Service Opporunity This Fall

Honduras Ministries has raised funds to pursue some very important projects in the village of La Fortunita this coming October. And we need your help!

Both projects involve one of life's most essential needs. WATER!

Our plan is to recruit a team to travel to Honduras during the last couple of weeks of October to give the people of La Fortunita a WELL and a CHURCH BUILDING. The WELL will provide clean, healthy drinking water...something that the village has not had for a long time due to the contamination of the water that is currently available. The CHURCH BUILDING will be a gathering place where they can receive the LIVING WATER THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE.

That brings me to YOUR opportunity.

We need to form two teams of five men each to travel to Honduras to provide labor for these projects. Each team will work for a week. No special expertise is required. Just a willing heart and healthy body. ARE YOU WILLING TO BE MEMBER OF ONE OF THOSE TEAMS? If so, please contact Dale Ohmart as soon as possible at (816) 734-0741.

Even if your answer is "no," we still need your help. To paraphrase Romans 10:15, how can anyone go...without being sent? We anticipate that some members or our teams will be able to cover their expenses, but others - maybe even most - will need help. Can you give $10 - or $25 - or $100 to support this work? Please send all contributions to...

LifeSpring Christian Church
ATTN: Honduras Construction
6101 N Topping Ave
Kansas City, MO 64119

Dave Ramsey has said, "You can get anywhere if you simply go one step at a time." We have several steps to take before we are ready to install the well and construct the church building in La Fortunita. With your help, we'll take each step - one at a time - until the job is done.

Catching Up...

What day is it? Sometimes I have to actually think hard about the answer to that question. We are on the go so much that the days become a blur.

Today is Friday. It is evening in Tegucigalpa. I have not written yet about Thursday. We wrapped up the sewing class...a smashing success. The ladies were overflowing with excitement about what they had learned. And in true Honduranian fashion, the official students (totalling 7) quickly passed their new knowledge to others.

We treated another 70 patients in the medical clinic...for a total of 230 in 2 days. I say "we"...personally, I treated a small minority of that number.

Throughout the past couple of days, we have had a number of informal discussions about plans for the next few months. Mainly talking about how to best structure to accomplish the most progress possible. I sincerely hope we can put the ideas we have brainstormed into a workable plan.

I have to confess that this next part is kind of selfish. But thi thing I have been looking forward to most was last night. Once again, I was able to play in the church worship band and preach. They even ask me to play some lead guitar. (I know of at least two people who will find that statement laughable...right, Nathan and Paul!) The people were very attentive and responsive as I spoke with an interpreter on the themes "God Is Closer Than You Think." I can't tell you how elated I felt after the service.

That brings me to Friday...today. The day began very early. We left the house before 6:30 am so that we could visit a Christian school. I spoke in their chapel at 7:05 am. Tasha stayed to visit throughout the morning. A little after noon, we picked her up and visited Valley of the Angels, a small town filled with local shops where we all were able to pick up gifts for people back home.

So now we are back at the Martin residence. Tomorrow, we travel to Choluteca. Will update you again from there.

Evening & Morning...The First Day

Much to write, but I will not last long enough to write all. Thank God for a very productive day. Planning to see 50 in med clinic...treated 160. Tasha didn't just observe the school, she taught the entire day. She was exhausted but bubbling over. Sewing class was incredibly successful. Meeting with the Honduran board of directors for the ministry was a great blessing.

Was very heart-warming to be greeted by the Christian brothers here...Nere, Juan Carlos, Max, Swah. All gave me a hug and called me by name. I MUST LEARN AT LEAST A LITTLE ESPANIOL before the next trip.

I am very anxious to share with the church tomorrow evening. May the Lord make the talk a powerful blessing.

The Eagle Has Landed

Another successful landing!

The foremost reason for this note is to simply report that our team has arrived safely in Tegucigalpa. And I don't say that lightly. Every time I have flown into the airport here - well, all TWO times - the passengers have spontaneously erupted into applause when the plane comes to a stop at the end of the runway. If you ever have a chance to fly to Honduras, you will understand why...with the mountains that surround the city like the sides of cereal bowl (a small one, at that) and the short length of the runway, it takes special training to pilot a commercial airliner into this airport. I wonder if every passenger is moved to applause by the sense of relief that comes after a successful landing!

We've settled into the Martin's residence and had our orientation meeting. Now, while I stay behind to get some work done, the rest of the team is out running some errands - including a stop at the grocery store to buy supplies for the week.

THE TEAM

Let me take a moment to tell you about our group. In no particular order...

NICOLE MORROW - president of the board of directors for Honduras Ministries, Nicole is a nurse and works (as I understand it - please forgive me, Nicole, if I get this wrong) as the nutrition director with an inner city non-profit after-school program.

