Posts

Well, we had the Gathering Hearts 20 years event Saturday and it was so special.  We invited 61 mayors and pastors from our villages with their wives, as well as special friends.   Of course, we also invited all of our employees and their spouses. The program consisted of several speakers, some music, and a video, very well done by a videographer from a nearby village.  It is a real blessing that Dennis Boersema from Michigan was here for the event.  He has played a very special part in this ministry.  After the program we had dinner for everyone, served by young ladies from some of our classes.  There are lots of good pictures on Facebook….. Norma Bonilla’s (our sewing teacher) sister died today; several of us went to the burial service this evening.

• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 If you choose to spend your life in the comfort zone you will never know for sure what you really believe about God.

Gary

Dave the Bible is a big event in Honduras. Our church was part of the parade that ended up in Compana soccer field.

The parade ended in a field for an outdoor meeting where Gary talked, and Nelson gave the message, and 12 people came forward. 

Things continue to move forward quickly here at Gathering Hearts.  Plans are being made in both Honduras and in the US to celebrate in October the Kuney’s  20 years in Honduras.  Yes, we moved here from Tulsa in 1999.  We’re looking forward to seeing many people we haven’t seen in a long while. Denny Boersema will be coming down to Honduras on October 2; he has certainly played a big role in the development of Gathering Hearts.   After the celebration we will be leaving for the US on October 22….  This past weekend was independence day here in Honduras; the country gained independence from Spain 198 years ago.  The same day is also dedicated to education in Honduras.  Both Saturday and Sunday students paraded through the streets. 

Several of those who participated were ones that have been scholarshipped through Gathering Hearts. 

Probably the most familiar are Perla and Carlos… I am so  gratified at how the Gospel is being presented here every day.  For example, this morning started out with Nicolas giving an inspiring message to the carpentry class.  Then there were Bible classes for the children and young adults. Then at noon Cheryl gave a really good message to the teachers centered around Rick Warren’s materials.  Before the day is over I’m sure there will be more.

– – – – – – – – –

Have you noticed?  The more you eat the more you eat; the more you pray the more you pray.

It’s now July 15; we got back to Honduras last Thursday.  We had two return dates set prior to that, but each time something popped up at the last moment that had to be dealt with.  Now that we have arrived it seems really good to be here.  The compound looks good, classes are full, and all the teachers are in place.  Our former student and teacher, Christian, is back for a break but will probably be heading back to the ship soon.  Jose is still here.  Before leaving the States we met with building experts who want to help with the sports park and the new classroom building; we received another project for the production center so these women have some temporary work; another couple that was connected with a well known evangelist wants to come down and minister; and someone with a master’s degree in teaching wants to come down and teach our teachers.  Our delays were not in vain; His ways are always better.  We had another direct answer to prayer this week.  We needed money to be wired right away to cover payroll and expenses for the mission center—and we didn’t have it.  We decided to go ahead and wire what we had and try to come up with the rest some other way.  Then suddenly our electricity went out and we had no phone or internet to contact the bank.  We continued to pray about the situation, and two things happened: 1) the electricity eventually came back on 2) we were then able to read an email from Donna, our treasurer, saying we had received a donation in the mail and she was on the way to the bank to deposit it in our account.  As you might expect, it was enough to meet to need.

Saturday (5/11) was a busy day.  The first event of the day was loss of our electricity.  Poor timing; it just so happened that Saturday was one of the hottest days of the year.  Furthermore, we had  parent’s meetings scheduled starting at 10am.  We had about 100 people in the conference room at a time—and it really got hot.   The purpose of the meetings was to keep parents informed and involved in what their sons and daughters are doing.  We also solicited their help in making sure the students do their homework, come to class everyday and on time, wear their uniforms etc.  Despite the heat, it was a very productive time….. Later on in the day we had Timothy Training for our youth leaders.  Saturday night we had been invited along with some other churches to attend a worship service.  The church that extended the invitation was very small, and I expected attendance to be around 25 people.  As it turned out, the service was outside; approximately 250 chairs had been set up in an open lot next to the church—and all were filled.  It was a real blessing.  On Sunday we went to church at International Christian Fellowship in San Pedro Sula; it was great to see friends we haven’t seen in a long while.  Today (5/13) we started out with a student’s meeting to discuss and distribute their new handbook.  Cheryl has done an amazing job with these students in choosing their curriculum, developing lesson plans, teaching their teachers, outlining student deportment.  The classes are much more effective than they were a year or two ago…. I am now being included in some pastor’s events.  They refer to me as Mr. Gary Missionary.  This noon we will be having a pastor’s meeting (including Missionary Gary) in our conference center.  This is a big answer to prayer.  Ever since we got here we have been working toward seeing cooperation among the Evangelical pastors in our villages.

