGRBdeYjSGqJbfzsv0-98V_5PphKzLNt9B_TbmBt3bDLQJfwKURHcwD0C5aGeIlFtLtQ0q_FXDWt4fmhho1/s1600/crowdrise+logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTDgdIhk4VHVg1KiOFnytZOGnaqkym-Hh8I-Vh2lKmsukMDUwiMjgvoIXzzGRBdeYjSGqJbfzsv0-98V_5PphKzLNt9B_TbmBt3bDLQJfwKURHcwD0C5aGeIlFtLtQ0q_FXDWt4fmhho1/s1600/crowdrise+logo.gif" /></a></div>
We are thankful to CrowdRise (who we are using to raise funds for this project) for making it possible to keep our fundraising fees very low.<br />
<br />
As always, thank you all for your on-going prayers and partnership!<br />
<br />
In His mighty grip,<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: orange;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</span></i></span></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-37343514153172647192015-01-29T19:50:00.001-08:002015-01-30T06:21:23.309-08:00Starting the New Year StrongWow, a two month hiatus from our last blog post! Since then we have gone through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years and made our trek back to Honduras. It was a wonderful time back in the U.S. visiting with family and friends and updating all on what our next year holds for us.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">Back in Honduras</span></h3>
2015 is going to be a great year of ministry and a great year for our family! We have a big plan that God has placed before us which will require a lot of work. As we’ve mentioned in previous news and updates, our ministry among the Garifuna people involves touching every area of life. We address problems and issues in 5 key areas: spiritual, physical, social, educational, and economical. Our ministry is wholistic, meaning it involves the whole person and is interconnected to life as we live it and know it. This approach to ministry takes a long time to establish as it is rooted in building trusting relationships. Quality relationships and real change usually comes from time spent with people.<br />
<br />
This past year God has blessed our ministry by opening doors in our Garifuna community by establishing several relationships with community leaders and we've been able to learn what the felt-needs are of the community. One of the main needs is access to water. Not only do they have little-to-no access to water, they do not have drinking water which effects health and hygiene.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgieo0pyJKmpTFAsUBFZ8KkwUD1mAoas638UF4f0h7OrVFe4DA3zDtLBs7LIBnvzDRRZpNcKHDuj8Ne8OJMnfdPdwKzY2rKybWk-6tbDxGRicM-AKQQ3CULqx0fXBCyRoF6DhY4tEOKQ14/s1600/bad+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgieo0pyJKmpTFAsUBFZ8KkwUD1mAoas638UF4f0h7OrVFe4DA3zDtLBs7LIBnvzDRRZpNcKHDuj8Ne8OJMnfdPdwKzY2rKybWk-6tbDxGRicM-AKQQ3CULqx0fXBCyRoF6DhY4tEOKQ14/s1600/bad+water.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Put yourself in this position, where you do not have water you can drink (without ill effects), do not have water access inside your home, and even do not have a source of water that is suitable for cooking or cleaning. This also means you cannot flush toilets or take showers. Also, because of the lack of access to any water (purified or not), most homes in this community do not have bathrooms (they find a place outside their home they can use). You can probably imagine what life would be like without water access and how that would not only effect your health and hygiene but how it would effect you mentally as well. It creates a sense of helplessness that carries through socially and effects every area of living.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">So what to do? </span></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXzXPPrI2seXHOfXWUPjM3SqMi6RgE_lxb41CiHm8vlyBrf9Jt9EtBMaY7VwcOjuLNJMiUJFhk8q7phUqRHt8ZlqNAxBBQfjswX85dmGedvZwPER5EVr-BlybLQVEVL2lEmx6JHL136Fz/s1600/water+spigot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXzXPPrI2seXHOfXWUPjM3SqMi6RgE_lxb41CiHm8vlyBrf9Jt9EtBMaY7VwcOjuLNJMiUJFhk8q7phUqRHt8ZlqNAxBBQfjswX85dmGedvZwPER5EVr-BlybLQVEVL2lEmx6JHL136Fz/s1600/water+spigot.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a>Since returning to Honduras, the Lord has shown us that we are to initiate a water project in this community. The verse we are basing this project on is from Isaiah 41:17-20:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="text Isa-41-17" id="en-NIV-18469"><span class="text Isa-41-18" id="en-NIV-18470"><span class="text Isa-41-18" id="en-NIV-18470"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup></span></span>“The poor and needy search for water,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-17">but there is none;</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-17">their tongues are parched with thirst.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Isa-41-17">But I the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> will answer them;</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-17">I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Isa-41-18" id="en-NIV-18470"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>I will make rivers flow on barren heights,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-18">and springs within the valleys.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Isa-41-18">I will turn the desert into pools of water,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-18">and the parched ground into springs.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Isa-41-19" id="en-NIV-18471"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>I will put in the desert</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-19">the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Isa-41-19">I will set junipers in the wasteland,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-19">the fir and the cypress together,</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Isa-41-20" id="en-NIV-18472"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>so that people may see and know,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-20">may consider and understand,</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="text Isa-41-20">that the hand of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> has done this,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-20">that the Holy One of Israel has created it.”</span></span></i> </blockquote>
The purpose of this project is not only to give people clean water, but to help them see that the Lord is the one who is providing (v. 20), that it is him helping them<i> through us</i> so that they might know him better.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL2m-J4LZNR0Hdp9__3At9SVmCX2kmsp67kJyoCO5zTU_iN4rBqbLbOatmRWDVenADxFHEtG10PK77evHNmyC2QC8aPf8taDHBkkEsJKD2Q66JJ8x3WFF2PCuieiDNxB0qsN9hGkq9F0a/s1600/Nueva+Armenia+mtg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL2m-J4LZNR0Hdp9__3At9SVmCX2kmsp67kJyoCO5zTU_iN4rBqbLbOatmRWDVenADxFHEtG10PK77evHNmyC2QC8aPf8taDHBkkEsJKD2Q66JJ8x3WFF2PCuieiDNxB0qsN9hGkq9F0a/s1600/Nueva+Armenia+mtg.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our first meetings with the community.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The plan is to have a well drilled on community property (donated by a local pastor) where all can access and install a filtration system to purify the water. Not only will we drill a well, but we have designed a beautification project that will complement the water project. Imagine a beautiful area, like a gazebo with tropical plants and flowers and places to sit in the shade and talk with a neighbor. At the center of this area is a filing station where community members can come and get the water they need. This area would be cared for by the community and managed by a “Junta de Agua” (an official group required by the Honduran gov’t designated to oversee access and maintenance of the project).<br />
<br />
We have also planned an education program that will teach the community how having clean water will change their way of living and improve their lives, and of course the spiritual aspect that will use the education opportunities to teach about biblical concepts. We anticipate that this first major project will be the “seed” that gives many more ways to improve this community with a solid foundation built on Christ and will open doors into other areas to touch lives and unify this community.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">What’s required?</span></h3>
<b>We have estimated that the total cost from start to finish will be approximately $7,500.</b> This estimate includes drilling the well (costs for equipment, replacement of bits, etc.), installing a purification system (which includes a holding tank and the filtration), and structure to house the filling station. This estimate will probably change as we get more details (for example, we may have other materials donated), but this is our best “educated guess” at this point.<br />
<br />
To begin the project we need about 1/3 of the total cost for the actual drilling of the well. <span style="color: orange;"><b>Our goal is to raise $2,500 by March 1st</b></span> so we can begin the first phase of the project the first week of March. The second phase is the filtration system which we have a goal of raising an additional $2,500 by April 1st. And the third phase is the beautification which we have a goal of raising the final $2,500 by May 1st.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">How can you partner on this project with us? </span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/water4garifuna" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTrIDvguU90SVaAVeAxNjq9mYiHPwEDjmtW3fRGVbUXIC3vftcHzyax03d4M67LGSfP5epvOdX52qDDlRbFzLxcfkw4TwONsIh4mZrtfAJcUJD5InPo1dEqJ8nPcQcL9F_LrBCoSDJ2C3/s1600/donate_button.jpg" /></a></div>
We are asking that you would consider giving to this project as the Lord leads you. Any amount helps! Remember, there is no access to clean drinking water in this community. Any amount you give will go to provide clean water to drink and be the beginning to breaking a poverty mindset (physically and spiritually).<br />
<br />
<b>Here is an idea: engage your family in this project! </b>The impact of the final “product” will be extreme as it will improve the quality of people’s lives physically, socially and spiritually. It will give them a hope and a future (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2029:11" target="_blank">Jer. 29:11</a>)! <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">To give directly to this, click on the <b><a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/water4garifuna" target="_blank">Dontate Online Now</a></b> button.</span> <br />
<br />
And of course, <b>please pray</b> specifically about this project. First, <b>pray</b> the many opportunities we have to speak into people’s lives would be full of grace and love and that the words of Jesus would be clearly communicated. <b>Pray</b> that this project would create unity within this community and empower people to live fully (to break a poverty mentality... it is happening!). <b>Pray</b> this project would create “equity” for us to initiate other projects designed to compliment it. There are many chains holding these people from their full potential as God has designed them. <b>Pray</b> these chains would be broken!<br />
<br />
And finally, <b>THANK YOU</b>! You are crucial to this ministry God has allowed us to be a part of. Your involvement is necessary. We couldn’t do it without you! We'd love to hear from you personally as well. Send us an email at <u>ckwells1[at]gmail.com</u> or call us direct at 503-877-6391 (Oregon local number that calls us in Honduras).<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><b><i>The Wells Family</i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-41685340484962161452014-11-20T13:28:00.000-08:002014-11-20T13:41:10.787-08:00What God is doing and where we're goingWe wanted to give a quick update of what is happening with us the past few weeks. We are back in the U.S. now for the holidays to see family and friends and to update our ministry partners on what God has done over the past year and what we see in His plans for us for the coming year. So far since we have been back in Oregon the past 2 weeks, we've been able to visit Salem Evangelical Church in Salem, OR, and Calvary Community Church in Albany, OR. We are so thankful for all the faithful servants who attend these two churches and how they have supported us over the past several years and prayed for us. We are excited about what the future holds for us and those who God has called and will call to be a part of his grander plan for us in Honduras. Seeing everyone and sharing what God has done has reminded us so much of how we are all part of the Body of Christ, functioning together. Without each other we are nothing!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8iwcJPpcu4cu_SNIAZ5Ib3bSXIiiCG7FOdXYQjSxQDwhEoonxuC-xmZgUZ0R1iFaVXRug7a3n1kvklKmv2LWlFB_DItzRRQst35Z7BnP8VqFwHbk342uMA0cZyR-y_uAolkz_IBYbduM/s1600/PC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8iwcJPpcu4cu_SNIAZ5Ib3bSXIiiCG7FOdXYQjSxQDwhEoonxuC-xmZgUZ0R1iFaVXRug7a3n1kvklKmv2LWlFB_DItzRRQst35Z7BnP8VqFwHbk342uMA0cZyR-y_uAolkz_IBYbduM/s1600/PC.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A visit to our favorite beach in Pacific City, Oregon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The weekend after Thanksgiving we plan to travel to Monterey, CA, to visit Kirsten's cousin's family and to attend a wedding of some friends we made this past summer from a short term mission team from Shoreline Community Church. We'll also be attending Shoreline and seeing our new friends and ministry partners there. Please pray our trip there and back would be in God's protection and our time would be fruitful and blessed.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Update on our ministry in Honduras: </h4>
