Honduran-Style Holidays

We spent Christmas and New Year's in La Ceiba, as our village house isn't quite ready for a toddler and baby. (Here is a post about what holiday celebrations are like in rural Garífuna communities.) Although many people prefer to travel to their home communities instead of staying in the city, we still had a fun time as a family (Part 1), and we now realize God had a plan for Fernando to be here (Part 2 below).

Part 1: Enjoying the Holidays

Many Hondurans decorate for Christmas, stringing lights on their roofs and winding them around palm trees. Garlands and trees with artificial flowers and pinecones, lights, and ornaments, are common, as well as snowmen, reindeer, and other symbols. With such a hot year, it made the north pole feel a tiny bit closer!

Our toddller-friendly wreath

Christmas music plays in stores, including carols and songs familiar to us but in Spanish, and also typical upbeat Latino carols. You can hear one about how the fish in the river drink water when they see baby Jesus is born and the burrito (donkey) who traveled to Bethlehem. (These two get stuck in my head whenever I go to the grocery store during the Christmas season.)

Honduran women spend Christmas Eve (La Noche Buena) in the kitchen, preparing tamales, arroz con pollo (rice with chicken), roasted meats, and cakes and breads. Families stay up until midnight eating the food and setting off fireworks. People sleep in on Christmas Day and then visit and share food with family, friends, and neighbors. We were given some delicious dishes from both Garífuna and Latino friends and neighbors.

Check out the Christmas lights on this taxi. Sadly, I didn't have the camera when a car with antlers went by.



New Year's is considered the most important holiday of the year, and the exodus from urban to rural areas increases. Like Christmas, women prepare food and families await midnight to set off fireworks and celebrate the start of the year... and then spend New Year's Day recovering!

Although we missed the more colorful traditions of Garífuna communities, and especially spending time with family, I made my mom's Christmas Day coffee cake and some cookies (which had to be refrigerated so they wouldn't melt), and my Christmas "gifts" were the extra quiet and increased water pressure due to an emptier neighborhood. :)



Having fun together over the holidays

Part 2: Joining Others in Suffering

We saw how God allowed Fernando to be in La Ceiba to minister in two difficult situations. The first occurred near the village the day after Christmas. A relative got stuck crossing the sandbar in the early morning hours, the common time to begin the long trip to the nearest city. Some other travelers stopped to pull the stalled pick-up across and, tragically, were mistaken for drug traffickers by a military group, who opened fire and killed one young man.

No drugs or weapons were found on anybody or in any vehicle. Another man, about 20 years of age, was wounded and transferred to a hospital in La Ceiba, where he passed away. Fernando joined the family and others from their home community at the morgue as they prepared to take the body back to the village for burial. (A big thank you to our supporters, who enable us to help with such expenses in these situations.)

It is impossible to live here without knowing people who have lost their lives or been affected by drug trafficking and violence -- hardworking people going about their everyday lives in their communities. I have become used to Fernando occasionally going to wakes late at night, and I recognize by the tone of his voice when he receives a phone call with bad news. But this incident was a shock, since we have traveled in that location at that hour.

Several days later, Fernando found out that a friend and fairly new believer was hospitalized for a blood condition he has had for several years (doctors think it's leukemia). Fernando visited him each day, reading Scripture to him, praying with him, and listening to him share his heart. He is now home with his wife and two young children, and we continue to pray for his healing and for strength, peace, and hope in the Lord.

Praise God for sending His Son, Emmanuel, God with us in both celebrations and in tragedies, who saves us from our sin and provides an eternal home for His children. Even as we enjoy holiday food and time with family and friends, how good it is to know that the wedding banquet and eternal life are promised to us. May He use us to bring His hope of justice and restoration and His light to darkness in this new year.

It Happens Once a Year...

Every July Garífuna Christians come together for four days to worship, fellowship, and hear from God's Word all in their language. This year they met in a rural community near where Fernando is from.

Fernando enjoyed reconnecting with pastors and fellow believers not only from communities in Honduras, but also from Guatemala, Belize, and the U.S. It was encouraging for everyone to share about what the Lord is doing among Garífuna people in those places. About 500 people attended!

