Heart Of God

I wanted to make this video available for you to see. It is simply quotes from Christian "greats".

By The Grace Of God These 4 Boys Are Not Orphans

The Lord Uses Us

To Help Save Their Mother’s Life

On May 14 a dear Honduran friend who is very poor came to us in tears with the news that her cousin, a young mother of 4 boys, was sent away from the public hospital. The family was advised to prepare for what was imminent, her funeral. I had met this cousin, Suyapa, even hosting her and her family at my house when she traveled to the capital city to “work” the free public medical system. Multiple stones had caused abscesses in one of her kidneys. Over the course of 3 months I had seen her demise as appointments and exams were postponed and rescheduled. During the same time-frame the head lines in the Honduras newspapers told of the strikes in the public hospitals. This young mother, Suyapa, and her family were hopeless. They were ready to do what so many Hondurans do… give-up and let whatever happens… happen.

Suyapa’s near death condition was so preventable. But, by mid-May her bad kidney was 3X its normal size and no more than a dead abscessed organ inside of her. Oh, the hospital set a surgery date to remove her kidney… in October, but that long wait was in essences a death sentence. Again, Kim and I felt like a small drop of “help” in an ocean of “need”, but how urgent and critical was this need. We’ve never helped with a medical need like this; we didn’t have the money personally or in our ministry account. Not to mention, our YFC mission statement isn’t for adult kidney patients. But Kim and I both felt that the Lord would have us to what we could to help. We put her in a private hospital to have the bad kidney removed before she died. We used our personal rent money to pay the admission fee. Then, we simply e-mail friends back home, explained the situation, asked for help, prayed and waited… hoping for her recovery and enough funds to pay for it all.

There were complications along the way, many “ups & downs”. Suyapa is still in the hospital, but, in a word, she has had her kidney removed and is expected to be released soon to join her 4 boys at their humble home in the country-side some 3 hours journey from the capital. It wasn’t until just recently that it “hit me”. This is indeed the purpose of YFC… helping kids! Not only have I been able to share the Good News of Jesus with these boys, but a group of friends, Kim and I, collectively we responded to the Lord’s guidance and kept these boys from being orphaned in a country where the orphan life is not so friendly. My 6 foster kids can attest to this. Many of the friends who helped this cause also receive this newsletter. Let me tell you, “you amaze me!” I’d like to thank you for how you gave above and beyond your on-going missionary support and helped to save the life of this young mother. There were several points along the way where I didn’t think there would be a “happy ending”. But God was gracious… He guided, we followed, and He did it! Thank you.

Hosting 39 Friends From Our Home Town… Memphis, TN

Visitors Come To Honduras This Summer To Help

Our newsletter, The Beckoning, has a corresponding verse, Luke 5:7 (printed above). The scenario for this verse is that a group of disciples were successful at fishing and communicated, “beckoned”, across the water to their partners to come help them. Our newsletter has been communicating for nearly 6 years now our work and “beckoning” our partners to help us. Our partners have so faithfully offered help from “across the water” in the form of prayer, finances, various gifts-in-kind, encouragement, and in so many other ways. But, 2007 has been the first year that we have had the privilege to host short-term missionary teams. Actually, 6 different groups will have come to help by the end of 2007, two of which are families. This summer alone 3 teams, and 2 individuals, a total of 39 persons will have visited us during June, July and August. What a tremendous blessing.

The purposes for the different groups have varied. Some of our visitors’ purpose has been visionary as we seek what the Lord would have us to do in the future, with others the purpose is preparation, as we lay the ground work for others to come. But, most of our visitors have come to us this year with the purpose to “roll-up their sleeves” and help with our mission, which is to communicate the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to every young person in Honduras.

Praise the Lord for those who have been sent here to help this year, but equally important are those of you who send your support. Whether your help is a prayer offered to our Lord, or is in the form of a check. Whether you are placing a stamp on the return envelope or having your passport stamped, God uses both -the sender and the sent- to change lives.