Prior to traveling to the U.S., we held a meeting for the fishermen of the community of Nueva Armenia to address the problems they have encountered with fishing and to work at finding solutions. Although the meeting went well in our first meeting, we had a few interruptions. In particular, there was a guy across the lagoon (about 50 ft. wide in this area) revving the outboard engine on his boat, and because the meeting was at the pier, the engine noise was very disruptive. We learned from one of the fishermen at the meeting that this man who was revving the engine was known in the community as a trouble-maker. A week later we had our second meeting with a much larger group of fishermen. During this meeting, the same man revved his boat motor disrupting the meeting. After several minutes of interruption, he suddenly stood up in his boat and fell face first into the water. He laid in the shallow water motionless as others nearby went over to see what had happened. When they dragged him out of the water they found that he had died! When the news carried across the lagoon, the pastor at the fisherman's meeting stood up and said, "may he rest in peace" and the meeting continued uninterrupted for the rest of the meeting. We don't know all the details about this man who died, but heard that he had no family in the community. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ZuVa1O71RVMfDLVxWNs6ThtIyVmFjdKDOPYVpOLPJezusew_gtHGTUZ3OLZXOz6em-bl2nuqsphxqCgFHpw4LWS9Ge7HiHOEOy79ERxX5YohXrNHeIs1bOch8dMw0nowQ6BMqvq-J_J/s1600/pastor+miguel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ZuVa1O71RVMfDLVxWNs6ThtIyVmFjdKDOPYVpOLPJezusew_gtHGTUZ3OLZXOz6em-bl2nuqsphxqCgFHpw4LWS9Ge7HiHOEOy79ERxX5YohXrNHeIs1bOch8dMw0nowQ6BMqvq-J_J/s1600/pastor+miguel.png" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor M. giving his suggestions about the fishing issues.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Say what you want about this situation (coincidence), but we believe the Spirit of God is moving through this community and it will not be stopped by anyone! Often in cultures such as this, God does things to get people's attention that are supernatural. This is referred to in missiology as "power encounters." The Bible tells us that God's work is dependent on the faith of those he is working among. And when you have faith that God can do anything (and the culture hasn't stolen your faith and belief in His power), he does anything! Please continue to pray for Nueva Armenia and those fishermen that the Lord has already selected to become men of God. And please pray for our time here in the U.S. and that we would connect with whom the Lord would want us to and that we are refreshed and renewed.<br />
<br />
Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: orange;">La Familia Wells</span></b></i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-33292272194649211282014-10-15T08:30:00.003-07:002014-10-15T08:30:54.454-07:00Newsletters and updatesAs of October, 2014, all newsletters (which were previously blog updates disguised as newsletters) will be e-mailed and/or mailed to
our friends and churches. For the security and safety of our family,
friends, teammates, and those we minister to, future newsletters/email updates will only be available to
those on our mailing list. If you would like to
be added to our mailing list, you can sign up by <a href="http://eepurl.com/EGUkz"><strong>clicking here.</strong><span id="goog_1343697225"></span><span id="goog_1343697226"></span><strong> </strong></a> Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience. We will continue to post updates, but they will be more general in nature without specifics into ministry here. Thanks for supporting us and taking the time to read!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-4639264161576699752014-09-06T19:49:00.000-07:002014-09-10T06:41:48.781-07:00Transforming Individuals, Families, & Communities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ckwells.blogspot.com/2014/07/glorydue.html" target="_blank">In our last blog update</a></span>,
we talked about a detour God had given us to reveal his better plan for
us. When we first began ministry here in La Ceiba, Honduras, we knew
God had something specific planned for us and how he would use us for
his purposes. Over the course of the last 9 months we have learned what
that is, or at least as much as we can know to this point, and we want
to share that with you.<br />
<br />
Last fall, God specifically
told us to wait on him and that what was coming was something bigger
than what we could imagine or think. It would be beyond our narrow
vision and would expand into something much greater, not only in impact
on people's lives and drawing them into a deeper relationship with
Christ and his desires for them, but in connecting the world around us
to the greater vision that God has planned. We are reminded of this in
several places in God's Word, most specifically, "In their hearts humans
plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps" (Proverbs
16:9); "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your
plans" (Proverbs 16:3); and "In all your ways submit to him, and he will
make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:6). These are only a few of the
clear instructions from the LORD to move forward with what understanding
we have in <i>faith</i> knowing that God will direct us into what he desires for his purposes.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_Ne_Iko7QZxdiak6JcUnVtxPZXEWig_4Tm2cicsu5yx2cEgnQUie5u_TSdwdzmDymlf84yKWQF7Dh4FGa8mBEhyphenhyphenvUd86vO7XFAjezBo6GIyxcQ19peE8lG5YD6zBMrVgqXvqbApUZ8Ko/s1600/Jesus+and+playboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_Ne_Iko7QZxdiak6JcUnVtxPZXEWig_4Tm2cicsu5yx2cEgnQUie5u_TSdwdzmDymlf84yKWQF7Dh4FGa8mBEhyphenhyphenvUd86vO7XFAjezBo6GIyxcQ19peE8lG5YD6zBMrVgqXvqbApUZ8Ko/s1600/Jesus+and+playboy.jpg" height="200" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mi Señor Jesus" (My Lord Jesus) <br />
script and the Playboy Bunny sticker <br />
(see red circles) co-existing on the back <br />
of this car in La Ceiba, a common sight <br />
and contradiction here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By
living here in Honduras it is easy to see that it is a "religious"
culture, meaning in nearly every area of life there is a list of "do's
and don'ts" and Christian phrases and symbols are a part of everyday
life. Going to church is often cultural, no matter the denomination. But
there is a disconnect between religion and life and how the message of
Christ, his forgiveness, peace, grace and mercy, should effect our lives
and how we treat others. In most of this culture, the effect of
"Christianity" has no impact and there is complete disregard for others—a<i> distrust</i>.
There is an answer to battling this stronghold. It's in the power of
the Holy Spirit to change hearts and minds, both through his
supernatural power and through the physical example of Christ.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5fc_lH0kUSEtP-8CLmCoYhWKE8i70jubwY-LDB2tSuBVJe2mb4WaL7PA-8E071nyOcYzNtcs3OYSPdN4tExQcpUfMQLM81AmHjya9qf5c2N2tOG3qZjlJIqn7MzH6JfOPkstaSR7j8I4/s1600/hines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5fc_lH0kUSEtP-8CLmCoYhWKE8i70jubwY-LDB2tSuBVJe2mb4WaL7PA-8E071nyOcYzNtcs3OYSPdN4tExQcpUfMQLM81AmHjya9qf5c2N2tOG3qZjlJIqn7MzH6JfOPkstaSR7j8I4/s1600/hines.jpg" height="200" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff & Julie Hines, our partners <br />
in ministry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We
want to reach the culture where the culture is at. Since January we
have developed a relationship with another missionary
family, Jeff and Julie Hines, who have the same desire to reach people
where they are at with the life-changing power of Christ. They had been
working in "Ladino" (what locals call Latinos) communities with what we
call "<b>community transformation</b>" for about a year or so prior to
our meeting them. The idea is to use everyday needs to share and show
Christ in word and deed transforming the way entire communities
function. We desired to do the same in Garifuna communities, so it made
sense to team up and become like a "three-stranded cord" battling the
strongholds together.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMxHcr5f9rDd3EDEmFJg57Ytyfh_tWnUTRXURRY1532ZIuuDloAT8isS4EnrByjmolGoyjn8fIgew4yhXzfMLadvj1cgOn7lqsUcqsYvdq4GNPMb_t9wiyD6h2unVmp5aSmZdfz8VKfS_/s1600/las_piedronas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMxHcr5f9rDd3EDEmFJg57Ytyfh_tWnUTRXURRY1532ZIuuDloAT8isS4EnrByjmolGoyjn8fIgew4yhXzfMLadvj1cgOn7lqsUcqsYvdq4GNPMb_t9wiyD6h2unVmp5aSmZdfz8VKfS_/s1600/las_piedronas.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of the school we built, we interact with the kids <br />
of the community.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since January, we
have begun to develop this new ministry with the Hines family and have
seen many aspects of community transformation take place. Community
transformation is broken down into five areas: spiritual, physical,
social, educational, and economical. It starts with building
relationships with individuals such as "persons
of peace" and/or identified leaders in communities, then to families,
and then with the entire community. We instill Christ-like values and
biblical concepts into the five key areas and address needs in these
areas that the communities might have. We start with a "seed project"
that opens the door for us to work in the community. Some examples of
seed projects have ranged from building a new school room for a
community to finishing a cement floor in a community center. These
projects build trust and relationships from the very start. Every seed
project creates connections within the community to other individuals
and families and allows us to have an impact very quickly. We survey
families within the communities taking down information such as income
level, number of people in the home, type of structure, and access to
basic amenities such as drinkable water, electricity and shelter. This
gives us a baseline of where we are starting from and allows us to develop a plan and set goals for the families and community as a whole.<br />
<br />
We've developed the video embedded into this post below to show what the "before"
and "after" looks like in the communities we have worked in. We have
just begun work in a new Garifuna community called Nueva Armenia. We ask
that you pray for our involvement in this community and for hearts to
be softened and minds to be changed in the coming months as we move
forward with the leadership and contacts we have made there.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/105729054" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<br />
If you have any questions about community transformation and our ministry here, please email us at <a href="mailto:ckwells1@gmail.com">ckwells1@gmail.com</a> or send us a message on our Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HondurasWells" target="_blank">Honduras Wells</a>. And as always, thank you for praying and supporting us in many ways!<br />
<br />
In His mighty grip,<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</i></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-60858307643389761692014-07-27T19:17:00.000-07:002014-07-27T22:33:50.349-07:00Giving glory where glory is due<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><i><span class="text Hab-1-5"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036">“For I am going to do something in your days</span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036"> </span></span><span class="text Hab-1-5"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036">that you would not believe,</span></span></span></i><span class="indent-1"><i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036"> </span></span></i><span class="text Hab-1-5"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036"><i>even if you were told.” –Habakkuk 1:5</i></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
In September of last year, we set out from Siguatepeque, Honduras, to move to the town of Trujillo to begin ministry among the Garifuna people. Four months later we found ourselves returning from our two month trip to the States back to the city of La Ceiba <i>instead</i> of Trujillo. In looking back on this time period, we realized we had left out many details of just how we ended up in La Ceiba. It didn't seem important at the time because, in either place, we were to start our ministry with the Garifuna people regardless of whether we were in La Ceiba or Trujillo. We think it is appropriate<b> <i>now </i></b>to share what happened during this time to shed light on what is happening with our ministry in La Ceiba and all that God is doing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