ALYSSA FULLING - Alyssa's father offered to take her on a trip to celebrate her 16th birthday, and she chose coming to Honduras.

RUSTY FULLING - Rusty is a business coach who works with a member of the Honduras Ministries Board of Directors (see below).

TOM MITCHELL - member of the HM Board who works with Rusty. Tom owns and operates a cleaning company based in Olathe, KS.

THE OHMARTS (Cindy, Tasha, Anna and Dale) - you've met us before...at least, most of you have. If you really have any questions about who we are, simply comment below and I will be happy to provide any appropriate information.

THE PLAN

We have a busy week before us, designed to take advantage of the unique skills of our entire team.

A Sewing Class - Alyssa will be leading a two day sewing class for six women. One of the goals of Honduras Ministries is to help people develop marketable skills that will help them earn a better living. While it takes longer than two days, each of those women will begin a process and have a tool (they will keep their sewing machines) to help them on the journey toward a greater level of provision for their families.

Medical Brigade - Cindy and Nicole (and others of us as are needed and available) will provide some basic medical care for 100 or more people over the two days that the sewing class is being held.

Education Research - Tasha, who is studying education in college, will be visiting a couple of different schools to talk with administrators and learn about how children in Honduras are educated. On Friday morning, I will be speaking in chapel at one of these schools.

Strategic Planning - Rusty's skills as a business coach and the fact that our team includes four members of the board of directors (the two cited above plus Jim and myself) provides an exciting opportunity to give the ministry a "check-up." We hope the result will be that we will identify how the ministry can function more effectively and what steps need to be taken next in our development.

Relationship Building - On Thursday night, Saturday and Sunday, we will worship with different churches associated with the ministry, renewing our acquaintances with those we have met before. This is SO IMPORTANT...it shows these people that they matter enough that we will come over and over again to help and encourage them.

Well, if you're still reading, thanks for your support. We appreciate your continued prayers on our behalf throughout the coming week. We will do our best to keep you up to date on what we see God doing through our efforts.

Back to Honduras-Anna Ohmart

So as my second trip approaches i have had the overwhelming feeling that i need to blog. Im not sure if its because last year i was supposed to but i felt the need too so here it goes. As my anticipation for my return to what now feels like my second country I can not get over the feeling that throughout this entire year us returning to Honduras seemed so unlikley, after We bought a new car, than wreaked the Crysler, and just regular bills, i was beginning to feel like it was an impossibility. But once again i was shown up. The next thing i knew we were planning a date for the trip and the schedule. Im beginning to feel that God has something great planned for me with these people, in this country. After the connection i first felt with this people and the hurdles i have overcome to get here this realization is becoming more and more plausible to me. I am hoping that this trip will help solidify my furture plans and that this is the continuation of the great journey that i started in April 2010.

The Continuing Adventures of LIFESPRING IN HONDURAS

Join us LifeSpring this Sunday to hear about our most recent trip to work with Jim & Francis distributing school supplies to Honduran students. As always, the hearts of each member of the team was touched deeply by what they experienced. It is very important for you to hear about what God is doing there.

Our next investment in the mission begins in less than two weeks. Dale & Cindy Ohmart will be leaving on March 15 with two of their daughters, Tasha and Anna. Anna has been counting down the days to departure on her in her Facebook status. This will be Tasha's first experience there. Joining with other Christians from Olathe and Wichita, we will be offering a sewing class, medical care and visiting in schools. One other important activity will be to work with Jim on a long-range strategic plan for the mission. We don't expect to complete it in the short few days we are there, but we want to lay the main elements in place.

Please begin praying for this next trip.

We're Coming Home

We will be headed to the airport soon. I have mixed emotions, I miss home and I am looking forward to returning but at the same time it is sad to leave behind the friends that I have made over my two trips down. There have been numerous people involved in the church and ministry that have been essential to our success. They are dedicated to serving the Lord and assisting their neighbors here in Honduras.

Jennifer I thought you may be interested to know Santos and his wife are having another daughter in about two months. You had such an impact on his daughter that she is trying to get them to name their new daughter Jennifer. Go ahead and wipe away your tears now.

See you guys soon!

Mike

kids, kids and more kids!

Sorry for the lack of blogging, we have been on the road for three days and it has been taxing. We have handed out half the backpacks so far. We are back in the capital city and we will be handing out at least another 80 today. The kids have been a real treat to watch and interact with. I am reminded that the Lord will provide for us what we need to survive. These children have nothing by the standards of most US citizens but you can't tell them they need to be sad. These children are still running around playing and having a blast.