What Joy!… A House Full Of Kids

Providing Family-Care to Six Honduran Children & Youth

You know about our 4 Honduran kids from previous letters and how God has brought them into our family. Your inquires, your support and your prayers for our kids mean so much. Allow me to give an up-date and share the latest news. As you may remember, Isabel was the 15 year-old gang leader who we came to know in 2003 through our prison ministry. You wouldn’t have liked her during her 1^st year in the juvenile detention center… before she came to know the Lord. Her 2^nd year there was quite eventful: she gave birth to her son, Jonathan and shortly thereafter she herself was “born again” as she placed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, also, during this year her grandfather died who was the only stable adult male figure in her family, and then her mother died, too. She was not able to say, “Goodbye” to either one nor attend their funerals. She realized the tremendous needs in the lives of her 4 younger siblings; it was that same year that God gave her a burden for them… and she began to pray… and with such fervor that Michelle, Nuris, Kevin and Jimmy miraculously wound-up in our house as our foster kids. Her 3^rd year she was an example to all the other detained girls, as she grew in her faith. When she turned 18 she was moved to the adult women’s section where she spent her 4^th year incarcerated and continued to grow in the Lord.

Recently, in early May Kim and I made our weekly trip to the town where the prison is. There we heard to our surprise that Isabel was being released that very day. Through a course of events that afternoon, Isabel and her 2 ½ year-old son came home with us that very night. As Isabel joined her 4 siblings at our house, little Jonathan was acquainted with his 2 aunts and 2 uncles. And, once again, Kim and I became parents to a needy youth… but for the first time to 6 all at once (including one in diapers!). What joy, to have a house full of kids!

Like her brothers and sisters, Isabel needs a refuge. The life of an ex-gang member newly released from prison is a delicate situation. We’ve known 4 youth in similar situations to be killed shortly after their release. Isabel knows the dangers and is most grateful for our help. She only goes out with us or with a female police captain who helped her much during her years in prison. But, what she enjoys most is a “home”, enjoying time with her brothers and sisters in the house.

We want you to pray for our kids by name. Nuris, Kevin and Jimmy have been attending a private Christian school-after 3 years of not attending school. Michelle and Isabel are in a home school program allowing them to “hopefully” pass 2 grades in one year making-up for several years without school. They enjoy our church, “Koinonia Baptist Church”, which is the same church that started the school this year where the 3 attend. Their report cards this month where all A’s & B’s. We are all enrolled in various classes at the public sports complex just 3 blocks from our house, including: soccer, swimming, tennis, and track. Michelle recently started taking guitar at a music school near our house. So, needless to say… we’re in “full swing” around here.

In closing, please know that we need your help: prayer and financial support. Here is our greatest prayer need; since Isabel has come to live with us… it is for her and our safety. Isabel’s ex-boyfriend is still very much a gang member and in the past wanted very much to see or take his son, Jonathan. He didn’t know when Isabel was to get out (none of us did). But, word travels fast “in the hood” and we are not sure what he’ll do when he knows that she and Jonathan are living in our house. He, too, needs the Lord to change his life, but if he will not change then, prayerfully, he will not come around. We also need financial support as our house hold expands. Please remember that Kim and I have no ministry or program that generates revenue, in other words all of our ministries are given to the mission field without cost to any Honduran. We carry the responsibility to raise our funds… not only for our missionary expenses (salary, health ins., newsletters, etc.), but we have to raise resources for our 5 areas of ministry, including our newest ministry… fostering our 6 kids.

Please pray, lift our kids to the Lord, and give, as the Lord directs. Regarding your gifts, you can direct them to the ministry area that touches your heart the most. For example… if you wish to give specifically to our foster ministry (the newest of our 5 ministry areas with the greatest funding need) you may direct you gift accordingly. Kim & I need help with expenses for groceries, tuition, school supplies & uniforms, added fuel expenses, extra curricular classes, clothes, etc. We’ve formed a budget that covers all these expenses for less than $12 a day per child. Through our 2 decades with YFC, God has met every financial need because our supporters like you pray and give as He leads. You are so appreciated! You know what is so beautiful? We do what we can… that which is possible and God takes it and He does the impossible, the changing of a life or even a family... for generations to come.

Working With The Mountain People Of Honduras

Some Of The Most Needy People In Central America Live In Yoro, Honduras

The country of Honduras is divided into 18 departments; much like a U.S. state is divided into counties. The 531,000 people who live in the department, Yoro, are among the poorest of Honduras. The poorest people that live in Yoro are the Tolupan Indians that inhabit the remote mountain villages. There are around 10,500 Tolupan that have formed a labyrinth of trails that connect there villages across the primitive mountains of Yoro. But, this tribe began long before there were departments, national boarders, or European conquistadors. They are decedents of the Mayan civilization. The Tolupan tribe is the focus of our rural ministry in Honduras.