While we will never know what it might have looked like for our family in Trujillo since that is not where we ended up long term, we know that God had and has a great plan for redirecting us to La Ceiba. We also know that God used our move to Trujillo to show us his plan and to reinforce his desires for us, and ultimately to receive glory for what he would eventually do. And while we felt confident in moving to Trujillo, there were still some items we did not feel at peace with, but moved ahead in faith knowing God was with us and guiding us.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After our mid-September move and spending two weeks in Trujillo, we had plans to go back to Siguatepeque for a weekend at the end of the month to attend a missions conference for all missionaries in Honduras. And to say our move and first two weeks in Trujillo were bliss would be complete opposite from the truth. We expected to have resistance, since the enemy of God does not want us to succeed. But what we didn't expect was to not want to return to Trujillo once we left for the missions conference. We can't even begin to explain the battles we were up against. We had a very hard time discerning if it was God prompting us or Satan trying to slow or stop us. We found ourselves on our knees before him crying out for his direction. In a moment of prayer very early one morning, God spoke to me (Corey) with a verse from Habakkuk 2:3, <i>"<span class="text Hab-2-3" id="en-NIV-22752">For the revelation awaits an appointed time;</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Hab-2-3">it speaks of the end </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Hab-2-3">and will not prove false.</span></span><span class="text Hab-2-3"> Though it linger, wait for it;</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Hab-2-3">it will certainly come</span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Hab-2-3">and will not delay." </span></span></i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Hab-2-3">Although I have been taught to read scripture in context, in this case the revelation given to the prophet Habakkuk concerning wickedness in the land of Judah, in this moment God was telling me that this was a message for me specifically and to listen. He then led me to Habakkuk 1:5, </span></span><i><span class="text Hab-1-5"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036">"For I am going to do something in your days</span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036"> </span></span><span class="text Hab-1-5"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036">that you would not believe,</span></span></span></i><span class="indent-1"><i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036"> </span></span></i><span class="text Hab-1-5"><span class="verse-highlight verse-highlight-yellow selection-905800909036"><i>even if you were told." </i>So the clear message was to wait for the appointed time, "though it linger"—wait for it and it will not delay, because GOD would do something through the waiting, through HIS power, that would show his glory and plan... and it would be something I wouldn't believe even if I was told.<i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In a <a href="http://ckwells.blogspot.com/2013/10/breakdown.html">post from last October,</a> we explained some of what had happened on our way to the missions conference, our truck breaking down, and the days that followed that weekend trip that that turned into weeks in Siguatepeque. We realized that we were moving faster than the Lord had wanted us to, but in his grace and mercy we knew that the move to Trujillo was exactly what we needed to see into the future. God was clearly telling us to wait on him and follow his gracious leading one step at a time.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
During the missions conference those first few days back in Siguatepeque, not only was our truck broken, but so were we. It was just the place God wanted us: broken, humbled and ready to listen. As we sat in the first session of the conference curious about what we would learn, we listened to the guest speaker as he began to teach about waiting... from the book of Habakkuk! Just two days earlier God had given this clear message to us, and if that were not enough he confirmed it again. Such grace! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLKn4LTK-_aDFR5QP9wZYtctWz1yLzwj5ezwfOvITD8fRHE2B3JXONkeHCDyIrstW-_8TdCxC0ie0JT8wY89DhsOylvi56rgWKCiDk6ucAzZ-hOqreKXiWoAs-kB5IkpIc6FoKZ_cdv2_/s1600/picobonito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLKn4LTK-_aDFR5QP9wZYtctWz1yLzwj5ezwfOvITD8fRHE2B3JXONkeHCDyIrstW-_8TdCxC0ie0JT8wY89DhsOylvi56rgWKCiDk6ucAzZ-hOqreKXiWoAs-kB5IkpIc6FoKZ_cdv2_/s1600/picobonito.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Pico Bonito mountain range out the front <br />
window of our house in La Ceiba.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So with a holy fear and reverence, we sought the Lord in prayer, meditation, and fasting over the next few weeks. We were determined to take this delicately, only moving one step at a time and only when we had sure confirmation from the Lord. In our time of individual prayer and leading by the Holy Spirit, both Kirsten and I sensed we should go to La Ceiba and meet with another missionary there. For what reason we did not know, only that we knew we should go. In the following few weeks we traveled back to La Ceiba and met with this missionary and several others in the area. We discovered a great peace about being in La Ceiba and sensed this was where God wanted us. So we rented a house and just one month later went back to the States for our scheduled two month furlough. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Fast-forward nine months... </h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesr8JIKPleAvFKwX1nnoyvduHyGEAz9M5L4IL4hYpET7rljDjnfqc4wWpGVeTwVkcC1zx-goD4bwxsTFYG9DWF-EWeCvBge3uESbDnPPzE3DZOks5QOd8RYUOPUBl3jRt3l5AIA73XW4a/s1600/sosa_house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesr8JIKPleAvFKwX1nnoyvduHyGEAz9M5L4IL4hYpET7rljDjnfqc4wWpGVeTwVkcC1zx-goD4bwxsTFYG9DWF-EWeCvBge3uESbDnPPzE3DZOks5QOd8RYUOPUBl3jRt3l5AIA73XW4a/s1600/sosa_house.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The latest project: a house for the Sosa family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since February we have been working with another missionary family in La Ceiba who have begun a ministry called <a href="http://www.transformhonduras.org/" target="_blank"><i>Transform Honduras</i></a>. Our desire to reach Garifuna communities by entering in using various means to help the communities has merged with theirs. We use infrastructure projects identified by the community to initiate a way to begin building relationships with the community. From that point, we begin to asses different areas of the community to find solutions for them to solve problems, work together, serve one another, and create sustainability in every area of life. This gives so many opportunities to show, teach, and live Christ in every day things. It is the true Acts 1:8 church!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHx9F2Ff_K_MyV9t1HRotmhRHCuIPcTHvhbwq8VlD9tbqhrm0m-ea7scvNwN5WJ6HWBqk6hai8gessKJu40Lun3UbRK9qIqoIh7lGmE7rRuVUPDXLiGjHzxz6pgC-IttfmSLpjqdykdEB/s1600/na_laguna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHx9F2Ff_K_MyV9t1HRotmhRHCuIPcTHvhbwq8VlD9tbqhrm0m-ea7scvNwN5WJ6HWBqk6hai8gessKJu40Lun3UbRK9qIqoIh7lGmE7rRuVUPDXLiGjHzxz6pgC-IttfmSLpjqdykdEB/s1600/na_laguna.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lagoon port of Nueva Armenia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have begun work in a new Garifuna community called Nueva Armenia and will be sharing more on our closed Facebook group page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellsfamilyhonduras/">Wells Family Honduras</a> (for security/privacy reasons). Please become a member of this group to receive updates, see photos and video, and be a part of what God is doing here. We will share more soon on this blog with specifics of how we got connected to this new community and what we've learned over the past few months working in other communities with <i>Transform Honduras</i>. Stay tuned...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange;"><b>The history of how we got to La Ceiba really is important</b></span>, as it shows God's providence and all-knowing, all-surpassing power at work. There are so many details we can't include here, but someday we hope to write a book about all of it so we can include them! And we really CAN'T believe what God is going to do (Hab. 1:5), we just need to hold on for the ride and keep looking forward. <b>Please continue to pray for us!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In Christ alone,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</span></span></i></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-17839768185821376182014-06-25T15:54:00.000-07:002014-06-25T16:07:05.881-07:00Longing to go, but needing to stay<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlxepiKjrftipHhwQFsvhkpg3bkDS1mcBiS0psz9NYDTyhGHDNg2RDVcBbCg4-ULHxAHrSp81FUdXm14xP90R7SlO2SKAfx4IhFiVvDiXEOVRZLN-YAPTwcF2ABps2wqYdPSOAkGbd1SZ/s1600/dune+sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlxepiKjrftipHhwQFsvhkpg3bkDS1mcBiS0psz9NYDTyhGHDNg2RDVcBbCg4-ULHxAHrSp81FUdXm14xP90R7SlO2SKAfx4IhFiVvDiXEOVRZLN-YAPTwcF2ABps2wqYdPSOAkGbd1SZ/s1600/dune+sisters.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirsten and Garret with sisters and <br />
cousins atop Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two weeks ago today</span></span>, Kirsten, Gavin and Garret set off for the U.S. to visit family in Oregon and to celebrate Kirsten's oldest sister's wedding. The last two weeks have been a refilling time for them as they have all reconnected. Gavin and Garret have had several sleep overs so far and Kirsten has been able to enjoy the Oregon coast and the beautiful weather that has been there so far, spending lots of time with family. The cooler drizzle is also welcomed weather for them as they, like I have experienced in the last few weeks, are accustomed to 85° with 90%+ humidity. Here in Honduras there are only two seasons: wet and dry. Other than that, it is pretty much sunny everyday, hot, and sticky. So drizzle, rain, and cool weather is always something that we cherish for the short times we can enjoy it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfL5kwodUjfQA6CWwGS5FWuJlXEdDAB9b20hWiPEuLG0IEMRYC9KDbwLYlR-IgpHKq0Hb9ndre8KeuvYOISeb3JeEcJaQKs_6WhL_SlJTS0ayqzWuuxQb4XM34jdTu-QdFDZGgxCGRBGm/s1600/wells+cousins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfL5kwodUjfQA6CWwGS5FWuJlXEdDAB9b20hWiPEuLG0IEMRYC9KDbwLYlR-IgpHKq0Hb9ndre8KeuvYOISeb3JeEcJaQKs_6WhL_SlJTS0ayqzWuuxQb4XM34jdTu-QdFDZGgxCGRBGm/s1600/wells+cousins.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirsten and boys visiting cousin Tiffany <br />
at my parent's house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As for me, I chose to stay back in Honduras to finish some work with teams and keep things moving ministry-wise. I will be brutally honest—I miss my family! <i>(insert tear)</i> The house is entirely too quiet, I don't have near enough problems to solve between siblings (none to be exact), and I miss the hugs from my little boys and wife every day.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26eeVTzO54-11-3IPP_Uf3dV5Y0wl3y38wAIQDvxCcjK9DwqaalxGUMnJYb8v9laT3zdgUmj_OFbE_me_OlQwz_wpFdeNufOhSBFh4-6RD7VtzYr_kCs58QWBuMcGXEf2-tqxD58ITqdb/s1600/cousins3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26eeVTzO54-11-3IPP_Uf3dV5Y0wl3y38wAIQDvxCcjK9DwqaalxGUMnJYb8v9laT3zdgUmj_OFbE_me_OlQwz_wpFdeNufOhSBFh4-6RD7VtzYr_kCs58QWBuMcGXEf2-tqxD58ITqdb/s1600/cousins3.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin-time at Winema Christian Camp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some have asked, why I didn't go with them? Not only do I have work to accomplish over the next month, but I felt God telling me <i>NOT</i> to go. Does he want me to be apart from my family? Does he like the fact that my heart hurts to see them? The answer is <b><i>no</i></b> and<i><b> yes</b></i>. Being apart has helped me to understand in a deeper way how God, the Father, longs to see his children come to him. It has helped me to understand why he called us as a family to Honduras. And it has helped me to appreciate the moments that we have together as a family. With our boys now in school here in La Ceiba (summer break now), Kirsten and I have more time to spend together. Of course, it wasn't always like this. When I had an 8 to 5 job, it felt normal to be away all day from Kirsten and the boys. But now that we spend nearly every day together, it has been difficult being apart!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep0_2sRuxDv9qVyjv3I0NgUBaKFKWNTxR3vtMt59AO3BEn9T2dOJx-XH5i0wW-oCZ85oLzlu8sQltbUAJFcnnIaF7fYwp26Ca6EVYdozSbZ7B_m6TY1JUgXIq4jzL0RrRjOlYCW2Jz69A/s1600/sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep0_2sRuxDv9qVyjv3I0NgUBaKFKWNTxR3vtMt59AO3BEn9T2dOJx-XH5i0wW-oCZ85oLzlu8sQltbUAJFcnnIaF7fYwp26Ca6EVYdozSbZ7B_m6TY1JUgXIq4jzL0RrRjOlYCW2Jz69A/s1600/sisters.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirsten with her sisters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I can understand, on a deeper level, how Paul felt when he wrote his letters to the churches he was encouraging. My family is my first ministry, so in this way it is hard to be apart. Like Paul, he longed to go and be with the people he loved. But in most cases where Paul wrote a letter like this, he was kept from going to them because of imprisonment or otherwise. Although I am not imprisoned exactly, I can understand his longing to see what he considered his family.<br />
<br />