Yesterday was a treat because Don and Ashlie got a bicycle for a girl as a gift. I will let one of them go into detail about it, but we delivered it yesterday and it was a touching moment to see her reaction and the way she immediately shared it with her siblings.

Mike

Start of another wonderful day

Today we are back in the capital city, Tegucigalpa, and headed to a church to distribute backpacks to children in 2 places: Iglesia Filidelfia and Iglesia Jerusalem Nuevo. Tonight we will be attending church services in the local church. I'm looking forward to seeing how the folks here worship!

We have been on the go quite a bit. I hope to have some time for deep thought and devotion tonight.

~dana

Below are pictures from the last couple of days:

We made it to Cheloteca yesterday and checked into our hotel. We then traveled to La Fortanita (probably spelled wrong) where we handed out school supplies. children from another nearby village Los Humos were also there to pick up their supplies. The village was very simple, no electricity, no running water. We had church service in the middle of the village and most everyone choose to participate. It was an enjoyable service even without being able to understand the language. Just knowing these people, with completely different life experiences, speaking a different language were worshiping the same God I worship. It shows the true power of God to reach all of his children.

After church we handed out the school supplies and food to families. The children seemed very excited. Several of them were still wearing their backpacks, weighed down with books, when we were leaving.

Another neat experience was seeing the land that the ministry helped purchase where construction will soon begin on the village's church. That will give them a building to worship in no matter the weather.

All in all a humbling day. At a quick glance you catch yourself looking at the Hondran people feeling sorry for them for the poverty they live in, but once you look closer you see they are ritcher then most of us in the things that matter to Christ like true love for each other.

Mike

We arrived in Honduras today and it is a beautiful country. Traveling takes a lot out of you! We got settled, went grocery shopping, and had an amazing home cooked dinner graciously prepared by our hosts. The Martin family has opened their home to us and will be wonderful guides during our spiritual journey. We stopped by the church today and saw all of the school supplies and backpacks we will be packing tomorrow. Lots of God's work to be done! And we can't wait!!!

~dana

Overwhelmed with love and opportunity

My first thought as the plane "scooted" down the sidewalk turned runway was what a beautiful place. But first let me explain what I saw as we arrived. The amount of space available for a plane to land isn't much, I literally thought the wings of the plane were going to scalp the roofs off the houses that lined the airport!!! LOL, after I started breathing again I was able to fully appreciate the beauty of this country.

Jim and Francis welcomed us with open arms and showed us around. We got to go to the local "Walmart" and picked up a few supplies. We came back to the house where they prepared the best tacos I've had in my life!! Kudos to Francis and her mother for the meal. The food here is sooo full of flavor, unlike what I've ever had in my life. Can't wait to try some more. Over dinner, we talked about the many opportunities for ministry here and quickly got a sense of being overwhelmed. There are sooo many people who need help, not enough of us or money to help them all. I wonder how Jim and Francis ever get a sense of accomplishment when their cup runneth over with the needs of the Honduran people.

I got to talk to the family which really helped my homesickness.....boy do I miss them!! Well going to get some shut eye, there's lots of work to be done.

Ashlie

Back Again

Well we are settled in and just finished enjoying dinner together with Jim and his generous family. It feels good to be back. I remembered the food being good but I had forgotten how good. Jim just got done telling us about the growth the Ministry experienced last year. The Lord has provided some amazing things and Jim is confident there is more to come. I again am amazed and inspired by Jim's faith in Christ. I am confident the Lord has meaningful things in store for us and the people of Honduras. I just pray we are up to the task and we make our saviour proud.

Bless all of you back home,
Mike

Send Off Pictures

Here are a few pictures from the 2011 Honduras Mission Trip send off.

Deflating soccer balls to pack.

Dale leading the worship service.

Weighing boxes as we are packing supplies to deliver to school kids.

Checking in at the airport (sorry, this is the only picture that turned out this morning...)

Great Start

Great send off party tonight, thanks to all who attended!

The team will depart early tomorrow morning to begin what is sure to be an amazing trip. I wish I could go to...

Jeremy

Here We Go Again...

A couple of hours ago, we completed the launch service for the next team traveling from LifeSpring Christian Church in Kansas City, MO to Honduras to work with Jim & Francis Martin. I suppose we should have begun blogging about this quite some time ago. After all, we've been planning this for months.

Our team consists of four members. I will be pushing each of them to share - perhaps even more than once - while they are away. The main focus of their time will be to prepare packages for school supplies to distribute to more than 360 students. That's over 100 more that Honduras Ministries helped out last year!

Over the next week, we'll read about their experiences...I hope! So stay tuned. The team is scheduled to leave at 6am tomorrow. Perhaps they'll be able to record something even tomorrow evening after they settle in.