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Last month, after four days of heavy rain and strong winds, our church building in Valcanes, Choluteca, collapsed and was completely destroyed. The building was made entirely out of adobe bricks. After driving there to inspect the damage, we were quoted repairs of $8,600. We wrote to friends asking for help in rebuilding it and have already raised $6,500. We pray that this community of faith can soon have their church building again.
In January, we received a donation of $3,000 for 20 bunkbeds for El Arca camp dormitory. However, when we went to buy them the hardware store was out of stock. During all these months we have been waiting for them to arrive from China. We weren't able to get them because of the Coronavirus, until a few weeks ago. During these months, we have also been working in El Arca Camp facilities. Last month we received another $5,000 donation to paint the new kitchen and remodel the dormitory. Both of these projects have just been completed. We are very thankful to Wayne and Cynde Robbins for their support in providing all these funds for our camp needs. We are also thankful to each one of you who support us and our ministry here in Honduras. PRAISES:
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director For the past six months, three men have been working and building the kitchen at El Arca Camp. This past month we finished the kitchen structure. It's a beautiful building made specifically for cooking and it has the integration of sleeping quarters for cooks which includes a shower. The cost of the kitchen was $22,761.78. This project became a reality with the financial help and support of FBC of Hingham, MA, Reset Church in RI, Wayne and Cynde Robbins from Scituate, MA, and Judy Margetts, from Hingham, MA. To all of them, we express our profound gratitude for their love and care for our ministry and to the people of Honduras whom we serve.
This month, the government authorized permits to reopen churches with a limited occupancy of 20%. It had been four months since churches closed due to the pandemic. The government's decision to allow us to go back to worship in person made us all very happy. Finally, our ministry program in partnership with Compassion International, has been providing bags of food to 309 families of poor children in the city of Danli. Thank you so much, friends and churches, for helping us and supporting our ministry. We really need it, especially during this time of great crisis. PRAISES:
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Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director We are very thankful with our Lord and each one of you for praying for us. The Lord has been with us and today the pastors that had been sick have been healed. Praise the Lord!
Psalms 91:2 states, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” In places like Honduras, where 60% of our population doesn't have any kind of health insurance, this verse applies literally. Our people have learned to have our Lord as their refuge and the only one that can offer them protection. It's amazing to see how much faith people have in God. Sometimes we say, "In God we Trust," but this is just a motto. However when you look to your right or left, the only one that you can see, be secure and protected in, is the Lord Jesus Christ. Just few days ago I went with my wife Sonia, to pray and deliver a donation to the director and his staff of the Danli Hospital. The donation was sent by Hands of Mercy (which is led by Dr. Patrick Revees - who also serves as our medical director). The director of the hospital told us that many doctors, nurses, and health workers are dying. He then asked me what moved me to bring that donation to them? After I answered, he immediately ordered the hospital administrator to call the place that sells masks and order some for the employees. Many have been getting infected because of the lack of personal protective equipment. At the distance we could hear the COVID-19 room and patients crying out for ventilators and dying without oxygen. We prayed with all our heart about their situation and needs. Yes, we are living in a world full of needs, diseases, and dead, nevertheless the Lord is offering to us his refuge, his fortress and in whom we can trust. Every day I receive many calls from our pastors needing help for medicines, appointments to go to see a doctor, or for some one in their congregation with need and pain. Please continue praying for us, and if you can send support to us, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all of you who are our faithful supporters. May our Lord multiply your funds and love for the needy (Matt. 25:40). PRAISES:
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Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director As you know we are far away from the end of the Coronavirus pandemic. It's gotten so bad here in Honduras that at this point all of our hospital services have collapsed. There are no more beds for people with COVID-19. The churches have not opened because of COVID-19 and unfortunately Honduras has not hit its peak yet.
In the midst of all this uncertainty and chaos some of our very own pastors have been very sick with other ailments. Pastor Humberto from Cofradia, Cortes, is suffering of diabetes. Pastor Santos Ayestas, from Villanueva, Cortes, recently had surgery on his left foot, and Pastor Montalvan, from Choluteca, suffers from Parkinson's disease. It is hard enough living here through the Coronavirus and even harder having to deal with additional health conditions. Please continue praying for our pastors and their families. We thank the Lord for all the faithful supporters of our ministry. May God continue to multiply your finances. PRAISES:
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Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director My dear friends it is important to remember that our God is in control in the middle of this Coronavirus pandemic. Isaiah 41:10 states, “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." This is the God we believe and serve.