This time has helped me to see God's bigger plan. He has a plan to use us here in Honduras in ways that we would have never thought of. We are seeing this unfold in front of us and he has connected us with some amazing people and ministries in order to accomplish his will. And we are privileged and blessed to be a part of it.<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pray with me</span></span> for Kirsten and the boys as they get refueled. Pray that current relationships here in Honduras are deepened and that future partnerships could be developed further for His purposes and that we'd be listening well. And also pray we as a family would get the time we need to talk to one another while we are apart. Thank you Lord for technology! And thank you for partnering with us in this way. We thank the Lord for his love and faithfulness to you and to us! <br />
<br />
Blessings from the frontlines,<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Corey<span style="font-size: small;"> (and Kirsten, Gavin & Garret from Oregon)</span></span></span></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-60126073638104500502014-06-14T21:41:00.002-07:002014-07-03T22:21:08.334-07:00School Build and Pastor's Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZ1e0cvhSbzdlspqrOw0_FOFPN2ifv6fqYxljU7aY30TUeGsBaCW8JkV083QfDoBuugQfK_Meg6NqWEl7deFGx8w9NBqNszG0SNjlb55llMv0OmNJ-vcMcAYhTjWsL6Flj680Y7RpS9uX/s1600/DSC_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZ1e0cvhSbzdlspqrOw0_FOFPN2ifv6fqYxljU7aY30TUeGsBaCW8JkV083QfDoBuugQfK_Meg6NqWEl7deFGx8w9NBqNszG0SNjlb55llMv0OmNJ-vcMcAYhTjWsL6Flj680Y7RpS9uX/s1600/DSC_0075.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">The past 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of activity! </span></span>The first week of June <span id="goog_2101683754"></span><span id="goog_2101683755"></span>I (Corey) found myself in the mountains for 4 days, an hour from La Ceiba, teaching pastors and ministry leaders from 12 different denominations. Along with Jason from Illinois, Kyle from Texas, and Jeff from La Ceiba, we taught 4 to 5 hours each over a 3 day period. It was incredible to see the unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we discussed, questioned and studied topics such as unity in the church, evangelism in today's world, hermeneutics and exegesis of Scripture (interpretation and study), and the workings of the Holy Spirit. Wow, talk about some conversation starters! Among the 12 denominations represented, we had ultra-conservative Baptist to charismatic Pentacostal. We were all in "one accord" and it was obvious to me that the Spirit was alive and present! Although teaching pastors is not what I consider a spiritual gifting of mine, I praise God for this time and incredible opportunity to do so... He used us all in amazing ways!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHW65kzKID25rOsIAJMYeXsG-Z5RsP5URC1d1m-rEXj6yCwmIQNHdi6slZPFwqtuSrmiPSSFKPCCGguSv-PqJ34axQJ4QEtvHLBYwXLPr5ohdJw95E81Djs5OJr2LRdo_tAVzW6m0cZMy/s1600/DSC_0135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHW65kzKID25rOsIAJMYeXsG-Z5RsP5URC1d1m-rEXj6yCwmIQNHdi6slZPFwqtuSrmiPSSFKPCCGguSv-PqJ34axQJ4QEtvHLBYwXLPr5ohdJw95E81Djs5OJr2LRdo_tAVzW6m0cZMy/s1600/DSC_0135.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last week</span></span>, along with a ministry called <a href="http://www.transformhonduras.org/" target="_blank">Transform Honduras</a> (who organized the pastor's conference as well), we welcomed a team from <a href="http://htbc.info/w/" target="_blank">Harvest Time Bible Church</a> from Rock Falls, Illinois. With the team, our family, and another missionary family, we built a school for undocumented children in a very poor community of Las Piedronas, La Ceiba. Most of the children in this community do not have birth certificates, and according to Honduran law, a child must have a birth certificate to enter public school. Most of the kids in Las Piedronas were born in their homes, and many have exceeded the age limit (8 yrs.) to enter school. Building a school in the community has opened doors (literally) for anyone to get an education, even for adults who want to learn to read and write. This is one of the first steps in transforming a community. And of course, all centered on glorifying the Lord through the whole process pointing to him in all we say and do. So many opportunities were shared to show Christ to this community and it was a blessing beyond measure to be involved in it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvE1Jvyn8LTyU4ZyEQEn0SqB1Lhx2TawHaDNGXrloDBYZzGI3MKSurffxO7RSac_gaEfbKrfoksr01Xp0bPN4n9ShU8vM7DaxOG-RMq1lZVX6xIiiGrxSwKhyphenhyphenI5_0omYJLRLlYo6HWIiV/s1600/DSC_0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvE1Jvyn8LTyU4ZyEQEn0SqB1Lhx2TawHaDNGXrloDBYZzGI3MKSurffxO7RSac_gaEfbKrfoksr01Xp0bPN4n9ShU8vM7DaxOG-RMq1lZVX6xIiiGrxSwKhyphenhyphenI5_0omYJLRLlYo6HWIiV/s1600/DSC_0190.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Although this community is not "Garifuna" we are excited about how this school will change this community. This was the "spark" that seems to have ignited a flame that can't be put out! We are looking at several Garifuna communities as potential starting places to being a community transformation project in them. This hands-on experience has helped us to be better prepared of what to expect, even though Garifuna communities and culture have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. We are seeking to build upon the strengths we find and solve weaknesses and problems through the community. Please pray with us as we move forward with these plans for the coming year and as we partner with Transform Honduras.<br />
<br />
This summer we will have several teams coming and look forward to how they will change the lives of those here in Honduras and how their lives will be changed in return! Pray about coming down next summer for a community transformation project and how you might be involved.<br />
<br />
And check out the photos of the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wellshonduras/sets/72157645049742912/" target="_blank">Pastor's Conference</a> and <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wellshonduras/sets/72157645126397766/" target="_blank">School Build</a>. Blessings!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-80370548612057706482014-06-02T07:28:00.002-07:002014-06-02T07:35:15.774-07:00The Unglamorous Side of MinistryOver the past few months our main focus has been on building relationships. Our days have been filled with meeting new people, reconnecting with new friends, spending time talking, and more importantly lots of listening. While it's true we've been able to help out a few pastors and ministries in the past few months by providing, more or less, resources to make their ministries more effective, we haven't had any "glamorous" mission activity. When I say glamorous, I mean what most people think of when they think of foreign missions: building houses, schools and churches; feeding the poor (although we <i>have</i> done this indirectly); "setting free the captives"... We have had the privilege to meet LOTS of people in the last 2 months that have given us great connections in nearby communities, some Garifuna, some not. We have begun new relationships with new people in different walks of life. And we're seeing God's plans begin to unfold.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><b>Building relationships is perhaps the "unglamorous" side of missions and of ministry for a missionary.</b></span> <span style="color: orange;"><b>But it is probably the most important! </b></span>We've been sharing with everyone (at least those who read our updates!) about God leading us into what we call <i>community transformation</i>. We sensed the Lord leading us this direction when we saw the great disconnect between faith and real life here. In Honduras, much of what people believe about God and Jesus (Christians) is disconnected from reality. So we see a very religious culture, but at the same time a culture that is <i>very</i> self-centered. People have a belief in God and in Jesus as God. But their lives do not match what Jesus asks of us: "pick up your cross and follow me." There is too much fear. There is too much desperateness. There is too much influence from the world, especially the images of non-reality from the U.S. (TV shows, movies, "Hollywood" news). These images are thought of by Hondurans as reality for Americans and the desire to be like this has <i>infected</i> this culture like a disease. So our approach to evangelism, to seeing lives truly changed, has taken a new approach to involve every aspect of life: spiritual, physical, social, educational, and economic. Hondurans need to see faith lived out as an example. And given opportunities to do this themselves. To put <i>"feet to their faith."</i> Everything we do needs to be grounded in faith—living life, going to work, praying continually, in our relationships—we need to be <i>in</i> the world to have an effect <i>on</i> the world. Salt and light! This is what we desire to teach them.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSkwPzwnHYq9GzTHKFi382oYJa5HkkwL9MB2D2UcU6cDUC5kPDmu50k8zWQmLSEtsn7i6N5ndLkJ5Y4VmIEjodOvqixExvCL9Tv6Y83p4yYILZOjcJtWfDA_7_NK8jbBnv7f7DWeR0Acx/s1600/nueva+armenia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSkwPzwnHYq9GzTHKFi382oYJa5HkkwL9MB2D2UcU6cDUC5kPDmu50k8zWQmLSEtsn7i6N5ndLkJ5Y4VmIEjodOvqixExvCL9Tv6Y83p4yYILZOjcJtWfDA_7_NK8jbBnv7f7DWeR0Acx/s1600/nueva+armenia.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "port" in one of the Garifuna communities we are<br />
exploring for community transformation.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since January, we have connected with other missionaries in La Ceiba who have the same heart for ministry. We will report more on this as time goes on as the Lord shows us more clarity, but we are looking at the high possibility of working with this missionary family in La Ceiba to reach Garifuna communities with the Good News through community transformation and through their ministry. We have been working with them in the communities they are currently in to get an understanding of how it works in real-time. And eventually, Lord willing when the timing is right, we will begin work in a Garifuna community. We have identified some communities that would be great places to start and are taking steps towards establishing connections in them. So while we wait for the "glamour" side of missions, we will continue to build the relationships God has given us. <br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">Prayer</span></h3>
Please pray for us as we work with current communities where "transformation" is taking place.<br />
<ul>
<li>I (Corey) am one of four speakers at a three-day pastor's conference this week in the mountains. I will be challenging the pastors to live out their faith outside the church walls. It will be an encouraging time for the pastors, but also very challenging. Pray I would have courage to speak what God has put on my heart and that He would use me as a prophet to speak into the lives of the pastors. Pray also for Kirsten and the boys as they will be home without me for most of the week.</li>
<li>Pray for a short-term team of 20 that is coming on Saturday (June 7) to begin building a school in the community we are helping in. Another team comes in on June 13 to finish the project. Pray for safety, relationships to be built, and lives to be changed (both for the short-term team and the people in the community).</li>
<li>Pray for Kirsten and the boys as they travel to Oregon next week. Kirsten will be in her sister's wedding and will be gone about one month. Pray for her safety as she travels alone with the boys. Pray for Gavin as he steps up to be the "man" and helps Kirsten get to where they need to go.</li>
<li>Lastly, pray for our future ministry and how YOU can be involved. We will need a lot of help, logistically, financially, physically, and prayerfully. We believe one of the main reasons God is leading us into this ministry (besides the obvious mentioned above in this post) is to involve you, to grow you, and for God to USE YOU! He wants to because His Word says He does! So be praying about this ministry and how you might be involved in some way, especially about the community transformation aspect. It will take a team to accomplish.</li>
</ul>
Thank you for praying and supporting us in the many ways you do! You are a vital part of this ministry here and we could not do it without you. To God be the glory!!<br />
<br />
In His Grip,<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</span> </span></i></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-37769122579657843992014-05-27T08:13:00.001-07:002014-05-27T08:13:32.233-07:00Feeding the "least of these"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_F3Hz_0aZSDnsc3YJNOV4Lq2ElOC6jMDzjSJ9CuqCaOo0D5IjTFj5a-lFtMrNGiuxMy9qqY42-LL6xgm3A8-S56kkS6MhYH4nJgVPXPjLlhlsAqv0gzLlTZXAKNH1kruQgfIkhUm4hNU/s1600/20140519_120709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_F3Hz_0aZSDnsc3YJNOV4Lq2ElOC6jMDzjSJ9CuqCaOo0D5IjTFj5a-lFtMrNGiuxMy9qqY42-LL6xgm3A8-S56kkS6MhYH4nJgVPXPjLlhlsAqv0gzLlTZXAKNH1kruQgfIkhUm4hNU/s1600/20140519_120709.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the pastors, a Garifuna man, shares God's Word <br />
before the meal.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
In Word and Deed </h3>
A few days ago we were able to spend some time with a couple Pastors,
there are 7 total who work together in 24 hour rotations, 7 days a week.