Our 2007 New Year’s celebration was special this year for 2 reasons: we spent it in the mountain villages of Yoro, and we spent it with our friends from Memphis, Tennessee, who came to work with us. Roy & Linda Campbell brought a team of 14 persons all involved with Eikon Ministries. But, our week long trip to the mountains started long before their December 27^th departure from Memphis. It was during the mid-1990s that Lord fashioned a ministry staff and a board of directors at YFC in Memphis. It was nearly 13 years ago that Roy and I ministered together in the projects and juvenile correctional facilities of Memphis. During this time Dan Medley, owner of Air/Sea International Travel, Inc., was introduced to the Memphis YFC board of directors. Who would have known it back then, that the 3 of us would put together a mission trip to Honduras that would usher in 2007.

Meeting physical needs is always an important part of missions. Need meeting is the platform to earn the right to be heard. Most of the luggage of the visiting team was devoted to clothes, shoes, vitamins, medicines, soccer equipment, toys, etc. The people living in some of the worst poverty that you can imagine truly appreciated such gifts. But, the heart of the mission was to encourage the few Christians who live in these remote villages, and to train them how to be and how to make genuine disciples of Christ. The Memphis group was divided into 2 smaller teams in order to minister to more people. The 2 teams of 7 were able to teach in 2 separate remote villages drawing from all the other neighboring remote villages around them.

Did I mention “remote”? We drove our 2 vans 5 hours from Tegucigalpa into the mountains literally until the vans could not pass any further. There we unloaded the vans and loaded the mules with the luggage, food and water for 5 days and continued on foot. It was 2 hours to the 1^st village, 4 hours to the 2^nd village. We ate military rations and slept in hammocks for our 5 day/4 night trip. Most of those villagers had never seen outsiders before. What a beautiful testimony to them to witness for the first time not only blacks and whites, but black Christians, white Christians and Latino Christians all working together serving the Lord in one accord. I know that this pleases our Lord.

Several goals were accomplished. We trained in “disciple making” around 50 persons who have never had the opportunity for such training (they practically have never received any prior Christian training). Around 25 made first time professions of faith as we shared the Gospel from village to village and from home to home. Also, the physical needs of hundreds were met. Additionally, Roy caught a vision to impact these mountain people, as he began to make plans with the Christian leaders of those villages for his next trip. It’s no surprise that he caught the vision… Roy came seeking God’s direction and seeking how Christ can continue to use him in world missions. He’ll be leading another team this summer; 30 will be coming in July, `07. We are planning to potentially visit 4 villages impacting all of their respective neighboring villages. And, Roy is recruiting medical, dental, and veterinary professionals to minister their skills.

But, you know what encouraged me more than anything? It was seeing my 4 Honduran foster kids grow spiritually. One day as a group of us were returning from a ministry “outing” we approached the center of the village where we came upon my 4 kids. They were in the middle of a group of about 12 youth from the village. As we walked even closer we noticed that they were all in prayer. Michelle and Kevin were praying with some of the villagers who wanted to place their faith in the Lord Jesus. It’s true what they say about missions… more is caught than taught. By my kids going and seeing, they learned so much.

Thanks Roy and Linda for coming to Honduras last month, lacing up your hiking boots and going with me to the mountains. Thanks for leading others, impacting the villages of Yoro, and helping my kids “catch” what it means to be a disciple of Christ. I am praying for our time together in July!

A New Name, "Papí"

It seems as though each year the Lord emphasis to me an aspect of His birth. To you it may not be “ground-breaking”, but for me it is good to consider, and I’d like to share it with you. It is regarding a new name that I’ve acquired as we’ve fostered our Honduran kids and if given the license to translate it is one of the names of God the Father… Abba, or Papí. This name, Papí, has become a significant name this year as my Spanish name, Ricardo has become Papí to our 3 Honduran foster kids. And, I’ve considered how the baby Jesus grew those first months and years and I’d imagine that he called God, Abba… or translated in Spanish, Papí.