Fernando shared a message about how unity is an essential element to expanding the gospel, and he also served on the team that plans and carries out the details of the event. He took Alex and Wilber, who work with him full-time on ministry projects, and it was the first time they participated.

Praise the Lord for those who received Jesus as their Lord and Savior in response to an open-air meeting with the aim of evangelism, and also for how He strengthened His people as they met together.

Unfortunately, I charged the camera battery and forgot to put it in the camera when I gave it to Fernando to take with him (I discovered the lone battery shortly after he left...). This is a picture from two years ago:

Next year we should be able to share pictures with you, but we at least wanted to share these praises with you.

Good News from Honduras (written by Fernando)

"Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave." Exodus 18:20

 

"What are you doing?"

Moses thought that Jethro simply wanted to know what he was doing. So he proceeded to describe his work, his unending responsibilities, and all of the activity that revolved around him. Actually, Jethro had already observed these things and instead wanted to communicate this message to Moses: "The way you are working is harming yourself and these people."

Then Jethro told Moses how to improve for his own good and also for the good of the people. What he most needed was to "teach, train, educate, and instruct" so that the people themselves would know how to act and what to do, instead of depending solely on him.

 

 

Several weeks ago I (Fernando) had the joy of seeing pictures of Garifuna seminary students, our brothers and sisters, graduating after completing their first level of theological training. It was also encouraging to hear how much this event meant to their lives. Some shared that they cried for joy, and others told us they had never graduated from anything before in their lives, and it was truly a great blessing to be a part of that experience. I am convinced that these small steps ("Studying the First Principles" series) will help the Garifuna church leaders "show [others] the way they are to live and how they are to behave."

 

 

 

 

I do not completely agree with graduations in theological studies; I am convinced that theological training should be an ongoing and lifelong process. However, reaching this point is good for reflecting on the journey thus far and for recognizing once again that God has been faithful. My brothers and sisters went through countless difficulties: family conflicts, illnesses, ministry conflicts, and more. But they have persevered, and praise God because He never leaves us to walk alone, and He has shown His faithfulness to these students, His children and servants.

 

 

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." Psalm 126:5-6



Happy to Announce...

... that we're going to have a baby! We are excited and so thankful! Our baby is due February 2; I am about seven weeks pregnant. We appreciate your prayers for a healthy pregnancy, and we're looking forward to this new season in our lives!

Two Reasons to Celebrate

This week we had two reasons to celebrate. One was the completion of the first series of BILD materials:

The manual includes four books, each with sessions about important fundamentals of the Christian life. Three believers translated part of the manual, and Fernando translated another part, revised everyone's work, and meticulously proofread. In spite of the tedious work, he often commented about how the material itself was impacting his life!

The hard work will pay off when 30 of these manuals are published this week and then distributed for new training groups in Garifuna communities.

We are happy that several people have started translating the second manual, and we hope that all of this will be a tool in God's hands to disciple His people and prepare them to make disciples, as well.


The second celebration was Fernando's graduation ceremony for his Master's in Business Administration degree. He finished his coursework and thesis two years ago, but his bachelor's degree in Bible had not yet been approved by the government in Tegucigalpa. (These things take awhile...!) On Friday, he attended the graduation ceremony required to receive his diploma.

I remember how hard he worked during his graduate studies and still dedicated time to starting the Garifuna Bible school, so I am proud of him! I am also thankful for the ways God has allowed him to study what has helped him a great deal in ministry (management, finance, strategic planning, etc.). May the Lord continue teach and use Fernando so that others can learn about the Lord and receive preparation to serve Him.

216 Years

April 12 marks the anniversary of when the Garifuna people (Garinagu) arrived to Honduras in 1797. (If you'd like to read more about what happened in their history, click here.) Yesterday we celebrated at church, including participation by the kids and their Sunday school teachers:

Naming objects used in daily life in Garifuna communities, such the woven cassava strainer, cassava flour sieve, canoe oar, baskets, and more.