They are running a feeding program for the homeless people here in La
Ceiba. As always, they expressed a need for food, the supplies are very
low. They are feeding around 350 at each meal of which there are three a
day. Equaling around 1000 plates of food every day. The basic foods are
beans and rice, of course. They go through at least 100 lbs of each
every month. We are asking that you would step up to the plate and give
towards this need. The work these men are doing is amazing. Sharing
Jesus at every meal in word and deed. The way you can help is give. We
will see to it that the proper food is purchased. 100% of any funds
given will go to this project. The cost for just the beans and rice is
around $400/mo. If you'd like to give one-time or set up something
monthly, you may do so by clicking the donate button below. Pray. See what God
tells you to do.<br />
<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">
<input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" />
<input name="encrypted" type="hidden" value="-----BEGIN PKCS7-----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-----END PKCS7-----
" />
<input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" type="image" />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" />
</form>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjOjyTWeGB13Aif2MvDZpaB2llZdN1LlIcaURE3WIo6E414RIUz9VRq4HQzl3KRvaT0S5sfHsugYAVi8CjLVutP1oLGVLfMTQ0yPquOoJ1NeHR0Ckbd5oXes1S3iHHd_jyhlWQKIAOeqC/s1600/Photo0483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjOjyTWeGB13Aif2MvDZpaB2llZdN1LlIcaURE3WIo6E414RIUz9VRq4HQzl3KRvaT0S5sfHsugYAVi8CjLVutP1oLGVLfMTQ0yPquOoJ1NeHR0Ckbd5oXes1S3iHHd_jyhlWQKIAOeqC/s1600/Photo0483.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pastor shares with those being fed at every meal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvul3dhOVBLkv5nol9EqSDQTzQM-AeMzTpRcGGytlM2Jnp2uTcQBbyBUWnsqN_s1UaALFX79dkbZtpgJP7nTcfdsWr3Nsq355JXu8DOQ1UT5HL6sZToxg6mmLmnUkrl2bOL4MSOEhPxRVF/s1600/20140519_122307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvul3dhOVBLkv5nol9EqSDQTzQM-AeMzTpRcGGytlM2Jnp2uTcQBbyBUWnsqN_s1UaALFX79dkbZtpgJP7nTcfdsWr3Nsq355JXu8DOQ1UT5HL6sZToxg6mmLmnUkrl2bOL4MSOEhPxRVF/s1600/20140519_122307.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers (street people as well) serve those who come into<br />
the comedor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_YcAVSQKqssPhj1C49u0c5bQEVsJWKTlvtegYSjAy9mFTpJ32RrNKlosSCora8Vq9zHqpeO4wpAwUO725CTmyY2LIv56-oO6cxddY9UccnVsnusSW70_1Ofbydtupa65AmYqujQUhuzy/s1600/20140519_103653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_YcAVSQKqssPhj1C49u0c5bQEVsJWKTlvtegYSjAy9mFTpJ32RrNKlosSCora8Vq9zHqpeO4wpAwUO725CTmyY2LIv56-oO6cxddY9UccnVsnusSW70_1Ofbydtupa65AmYqujQUhuzy/s1600/20140519_103653.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind the comedor is a bodega for storing food, a dormitory <br />
for those who need a place to sleep or to detox, and sleeping <br />
quarters/office for the pastor on duty. There is also a small farm<br />
for growing food. Currently the farm only has plantain and <br />
isn't utilized much as the property is rented - they are praying<br />
about purchasing the property in the future.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGb8gY7itCKTmy2-8lDwAq2PjvRRQ3dmJxpkLQ4ZsDUigatn0GCsZWTU9T_6gwx-XgNE5WIRqhmblPWQaThgpcOiVv7unwv5p9OYTDjXtrwcGePGID9Wys4hzLU1PkpIuDuAmH-1lioyr/s1600/20140519_110501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGb8gY7itCKTmy2-8lDwAq2PjvRRQ3dmJxpkLQ4ZsDUigatn0GCsZWTU9T_6gwx-XgNE5WIRqhmblPWQaThgpcOiVv7unwv5p9OYTDjXtrwcGePGID9Wys4hzLU1PkpIuDuAmH-1lioyr/s1600/20140519_110501.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is also a free medical clinic across from the comedor<br />
with basic medicines (for stomach worms, infections, etc.). <br />
The current need in the clinic is for bandages and wound care<br />
products.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-56525870688138606282014-04-04T13:31:00.000-07:002014-04-04T13:31:47.599-07:00What has God got for us?!<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived <br />what God has prepared for those who love Him.”</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">–1 Corinthians 2:9</span></b></i></div>
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"> </span></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Since our move to La Ceiba we have been connected with the most amazing people and have learned so much about the Garifuna. As we have explored different areas of ministry, w</span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">e have had the privilege to have worked on several different projects ranging </span>from evangelism to community development to theological education. Through all of this, one main theme has emerged about our future ministry: <span style="color: orange;">USE THEM ALL! </span>We are excited to share about that here...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="color: orange;">Garifuna Community Transformation</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">In this month of April we have begun working on what we call <b>Garifuna Community Transformation</b> (</span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><i>Ámuñedagua Garinagu</i> in Garifuna). What is that exactly? Here it is in a nutshell:</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="color: orange;">Our mission is to discover and put in place methods of transforming Garifuna communities in five key areas: <b>Spiritual, Physical, Social, Economic </b>and<b> Educational</b>.
</span>We want to empower the local church to meet the needs of
the communities around them and to seek the cooperation of local
government, the business community, and to teach families and
communities to serve each other through the biblical example of Jesus
Christ. We desire that Garifuna communities be a living example of
Christ and be a catalyst to transforming the nation of Honduras and
beyond. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">The way we do this is by beginning community based projects targeted at meeting a need within the community. These projects are determined by community leadership (and/or suggestions on our observations and research). Some communities we want to work in are less developed than others, so the range of need is diverse and totally dependent on the community (some may have sanitation, water, and hygiene as a need and others may have this in place already). </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">In order
for this to succeed, it is important that we are only involved in projects and programs that can ultimately
be turned over to the local community. We will examine all of our projects to ensure that there is a corresponding exit strategy. It is crucial to this ministry God has given us that we not create a dependency on outside help, but that we
encourage and actively foster a dependence on God and interdependence on each other as fellow members of a community.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Sounds nice, but what does this look like realistically? </span></span></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvCJ3kEX0qeEenkMqhmmiRv_4yMRntvV9GwhyphenhyphentI7MNfFG0oOYS6EjrcM0EQviJW-Cyj2LLiLdt2jyIXWtG0NaXXvxu7rtfmWKAuuws_SZ-Oj-5rbqIiljRY1iBHqBsdeessOnsUMpgWgB/s1600/nochedeninos2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvCJ3kEX0qeEenkMqhmmiRv_4yMRntvV9GwhyphenhyphentI7MNfFG0oOYS6EjrcM0EQviJW-Cyj2LLiLdt2jyIXWtG0NaXXvxu7rtfmWKAuuws_SZ-Oj-5rbqIiljRY1iBHqBsdeessOnsUMpgWgB/s1600/nochedeninos2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little girls love Kirsten and the attention<br />
she gives them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">We have selected a community called Sambo Creek and have started work there. We have decided to work along side another missionary who has been working on various community projects within Sambo Creek and help him develop these projects further. He has a similar vision as ours and our desires for the outcome of the community are almost identical. So it was a logical starting place to make this community our "pilot project" and build upon the foundation that is already there. One of our end-goals is to make what we do reproducible and to teach other leaders, lay-leaders, and co-workers in the community to serve other Garifuna communities. We've dreamed of taking local teams from Sambo Creek to remote Garifuna villages to bring help, both physically and spiritually. A major part of transformation is serving others. </span><br />
<br />
The first areas we are working in is the school system and education. While we were on our discovery trip to Roatán a few weeks ago, we visited the Garifuna village of Punta Gorda. In this town we met a young Garifuna teacher in the public school there. She started a school program in February where she teaches the kids the Garifuna language and cultural history. Her main textbooks are the Bible and several other books from a Garifuna church association we are connected to already. The schools in Honduras are wide open and encourage Bible-based education. This teacher uses Bible verses for her students to memorize in Garifuna as a way to teach them their own language and to "hide the Word in their hearts."<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPrjnv3l_siZnh95_LtjCDrPHwY2ptTuv6GP8jIRQSlVied6WNZ14nNutoChTyewEsFSxSpoeFoBXyyZ2rbdDeiYjnaerfoYXRWFnpTn4X2KhVwlMvfv1MtX0sUyccY9adiU0-wvJTdla/s1600/nochedeninos1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPrjnv3l_siZnh95_LtjCDrPHwY2ptTuv6GP8jIRQSlVied6WNZ14nNutoChTyewEsFSxSpoeFoBXyyZ2rbdDeiYjnaerfoYXRWFnpTn4X2KhVwlMvfv1MtX0sUyccY9adiU0-wvJTdla/s1600/nochedeninos1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Noche de Niños" is a weekly get together we are involved in<br />
in Sambo Creek. Pastor Alex leads the group (standing) and then <br />
it breaks out in song and dance as the kids (and adults) worship <br />
together with drums, tamborines, turtle shells, and whatever else <br />
makes music! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Most children in Sambo Creek come from homes of abuse of some kind. These kids need a biblical example of what is true and right. We are helping a local pastor grow a Saturday Bible and English class held in his home into the local public school. Our plan is to duplicate the Punta Gorda program and try to implement it in the Sambo Creek public school. We believe that once the heart and mind is transformed through a real relationship with Jesus, only then will real transformation take place. This needs to start with the youth as they are more open to the Gospel and are willing for change to happen considering most of their circumstances. There are many other projects we will be working on as well, but for now we are focusing on this one in particular.</div>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"> </span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"> </span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"> </span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">In the right place at the right time</span></span></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeq7X_mosREYRTZHgJVu2_nsfXGJU_M8ptpEyAOIsPq7ARn2yHCaqYyO1XRtotq77aOceMODdic9D8-7tXvCJ9_swzLCuWTbHtgLdxa1_ePwKdrUSdZGA3vurVfgkmu0dImDmD6POlRgc/s1600/samborescue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeq7X_mosREYRTZHgJVu2_nsfXGJU_M8ptpEyAOIsPq7ARn2yHCaqYyO1XRtotq77aOceMODdic9D8-7tXvCJ9_swzLCuWTbHtgLdxa1_ePwKdrUSdZGA3vurVfgkmu0dImDmD6POlRgc/s1600/samborescue1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running to rescue the fisherman.<br />
The red circle shows where he and the <br />boat were sinking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">We wanted to share this story as an illustration of what God is doing... On Tuesday this last week we were meeting with the missionary we are working with in Sambo Creek, and Kirsten and I were walking down a narrow road that went along the beach to visit someone in the community. We arrived at their house and began visiting on their front porch which opens up to the beach. It was a windy day, so we were all commenting on the dugouts (traditional carved wood canoes Garifuna use for fishing) that had raised sails to harness the wind to get around the wild, wind-tossed ocean. One dugout was only about 40 yards off shore inside the breakers. The wind was blowing directly on-shore so <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlfhp6CmH3Mm83gHHZXzJQvPSioQdNDdb3iK29lK0Gut5kNVwhQzOIW09yORqy3JhNMpApHKS4YdSqBSkVO7VJxekHB55qyoMQ5kcESPXKzUOlkR4Lb8tvGLFwt8OBJDrcgZLT_5MUHPW/s1600/samborescue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlfhp6CmH3Mm83gHHZXzJQvPSioQdNDdb3iK29lK0Gut5kNVwhQzOIW09yORqy3JhNMpApHKS4YdSqBSkVO7VJxekHB55qyoMQ5kcESPXKzUOlkR4Lb8tvGLFwt8OBJDrcgZLT_5MUHPW/s1600/samborescue2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragging the boat ashore.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
this canoe wasn't going anywhere, but being sloshed around by waves. The old wooden boat couldn't take the wind anymore and the mast snapped! As the sail quickly filled with water, it weighed the boat down and it began to sink. As all this happened in a matter of seconds, we all rushed out onto the beach running and swimming out to the sole fisherman piloting the boat. By now he was holding onto his boat trying to stay afloat. We managed to get him, his boat and belongings (which were floating away into the ocean) all on shore </span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">and continued to help him unravel the mess of wood poles, ropes and fishing line. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEJbFvy4n5F4kD1FXi51FAE4txhjVj2UO3WpGiKWGyCB8vzLQtQODPuKFEtC2Rj0-L8p_NTP0nyorBUWgP0h_DfAUbiNp6DF8_sDQb-w7sZ6o-hMn3dCaiJtxr4alIAANAGh72iX1wk4p/s1600/samborescue10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEJbFvy4n5F4kD1FXi51FAE4txhjVj2UO3WpGiKWGyCB8vzLQtQODPuKFEtC2Rj0-L8p_NTP0nyorBUWgP0h_DfAUbiNp6DF8_sDQb-w7sZ6o-hMn3dCaiJtxr4alIAANAGh72iX1wk4p/s1600/samborescue10.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Helping the fisherman (center) <br />untangle the mess.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As our introduction into the community we were in the right place at the right time. Had we not been, this sole Garifuna fisherman may have lost his boat, his livelihood, or his life. The love of God was shown to this man in a very real way. As I (Corey) was attending Bible study with the community church plant Wednesday night, this story was being shared among the group. Already, God has opened doors (in the strangest of ways) to be a part of this little community. We thank God for His perfect timing and providence! <br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="color: orange;"><b></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">School has begun!</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OweLnaM1eGisj912T5MAUd_K-iTmeOcgrRjpXlcH0vXiz-uIc7BG_cuz3brDbnrSYm3Pjbe6E6KqwddwST2ad8szQKDneqWWxnf-KLjQYRxBIEdDDSJfrnAsrhdPMc9RYR7rB7qn0iwQ/s1600/GOPR0357+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OweLnaM1eGisj912T5MAUd_K-iTmeOcgrRjpXlcH0vXiz-uIc7BG_cuz3brDbnrSYm3Pjbe6E6KqwddwST2ad8szQKDneqWWxnf-KLjQYRxBIEdDDSJfrnAsrhdPMc9RYR7rB7qn0iwQ/s1600/GOPR0357+%25281%2529.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys sporting their new uniforms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A lot has happened in the last few months, including a new change for our boys. Gavin and Garret started attending a local school just this week! It's called Heaven's Door Christian School, a bilingual school located in La Ceiba. They have about half of their classes in Spanish and the other half in English, and each morning is begun with a devotional in their classrooms. They really love the school and have made great friends already. Of course they are the talk of the school as they are the only "gringos" with the exception of one other girl who we know through another missionary family. It is a smaller school which allows the administration and teachers to give more attention to each child and address any issues (such as bullying, which is a major problem in Honduran schools).<br />
<br />
We are thankful for this answer to prayer! We have sensed the Lord leading in this direction for two major reasons: 1) It will give Gavin and Garret the social interaction they need to function here as well as improve their Spanish, and 2) it will give Kirsten and I most of the day to work together in ministry. We have seen that working together has greater advantages than just my presence in a community. When people see a married couple working together it leaves a great impact. We thank the Lord again for his perfect timing!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">Serve with us!</span></h3>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">We
will have many projects coming up that you can invest into, whether
that be your finances to help the people we are serving, your resources
by providing tools for ministry and/or connecting us with other people
with resources, or your time and energy by coming down to serve with us.
