Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

As we wrap up the first weekend of the official holiday season, we hope that you had an opportunity to gather with family and friends and share a long long list of gratitudes with one another to celebrate Thanksgiving. Gary and Diane got back from Honduras just  a few weeks ago and here is the first of the updates we will share to get you completely caught up with their ministry in time for the holidays. As we share the movement of God they are seeing, would you begin to pray about how God may be moving you to make an end of year gift to their ministry? Prayers are always topping their list of needs.

Monday, November 6

Today we were excited to visit the new prison of Juticalpa! The program has been there for about 6 months. It is very difficult 3 1/2 hour journey from Tegucigalpa! And the last 40 minutes, there is almost no road! We thought many times that we might get stuck and I was wondering who would push us out!! Herasmo did some very skillful driving to keep that from happening. Pastor Briceno is the one who regularly visits Juticalpa . In the initial stages of the training, he visited weekly. Now he visits twice a month. Since he has trainers inside and nearby the prison to monitor the training. He typically comes by bus, and then after the bus drops him off  he travels by cab or motorcycle over the very rough road to get to the prison. We are all blessed by his dedication.

We will be looking forward to seeing many new prisons beginning T&M by the time we come again in a few months from now. We are so blessed that God has answered prayers for more volunteers. 

He did it more than we could every imagine! Amen!🙏

November 7

Today we went to the city of Tamara to visit the National Men's Prison there. There are about 4,000 men housed there. The day was beautiful and cool. We were taken to a very nice open air worship area. There we would participate in the graduation of about 40 men from the Prisoner's Journey Program. This is is 6-8 week program of evangelism and introduction to Jesus. Then immediately following they will be going on to do the Train & Multiply Program, which will train them in discipleship in the coming year. This will prepare them to be mature followers of Jesus. At the graduation they were given a Bible and diploma. Most had never had a Bible before. It was a treasure to them. We were blessed to shake their hands and witness this wonderful celebration.

All over the rest of the prison, programs were being held at the in Train & Multiply and the Prisoner's Journey. A total of 980 men are actively involved in these programs throughout the prison since the program started approximately one year ago. One thing that is very beautiful is that the Catholic Church there at the prison is holding a class in The Prisoner's Journey! This kind of collaboration does not happen often, but as it happens more frequently we as "the Church,"will be able to help fulfill the One Billion Vision that the Lord has given to OMS. We are so blessed to be a small part of what the Lord and His servants are doing in the prisons of Honduras.🙏🙏

Also after the ceremony we were introduced to another group of volunteers who work in the prison of Tamara. One of them spoke English! He had been in prison in the US when he found Jesus! So now he is working here in Honduras to bring the Gospel to the prisoners. He also wants to work together with Prison Fellowship Honduras! So the Lord orchestrates the meetings of His hands and feet! We see this often! The love of our Savior and The Gospel brings us together.

Another special thing happened at the end of the ceremony. They brought us pop and two small chicken burritos to eat. So sweet. Herasmo said we should try to eat it because they want to share this special time with us. So the two of us and Herasmo drinks burritos 🌯 with them. It was their celebration and we were honored to share in it. Herasmo knows I (Diane) sometimes have problems with the foods here, but I knew the Lord would bless this food that they shared with us. Another blessing to end the wonderful morning.

Another PS to this story! As I was writing this I neglected to tell that Gary was able speak a word of encouragement to the graduates. He told them how much of a blessing the success of this program is to us and to OMS and Prison Fellowship International. And that they are in our hearts and prayers.🙏

An update letter from Gary

PRISON MINISTRY - LATIN AMERICA

As you read this, Diane and I will probably be in Honduras on our latest adventure.  It has been some time since we visited in Honduras (more than six months) because from June through October they have to contend with heavy rains and storms. This year was no exception with a hurricane or tropical storm that we in the States never heard about because of its location in the Western Caribbean where it made landfall all along the northern coast of Honduras.  Additionally, there have been several Pacific storms that have affected the southern coast of Honduras.  They have been dealing with flooding and washed out roads and mudslides throughout the country.  

Despite these hardships and the delays resulting from cancelled trips by the local pastors and volunteers, the real "feet on the ground" in our Train and Multiply program in Honduras, the program is still expanding and growing in numbers of participants and prisoners served.  The combination of the PFI program "The Prisoner's Journey" along with followup with the Train & Multiply discipleship program has been spreading steadily throughout the country and the prison system.  

In one recent conversation with Herasmo Ramirez, our coordinator for Honduras, he related a conversation with one of the Honduran prison authorities who had called and talked with him about our program.  He was very complimentary regarding the changes that it was bringing about in the prisons and among the prisoners with decreased behavior problems and violence.  He asked if it might be possible to consider starting a program where the program might be taught to the correctional officers in the various prisons where the program has been started.  This represents a major break through and reinforces how God's presence in Honduras is working miracles.  During this visit, we will be discussing this opportunity and Herasmo will be letting us know how he and the Honduran team are planning to incorporate the correctional officers into their training schedule.  

As the program has grown, God has graciously grown the trainer base with assistance from local pastors from several different denominations.  It has truly become an ecumenical movement with this wide spread participation by so many churches, pastors and denominations. 

During our visit, we expect to visit five or more new prisons that we have never been in before and see how the newest programs are growing.  We will update you all on our observations and a report on the current status upon our return.  

In the meantime, please pray for our safe travel, for Herasmo and his family (father- Erasmo, mother-Nora), for our key trainers and organizers (Pastor Adis, Pastor Briceno), for all of the trainers and student participants, that they will come to know and serve the Lord Jesus each day in their lives and that they will continue to share the hope of salvation with others.

Blessings,

Gary and Diane