Driving in Honduras

Check out Gary's entry below and keep in mind a few things. First notice that driving and riding are NOT the same as it might be here in the US on big interstates. Gary spent much of his life on the road in a car logging many miles of driving managing significantly sized sales territories in his sales career. But THIS driving is truly a test of his faith!! A few more of the reasons that prayer for them is so critical when they are in country. 

ITINERARY AND TRAVEL TIMES AND DISTANCES

Day 1 - Tuesday - left 6:00 AM from Santa Lucia. Arrived in La Ceiba approx 6:00pm. Overnight in La Ceiba (469 km - approx 9+ hrs driving and 12 hrs on the road.)

Day 2 - Wednesday -  Visited La Ceiba Prison. Overnight in La Ceiba

Day 3 - Thursday - Left La Ceiba at 7:00am, and drove to La Provenir, visited the prison, then drove on to Tela. Visited the prison for an evening graduation.  Couldn’t find an open restaurant for dinner.

Day 4 - Friday - Got up early. On the road by 7:00am. Drove for approximately 4-1/2 hours to Yoro prison in the mountains.  Held a meeting for graduation at Yoro.  Drove to San Pedro Sula, arrived by 7:30am Got take out pizza for dinner. Stayed at the Casa de Arcos.

Day 5 - Picked up by 7:30am. Drove to the prison at Puerto Cortez, had a meeting and graduation ceremony in the morning.  Visitation day for family.  On the road driving 4 hours.

Day 6 - Picked up by 9:00am drove back through Tegucigalpa to Santa Lucia, the home of the Rammer family.  Arrived home at 3:00pm after driving for six hours.

Total driving time since we arrived at TGU on Monday - approx. 30 hours in six days.   Averaging between 30-35 mph!!!  NOTE:  drive time included rest stop breaks and meals so we actually were driving faster than 30 mph.  Allowing time for stops and lunches, - estimated we averaged approximately 43 mph.

Driving is a particular challenge.  First, there are few hard and fast rules.  Secondly, the road surface in many areas is unreliable and potholes , ditches and natural and man made speed bumps can appear almost anywhere.  About the time you get your speed up to 50 mph there will be a ditch across the road or a large pothole and you will have to slam on your brakes in order to avoid breaking an axle or destroying a wheel rim.  

 Since there are no rules, people pull out in front of you when you are going 50 mph and they make no effort to accelerate to speed, but rather drive right in front of you at 20-25 mph.  It is a real test of your Christian principles, and I am just thoroughly grateful that I am not driving because I think my outward expressions and behavior would not reflect my faith.  Herasmo and Erasmo seem to be infinitely patient and forgiving, I like to think it is because they have grown used to these conditions and these drivers, but I believe instead that they are truly more forgiving and tolerant than me.

Standing Room Only: Tela and Yoro Graduates Spread the Good News!

The travel log for the blog today comes from Gary's records in March as they continued their visit in Honduras. Take note of the way God used the very graduation ceremony to reach those inside the prison walls!

On Thursday Evening, we visited the prison of Tela. This was a relatively new prison with the program, and new to us this time . Our volunteer Francisco has been coming here for about 4 months and has already got a group of about 80 men participating. The original chapel room was only about 15 by 20 and with the implementation of the Prison Fellowship “The Prisoner’s Journey” and OMS’s “Train & Multiply” program, the meetings have outgrown their chapel!

For the “graduation” program on this night when we visited, there were approximately 75 graduates.  There were about sixty graduating from TPJ and fifteen inmate leaders graduating from the Train & Multiply Program and being prepared to take this to the other inmates within the month.  

The total attendance at the meeting, held in the open air yard of the prison, was approximately 150-160 people.  There was seating for approximately 75-80 and then standing around the walls and the remaining open area there were approximately another 50-60 individuals, and THEN there were others who were watching from the windows of their cells that looked out on the yard from both the first and second stories.    

It is of note that among those graduating from the program were 15 women from the women’s prison there at Tela.  These women and fifteen of the other graduates are the inside leaders who will be teaching the program to other inmates in the weeks to come.  This is an example of Train & Multiply at its best.  Even when none of the outside volunteers is able to get in to the prison on any given week, the program continues and the Gospel is spread to more and more individuals and leaders from within the prison population.  

