She’s always been direct about what she wants. Whether she was trying to get us out of bed by crying as a baby until she stopped as she heard the floor squeak by us outside her room or when holding her at six months her pointing in the direction she wanted us to walk. More recently, her opinion has been a prohibition of expressions of fatherly endearment…. Punishable by isolation if in public. Any such attempts are quickly squashed.

Tonight was different. As she stood before complete strangers singing praises to the God Who gave her both physical and spiritual life, I couldn’t hold back he tears any more than I could bench press a pyramid.

She saw me. “Uh oh, I’m in trouble now.”. So I thought. What was next was truly beautiful. She looked at me with the sweetest, loving look. She was saying, “it’s OK daddy, I’ll let you cry.” This time she just let me adore her.

Kissing her as a sleeping baby was special, but that was involuntary… She couldn’t get away. This one was far better, for she chose to love me by letting me love her. And, in doing so, she not only worshipped our heavenly Father with an angelic voice tonight, she worshipped the perfect Father Who invented vocal chords, music, fathers and these amazing creatures we know as daughters.

I hope Christianna’s worship tonight was as pleasing to her as it was to me as it was to the only One worthy of our worship.

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

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Today and this week has been wonderful. I am sad to be leaving in such a short while. But it has been a wonderful time here in Honduras. It is such a sweet country with very welcoming people and people that have such a desire for God. I hope I can take just a pinch of that home with me.

Tonight’s service was very good. I especially enjoyed the prayer time at the end. I prayed for a lady at the altar  and then she ended up praying for me and my baby. It was a very sweet time. I have really enjoyed the church services. The music is very fun and powerful!

Dios le bendiga “God Bless you”

~Stephanie

 

 

 

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Everyone is chilling now,we just got back fom church and ate supper. Had two proud dads for the service tonight. Isaiah gave his testimony and C-anna sang In Christ Alone. This moment is the calm before the storm – we’re gonna go big before we go home. With three services, vbs, and Rich becoming the tele-evangelist it will be a full day. But we’ll end the trip strong. Today was fun, we fed over 100 kids after sharing the good news that Jesus is our good shepherd. This was the poorest area we’ve been in, one girl Teresa had no shoes, matted up hair, and looked like she was sick with a cold but didnt have tissues. But she had the biggest smile when she won the jumprope contest. And we gave out hygene items to everyone there. They pushed back and tried to get more and it was hard to keep order for a few minutes. We weren’t giving out ipods or the hottest christmas toy, but travel sized toothpaste and toothbrushes. It’s eye opening. I loved facepainting. Its always my favorite part of interacting with kiddos, using what little spanish I knew I was able to ask what they wanted and in what color. I loved seeing their smiles seeing their colorful faces in the mirror. First time Id ever painted sheep, but they went with the Bible story. Baa.

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It seems like yesterday when we were just departing from louisville. It has been a wonderful week so far, and the team has accomplished many things together, through “interpratators” (as Eddie would say), and most of all, Christ. I know that we’ll finish up the week strong. I’m so happy that we’ve been able to see hundreds of people profess their faith in christ! God has really blessed us.

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Well, two days ago while watching the kids during the women’s conference; I was taking a little girl to the restroom. We had to walk to a nearby restaurant in the dark. I didn’t have a translator with me, the little girl was talking fast and furious and holding on tight. Evidently, she was warning me. I stepped into the sewer, luckily I could pick her up and take her across safely. Then yesterday, I was chased down and almost pulled out of the van by a sweet women and kissed,kissed, hugged, and almost pulled out of the van.

The biggest adventure, though is sharing the gospel with these wonderful, happy people. No matter what condition they are living in, they are so grateful. They are constantly telling us how blessed they are for what they have in their lives. I have learned so much from them. I need to be more grateful for what I have in my life and love others like Christ loves us.

Today, we visited another church to feed the children. Again, the kids were so happy just to play simple games and receive candy and a small McDonald toy. Pray for me tomorrow as I give my testimony, as many of you know; I am not a speaker. But this mission trip has taught me to get out of my comfort zone. I thought I could never go door to door either,but with God’s grace I was able to do just that.

Continue to pray for our team tomorrow as we have three church services to attend, and for a safe trip home.

In Christ

Susie

PS. LOVE YOU JOE, JOEY AND CASSIDY. Ps cassidy and Joe your have two days, I am heading home.

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Things are going well. The team is beginning to get a little weary from the long days. There has been a lot of walking and while you have all seen snow, it has been on the hot side here. I think for many of us the dusty roads and long days are beginning to take their toll, but we are still very excited with what God has done so far and there is still two more days.
We have witnessed over 200 professions of faith so far this week. And while I know that not everyone was genuine I truly believe that many were and the work that is being done here is mighty and that we can only dream of such a revival back home.
Tomorrow, I am told, I will be known across the country of Honduras as I am going to preach on ‘Canal 40’ or channel 40 to us I’m the States. One of the larger churches, where I will be preaching tonight has a television program on Sunday Mornings, and I guess Pamela thought that I needed to preach on the air.
While I have to admit, this is way outside my comfort zone, I am not afraid, because I don’t worry as much about embarrassing myself as I do mishandling God’s Word and for that I am prepared by His grace. Who knew, Pastor Rich the televangelist, haha…not!
Continue to pray for the team, especially the interpreters or interpretaters as one of our team calls them, and also the people we will meet in the next 48 hours that God’s simple truth will penetrate their hearts.
On Monday, pray that we have safe travel home, but also pray the the Gospel Switch that many of us have turned on this week will not be turned off once we get home.
Grace through Christ and 4HisService
Pastor Rich

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