President Announced

Update to Honduran Presidential Election:
12/18/2017

Last night, 3 weeks since the November 26th election, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal declared that incumbent president, Juan Orlando Hernandez had won the election and will serve for the next 4 years.

Some protesting and looting took place around the country last night but all in all things appear to be relatively calm.

We are safe and looking forward to Jacob's birthday and Christmas.

ReCount Complete

12/11/2017
Election Update:

The Electoral Tribunal has completed their partial recount with virtually no difference.  They will give a complete report of their findings to the public this afternoon.

Some peaceful protests began throughout the country this morning.  Things are normal and peaceful thus far in La Ceiba.  The nationwide curfew is over.

A Different Kind of Waiting

In the past two weeks of political turmoil in Honduras, God has given me fresh eyes for a familiar story.  Every year, this is the season in which I chase after that "feeling."  The feeling of God's presence in such a precious time.  The feeling of God's presence in preparing my heart for the celebration of the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ.  I know in my head and heart that it is found in the truth of the Nativity story.  It is not found in commercialism, lights, a tree, presents, silly songs, or my American (or Honduran) traditions.

The whole world groans in brokenness but it is evident before my very eyes in my host country. I see our sin and brokenness in the corruption of the government, in the impulsive violence as a response, in the death and destruction that has taken place in so many cities in the past two weeks. I literally hear the groaning of creation in the protests, in the yelling, and in the pot banging; the noise made by despondence, morose, and oppression.  I see how selfishness taints the conversations and effects relationships among friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike.  The genetics of depravity effect our thoughts, words, actions, and decisions on a daily basis.  The brokenness is everywhere. A holy God would be just in turning His back on the brokenness He can not be a part of.  But He didn't and He doesn't and He won't.  Miraculously and mysteriously, He lavishes His sovereign grace on a rebellious people.  We all are those rebellious people.

How did He lavish His grace and love upon us?  He sent His Son.  His Son, Jesus Christ, came into this messy rebellious world as an innocent helpless babe.  A babe that would grow up, not in a palace in a mighty kingdom, but as a servant alongside his people. A babe who many would travel to meet. A babe who many would marvel then and now. A babe that grew to be a God-man that would humble himself to the point of death on a cross to save us.  The story seems fundamental and imperative when suffering surrounds me on all sides.  God's desire to wipe every tear away, to end all pain and affliction, to obliterate disease and death is palpable this year. The wonder of His love is ever-present on my mind.  How he could love me, a sinner, is an amazing thing.

This year, I can sing, "He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love" while a parade of grumbling people march down the next street.  He is coming.  We need Him to come.  His coming fulfills a deep need in each of us. And He does it with truth and grace and righteousness. This year, I can read, "For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will rest upon His shoulders," and find rest that the turmoil of politics here (and everywhere) is opposite of how my God reigns.  He is perfectly just, merciful, and loving.  He renews my mind with the reality of the sin in and around me but also the reality of His character and His love for us.

I admit, this is not how I would desire God to give me fresh eyes.  I'd prefer something less dramatic, less painful than watching a people and country I love hurting. I'd prefer He just fill me with a fire to see the beautiful things anew.  But God's plan is always better than my plan and He continues to reveal our ever-present need for that babe that He sent so long ago.  So this year I wait in my brokenness with a renewed hope in the birth of Jesus Christ.       

Re-Count

12/8/2017
Update on the Honduran Presidential Election:

Today the Tribunal Supremo Electoral (election agency) began a partial recount.  The votes most disputed are those that came in after the initial reports, long delays and system failure.  TSE will recount vote by vote those from 4,753 (of the 18,128) polling places.  This process will take multiple days.

A cold front with rain is expected to hit this weekend.  Looks like it'll be a weekend of reading, movies and board games!

In Limbo

12/7/2017
Update:
Political parties are discussing a possible recount of all votes.

Curfew was shortened to 8pm to 5am.  This is nice but even the initial curfew didn't affect our family too much as we are usually home in the evenings.

The protest roadblocks between La Ceiba and other major cities were lifted to allow supplies through.  They had been in place for over a week.  Gas stations had been rationing and grocery stores were empty of produce, eggs, meat and dairy.  Again, we are in great shape as we stocked up last week but most people in the country don't have the ability to do this so the cease in roadblock really helped to ease the stress within the city.

The country is peaceful and waiting.  We are safe and secure.

