Less like a Mission, More Like Family

Well, a new year is upon us. We are now looking forward to another visit with our ministry partners in Honduras. They really are more than ministry partners. They are our family! If someone would have tried to explain what our relationship with them would be before we met them we would have never understood. That first trip we were very apprehensive. We had never met them at all. No pictures! Only names! In fact, we worried needlessly about what we would do about a flight delay or cancellation. How would we let them know? But as He has with every aspect of this ministry, The Lord has taken care of us. We immediately were accepted into this wonderful serving family and made to feel very welcome. We are blessed to know many in their extended family also. So you can see why we are eager to return to visit them. It is a wonderful renewal of our friendship as well as the additional blessing of seeing the fruits of their labors in the prisons.

We are looking forward to visiting new areas of Honduras where new programs in the prisons have been growing. On our last visit we met a new volunteer pastor who will be working in these new prisons in the north of Honduras by the Caribbean Sea. The Lord provided this man in answer to our prayers for more volunteers to cover areas of Honduras that are too far away for our country coordinators to travel to on a weekly basis. As I said earlier, He has provided all we have needed for this ministry to reach the prisons of Honduras.

When we were in Honduras last, we had a three day seminar for all the volunteers on coaching. This would be helpful for them in working with their leaders in the various groups in the prisons. One thing we are praying about is that the finances would be available in the future for a retreat for the volunteers. They would gain such encouragement from each other by just getting together. They are spread out over the whole country and do not see each other regularly. We know and have faith that The Lord will provide in this area also. He has been so faithful in providing what is needed in the past.

When people ask us how long we will continue to serve in the prisons of Honduras, Gary and I say, “As long as the Lord allows!” As long as we are blessed with our health and ability to travel, we count it as a privilege to be a part of the Lord’ s ministry in the prisons of Honduras.

Thank you for continuing to pray with us,

Diane

Reflections

Before Gary and Diane ramp up for their next trip in early March, we thought we would ask them to share some reflections on a number of things. Diane starts us off this week.

I was just thinking back over our time in prison ministry. From the beginning of His calling us, I never had any sort of fear of going into any of the prisons. It is really amazing, because I am not a brave person. Also I am not a risk taker at all. From that very first prison experience in Ohio, to Mexico and Honduras, I was never afraid. That credit could only be given to the Lord and the calling that He was putting in my heart for those in prisoners. I recall that during our mission trip to Mexico we went to a prison there. At the time I did not think much about it, but one of the other women was very fearful as we were waiting to go past security. She was a native of Mexico, so the country was not the issue. My calling for the incarcerated started with Gary’s calling. At first, I thought it would be something that he would only be involved in. At that time he was doing written lessons that were sent in by prisoners. 

Then after some time, he started with KAIROS. That is a program where prisoners are selected to participate in a weekend in the prison. During that weekend the Gospel is presented and many are brought to saving faith. Still, I thought that this was “Gary’s Program! ” I was involved in baking the cookies that were part of the weekend. But that still did not change my heart. The change came when I witnessed first hand what this weekend meant to the men. I was privileged to attend a closing ceremony at the end of the weekend. At that time each man shared his testimony of conversion and what it meant to him. God was beginning to give me a heart for these men too. Then in the next year, I was able to work on the kitchen team for a KAIROS weekend. There was a team of us working together and also with inmate kitchen workers. That was a life changing weekend! I got to really know a few of these men and work side by side with them. Also, as the men came in to the kitchen area to eat, we would sing a song to them. It went like this: we love you and God loves you and that’s the way it’s gonna be! Just a simple song with much meaning. They knew we meant it and it meant a lot to them. On the last day, they sang the song back to us.it was so heart warming. It sounds so simple, but that was the real change in my heart. The Lord knew what experience I would need to give me a heart for prisoners. 

I am so grateful that The Lord brought me along right behind Gary. So we did the beginning of our married life together and now we are doing our retirement together serving Him!