Reading a summary of their ancestors' history and arrival to Honduras.

 Wearing our "gounu", or Garifuna/African dresses.

Here is a video of some of the worship. At the beginning, you can see a boy playing the wadabu, or conch shell:

Praise God for His hand on the Garinagu and the beautiful ways He has given them to worship Him together.

Thank you to those who have prayed for the new girls' discipleship group. We had our first meeting on Saturday and enjoyed talking about salvation through Jesus and getting to know each other. We expect some more girls to join us this next Saturday and are looking forward to how God will work in their lives.

Biniladün Bungiu súngubei! (God bless you all.)

Friends, Fellowship, and Other Happenings

Hello everyone! I hope you all had an encouraging Easter, celebrating Christ's resurrection and the hope we have in Him.

The week before Easter, Semana Santa (Holy Week), is one of the most important holiday times in Latin America. In our corner of the world, people come from other parts of Honduras to enjoy the beaches and rivers. However, my 30th birthday was right before Semana Santa, so that gave us a reason to get outside before the crowds arrived!

I had a happy, memorable birthday and was reminded of how I value the friendships God has given me here. I spent the afternoon with D, our pastor's wife and one of my good friends. We took a walk by the water:

 

Friends around the world and right here made the day special with emails, phone calls, Facebook messages, hugs, and even homemade donuts! Fernando was out of town at a pastors' conference, but we went to the river/beach when he got back. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.

 

Speaking of being encouraged by others, I enjoyed facilitating the discussion today at a weekly Bible study for English-speaking women (missionaries and ex-pats). I am thoroughly enjoying learning from the other women, being involved in a regular Bible study in my own language, and feeling spiritually refreshed and energized. What a blessing!

 

I am also thankful for the opportunity to meet with one of Fernando's cousins to study the Bible together. I find great joy when other women discover truths from Scripture and relate them to their lives.

 

Another source of fellowship has been meeting with a woman who has helped me lead a discipleship group and two others who will help me start a second one (we all go to the same church). Each week, we prepare for upcoming meetings, study the Word, and pray for the girls and for each other. It is much more enriching and rewarding working as a team than alone, each contributing in different ways and sharing ideas.

 

Here are a few prayer requests:

• On Saturday two women and I will begin a new discipleship group. Please pray for God to bring together these young women and form a strong group where they can learn and grow together.
• Our pastor has begun implementing the BILD training method in several groups (what the pastors have been studying in the Garifuna seminary). Please pray for everyone involved to grow in their faith and develop greater leadership to reach others.
• Fernando is finishing revising the translation of the fourth BILD book into Garifuna, which will complete the first manual. This manual will be used in new groups that are forming in rural Garifuna communities. Please pray for the final steps of revising, publishing, and distributing. It has been a lot of work, but we look forward to how the Lord will use it!

Thank you for visiting our blog and praying for us!



Miscellaneous January Happenings

The past few weeks have been filled with miscellaneous activities. The Honduran school year runs from February to November, and January tends to be a month of catching up on loose ends, as well as planning and preparing for upcoming projects.

Here's a summary of some of what we've been up to:

• Going to doctor and dentist appointments.
• Updating our emergency plan.
• Uploading documents and pictures as an online backup.
• Revising the Garifuna translation of Bible school materials for classes starting next month.
• Preparing for the start-up of new theological training groups (see below).
• Studying material to be covered in upcoming ETBIL classes.
• Continuing to use linguistics to study and describe Garifuna grammar.

January 6 is the "Día de los Reyes" (Day of the Magi Kings), celebrated in Latin America with a rosca cake. It's also the day Fernando and I met in 2006 (seven year ago - wow!). Our landlady gave us this rosca:

We also needed to clean out and organize our apartment. Part of that included purchasing second-hand furniture, including a bookshelf, file cabinet, and a tall chest of drawers to replace the piece of furniture below that our landlady let us use:

A big improvement (can you tell we are book people?):

We also have been preparing for Fernando's immigration interview at the embassy next month (with every possible document they might possibly ask for!):

I've also helped J with some of her writing assignments, and we went out to celebrate her 18th birthday!