Votes are Counted

12/4/2017 3:00pm
Update:  see original post here

Votes have been totaled.  Juan O. Hernandez maintains a lead of 1.59% or 52,347 votes. However, the opposing party is disputing some of the vote reports. This challenge phase could take a while. Possibly weeks, not days.

This morning we met with our Honduran teammates for a sweet time of prayer.

Honduran Presidential Election

12/3/2017  11:08pm
I don’t know how much of this is being reported in the U.S. so I figured I’d give you an update and let you know we’re safe.

The presidential election took place on Sunday, November 26. The current president, Juan O. Hernandez is the first to run for re-election as it is prohibited by the constitution. Understandably, many people are opposed to his re-election bid.  The first report of votes showed a sizable lead to his opponent with the majority of the polls reporting.  After that, vote reporting started and stopped, sometimes for up to 36 hours at a time.  When votes were reported, they leaned towards the incumbent. Wednesday night he took the lead. Protests began in many parts of the country, including La Ceiba. JOH currently holds a slight lead.  However, now a week since the election they still haven’t counted all of the votes and have not officially announced a winner. People are frustrated and angry about the process, the lack of transparency, and re-election in general. Many suspect fraud. Protests have become violent in some places but are generally focused on highways (blocking bridges) and the TSE (electoral agency) office in Tegucigalpa. Some people are using the situation as an excuse to loot and destroy property however, less so in La Ceiba than other parts of the country. This has prompted many business and schools to shorten their hours or close temporarily. On Friday a curfew was instated for 10 days from 6pm to 6am.  Military have been called in to enforce the curfew and break up road blockades and protests. Some people have continued their protests by banging pots and pans and setting off fireworks. Things are noisy but peaceful around our neighborhood. We feel safe in our home and plan to stick close for the next several days. We have lots of water, food, and gas.

The last of the votes are finally being tallied. It appears that Monday incumbent, Juan O. Hernandez will be called the victor.  If so, protests can be expected to continue and possibly worsen. We are keeping a close eye on the news and the US Embassy's safety messages. We have met as a team to discuss safety. Our agency, MTW has been in touch with our team leader and will help us to evaluate the situation.

Today (Sunday) we ventured out of our house to attend church. It was a wonderful time of worship. Our pastor, Allan delivered a great message on non-violence. His words were humble and calming without taking sides in the election. He lightened the tense mood without making light of the situation. And he reminded his Honduran congregants that their citizenship was ultimately in heaven, not in this world.

We Came, We Saw, We Prayed, We Ate...

...and we stayed an extra day (whoops!).  The Mission to the World missionary women of Team La Ceiba just got back from our retreat yesterday.  We flew to Tegucigalpa to join the ladies of that MTW team and share how we have been encouraged and challenged in the last year.  The theme of this year's retreat was Praise and Prayers and we revealed to each other the Lord's faithfulness in four areas: Missionary Life, Marriage Life, Mothering Life, and teaM life.  As a lady on the field, you can be pulled in many directions with many responsibilities.  We can categorize them into neat (prayer) areas but truth be told, the lines can be pretty blurry at points.     

Tangible love (not pictured: chocolate already consumed)

THIS year, our team leader's wife contacted many supporting churches and seasoned missionary ladies to pour into us.  A cute canvas bag filled to the brim with gifts, goodies, and notes did just the job. Many MTW missionaries that have been on the field for more than a decade wrote us beautiful pieces of encouragement motivating us to perseverance and continued obedience to our calling in Honduras.  Words from these ladies seasoned with wisdom and understanding are a true treasure.  These cards and letters will be kept with last year's for times where a little boost of morale is needed!  (Thank you to all who contributed!)        

 Country mice in the city

So many delicious restaurants, so little time  

An amazing view of the city of Tegucigalpa on Friday night

A sweet time of fellowship and scrumptious food

(Many thanks for those who donated to this dinner!)

Best of all, I work alongside some amazing women.  These ladies are more than my teammates.  They are my friends, my family, and my church body.  It was a treat to just be together, to rest and pray together, to laugh together, and to cry together.  I am grateful for each of them and for how the Lord has seen us through hardships and unified us as the years go by.  I am grateful our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is what binds us together.  Our differences pale in comparison to our likeness in Christ.  And our differences make us a stronger body together.       