Papí is an intimate name. Nearly 11 years ago Tony during his first year with us began to call me Dad a more intimate name. And, this year it happened again our Honduran kids gave me a more intimate name, Papí. You know that we believers in Christ had to make this transition to an intimate name for God. It was Jesus who taught us adopted children to talk to his Father like this… “Our Papí (Daddy) who is in the heavens…” It is almost irreverent sounding at first. But, I assure you we have permission to call our Lord by this intimate name because there is nothing more reverent to God than intimacy.

Not only is Papí an intimate name, but it is an identifying name. Kim and I continually receive “double takes” as we go about Tegucigalpa with our Honduran children and they call us Mamí or Papí. Why?... because these names identify them to us and us to them in a very special way. Can you imagine the “double takes” that Jesus received as he called God, “Abba” or “Papí”? Matter of fact, we received one of those “double takes” last month as we referred to God as our Father. We hosted in our home during the Thanksgiving holiday a young Jewish couple. During the course of several days together we had several discussions about our different religions. When we referred to God or when we prayed using the name, “Father”… they looked at us differently. They don’t call the Lord, “Father”; it was a name that Jesus used. Certainly calling God, “Abba”, “Daddy” or “Papí” was an extreme. This name identified the God of creation as intimately related to Jesus; indeed he is, and indeed we are.

Also, Papí is an enlightening name. Since our Honduran kids have been calling me Papí, I’ve had the desire to teach them all about life and more about my life. One of our favorite bed-time rituals is reading a Bible story and praying together before bed. Every night they ask me to tell them a story about my life; they want to hear about my childhood, youth, my family, etc. Sure, they may be stalling to keep from going to sleep, but I’m glad to enlighten them about some new aspect or story about my life. Our Papí in heaven is like this; He wants to teach us more and more about Him. Just this week Kim read me a passage of scripture where Peter made a profound statement and Jesus was quick to point out that this was enlightenment from the heavenly Father. Papis are quick to teach their children when asked and when the children present themselves as teachable.

Consider the Christ-child during those first months and years as He called His Father, “Abba”, an intimate name, “Daddy”, an identifying name, “Papí”, a name that enlightens. There is nothing stronger or more mature than a child-like faith. This Christmas may you consider the wonderful name of our heavenly Papí.

We are praying that you will have a wonderful Christmas and New Year season. And may God bless you.

Ministering At The “Basurero” In Honduras’ Capitol

In Honduras there are very few “rich”, a small but growing “middle-class”, and many, many poor people. 80% of Honduras’ 7 million people live in poverty. The “common-folk” of Tegucigalpa, the capitol, call the city-dump the “basurero” (the Spanish word for garbage is “basura”). The city-dump is the setting for a community of people; 500+ people work and live off of the garbage. Many of them are youth. These youth are the focus of our ministry at the “basurero”.

It was November of 2004 when for the 1^st time we loaded our car with enough food to feed 100 of the most needy who live at the “basurero”. We’ve been going every Friday evening, since then, and we have fed nearly 10,000 meals. The food, drink, and the gathering of people behind our car is indeed ministry meeting a social need, but the lasting ministry meeting the spiritual need is when our YFC ministry team communicates the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to the 100+ folks gathered for food every week.

It is a “tough” ministry site… in that it is not guarded and there are no police around us. Often the “regulars” who come each Friday and who we’ve gotten to know tell us about fights and murders that have taken place there earlier in the week. The Lord has kept us safe during our weekly visits. Its “tough” in that we’re exposed to filth, refuse, sickness, and swarms of flies that land on us as they make their rounds. Again, the Lord has kept us from any serious sickness that could come from such a place. Its “tough” in that we hurt for the people who live and work there. Many Friday evenings Kim simply tells me that she just can not go. Kim is more sensitive to people’s hurts than I am, and this ministry site is to difficult for her week after week. But, you know what makes it such a tough” ministry site … very few people receive the Lord. Every Friday as 100+ people line-up behind my car we read scripture and share a devotional, and pray giving thanks to God for the food. An invitation is always extended for anyone to follow Christ; some have received Christ as their Lord & Savior, but very few. However, we are certain that the Lord would have us to continue to go each week.

