PRAY! and OMS Spotlights Gary and Diane

One Mission Society's Facebook page

Go to OMS's facebook page and check out the prayer request as Gary and Diane prepare to leave for Honduras bright and early tomorrow.  Be watching for specific prayer requests in days to come on their ministry Facebook page.

A little goes a long way

In the course of a given month, most of can easily spend much more than we want to admit on ridiculous things.  $5 coffees a few times a week.  A handful of little stuff that we grab at Target that we don't really need.  A candybar, bags of cookies or snack with zero nutritional value. What would it mean to commit a little of that "lost cash" to the global reach of the gospel?  MUCH MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.  Participating in Gary and Diane's ministry by even a small gift once a month, is a ministry you can call your own.  Perhaps you aren't called to go.  But in this way, you ARE going.  Please prayerfully consider an easy online gift once a month.  I set a reminder to check out our finances and give twice a month.  Sometimes we can and sometimes not.  But that is the joy of serving with them a God who is full of grace.  He blesses us for whatever we are able to offer.  And it turn it blesses Gary and Diane and many many more. Maybe something else works for you but consider what that means in your life. It means more than you can imagine - on earth and in eternity.

Click the link below to be directed to their donation page.

Gary and Diane - OMS

Strengths and Weaknesses

How have you seen the way God turns things upside down - strengths are weaknesses and weaknesses strengths?

DIANE:

When the Lord first called us into missions, we kept saying to each other, "We feel so unprepared for this!" But One Mission Society helped us to see that He has been preparing us for this our whole lives. The biggest thing we have both learned is that in our weakness He is strong. We have been learning and are still learning to trust Him in our WHOLE missionary experience. In all aspects of our lives we are trusting Him. Everything from funding our trips to the language problem, to our safety when we are in Honduras, He has been providing in every way. We truly could not do this in our own strength. When we first came to OMS we expressed the doubt we had in our ability to do the job that we had been called to do, as Church Multiplication Facilitators. One of the men we were talking to told us this, " The Lord does not call the equipped, He equips the called." It is something well known and often repeated there at headquarters. That relieved some of our fears of the unknown then. We knew we were clearly called! So He will equip us and He Is! As with Gideon in Judges, our weaknesses are His strengths. He has provided for us and we know that will continue as long as He wants us to do this. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Hey - how's the weather down there???

Q:  What has the climate been like during your visits?

A:  Gary -  We have made spring and fall trips so far, but in Honduras there are essentially two seasons, rainy and dry.  During our trip in October, it rained frequently and heavily but not for the entire day.  During our June trip, I don't believe it rained at all.  Both the rain and the temperature are greatly affected by the mountains. Tegucigalpa is in a central mountain valley and the temperature there seems to be in the range of 65-80 degrees most of the time, however in October we went to San Pedro Sula down closer to the Caribbean in the coastal plain and the temperatures there were a good 10 degrees warmer.  Generally, the climate is wonderful.  In the mountains, the humidity is low, and although the humidity is much higher at lower elevations, we both really appreciate the warm weather.

Gary shares his perspective on Latin American prison

Describe the prisons.  We hear that Latin American prisons are terribly dark scary places.

I recognize that the prisons of Latin America are generally considered very dark and scary places, but we haven't experienced that to a large degree.  First, I want to explain that we have not been into the cell block area so we can't really comment on those living conditions but in the general population areas things seem fairly good.  Because of the climate, they do not have or need windows, the open yard areas are bright, clean and the inmates have flowers and /or vegetables growing in the available areas.  There were open areas where the inmates were playing soccer, and the inmates seemed fairly contented.  They do not wear uniforms but instead wear clothing supplied, I assume, by their friends and family, with most being dressed in jeans and soccer shirts or tee shirts.  Almost without exception, they are meticulously clean.  In each of the prisons we visited, there was a hand laundry area and what seemed to be miles of clothes line with clothes being hung out to dry.  When considering a comparison of the living conditions in the prison with the way they live in their communities outside the prisons, I believe the prisons are well kept.   They have very adequate chapel facilities equipped with musical instruments including sound system, guitars and a drum set.

How receptive are the prisoners to the Word of God and Jesus?

My general impression, and one which is supported by the growth of the program, is that the men in the prison are open to the Gospel and hungry for any and all "outside" attention.  They are all enthusiastic worshippers and the chapel really rocks during the services.  They participate in the Bible classes and offer not only questions, but answers and suggestions to one another in support of their faith.

Having an active rather than a passive faith seems to be a new experience, part of this because of their cultural ties to the Catholic Church and the obvious formality of that type of worship experience.  I believe their enthusiasm is in large part due to realizing they can know Jesus, not just worship him hanging on the cross.  Both are necessary, but neither to the exclusion of the other.

Have you wondered what Hondurans think of the United States? Diane ponders this question.

What is the perception in Honduras of the United States and people from the United States?

DIANE SAYS:

Judging from the warm welcome that we receive from everyone we come in contact with in Honduras, I would say that the Hondurans love the United States and all that it represents. Many people we meet say that one of their greatest dreams is to visit the United States. A few of the family members of our in country hosts live or have lived here in the US. They seem to all have positive feelings to the United States. One young man who was involved in our Train  and Multiply class, told us it was his fondest dream to come to the US some day. He is a teacher there in Honduras and has learned English by volunteering when mission teams come to visit. He speaks English very well. And even teaches English in school, although his primary emphasis is music. We struck up a great friendship when I heard him listening to current Christian music on his phone between class sessions. He really likes Casting Crowns! It was very neat to share the love of current Christian music with him.

I think also that the Latin American people are a very warm and welcoming people in general. So this is the way they respond to all strangers. In reading about some other cultures, that is not the case. We feel very blessed to be so welcomed into their lives. When we are there, we are part of their family and are treated as such. The Latin American people definitely have the gift of hospitality. I do not think it is just because we are from the US - they are just a very giving people. We feel so blessed to be a part of this ministry.

Gary answers a challenging question about Honduras

Do the people seem happy in Honduras?

That is difficult to say.  I don't see a lot of laughter and there doesn't seem to be a lot of joking around. The people do not seem sad or unhappy, so much of what I am experiencing could be cultural, or my presence may make them behave differently.  

They do seem significantly more reserved than the Colombians we have worked with. While happy may not be the word I would use, the people generally seem contented.  They all seem very family oriented and they are a loving and caring people.  Even those in prison demonstrate a kindness and consideration to us as outsiders and at least while we were there for one another.