Photographic proof for our husbands that we were on a plane and coming home

(Through a series of unfortunate events, we missed our flight the day before.  We accidentally tacked on an additional 24 hours.  Our husbands are all saints and know how valuable and needed this time is for our longevity on the field, for our sanity as missionary wives and mothers.  They all responded like champs and told us to enjoy our bonus day while they held down the forts.  What a blessing they are to us!)  

Better Together

What have we been up to? A LOT!  Most recently, we spent a week in Wellington, Florida with one of our supporting churches, Christ Community Church.  In 2012, we Skyped into their missions conference and have since attended every year in person.  This was our fifth year to present what the Lord is doing in Honduras and be mutually encouraged by their involvement with us as well as many other ministries.  This church has been like home to us.  They have been by our side and partnered in the Gospel for many years.  They've seen us through tough times and us them.  They are truly like family and we had an absolute blast this year.

3 hour drive to the airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Jacob at the prayer breakfast with two of the elders

Asher schmoozing the lady-folk

Delicious potluck dinner the second night 

We shared a few of the ministries in La Ceiba, Honduras

(Sorry, no photos of the ice cream social on Friday because we were inhaling sweet goodness)

 

Q&A during Sunday school hour

Adam sharing about the culture and need for seminary during the worship service

Some of the boys' best buddies

The most fitting name for this precious church. 

We've heard it said that life is "better together" and this church is a true representation of that.  Christ is the reason for our true community.  We enjoyed the fellowship in each conference event as well as multiple meals, shopping trips, and even a boat day in the inter-coastal waterways with members of this church.  Christ Community loved us well and we returned to Honduras restored (but maybe still needing some rest! ha ha). We ask you would pray alongside of us for this church who is the hands and feet of Jesus not only locally but globally as well.  They are a true treasure.     

Another Goodbye

In the past year, Team La Ceiba has added two babies to our sum of children, said goodbye to a precious family of four, added a sweet Honduran family of 5 as well as a single Honduran lawyer AND accepted another MTW missionary who will join us after itinerating.  We now say adios to Shannon Innes de Ordonez and her family.  We are sad to see them go but excited to see what is in store for them!   I've said it before, missionaries are no strangers to people coming and going!  How bittersweet! 

Shannon and her family

Shannon moved to La Ceiba with a burden for the vast teen mom population and started a precious ministry by opening a home for single mothers in 2011.  Puerta de Esperanza, (or Door of Hope) intentionally houses up to four moms and their babies.  Here they can learn to be moms, finish schooling, work or gain career skills, budget, cook, and care for their home.  Beyond practical life skills, these young ladies have been exposed to Godly living and loving.  Shannon has come along side many young moms and shared the good news of Jesus Christ.  She has cared for these young women who have been abused, rejected, and abandoned and shown them that their worth is in their identity in Christ. It has been a joy to see the Lord soften hearts and change lives through this ministry and through His willing instrument, Shannon. Well done, good and faithful servant!

Puerta de Esperanza family from 2011-2017

Friday, we had a "despedida" or going away party for the Ordonez family. Our team alongside almost all of the former and current single moms in the  Puerta de Esperanza house celebrated and said goodbye to Shannon.  Lots of fun, food, and laughs mixed with some stories, tears, and hugs made for a lovely day.  

Pray for: *the Ordonez's transition to the States

               *for the transition/changes for the young moms as Shannon leaves

               *Alma Villanueva, the current director of Puerta de Esperanza

      