As many countries continue their lockdown, Honduras is not the exception. We have been under a curfew for many weeks. During the day only a few people can go outside and the ones that are allowed out are chosen by the last digits of their ID. For the past weeks everything has been closed. At this point, 738 people are infected and 74 have died. We have not received many testing instruments, but we hope to have them soon. We know that there are thousands who have been infected and the government has stated that Honduras will reach the peak by July or August. Nevertheless, our work in the Lord's business has not stopped. We continue preaching to people via Zoom and Facebook Live. I have also been in touch with my supervisors almost every day, supporting and guiding them on how to do the Lord’s work in these days of crisis. Also, our supervisors have been in touch everyday with the pastors in their zones, praying with them, and also guiding them in the middle of this pandemic. I would like to express our gratitude, on behalf of each of our pastors, to everyone that sent funds last month. Thanks to the generous donations received they have been able to buy food. It has been a great blessing to them and their families. It has been extremely hard for them not having the opportunity to go out and work to support their families. Just yesterday the authorities of the city of Choluteca, made the decision to completely lockdown the city. Every single business will be closed for two weeks including banks, supermarkets, hardware stores, and even gas stations. The same is happening in the North Coast of Honduras. There are many cases in which our hospitals are collapsing and are going to lockdown in the whole country. Please, if you can, continue sending support to our pastors. I also wanted to give you an update on El Arca Kitchen construction. The construction had stopped because our construction workers came from Danli, and public transportation wasn't available nationwide. We now pick them up and take them back on weekends. At this time we only have two workers and they are starting to put the cement base to install the ceramic tile floor. We also have a person that is working in the electrical system. Thank you so much for all your help in sending funds for this building. PRAISING:
PRAYER REQUEST:
Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director S.O.S to help our pastors:
As the whole world is suffering from the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), HONDURAS is no exception. Pastor Jose Martínez (Col. Satelite Church) owns a phone repair shop in the city of Choluteca. However, Honduras has been in mandatory quarantine for the past 10 days. Unfortunately, his shop has been closed since. He and his wife have four adolescent kids and now face the uncertainty of providing for their family. All our pastors who are self employed live off what they make daily. They and their families are crying out for help. Can you help us? We need 22 people to donate $100 per person; those funds will go towards the purchase of food (a sack of beans and one of rice). This provision will last their families for two months. Funds can be sent to: Mission Honduras c/o Mr. Ray Riddle 41 Fairview St. Hingham, MA 02043 "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-9 Thank you so much for your love and generosity. Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST
Dear friends, this past February the Honduran people celebrated what is typically known as the month of "love and friendship." Our mission hosted nine people that arrived on the medical team, led by Dr. Patrick Reeves. Also on the team was Judy Margetts and other short term mission volunteers from Arizona, Michigan, Rhode Island, and MA. The team was joined by four local Honduran doctors to help collaborate and assist with the brigade. Our medical brigade went to the city Choluteca, which is located in the southern part of Honduras and is one of the hottest places in the country. Throughout the week the temperature did not drop below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The days were long and the week went by fast with hundreds of people in line every day seeking healing for their different ailments and deseases. Our medical team provided free medical services and medicines and focused on general medicine, dentistry, cervical cancer screening and provided reading glasses. Toys and clothing were also distributed to poor children and adults. It was a blessing to see hundreds and hundreds of people receive much needed medical help and hear their testimony of gratitude. Thank you so much medical team. Construction Update: El Arca camp kitchen construction is advancing very fast and we are very thankful with the following churches and individuals who have donated funds: FBC of Hingham, MA, Reset Church, Cranston, RI, and Wayne and Cynde Robbins from FBC of Scituate, MA. Thank you very much to all of our dear friends for supporting our ministry, and sponsoring many pastor's children, and providing scholarships for many of the youth from our churches. PRAISES:
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Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director On January 18th, the first mission team of the year landed in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Eight short-term missionaries from Massachusetts and Rhode Island arrived with one purpose in mind, to make a difference in this world.
Throughout the week, the mission team worked on many projects. The first event was the plaque unveiling service at El Arca Camp. The special plaque was made in honor of Pamela Gormley (from Boston) whom the Lord used to provide the necessary funds to buy the 33 acres of land for the Iglesias Comunidad de Amor, Internacional, camp located in Agua Blanca, Potrerillos, El Paraiso, Honduras. Over a hundred and twenty people, from the community and Danli, attended the plaque ceremony. It was a beautiful moment remembering the expression of love and care that Pamela generously shared with the Honduran people. After the ceremony, Pastor Steve Youd presented a lecture to the people of the community, under the theme: The man’s role in the family. The team also painted two of our buildings at El Arca. One of the buildings is the camp dormitory and and the other is the conference room. The team did a wonderful job and the buildings now look brand new. The team also took time to distribute bags, sandals, dresses and toys to more than 80 poor women and children from the community. With the funds provided by individuals and churches from RI and MA, we were able to see the kitchen building project move along. We are so thankful for all the funds that the group brought, for the paint, the kitchen, and the gifts for the kids for their school year, and many other things that were given to the poor people. Also, for the blessing of Pastors Steve Youd and Dr. David Kilpatrick preaching in Danli’s church. Finally, we are very thankful for the 6 scholarships that were provided to faithful kids of our church. Thank you to all of our amigos, who are faithful supporters of our ministry in Honduras. May our Lord continue blessing you, your families and your churches. PRAISES:
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Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director  OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2019
Dear friends, as you read these words, it is November, the month of Thanksgiving. We can’t let this time go by without expressing our gratitude to each one of you who during this year has contributed to make this year a very successful one for us. Your faithfulness, prayers, funds, and visits to our field have helped bless our ministry and the Iglesias Comunidad de Amor, Internacional mission. Throughout the year, you have been able to see our previous updates and see what the Lord has done here in Honduras during the year. So, my friends, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE. Have a very blessed Thanksgiving dinner with your loved ones. PRAISES:
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Dr. Hector Newman Executive Director |
