Dana's Brigade Day

This last Thursday I (Dana) had the privilege of working with a team made up of five (I believe) different churches. The team is actually made up of a ministry in the States called Servant Outreach in Pennsylvania. I worked with them one day last year which was my first experience on a brigade. Last year, I got to wash hair and also observe in all of the different stations of the brigade.

This time I worked on a concrete floor. The family that was ministered to lived in a fairly nice neighborhood. Surrounding them were nice, sturdy, gated homes. Their house stood out in the neighborhood in many ways. On the street was a poorly constructed fence that revealed steep steps down to the front door of the home. One side of the house was carved out of the mountain (all of the kitchen) and the other side had wood paneling on the outside and cardboard on the inside. The family has lived there for 25 years. They consisted of a mother, two grown daughters, an eighteen year old son and one granddaughter. It was an amazing experience in many ways. It was very humbling to see the gratitude this family had for getting a new floor. The mother was praising God throughout the entire process.

I also really enjoyed working with this team. I had not been back to work on a brigade since last year, perhaps this will become a tradition. This team is made up of many wonderful, skilled, caring people. I told them that the best part of doing what we are doing (besides knowing that we are serving God) is working with people who truly care about other people and that is what I got to do this week. There are a few team members that I especially bonded with again and I am looking forward to continuing our friendships. I praise God for the opportunity to be here and the growth that I and my family have experienced.

Another blog

In attempt to keep my wife happy and to keep this blog more about the ministry we are with in Honduras, I have started another blog.

alanssoapbox.blogspot.com

I don't expect many to read it, but I needed the outlet....lol.

Basically it is a place for me to deliver my opinions and thoughts about anything that comes to mind. Whether it is my love of politics (yes I know its terrible), my opinions about sports, thoughts about a movie or book, really what ever I wish to expound on at that time.

Thanks

---Alan

New job

A brief update:

We are getting back into the swing of things now that we are back in Honduras. Dana has started school with the kids and the first few weeks have been great. One of the new things going on now is that I have a new "job" here. I am now the Mission House Director. That means that I am responsible for the entire operation of the mission house and of the medical brigades. Now the "fun" part is that I did not lose any of my previous job duties, so in addition I am still doing the human resources side of things also. While it is a lot of work, I am so blessed that God has provided the opportunities for me and I enjoy the responsibilities.

We are also still looking to purchase a vehicle to replace our van that burned up. We had a couple of people send in some money specific for the van, but we still don't have much. The cost of good cars here is quite high. We are trusting that God will provide, just as He did with the previous van.

Hurricane Dean luckily for us stayed to the north, but this is the time of the year when we keep a watchful eye on the Atlantic.

Thanks as always for caring and praying for our family.

----Alan

Back Home in Honduras

Well we are now back home in Honduras. It is nice to sleep in your own bed. We ended up having to drive two cars to Miami on Monday and arrived at the airport on Tuesday. Dana has said that she hopes to never have to fly out of Miami again. We were there about 4 hours early, there was no one in line and it didn't seem busy, yet we still barely made our plane due to the time it took to check us in and scan our luggage.

I have said it before, Miami is a 3rd world country in itself.

We had a wonderful time being back in NC and SC. It was such a blessing for us. The fellowship was priceless. That is one of the things we miss most here is the fellowship with our church family. It was great to hear Pastor Craig, Pastor Greg, and Pastor Mike again and to just be loved, and prayed for by our church families.

3 John 1:5-8 says, "5Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth."

Our 3 church families, Cary Bible Fellowship, Fairview Baptist and New Heights, have definitely sent us on our way in a manner worthy of God and they are fellow workers with us on the mission field. And God is Glorified.

We also were blessed in so many numerous ways, from financially, Dr. Ron helping us arrange doctor's visits (some doctors blessed us by providing free medical care), Dr. Sherry donating her time and expertise for dental work for everyone, Mrs. Harriett and the Maines letting us stay at their homes during our time, New Heights blessing us by allowing the use of their church van and then renting us a van to use during our time in NC. And God was Glorified.

We had the wonderful privilege of sharing at our 3 sending churches and also Faith Fellowship in Hertford. We traveled the state of NC one week, virtually from the coast (Hertford) to almost the mountains (Winston Salem) visiting some great friends, the Daughertys, the Dunningtons, Miss Dee, and the Brocks. And God was Glorified.

We were able to have many dinners and lunches with friends. It was such a blessing to spend time with people who love you unconditionally and just want to bless you. Dana and I were incredibly humbled and grateful for the time that people took for us. And God was Glorified.

There were so many wonderful things that happened to us during our time on home assignment. Dana and I made a list of the things and they fill up a full page easily and we have been blessed beyond measure. For anyone that gave of their time, resources or prayers for us, we humbly say thank you.

It was amazing to see how God was glorified in so many ways during our trip back. And really that is what it is all about. To God goes the Glory. That is the main reason for missions (and in fact, our life) is simply to Glorify God. It is not about the medical brigades, Rancho Ebenezer, or laying a concrete floor it is simply about Glorifying our Lord.

1 Peter 4: 10-11 states, "10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.





----Alan