Rest of the Summer Newsletter

Proverbs 3:7 View this email in your browser September 2017 Summer Teams This summer concluded our first full year as coordinators of short-term teams. Michelle mastered the task of feeding the masses. We are grateful for the dozens of people who came down to put their skills to use working alongside of us.  We are also grateful for our wonderful summer interns and our amazing teammates who made it all run smoothly. New House for Peter Project Peter Project, our team's ministry to at risk boys moved into a new house recently. The house has a bigger kitchen for cooking lunch, a large dining area, study rooms, and outdoor space to kick around a soccer ball.  And the rent is less than the previous house! CCI Formalization The local church we attend, Centro Cristiano Internacional is very focused on church planting and have started several groups around the city. One such group in Corozal, just outside of La Ceiba was recently formalized as a church. Pastor Miguel is one of our students. Tegucigalpa Team We had the chance to visit the other MTW team in Tegucigalpa.  They were busy building and prepping furniture to get their offices set up. Pastor Josué (right) came into this desk which supposedly belonged to a lawyer who was convicted of the biggest act of fraud in the history of Honduras. He and Eric are sanding down the entire desk to give it a new finish and fresh start. It was a joy to see how God is working in and through their team to establish a church body in the capital city. Team Planning Meeting Our semi-annual team planning meeting took place earlier this month. How encouraging to see what the Lord has done over the last six months and look forward to future progress through the ministries in which He has entrusted us! Honduras Missionaries Conference For the first time our family attended the annual conference of Honduran Missionaries. We came away with new friends, additional tools for ministry, and a feeling of refreshment. 0 Pastor Gregorio Pastor Gregorio worked with our team in the community of La Fe for a year and a half. He struggled to gain traction in establishing a church in the community. Discouraged, he decided to move on to a small community in the mountains. We are thankful for his service and wish him and his family well in the next stage of their ministry. Book Reviews If you'd like to know more about Honduras' history or just need a good book, I recommend these. The Fish that Ate the Whale is a fantastically written account of Samuel Zemurray, United Fruit Company and the banana industry of Central America. Highly entertaining and fascinating to learn how one man had such influence in shaping the country we now call home. 5 stars. The Lost City of the Monkey God is a first-hand account of a recent archaeological expedition into the extremely remote rain-forest jungle of La Moskitia, Honduras (not too far from La Ceiba). The book provides lots of Honduran history as well as good personal experience of what it is like to travel within the country.  4 stars. Jacob and Asher have enrolled in an art class taught by our friend, Noe.  He is an accomplished artist and hopes to one day use his talent on the mission field in Indonesia. Prayer Requests Last year, Michelle wrote about a woman who has visited us almost weekly since we moved to La Ceiba. A couple of months ago she showed up at church and has continued to come. Please pray that she would see Jesus amidst her extreme poverty and that the Holy Spirit would guide us in how to love her well. In our last newsletter we asked for prayer that we would learn how to encourage our seminary students in the long process of seminary study. God has already reinforced the need for this through a discussion with our Honduran teammate, Raul who shared how vital encouragement is in a culture without a history of long-term vision. Please pray that we would increase our words of encouragement towards our students. I(Adam) am learning that prioritizing the areas of my life means more than just ranking their value but actually applying my time and energy accordingly. Please pray that I would continue to learn to set healthy boundaries and to pour myself into those areas that I claim are of highest priority (i.e. God, wife, children). Adam Michelle Blog Email Copyright © 2017 Cains On A Mission, All rights reserved.

June newsletter

Psalm 139 View this email in your browser

June 2017 Christ Covenant Church Our first team of the summer came from Christ Covenant Church of Cullman, AL. This was their 2nd time with us. They put on four mobile medical clinics and painted the teenage mothers' home, Puerta de Esperanza, inside and out! Christ Community Church Christ Community Church sent seven people to work alongside Pastor Donaldo in the community of Eden. They toured the area to see some of the conditions in which the local people live. Christ Community also spent time visiting with Pastor Donaldo and getting to know his story and his family. The group prayed with neighbors, attended Donaldo's church service and did lots of painting in the seminary as well as finished the air conditioning duct work. Kiski Valley Four folks from Kiski Valley Presbyterian in PA came down for their church's first summer visit to La Ceiba. Here they are praying over the seminary. The Kiski team visited with local pastors, and worked tirelessly painting the seminary that is getting closer to completion. 0 Seminary Classes Seminary classes continue with the group of people from Centro Cristiano Internacional.  We are now into our second course, the Gospels.  Raul and I(Adam) will teach this Saturday on Matthew and Mark. Family vacation last month, exploring central Honduras. Sometimes missionary "kids" grow up to become adults. These girls have served as sisters, baby-sitters and model MKs to our boys. This month we said, "see you later" as they graduated high school and moved on to their next stage of life in the US. Prayer Requests Two Honduran families and a single Honduran man have joined our team in the last 18 months. Involving our national partners in hosting short-term teams is something new for us and it has proven to be a beautiful thing! Praise God for this opportunity to work closely with our Honduran brothers and sisters. The seminary curriculum we are offering is a multi-year program. Please pray that we would learn how to encourage students in their efforts and convey the value of these classes. It seems that we experience more trials on the mission field during summer team season when we are busiest. This summer is proving to be no exception. Please pray that we keep our eyes on Jesus for perseverance. Adam Michelle Blog Email