If
you were to come to our house in the evening, there are a few things you are
likely to experience. You are likely to see Manuel and Josué studying. You will also hear Marvin playing guitar. You may
even catch me eating a late-night snack. Joanna and Thomas are in bed by 7pm at
the latest so you would not see or hear them. You are guaranteed to hear dogs
barking and would likely meet a young girl named Karen that stops by to ask for
food every few days. The other thing you would get to experience is our nightly
Bible study. We are currently reading through the book of Ephesians and amazed
at the depth we are each growing in our faith through this study.
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my
prayers. I
keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may
give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
-Ephesians 1:16-17
We
really do give thanks for our friends and family and feel so blessed to have so
many encouraging people in our lives. The Lord is meeting our needs and opening
doors for us to meet the needs of others. We have been able to contribute to
the local church to help them put in a ceiling. Now the evening rains won’t
stop church services from occurring. We supported a friend through a depression
crisis and covered 2 home visits from a psychologist. We have been able to
share food and love to others in the community as well. God calls each of us to
meet the needs of others. We cannot ignore the needs here. They are often right
at our front gate. Where are the needs in your community?
“ For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For
we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:8-10
We
are so thankful that the Hicks family came to visit us this past month. Heidi
Hicks is my cousin. I admired her when I was little, and I still do! She
actually grew up in Honduras while my aunt and uncle were missionaries here.
This was her first time to return with her children. Her husband Daniel is the
pastor of Scenic City Church in Chattanooga. It was such a great week to
reconnect with family. Together, we spent time with the girls at Eternal Family
Project, led worship at a home for the elderly in a nearby town Las Vegas, and helped
prep lunch for children at the Home of Blessing. In addition to outreach, they
also gave us and the boys some wonderful experiences, from spending the
afternoon swimming in a pool to ziplining over waterfalls. They also worked
hard to care for our children and help keep up with the house work. Marvin and
I were even blessed to go out on a date, just the 2 of us! Then we managed to
squeeze in a double date with Heidi and Daniel before they had to leave. It was
an amazing week together!
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| Isabel Hicks with Paola from Eternal Family Project serving at a local nutrition center |
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| Kylie Hicks playing with Giselle and Nahomy from Eternal Family Project |
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| Marvin and I on our romantic date :) |
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| Singing after snack time in Las Vegas at the home for the elderly |
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| Hicks and Ramos families playing uno and trying to stay hydrated |
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| Swimming!!! |
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| Josue going over the falls |
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| The ziplining boys |
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| Can you spot Manuel? |
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| Thomas and his favorite buddy Carson Hicks |
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off
your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to
be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness.” -Ephesians 4:22-24
The process to transfer Manuel and Josué to a new school was much more
complicated than we expected, but thankfully they were able to start at the new
school this past month. We feel confident that this school is the right place
for them. They are learning about universities in Honduras and making progress
in their other classes, Physics, Chemistry, Ethics, Literature, etc. The school
where they now attend is very structured and professional. These two qualities
are hard to find in Honduras.
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| View of Lake Yojoa |
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| Neighbors let us enjoy their pool, Gracias! |
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| Ready to cool off! |
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as
wise, making the most of every opportunity, because
the days are evil. Therefore,
do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” -Ephesians
5:15-17
We don’t know where the boys will decide to go to university
or what career path they will choose. We don’t know if we will stay in Honduras
or move back to the states. We don’t know who we will see on our walk to the church
Sunday morning. There are many things we don’t know in regards to God’s plans
for us, but we do know that his will is for us to be more like him, for us to
be sanctified. As we consider our hopes for the future, please pray the following prayer for us, as we
also pray it for you.
“I
pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through
his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have
power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and
high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now
to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
– Ephesians 3:16-21
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| Josue, Thomas, Marvin, Karen, Joanna, and Manuel at Pulhapanzak Waterfalls |