                __________________________________

There’s a big difference between being called to stay and deciding not to go.

This past week we spent a lot of time in church meetings.  There were 3 outdoor revival meetings; one church members meeting; and a fast and pray service on Sunday. The average time for a church meeting here in Honduras is 3 hours.  That being the case, we spent 15 hours in church last week.  Our church attendance is growing, and we praise the Lord for that.  I have gotten a little more active in addressing groups in the Campana area.  Saturday night I shared briefly at the local pastor’s convention in Campana, and Wednesday night I gave the message at church.  I also meet with the carpentry class twice a week.  Thursday morning (4/11) Cheryl had physical therapy in San Pedro; and she had the women’s service in the church tonight. She spoke on bearing one another’s burdens. This is especially focused to the village women’s ministry leaders.…Yesterday afternoon our children’s group presented an Easter presentation, costumes, script, and all.   There were about 20 children involved.   The Jesus Passion film was shown for all classes of  older students. We had three showings to accommodate the schedules and capacity of the conference center.  It had quite an impact. More than several students accepted Christ. Honduras shuts down for Holy Week (Semana Santa). All stores, businesses and schools closed as of noon today.  Our church, Templo Evangelico Emanuel, will also show the Passion on Thursday afternoon with special services Friday and Sunday.    Christ Presbyterian Church from Tulsa will arrive the end of this month, we so look forward to them coming and pray that God will bless their time here.

                                                     
___________________________________________________

If you choose to live your life in the comfort zone you will never know for sure what you really believe about God.

Last Sunday our church, TEE, celebrated Father’s Day and invited some who normally do not attend church. There was a great response. The children provided special music and lunch was served afterwards.

 Some will remember a lady from New Campana named Ramona.  Several years ago she was run down by a motor cycle and had two major bones in her leg badly broken.  She had surgery, but it didn’t go well; the metal they inserted in her legs started protruding through the skin,  and soon she could no longer walk.  About that time, Dr. Green (James Green from Tulsa) came to hold a medical clinic, and asked us to see about a restorative surgery to remove the metal and take care of the infection.  She began improving right away.  I have seen her twice this week and she has made great progress.  She can walk now, and sometimes even walks without her cane.  For awhile she had to be in a wheelchair.

Last week we had a dental clinic day thanks to some volunteer dentists from San Pedro. We continue to see more and more patients in the medical clinic four days a week.  

For the classes, there are close to 300 attending classes now. We share the Gospel in each class.

Yesterday, March 28, was Cheryl’s birthday.  The employees bought her a beautiful cake, and lovely necklace and earrings.  Last night we had a very special birthday dinner in San Pedro with our Russian friends the Gillans.  It was a great blessing.

• We got back to Tulsa last Tuesday (12/4); the trip was pretty much uneventful.  A day earlier we said good-bye to Denny Boersema.  He spent ten days with us working on the education program.  He and Cheryl worked on new applications of curricula, as well as procedural handbooks for students and teachers.  On the same day that Denny arrived, a group from Beacon Hill Baptist in OK was just leaving.  Candy Matheny and her parents have been running the 1000 Christmas gifts project since 2007.  This time Candy and her mom, Collene Jennings, along with Linda Thornhill, Avery Johnson, and Phillip Deckard came along.  It was a great experience for all.  First of all, the container came in much faster this year.  The boxes were in our warehouse by the time Jim Redyke and the group from First Methodist had arrived.  This year we went further back into the “jungle like area” to hand out the gifts.  Over past couple of weeks we have had several meetings regarding the future of our Honduras church.  Since Nelson Batista has been held in Venezuela so much of the time, the decision was made to ordain Nelson Osorto, so he can do baptisms, communion, marriages, etc.  He is working on a seminary degree.  For now the two Nelsons will be co-pastors…..Just before we left on Tuesday we had Saturday graduation at Gathering Hearts.  A real highlight was when the 94 graduates sang songs and hymns in English.  We served sit-down lunch to about 200 students and family. Later in the day we attended junior high graduation at the private school where we and other Gathering Hearts participants scholarship students. That was a very special time also…. Before leaving Honduras we also had several meetings about the land for our soccer field.   The deal was sealed just before we left.
  • . . . . . . . .

   Sometimes I think we may be fuel for the unbeliever when the things we preach are not the things we do.