In the midst of activities that don't often feel "spiritual," God has reminded me that He is always with us, teaching us, using us. For example, I have had opportunities to talk and pray with women while waiting for doctors appointments. While working around the house, I've also had more time to think and pray. Although I am looking forward to more "action" next month, I am thankful for this short season of reflection and preparation.

A main prayer request now is for the four new discipleship/theological training groups that several Garifuna pastors will start next month in their communities. Fernando will help coordinate as pastors who continue in their studies implement the same program in their churches to train more leaders. Pray also that the materials translated to Garifuna will be ready then. (To read about last year's classes, click here and here.) We will post updates on these groups as they get started.

Finally, I've changed the settings for posting comments, so feel free to comment on posts if you'd like. As always, we love hearing from you and knowing how to pray for you. Thank you for your partnership and friendship!

Celebrating our Second Anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated two years of marriage and had a wonderful day together, remembering our wedding day and thanking God for all He has done this past year. Here's one of my favorite pictures from our wedding:

Our first anniversary:

Yesterday (a bit blurry because the lights were flashing on and off!):

We want to thank all of you who have blessed us in our marriage through your prayers, encouraging words, and example. Our prayer is that the Lord will help us continue to grow in our relationship and use it to reflect His love to others. We're looking forward to what He will teach us in this new year of marriage!

We also want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and we hope the coming weeks bring us all a renewed sense of joy, peace, and hope in Jesus. As we spend the holidays with Fernando's family, you will be in our thoughts and prayers. Have a blessed holiday season!

Unconventional Thanksgiving Meal

Happy belated Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a day full of good food, time with family and friends, and, especially, celebration of all of God's good gifts in your lives.

We spent the week in Wageira, working on more stories for the OneStory project and visiting several pastors to encourage them in their studies. As usual, I enjoyed practicing Garifuna with Fernando's family and am happy to see continued progress.

The meal we ate on Thanksgiving wasn't turkey, but it was delicious! We had machuca (Spanish) / hudutu (Garifuna): mashed plantains, coconut soup, and fish. It was so good I forgot to take a picture until half-way through! :)

For dinner, I helped make tortillas, which we ate with refried beans and cheese. It's obvious that I made these ones because they're not exactly round! But, thanks to Fernando's sisters, my skills are improving (good thing for him!).

This year, I feel particularly thankful for being part of Fernando's family, especially since I am far away from my family in the U.S. I also am thankful for how God brought Fernando and me together in this adventure of serving Him, and for all of you who are a blessing in our lives!

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you." Colossians 1:3

A Special Gift

Today was a special day for the girls discipleship group. We had our last meeting for this year, before people return to their home communities for the holidays. We celebrated with a meal, games, and birthday cake for those who recently had or will soon have birthdays.

A very special part was giving them Bibles my home church, Grace Community, sent us. Some of the girls' Bibles are very old versions of Spanish and are quite difficult to read. The Bibles they received today are a much easier version, more like the Spanish spoken in this part of the world nowadays. Kety (co-leader) and I included notes with a different Bible verse/promise for each girl. (Five of the girls weren't able to be there, so they will receive their Bibles later.)

We are so THANKFUL for the generosity of those who made it possible for the girls to receive these Bibles! They were very happy, as you can see in this video (saying "thank you" in Garifuna, Spanish, and English):

Please pray that each girl will commit herself to studying God's Word and continue to grow in her faith. It is beautiful to see how God has worked in their lives and knit them together as friends. Thank you for being a part of that through your prayers and partnership!

Here are a few other pictures:

Playing games 

 Happy birthday!

Día de la Biblia (Day of the Bible)

On Sept. 30 our church participated with other churches in La Ceiba in an event celebrating the Bible. We walked through the city and then went to a service with music, dance, and a message from a pastor. Here are some pictures and a video:

Praise God for the opportunity to openly share His Word in Honduras!
Pray that its truth will change lives for God's glory in this country.