To start off this month’s newsletter, we’d like to thank you for your prayers and financial contributions. By supporting us in these ways you are playing a part in the work we’re blessed to be able to do here. If you’re not yet involved but would like to be, the most powerful way to do so is to pray. Please pray that God use and provide for us in order that we might continue to serve those He is calling us to serve. You could also consider subscribing to our newsletters to keep up to date, or participating in other ways.
…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel…
Ephesians 6:18-20 (ESV)
Ministry updates
Construction as a means to ministry
When funding for projects shows up out of the blue, we call that “God stirring up hearts”, and that’s exactly what allowed us to progress on construction at the rural church where we serve. We went from a budget of zero to being able to purchase windows, fix up the floor, and even build a porch to (hopefully) help keep some of the water out of the building when it rains.
A family in the community surrounding our church needed help with some construction. They wanted to tear down their house built from wooden planks (First World residents would easily mistake this house for a shack), and to rebuild it with adobe bricks. The first step of construction here is to dig a trench for the foundation and to fill it with stones and cement. Thanks to more surprise funding, this family now has the stones to get started.
Last in the lineup of ministry-through-construction projects funded by unexpected donations was that of our neighbor’s roof.
Other ministry
We recently joined some members of our church back in the States on a mission trip to San Pedro Sula, where we got to interact with some school kids and see amazing results.
I (Ryan) continue to co-pastor and preach in a rural church, where we hope to see more baptisms and maybe a wedding in the coming months.
Life on the farm
We’re keeping busy with building a (second?!) chicken coop and keeping up with chores. If one must be outside at 6:00 AM, we’ve at least been rewarded with some amazing sunrises recently.
Lastly, for this month’s goofy pic I’m showing my work uniform as I haul pieces of adobe bricks in the chicken yard so the missus can make nesting boxes inside the coop:
No, we’re not a paramilitary organization. The full body garb is to help protect my skin from the deleterious effects of the sun’s rays during the driest part of the year. If I don’t cover up I’d get iguana skin and would need to use chapstick…not just on my lips but on my entire face.
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