We are committed to the Body of Christ and doing what we need to do in
order to help it grow, both in quantity and in quality. Whether you
attend one of our supporting churches or not, we want you to serve with
us! We are partners in the Gospel! It's the Acts Church alive and well!
We are independent missionaries with one task: to bring redemption to
the Garifuna people (and whoever else we might affect along the way)
through a true relationship with Jesus Christ in whatever manner the
Lord provides.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="color: orange;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Please Pray For:</span></span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Ministry to develop in Sambo Creek (school program </span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">specifically</span>), wisdom of how to move forward, and community members to see the love of Christ shown in word and deed.</span></li>
<li><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Church plant in Sambo Creek: it is young, but on fire. Pray for the new believers to grow in Christ and for others' salvation.</span></li>
<li><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Cooperation of "patronato" and leadership of the community.</span></li>
<li><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Our boys Gavin and Garret as they transition into school in La Ceiba.</span></li>
<li><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Our family as we become more involved in the community of Sambo Creek and become a witness for Christ as a family unit.</span></li>
<li><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">God's continued provision for us financially and logistically. God provides all we need, but we know we need to communicate with you, our ministry partners, what we need and ask Him to provide. Financially, please pray our monthly support would increase. Logistically, please pray about an all terrain vehicle. We have been praying about buying a UTV, which is similar to an ATV but carries two people or more and has a bed and roll cage for carrying supplies. This vehicle will get us to places to share God's love where we wouldn't otherwise go without one.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Thank you for praying and reading! You are truly partners with us in this ministry God has called us to. We are so thankful for you and to our Lord our God! <span style="color: orange;"><b>HE REIGNS!</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">In His mighty grip,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</i></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-37437603203903905882014-02-17T09:13:00.000-08:002014-02-17T09:13:38.027-08:00Worship, Serve, and Pray<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>By Corey Wells </i></span><br />
<br />
If you are serving through your church, leading a ministry or volunteering, on the mission field called your neighborhood, workplace, or in another country not your own... If you are in any sort of ministry, you have heard it before: that raspy, wicked voice
taunting, “What can you do? Why are you even here? What about your kids,
think of what you’re doing to them? You are completely ill-equipped for
this. Did God really call you here, to do this, with them?” There is an enemy of your soul and he wants you to doubt what God has asked you to do. What are we to do when face-to-face with this Father of Lies, Enemy Number One, Satan? We respond how Jesus did.<b> <span style="color: orange;">I will worship the Lord my God. I will serve only him.</span></b> (see <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A1-11&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 4:1-11</a>)<br />
<br />
The journey for us to this point of being in Honduras to minister has been long. It started decades ago with a desire to worship God. Little by little, the Lord changed our hearts and turned us to Him, over and over again. He changed our hearts and our only response was to serve Him only. We saw answered prayer. We experienced His grace and forgiveness. We pushed forward into what God was calling us to not knowing what the future held, holding onto the promises He has given us. Have we looked down into the raging waters below us? Absolutely. We have begun sinking at times, only to stretch out our arms and reach for Jesus' hand offering us peace and still waters. We thank Him for that! Daily, we need to submit our flesh to Him and ask Him to fill us with His power that doesn't fail.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why do I write about this? Because I can look back on the past decade, years, months, and days and see a clear path. We have moved to Honduras with certain skill-sets, and certain desires to see people come to know our Lord personally and intimately. The Lord has led us to a people, the Garifuna, who He has put in our hearts a love for that only comes from Him. We are excited about the future here. Do we know what next year will bring? No. Do we know what next month will bring? No! We don't even know what tomorrow will bring, but we move forward in faith knowing God wants to shape us and use us for His purposes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;"><b>So what's coming?</b></span> </h3>
</div>
<div>
Here is a glimpse into what the Lord has put before us. We are praying through each of these opportunities. Some may come to pass, some may not. <b>Please pray with us </b>about these as we seek to do what the Lord has asked us to:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: orange;"><b>Garifuna Bible Institute:</b></span> I have begun working alongside a Garifuna man, Fernando, who started a Bible institute about 3 years ago. Basic theological education for Garifuna pastors is a great need. The institute began with conventional classes taught from a single location in the small Garifuna town of Corazal, just minutes from our home. This format did not work well for the remote villages he was trying to reach which are several hours bus rides away. Also, cost for materials made it nearly impossible to offer to pastors who struggle to feed their families. After some research, Fernando changed the format to be more portable and nearly free. He now has access to "modules" that are designed to teach pastors, and more condensed packets of the same material to use to teach church leaders. It's referred to as "church based theological education." The goal is to strengthen Garifuna churches and lead to other churches being planted in more communities. Many things are needed to make this possible. The institute needs mentors for pastors (most are in their 30s with young families and no training, some with no high school education). The greatest need is spiritual mentorship. They also need teachers to teach monthly classes to pastors. They need trained leaders, who would lead study groups and other outreach projects. Please pray for our involvement with the Garifuna Bible Institute and for their needs. </li>
<li><span style="color: orange;"><b>Mentoring pastors and church leaders: </b></span>As mentioned above, many of the Garifuna pastors are young and inexperienced. All have a heart to serve the Lord and have received the call to teach. Most need mentors, but resources are few. As ill-qualified as I feel, I have been asked to pray about mentoring pastors in some way. I don't know what this looks like for me, but I know that pastors need others to be accountable to, as most here do not have someone, especially in Garifuna communities. Pray if I should be involved in this way, at this time, and in what location.</li>
<li><span style="color: orange;"><b>Evangelism and discipleship: </b></span>In recent months I have begun involvement with <a href="http://onestory.org/" target="_blank">The One Story Project</a>, a Bible story-telling project targeted at oral cultures. Oral cultures are those cultures in which traditions and culture is passed down through stories and through memorization. Oral cultures are very good at memorizing stories, so using The One Story Project in these cultures is ideal for putting the Word of God into the minds and hearts of the people. I have been asked to pray about leading The One Story Project in English among Garifuna communities. There are pockets of English speaking Garifuna communities on the Bay Islands (such as Roatán), and in Belize and Nicaragua. The One Story Project is a unique way to communicate God's love and doing "church" in an already very "churched" or religious culture. The focus is on building relationships through the project. This project not only reaches the unsaved, but is a discipleship tool for existing believers and gives these believers a platform to share their faith.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: orange;">There is also an opportunity for me to show evangelistic films</span> </b>(such as <a href="http://www.thehopeproject.com/en" target="_blank">The Hope</a>, <a href="http://www.jesusfilm.org/" target="_blank">The Jesus Film</a>, and other Christian based films). These films are hosted by local churches in hopes to reach their communities for Christ and initiate conversation from the unbelievers in the communities. I have been asked to pray about showing these films in Garifuna communities on the Bay Islands (Roatán and Cayos Cochinos). <br /><br />Both of these projects are close to my heart as I enjoy the evangelism aspect of them. These projects also go hand-in-hand with the training aspect of the Bible institute. There is a great need for discipleship and examples of how to use our everyday lives to minister to those around us.</li>
<li><span style="color: orange;"><b>Family and ministry balance:</b></span> Starting new ministries and/or becoming involved in them requires balance of work and family life. There is a certain amount of family life that involves ministry outside the home, but it is easy to blur the imaginary boundaries between the two, neglecting one or the other. Please pray for balance as we seek to have a healthy, private family life, as well as being involved in some way together in ministry.</li>
<li><span style="color: orange;"><b>Homeschooling: </b></span>We are continually evaluating what is best for our family and ministry as far as teaching our boys go. We have considered putting them into a local school next year. Please pray with us about this as we want what's best for them, for us, and want to do exactly what the Lord is leading us to.</li>
<li><span style="color: orange;"><b>Language learning: </b></span>Bettering our Spanish and for my understanding/learning of the Garifuna language.</li>
</ul>
Thank you for praying for us and with us and supporting us financially and in other ways! You are a vital part of our ministry as we believe in the power of prayer and that God wants us to "petition" Him. Please lift these requests up and we'll update you on answered prayer so we can praise together!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In Christ,</div>
<div>
The Wells</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-17224762978711451672014-02-12T13:54:00.001-08:002014-02-13T07:30:38.000-08:00Culture lesson: Slow downOne of the things that impacts life in Honduras in comparison to how life functions in the U.S. is that everything is <i>much slower</i>. However, it is wrong to say that life here is <i>slower</i>. That's not exactly the right adjective and I can't really find the right one to explain what I mean, so an illustration is needed...<br />
<br />
Throughout each week living here, we will often need to go into town (we live on the outskirts) to buy groceries and get supplies as needed. Sometimes I will need to repair something around the house or will need to find a special part for our truck (it keeps me busy learning more about mechanics!). Like many other third-world countries, stores here specialize in certain items. It's not unlike the U.S. was 100 years ago (or less) when big box stores didn't exist. I can't go down the street to Home Depot, Costco, Walmart or WinCo Foods. Multitasking is a new thing in Honduras and is something that only a few business owners really understand. Living in a larger city such as La Ceiba definetly has its upside when it comes to availability. But planning my day around finding the parts and things I need usually results in frustration because often the thing I am looking for cannot be found.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB6lhVSFQyfANiuV8Ofy2xLLKfFjMXREUYpmG1TaOektYJzN6O5A7D8aESBIre9wqv5WHsEq6rV15Zumt-TKSIXH7-Gpk35UmsAHF99Ylmct4Lle_s9wA0fNFMWo6WzsTSqJXF5n9Ub5g/s1600/Siesta-Honduran-Islands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmB6lhVSFQyfANiuV8Ofy2xLLKfFjMXREUYpmG1TaOektYJzN6O5A7D8aESBIre9wqv5WHsEq6rV15Zumt-TKSIXH7-Gpk35UmsAHF99Ylmct4Lle_s9wA0fNFMWo6WzsTSqJXF5n9Ub5g/s1600/Siesta-Honduran-Islands.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><b>Here is a simple example:</b></span> Yesterday I was working on our truck and needed to change the oil. I haven't done this yet living in La Ceiba, so I didn't know where all the parts stores were yet. I set out in our 2002 Hyundai Galloper diesel to find an oil filter for it. I naively thought I would find it at the first auto parts store I went to. After the third shop telling me the same thing ("we don't have a filter for this diesel"), I tried one more by suggestion of the third store. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into the fourth store to see many parts and products that I have only seen in an AutoZone in the U.S. The parts manager knew "exactly" what I needed and got me a filter that looked like it was the right one. Three hours after setting out to find the filter, I returned home and began working removing the old filter quickly discovering it was a smaller size than the one I bought. So I wrapped up the old filter, caught a taxi back into town to the fourth auto parts store, made the exchange, and then back home again. After a total of nearly 6 hours I was finished with my oil change. Six hours, really?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAz4c29rEZTQNiyF1fsarIBNIaX8-GYrBPRq8vvGTPUSo9bAg0xmPTQMlYR3-dW2EpP_gpCgwDyqO4o49VCDaWdiMHlf8a_4IoGDjIWirjZogloKWMCrjP70bXcJkz-jsJLvquA5qwy6Z/s1600/Garifuna-abuela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAz4c29rEZTQNiyF1fsarIBNIaX8-GYrBPRq8vvGTPUSo9bAg0xmPTQMlYR3-dW2EpP_gpCgwDyqO4o49VCDaWdiMHlf8a_4IoGDjIWirjZogloKWMCrjP70bXcJkz-jsJLvquA5qwy6Z/s1600/Garifuna-abuela.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
