Border Buddies Ministries Newsletter – Part 1

September 2014 – by Michael J. Miller, Jr.

Floor of new home

Glenda and I have never really been led to build homes in Honduras but there have been exceptions like Mario that we wrote about in the Tattoo Removal newsletter. So we were approached by the Barrio Rincon to pray about a special case they had. They explained to us that this man in his 30’s who is handicapped has been bouncing from home to home and from church to church in looking for a couch or floor to sleep on. Finally our friend Jesus Lanza who came to Christ while participating in our Bible study back in 2005 took on the role in finding land, funds and labor to build a house for this handicapped man who has difficulty walking and using his arms. When Jesus approached us I first said, no thank you we don’t build homes and also I followed up in why the Barrio always seeks us first. Jesus said, not this time Michael; “we have been asking neighbors in the Barrio to give money towards this project”. So I asked what he received. He asked me to follow him to a place where a family donated a small plot of land and also has offered to help with the labor in building the home. Plus he said that he received $150.00 in donations. I was deeply moved that finally in all these years the neighbors want to help. So I pledged to use some of our donations that we receive from home and from our general budget to purchase the remaining materials needed.

Foundation work for new home

In these 2 photos is what has been accomplished in the last two weeks of weekend warriors. We helped out with a$1,200.00 donation to this home. Jesus is confident they will complete this home with in a month’s worth of weekends. We will update you with photos of the completion of this home and Arturo’s reaction to this Blessing.

In this ‘before’ photo is the before shot of the 1^st grade classroom with the computer laboratory. This new phase was started in February and in the “after” photo you can see what was accomplished with our teams.

Santa Margarita School ‘BEFORE’

Santa Margarita school ‘AFTER’

In August the school had their closing ceremony and thank you lunch for the team. While we were eating the Director of the school stood up and started to talk about all that has transpired during the year time of construction. Nelsey the Director started to say that they know we must move on to another school but they would like one more thing from us. She went on to say they would like the same programming we offer to the Barrio Rincon to help their youth and adults from the violence that is going on in their community. This is not the first school to ask us, but this time it felt different as if God is tugging at our hearts to offer some programming. Well it wasn’t just tugging our hearts it hit Oscar one of our youth working for us during the construction phase. Oscar approached us in private some weeks later to pray with him in his calling in serving BBM in the form of missionary and working with this community. So we are praying and he is studying the Celebrate Recovery Program to possibly start using this program out of the Santa Margarita School. This has been our desire to start using some of our older youth to work for the ministry, but funding is going to be the question like anything. If this works out and Oscar is truly called for this we are projecting to have him start in 2015 in ministering the youth in another community. This has been one of our desires in raising up workers for the ministry to continue grow the ministry and one day possibly becoming administrators of this ministry. Many of our older youth have expressed interest in becoming workers for the ministry because they have said it themselves, “we know your desires, your plans for Honduras in taking the Gospel to those who are in need and you have been our teacher.” Almost 11 years of service and huge amounts of growth we are now at the point to start looking towards the future in bringing on more workers. “Do you not say, Four months more and then the harvest? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 Our ministry is at the pinnacle of either moving forward in reaching out for more for Jesus Christ or staying at the level we are at. The Lord has also has been touching our college students that have been coming down on team to explore their calling as missionaries. Ben Holton is one who will be starting the 1^st week of February as a full time missionary for one year to explore the calling he has on his life. Ben will be working in all the phases of the ministry but his true calling is taking on in working with the teams as a leader. This help in future time will allow us to continue to put our time in the prisons and other programs. As well as Aracely who is currently working for us in our sponsorship program is furthering her calling by changing her classes in the University toward social work and English classes to help serve BBM better and our children. So join us in prayer as we seek God’s will and His provisions towards this and the general fund of this ministry.