June 30, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters;
    Glenda and I are working on writing a newsletter to send to you this week on all the progress we have made in the Construction. Before that e-mail goes out we wanted to send this e-mail to give everyone a quick update so you know how to pray and be informed where we are in the Mission field.

Honduras as a Whole: Honduras currently has 18,082 infected people with Covid-19. We also have 479 registered deaths. Honduras statistics are variable and think this is going on throughout the world. Many here are being “declared sick with Covid-19 and did not go to the Hospital for that reason but for another illness and was declared a Patient of Covid-19. Also some deaths have been registered and are not Covid-19. How do we know all this. It has been posted on the Local News Stations. 
This complicates the situation. Five weeks ago we started Phase #1 which allowed construction to open up with Restaurants’ for delivery only. This is where we went to work and hosted a double ministry. We hired our crew of 4 and plus 2 Welders to work on the 21 de Octubre High School. (This is where our Newsletters will come and expand on our huge progress) Also, we used the school to hand out food to all those that we had on our list and to all our BBM Employees. Working with the times they could leave their homes because the entire country was on lock down and one could leave their home according to their ID # and only for that day. Other wise you are on lock down. We were blessed and fed more than 110 families with a weeks worth of food!! Which equates to more than 550 people fed for a week!!
***Currently we have a fund raiser going on for those who need food. If you feel led please check out our Border Buddies Facebook Page that has all the details.***
One week ago today because of the very high increases of Covid-19 the country suspended Phase #1 and yesterday the country has Closed permanently Phase #1. This means that all construction will continue to be closed until the cases slow down and they see improvement. The leaders of the country deemed this, “Because of the peoples bad behavior and so they are punished.” Stupid I know. But that is how they call it. The restrictions are even harder and you can check that out on our Facebook page for better idea in how it is ran.

We are currently counseling many through WhatsApp because they are fighting the temptation to steal, use drugs, prostitution, and use nay means to earn money so they can purchase food. Others are down and neglecting their faith and turning their backs. So, we have and continue to preach the word through daily writings, post of devotions, and also voice preaching taped here in my office. It has led many to Christ and His salvation and others to a renewing faith. Very encouraging. It is making the Devil very mad because it is not stopping our work. 

Honduras has been hit with 7 plagues: #1. Drought for one year- Now we have the rains!!! Thank God!!! #2.Covid-19 #3. Dengue Fever and this is just as fierce as Covid-19 #4. For three months the 600 plus forest fires which caused a blanket of smoke for months. #5. The Sahara Sand Storm that hit Honduras and the people hard with a blanket of sand. That was weird to say the least. #6. Hunger and Starving due to the 4+ months of closure. (Interesting fact- On the news there are no reports of those dying of starvation. Only positive propaganda stating how much they have given as a Government. An example: they quoted saying they have helped 1 Million people with food. Sounds great but when you have 8 Million living in the country and without work that is not so good. The sacks fed the families for 4 days. Like one of the Taxi Drivers said on TV, “Ok we received a sack of food for 4 days but how do we live for the other 116 days we have been off?” Very good view point. #7. Killer bees and the movement throughout Honduras. This just came up on the news yesterday with the no overpopulated seas with crocodiles. 

Now that you are tired and wondering how we manage and live… we have Christ!!!

School Sponsorships: School is still going on and homework is being handed in through WhatsApp. This is a great resource for the students. We may see report cards coming out and if we do we will make sure they are sent to all of you. Your Informational Packets with letters from your sponsored child all have been made and are in boxes waiting to be sent. I did venture out to the airport where we use a Carrier but they explained that no mail is leaving the Country until the airports open up for service. As soon as the Airports open up we will mail 3 very larges boxes home to a volunteer and she can send out your packets so, all of you can read the letters from your child/children.Graduations will happen for the 12th graders and as well for the 9th graders. This is positive. They want to host the ceremonies in late December with the hope that the country will be in better shape. We will keep you informed. Our first University Graduate is waiting for her ceremony: A. via internet or B. an actual ceremony.Our children have been in constant contact with Glenda and really want to go back to school.Also, on a positive we have had Aracely working at the house and preparing for 2021 school year and also working alongside Glenda.

We want to close our e-mail/update with this scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 “8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.“
The best example and witness is this: In January we preached on the storms that will come upon us and our lives. Matthew 7:24-27 Are we building our “homes” on sand or on the ROCK? In March we purchased a bunch of cement and then were closed for 2 1/2 months. Everyone was worried (Honduran and USA) about the materials on the job. When we went back to work and before I opened the door to our tool/supply shed I declared in Jesus’ name the cement will be like new and it was when we entered. Now we have currently $1,500 worth of steel and Carlos went yesterday to check in on it and everything looks good. I asked him if he saw the Angels of the Lord. He said no. I said they are guarding the material until we come back to work. It is God’s project and God is supplying all our needs to the riches of His Glory!!

This is true while we serve in these times. You may have riots and protesting. We as Christians can have our own Protesting and it is on our KNEES while we talk with the Lord!!!
Our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our God is our protection during the day and night. Our God Knows our struggles and is providing in ways that only He can provide. Our God heals the sick, cures the blind, and raises the dead in Jesus’ name!!! 
OUR GOD IS EVERYTHING WE NEED. 

With our Love, prayers for all of you and with great gratitude for all your love, prayers and support you have shown us. We are and will always be grateful for what God is doing. 

Mike and Glenda