The lesson? Time here is usually irrelevant. And what was important throughout the day? My time? No, <span style="color: orange;"><b>the people I met in the process</b></span>. I was able to interact with numerous people, talk about mechanics, parts, who I was, why I was there, was an opportunity to practice Spanish, etc. But ultimately it was an opportunity to show Christ to everyone I encountered. Was I frustrated at times? Honestly, yes! I had an agenda and wanted to accomplish it! But through this process I was able to see time didn't matter. <span style="color: orange;"><b>My purpose here is to be salt and light.</b></span> I can't be that if I am focused on processes, but only if I focus on the people involved in them.<br />
<br />
Another honest observation: I see God changing me more than I am changing others. But that is part of HIS process in each of our lives. To change us to be more effective for Him and His Kingdom. Today is another refining day to make me more useful for Him. So take time today and enjoy life's delays. <span style="color: orange;"><b>They are opportunities to shed light and to add salt to a dark, bland world!</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-7336381050591004252014-01-20T21:08:00.002-08:002014-01-20T21:51:19.254-08:00Back in Honduras, living and learning<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTe8GCxsqfCqtRGzCP4docIaovNyLf0VOnkK2VYFbwjhrP6itQyHoq836ZmpBvlV5RuPlnnKSO1qilqINvK9NFtPxbfB1SpeaqDA8est273c6FboB41JErGhJ3MWc61GJ4bfUS1ZM150K/s1600/coffeebreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTe8GCxsqfCqtRGzCP4docIaovNyLf0VOnkK2VYFbwjhrP6itQyHoq836ZmpBvlV5RuPlnnKSO1qilqINvK9NFtPxbfB1SpeaqDA8est273c6FboB41JErGhJ3MWc61GJ4bfUS1ZM150K/s1600/coffeebreak.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cafecito-time with Garret<u><br /></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a dark and cold stormy night... </span></span>well that's what it seemed like heading back to Honduras nearly two weeks ago! The first half of our flight back was uneventful, but delayed two hours in Portland due to the freezing temperatures in the eastern part of the States. We arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, and were delayed an additional 3 hours for a total of 6 hours in the Atlanta airport. As Kirsten and Gavin got as comfortable as they could on the benches at the international Delta gate snuggled under a blanket (with 7 degrees outside and not much more than 40 inside), Garret and I ventured into the food court to both move and for some hot coffee and hot chocolate to warm up. At 11:30am we finally boarded the plane and headed to the tropical skies of Honduras.<br />
<br />
We approached Honduras three hours later to a tropical storm looming over the low, humid valley of the north coast. After our second, lower approach to the airstrip (to avoid the unexpected stormy clouds), we finally touched down. We collected our suitcases (minus one that got stuck in Atlanta that came several days later) and settled in for the 2 1/2 hour drive. Little did I know how thankful I would be that we had a shuttle service driving us back to our home in La Ceiba as it turned into a 4 1/2 hour journey. There was flooding everywhere and rivers were "creciendo" over their banks, and at times turning bridges and roads near them into shallow rivers. We arrived at our home a few hours after dark for a total of about 23 hours of travel time. What a relief it was to be back!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge10PWahFnTNiyQKrlhgQSTzRxUjkTlDKlYISx4HmNasVmrDyH9oXZoKaR3k6RlKUdgEhLshXffF1FIte5ZuDjH6bHhewAMIzHoAJP8xTz29nddEVzyVEDLpHjgDZgkZkgL_0OFiDo-y2-/s1600/jordanandboys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge10PWahFnTNiyQKrlhgQSTzRxUjkTlDKlYISx4HmNasVmrDyH9oXZoKaR3k6RlKUdgEhLshXffF1FIte5ZuDjH6bHhewAMIzHoAJP8xTz29nddEVzyVEDLpHjgDZgkZkgL_0OFiDo-y2-/s1600/jordanandboys.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys' new friend Jordan.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since we arrived, we have dove right back into life here and have, in many ways, a new appreciation for living here. We have reconnected with our friends here and the boys have made new friends as well. One boy in particular that they have connected with is Jordan, a Garifuna boy who lives down the street (who happens to be a Christian). He is originally from the island of Roatán and his first language is English. I was outside when he came up to our gate and asked if our boys could play. Gavin and Garret came out and they began to play hide and seek with him as if they had known each other for years! This was a direct answer to our prayers as we have been praying that the boys could make really close friends here in La Ceiba. They have since become good friends. Praise God with us and please continue to pray for our boys to make friends and to deepen these existing relationships.<br />
<br />
This past week I met again with the <a href="http://www.wycliffe.org/" target="_blank">Wycliffe</a> missionaries we connected with back in November. These missionaries were pioneers with the Garifuna, leading the translation of the Bible into Garifuna (which was completed in 2008) and had a hand in forming ministries among them. I met all morning with them talking about the Garifuna and learning as much as I could about different communities and expectations of community leaders. One thing that was very clear to me and to them was that I need to learn the Garifuna language in order to move forward with ministry among them. It is true that most Garifuna, especially around the La Ceiba area, speak Spanish and many English as well. But among themselves in their communities they use Garifuna. To reach their hearts, one needs to speak their heart-language. So my goal over the coming months is to commit to learning Garifuna as well as refining my Spanish. The Lord has placed these missionaries and other native speakers in my path in order to begin learning and I praise Him for that. Please pray that I could begin to develop this language and master it! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMhgXGC-L92k1Znn5AriKxlTv56HlFOp6lQnrnFGyAppm4_WaH2mKXW1v1u497ArR9aA7Vnyh6Sv9fOB8s1iZwUezY7QWDmAHdf-hMI-KjGqmzgxEaVm7vv3uJblSvQZVJELdI9uYaU6E/s1600/onestorylogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMhgXGC-L92k1Znn5AriKxlTv56HlFOp6lQnrnFGyAppm4_WaH2mKXW1v1u497ArR9aA7Vnyh6Sv9fOB8s1iZwUezY7QWDmAHdf-hMI-KjGqmzgxEaVm7vv3uJblSvQZVJELdI9uYaU6E/s1600/onestorylogo.jpg" /></a></div>
Please also pray for how I might be involved with <a href="http://onestory.org/about/" target="_blank">The OneStory Project</a>. At this point I am unsure whether I will have any long-term involvement, but doors appear to be opening in that direction so I will continue to pursue this until I get other orders. The Lord has put this type of ministry on our hearts for years and would be very effective in the oral Garifuna culture. Pray how I might be involved, whether with Wycliffe or with one of the other partner agencies (<a href="http://www.cmalliance.org/" target="_blank">C&MA</a>, <a href="http://www.cru.org/" target="_blank">Cru</a>, <a href="http://www.pioneers.org/" target="_blank">Pioneers</a>, <a href="http://www.twr.org/" target="_blank">TWR</a>, and <a href="http://www.ywam.org/" target="_blank">YWAM</a>).<br />
<br />
In the coming weeks I will be meeting with various people in order to get to know leadership in certain Garifuna communities, so I ask for your prayer for this as it will be essential for me to work through community leadership. Our goal here in Honduras is to help empower those Christian leaders whom God has placed here and give them the resources that might expand the Kingdom in Honduras and among the Garifuna people. Our goal <b>IS NOT</b> to make a job for us here in Honduras, but to work OUT of a job. The Lord has placed us here for this time to accomplish His purposes. Please pray we may continue in His work with humble hearts and a willingness to be continually transformed by Him while being used to transform others. <br />
<br />
On the lighter side, our family uses our weekends to get away to a beach usually to play and relax. These trips always present times to minister and love on people. Here is a short video of our last weekend trip to a local beach where we got to love on some local boys hanging out at the beach. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/84651242" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/84651242">Weekend Fun</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/honduraswells">Corey & Kirsten Wells</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-85568745161426845242013-12-14T22:27:00.000-08:002013-12-14T22:28:37.343-08:00Furlough, home assignment, vacation, sabatical, huh?We've been "home" now for about 3 weeks, with about 4 weeks remaining in our vacation... uh, home assignment... uh, furlough... Honestly, I don't know what to call it as it encompasses so many aspects of all of these! I wanted to give some insight as to why missionaries (including us) go on breaks back "home". Some take more frequent breaks, as many as 2-3 times a year depending on their ministry, budget, location, and purpose for breaks. While others take breaks every few years. In today's day and age of missions, it is easier, cheaper, and smarter to take a break from the mission field for multiple reasons.<br />
<br />
Today's most common terminology for this break is a <b><i>home assignment</i></b>. Is home assignment just a code word for a funding raising trip? Is home
assignment just a big long missionary vacation? Is home assignment
like a sabbatical? Do missionaries go on home assignment when they get
fed up with their host culture and just need a break? There is a bit of
truth in all of the above.<br />
<br />
<h4>
R & R</h4>
Taking time to rest and
recuperate is a very valid reason. For us, this was one of the primary reasons. Many other factors played a part, one being we moved to a new location. Although our ministry has "started", there are many details that need worked out after Christmas so it made a good time for us to return. Beyond the
initial culture shock of being in a foreign country, there is a certain
level of culture stress that<i> <b>never </b></i>goes away. Living day in and day out
in a culture with different values, beliefs, and language than your own
can create a certain amount of stress. You can never fully identify or
understand the people around you, nor they you. Being a foreigner in Honduras is like living in a
fishbowl. People are always watching you. It can be really helpful for missionaries to
completely remove themselves from their host culture once in a while.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Reconnect</h4>
One of the <b><i>most difficult </i></b>parts of being a missionary is separation from
family. Besides the language and culture differences, this is the major
factor that makes missionaries different from pastors and other full
time Christian workers living in their own countries. Everyone’s family
situation is different but for those with children like us, the absence of
grandparents and aunts and uncles is significant (and in our case 22 cousins). Kids grow up
really fast so four years overseas at a time is a long time for our boys to not see grandparents and other relatives face to face. Going on
home assignment gives that opportunity to reconnect with family in a way that is just not possible via email and phone. Even video conferencing on Facetime or Skype falls far short of actually being
there. And the opportunity to catch up with a good friend that we knew
from “back then” is so refreshing to the soul. For our boys, staying connected to their home culture is important too. We hope that they will someday go to college and this will most likely be in the U.S. So staying up with cousins and just understanding their own culture is important. It gives them a break from trying to always fit into a culture not of their own. <br />