Recently, Rick hosted a reporter and a photographer from the “Miami Herald”. Monday, November 13, the front page cover story was about the city dump in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Better understand this ministry as you visit this article & photos online at:

www.miami.com/multimedia/miami/news/archive/americas/honduras/index.html

Hosting Short-Term Missionaries

Helping Visitors To Honduras

Minister To Hondurans

Every epic of church history has its unique characteristics. Our chapter of church history in our modern times is greatly influenced by the affordability and ease of world travel. As I travel international airports I routinely see missionary teams going to their mission fields or returning from some international mission. How exciting it is to serve the Lord in such a way, especially as we near the day when every person on planet Earth will hear the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Kim and I have adopted as a major part of our missionary responsibilities hosting short-term missionaries. More than a responsibility it is a privilege. Visitors come to Honduras as families, mission teams (youth and adults), church youth groups, and individuals. They have helped us share the “life-changing message of Jesus Christ” not only through personal evangelism, but also through Vacation Bible School (VBS), Back Yard Bible Club, drama, music, construction, sports, school assemblies, giving food, and by providing optical, medical & dental care.

Hosting families is great. Last month a Mother and her 3 daughters traveled from the USA to Honduras to help the Casa De Luz, YFC’s child-care ministry. They joined Kim and Marilyn and conducted VBS, which is a tremendous ministry approach. VBS ministered to many children in the neighborhood of the Casa De Luz and introduced not only the kids, but their families, as well, to the host neighborhood church, Jehovah Is My Refuge. YFC and the Casa De Luz appreciates Cynthia and her girls, Natalie, Molly and Catherine for a job well done. Be praying for another family that is praying about doing a mission trip here after Christmas.

Hosting mission teams always is action-packed. June 27 – July 13 Rick and Kim devoted 2 weeks to leading a YFC Project Serve group of youth as they worked in the region of Copan. Eighteen team members arrived at the San Pedro Sula airport ready to serve. They conducted VBS for over 100 children, and presented the Gospel to hundreds through drama at parks, town squares, schools and churches. Additionally, they ministered through serving… mixing and pouring concrete at the YFC/Honduras camp at “La Entrada de Copan”. The large meeting room about the size of a basketball gymnasium only had a dirt floor. The team raised

the level of the dirt floor (wheel barrow by wheel barrow) with tons of sand, and completed nearly ½ of the floor in concrete. Around 100 professions of faith were made by the end of the 2 weeks through the various ministries. Regarding the concrete floor at the YFC camp, it has its place in God’s kingdom, as well… but at the present time only God knows how many Honduran youth will shed tears of repentance on this floor, as potentially multiplied thousands of Honduran teen-agers visit the camp and hear the “life-changing message of Jesus Christ”.

The next team of youth that we’ll host will be coming with Roy Campbell (Nicknamed “Soup”) and his Memphis based youth ministry, Eikon. He and a group of his leadership kids from urban Memphis will be sharing what they know about disciplesip with the Tolupan Indians. So, be praying for this Memphis team as we make plans for their mission trip during the New Year’s season. This team will be “roughing it” as they will be spending most of their time in the high mountain villages assessable only by foot and burrows. They’ll be sleeping in small single-room school house floors and in hammocks.

Hosting individuals that come to us through the YFC‘s internship program is most rewarding. To pour so much into a young person’s life here on the mission field is a powerful thing. Last summer, as you may remember, we hosted Sabrina for 2 months. This summer we are privileged to host Megan Greene not only for the summer but until November. Megan just graduated from University of Michigan with a degree in elementary education. So, her passion is teaching. And, do we ever have a place for her to practice her God-given gift. During her 4 months with us in Tegucigalpa she will couple teaching English and the Bible at the high school of 5,000 students where we’ve been working for over 3 years now. Megan will also help teach at the prison, to our foster kids at our own “home school”, as well as at the “Casa De Luz”.

Even as I write you and recall all the opportunities that we have to host visiting missionaries I’m reminded what a powerful union it is to join together, encourage one another, mix and match gifts and skills all for the purpose to glorify God and to help spread the “life-changing message of Jesus Christ to every young person”. I’m reminded as I watch the new of natural disasters like never before and how Israel once again is in the headlines… God is certainly preparing for the final scenes of what we call the “church age”. I’m also reminded of what the apostle Peter wrote (I Peter 4),“⁷The end of all things is near…⁹Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” And, may I remind you that Kim and I are sent here by you; we are sustained by your prayers and supported by your financial gifts. Thank you for helping Kim and me to help 100’s of others… to help 1,000’s of others. All is for His glory and to spread His Good News!