<br />
<h4>
Report</h4>
We are primarily responsible to our home churches and those
who have sent us to Honduras. It is essential to have face-to-face time with
those churches and people who support us every once in a while in
order to renew those relationships. In order to be effective partners
in the Gospel, there needs to be trust and mutual understanding. Not
everything that needs to be communicated can be communicated in a
monthly blog or email update. Sometimes we
just need to spend time together face-to-face to know what is really
going on – both for the people at home to hear from us, and for us to hear from people at home. When we actually see
each other, questions come up that may not otherwise.<br />
<br />
Besides renewing relationships, our home assignment is a great opportunity
to encourage the people with stories of what God is doing on
the mission field and of how He has led and sustained us. We share openly about
the difficulties and challenges that we face so that our supporters
can intelligently pray for us and support us. This is not just a desire of ours, but a need!<br />
<br />
<h4>
Financial Support</h4>
You may have read the subheading and thought, "here it comes, the pitch..." (or not). The reality is that it is very difficult to raise financial support, if needed, from 4000 miles away! Missionaries often go on home
assignment, at least in part, because they need more money. And, yes, in part this is the case for us as well. After nearly 1 1/2 years on the mission field with no increase in support (only decrease) we have come to the point we need to raise more support. Several of our supporters have gone home to be with the Lord as well. We have also changed mission organizations so some of our support has dropped off for this reason (if you are one of those who forgot to change over, <a href="https://worldoutreach.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=117" target="_blank">please do so here</a>). There is the unfortunate idea
out there that missionaries only show up to speak at churches back home
because they need money. My own perspective on the money issue is that God will
provide how He wants, when He wants, and from whom He wants. And He
often does this in ways that I don’t expect, at times I don’t expect,
and from people whom I don’t expect. It's His economy, for which I am grateful!<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“God’s work, done in God’s way, will not lack God’s provision” (Hudson Taylor) </i></blockquote>
<br />
Far from being a really long vacation or just an appeal for funds, our home
assignment is a time for work and for ministry. It is a time for
renewing relationships and re-equipping ourselves to head back out there
and keep plodding in the difficult places of Honduras. Please contact us while we are here so we can reconnect. We'd love to hear from you! <a href="mailto:ckwells1@gmail.com">ckwells1@gmail.com</a> or 503-428-0459Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-34602222117201343852013-11-06T20:03:00.001-08:002013-11-06T20:17:19.436-08:00Home for the Holidays<span style="color: orange;"><b>Big news! We're coming home for the holidays! </b></span>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!<span style="color: orange;"> </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">New Home, New Ministry </span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGf8R9IfND1Axrd4Z_SNOYVakDpst5Sf7tYFh4kztt0n0a-qlvPHuCl4tolh4uScJZ9mGmjT8-QrlobIHyeUK814EloUrK86StVeaQJB7tW1WXEea8V1dzO9c27IUlXcAqwW5kuQiE4YT/s1600/Photo0480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGf8R9IfND1Axrd4Z_SNOYVakDpst5Sf7tYFh4kztt0n0a-qlvPHuCl4tolh4uScJZ9mGmjT8-QrlobIHyeUK814EloUrK86StVeaQJB7tW1WXEea8V1dzO9c27IUlXcAqwW5kuQiE4YT/s320/Photo0480.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding free lunch to kids at a soccer outreach in La Ceiba.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDw3s2jHlcQhHOkb5nn2gq4yokLWFN3HiGfdwlCWl0WI3QptLmQ-0XgWEskDgP-kThyphenhyphenaLtVlT2F2Mc7nvqoe3TseMsnoZCPPTdOrYgePAdItUooNWns3yySGOUtn4odqlFCSujE3zs3s0/s1600/Photo0483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDw3s2jHlcQhHOkb5nn2gq4yokLWFN3HiGfdwlCWl0WI3QptLmQ-0XgWEskDgP-kThyphenhyphenaLtVlT2F2Mc7nvqoe3TseMsnoZCPPTdOrYgePAdItUooNWns3yySGOUtn4odqlFCSujE3zs3s0/s320/Photo0483.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor (Garifuna man on right) sharing the Word with street<br />
people at Comedor de JesuCristo in La Ceiba.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.<br />
<br />
Some of the things we may be working with are clean water projects (well drilling, water purification, etc), building projects, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics" target="_blank">aquaponics</a> (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!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">Prayer & Praise</span></h3>
<b>Praise for:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>God's gentle leading and showing us exactly where He wants us to be.</li>
<li>God providing a beautiful home for us in a safe community.</li>
<li>Many friends we have met since our move to the north coast.</li>
<li>Our friends and family who support us in so many ways to allow us to minister here.<b> </b></li>
</ul>
<b>Pray for:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>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.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>Safe travel to Oregon from Honduras November 18 (we intentionally planned our trip prior to elections for safety reasons).</li>
<li>Family unity and balance as we enter a new phase of life and ministry here.</li>
<li>Homeschooling as we continue to teach the boys.</li>
</ul>
<br />
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!<br />
<br />
<i>In His Mighty Grip,</i><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</span></span></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-9019641926913175172013-10-03T10:45:00.000-07:002013-10-03T10:47:51.714-07:00Breakdown, Refill, and ReunionThis past weekend was a much needed break for all of us as a family to go back to where we just moved from (city of Siguatepeque) to enjoy a 3 day missionary conference and reuniting with friends.<br />
<br />
The drive from our new home on the north coast is just a short 9 hours (heavy sarcasm) back to Siguatepeque. In the past back in the States we have made many trips of this length and longer from Oregon down through California and other states. The long, wide, smooth, well-lit, rest area-lined interstate freeways had given us the freedom to make these very safe, easy ventures to places all along the west coast and throughout the rest of the U.S. However, driving in Honduras is quite a different story! We broke up these 9 hours into 2 days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaqHdco8KrtHTCyqdpOiglURzzZYV7kkvyNOFJ-X5SRCWZaSPHakOHA8n1zKDSz-VCG-GgEFzHBW8V8sWG-6kNgEh2UaNff0tbzubFOg6XjPuyxLL-tZ5yoJnFxRzf7wNMykTij9MLCxn/s1600/breakdown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaqHdco8KrtHTCyqdpOiglURzzZYV7kkvyNOFJ-X5SRCWZaSPHakOHA8n1zKDSz-VCG-GgEFzHBW8V8sWG-6kNgEh2UaNff0tbzubFOg6XjPuyxLL-tZ5yoJnFxRzf7wNMykTij9MLCxn/s320/breakdown.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
On our second day leg we were just 45 minutes from Siguatepeque heading up the mountains when suddenly our thermostat gauge shot up and redlined above the "H". We pulled off the road while steam and loud hissing poured out from under the hood. We were told it is only a matter of time that you breakdown while being a missionary, so I guess after 13 months here this was our time! Fortunately, we pulled off the road in a wide gravel area near a pulperia (family owned small store). The owner of the pulperia, Omar, a very outgoing guy in his mid-30s, was very willing to help. We were able to encourage Omar with our hope and to help him know that God has a plan for him. He was also able to encourage us by telling us God allowed our truck to break down for a purpose. Little did we know at the time how true that was! After 4 hours of working on the engine to no avail, we called our friend from Siguatepeque for a ride. After another hour of waiting, our friend showed up with a tow truck and off we went.<br />
<br />
The next morning, after a good night's sleep at the conference grounds, we attended the conference and got to meet new missionaries from around the country and see old friends as well. By the end of the weekend we were very refreshed with renewed vision and a deeper understanding of what God was doing. After the conference we stayed in a furnished cabaña at the seminary that our missionary friends work at while we waited for our truck to be repaired. <br />
<br />
It may seem strange, but we are so grateful that our truck broke down and the Lord "forced" us to slow down and wait! And to be in a place where our "support" people live... only God knew! It has been such a refreshing time for us, connecting with our core group of friends and have time to pray and seek the Lord's guidance.<br />
<br />
We thank God for his provisions and how He is so gentle to lead and direct. We look forward to the next weeks and months as we follow Him to begin work with the Garifuna. Please continue to pray for us, that doors would open and close as He wills and that we would be sensitive to His Spirit's leading. <br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret</span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2908614142740076673.post-77927114294983655632013-09-07T10:45:00.000-07:002013-09-07T10:45:35.779-07:00New step & new home officeAs you may know from our previous emails, we are excited that we have
completed our language school! This is a major milestone in our calling
to Honduras. If you’ve ever learned a new language, then you know how
challenging it can be. Now that we have finished language school, we
will be relocating to a new part of Honduras to reach out to the
Garifuna, an unreached people group. We are excited about this new
chapter in our journey — we move in just <strong>10 days</strong>! Along
with this step is an administrative change that we have made. From this
point forward, please send your support to our new home office, “World
Outreach Ministries” (<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.WorldOutreach.org" href="http://www.worldoutreach.org/" target="_self">www.WorldOutreach.org</a>).
They will serve as our Stateside office and send tax deductible
receipts to our supporters. They will also facilitate online donations
to our account. After October 31, we will no longer receive support from
Camino Global. If you currently support us financially, please help us
in making this change as soon as you are able by emailing <a data-cke-saved-href="mailto:accounting@caminoglobal.org?subject=change%20in%20support&body=Please%20suspend%20my%20support%20to%20Corey%20%26%20Kirsten%20Wells%20%23090190.%20Thank%20you%20for%20your%20assistance%20in%20helping%20the%20Wells%20family%20make%20this%20new%20transition!" href="mailto:accounting@caminoglobal.org?subject=change%20in%20support&body=Please%20suspend%20my%20support%20to%20Corey%20%26%20Kirsten%20Wells%20%23090190.%20Thank%20you%20for%20your%20assistance%20in%20helping%20the%20Wells%20family%20make%20this%20new%20transition%21" target="_self">accounting@caminoglobal.org</a> about your current support to us and contact World Outreach Ministries through one of the two options below.<br /><br /><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations" href="http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations"><img align="right" data-cke-saved-src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/WOM_logo_color.jpg" height="94" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/a616c6a32ac115839d7219ff4/images/WOM_logo_color.jpg" style="height: 94px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 5px; width: 180px;" width="180" /></a><strong>We want to make it clear that our missionary plans here in Honduras remain the same. </strong>This
is just an administrative change that we feel will fit us better in our
new step. Here’s the information that you need. We are so grateful for
your support!<br /><br /><strong> 1. Online Donations:</strong><br /> <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.WorldOutreach.org/donations" href="http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations" target="_self">www.WorldOutreach.org/donations</a><br /> (select Corey & Kirsten Wells from the list)<br /><br /><strong> 2. Mail Checks to:</strong><br /> World Outreach Ministries<br /> P.O. Box B<br /> Marietta, GA 30061<br /> (designate for Corey & Kirsten Wells #265)<br /><br />Questions concerning support through World Outreach Ministries can be sent to <a data-cke-saved-href="mailto:wom@worldoutreach.org?subject=questions%20about%20support" href="mailto:wom@worldoutreach.org?subject=questions%20about%20support" target="_self">wom@worldoutreach.org</a> or call 770-424-1545.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12482152974837258070noreply@blogger.com0