                              ______________________________________

Friday morning, March 9, we left the hotel at 6:00AM and began another trek down the shore and then up into the mountains to visit the prison at Yoro.  This is another smaller regional prison where Pastor Francisco has been able to begin the program and 25-30 inmate leaders were graduated including two or three women from the local women’s prison at Yoro.  Again, we overflowed the chapel and there were dozens of other people who were not yet involved with the program who were gathered around the open air chapel, two or three deep.  While the attendance in the chapel was probably approximately 50-60, there were an additional 50+ standing outside the chapel for the entire graduation and encouragement service.  

Following our departure from Yoro, we drove until 7:00PM in order to return to San Pedro Sula where we spent the night.  Departure in the morning is for 7:30AM and we are off bright and early to Puerto Corte’s on the Gulf of Honduras where there is yet another of the regional prison centers here in Honduras. 

La Ceiba - Honduras!

Gary and Diane spent the early part of the month in Honduras. For the next few weeks we'll take a look at their visit and what God has been doing in their ministry. Let's dig in with Gary's travel log for their trip out of the mountains of central Honduras and to the beautiful coast!

On Tuesday morning, we departed the home of Erasmo and Nora Ramirez at 6:00AM and drove for the entire day, arriving in La Ceiba after passing through El Progresso and San Pedro Sula and along the northern coast of Honduras to the city of La Ceiba.  We arrived at approximately 6:00PM.   La Ceiba is located on the Caribbean coast.  We stayed at an old Hotel called the Art Deco Motel of La Ceiba for two nights.  In its day, it was probably a grand old hotel, but it has seen better days although it looked like someone was trying to bring it back, but the prices were right and the accommodations, although not exceptional, were okay.  We walked out on a pier, ate a late supper and went to bed exhausted!

Today, Wednesday, March 7, we departed our hotel and went to see the Prison at La Ceiba,  it was within a short walk from the hotel and in fact was right on the beach itself.  Like most of the visits this week, it was all new territory for us, and part of the program that began just four months ago when Pastor Francisco joined our team at the coaching training we gave on our last visit in November of 2017.  La Ceiba was a developing program.  There, the inside leadership has begun the Train and Multiply Program and there are approximately 25 inmates that are enrolled in the program who will graduate in approximately 6-8 weeks.  There was a great deal of enthusiasm and wonderful music before some encouragement from Herasmo, Pastor Francisco, and they even asked me to say a few words to the group.  There was probably a gathering of 45-50 men plus the six of us, in a room not much more than 15x25, we were all crowded, but we were all there to give thanks to God and to praise Jesus as we learned what it means to live for him and serve him.

***************************

On Thursday morning March 8, we checked out of our hotel and arrived at the prison  of El Provenir just outside of La Ceiba by about 9:30AM. Unlike many of the other prisons, this was in a rural setting in the woods. We drove off the main road approximately three miles on an almost impassably rocky road, past field after field of Pineapples.  Once we knew what we were looking at, we discovered that much of this region is pineapple producing country.  

When we arrived at the prison, we were greeted by inmate leaders and were taken to the chapel.  The Chapel here was called “Christ Who Breaks the Chains Chapel” a very fitting name for those in prison.  We all had an opportunity to address the “congregation” and speak a few words of encouragement to them regarding their situation and their salvation.  This was a smaller prison, and we had only forty or fifty people in the meeting, but they were enthusiastic and every one of them is enrolled in the sequence training which includes The Prisoner’s Journey (in Spanish is La Peregrinacion de los Prisoneres, or LPJ)  This Prison Fellowship program brings unbelieving prisoners into the church or chapel and lasts approximately 6-8 weeks after which, they are invited to continue with the OMS program, Train & Multiply.  The T&M Program takes new believers from their expression of faith to a growing, following and serving relationship with Jesus.  

After an additional drive of approximately three hours, we checked in at our hotel and went to the prison of Tela.

Gary Shares Prison Ministry Outlook for 2018

Each year in our family, we pick a WORD as a topic or issue on which to work in the coming year.  My areas in need of work seem to be boundless, but this year I selected the words Focus/Prioritize.  It is so easy to get distracted by many worthwhile projects and events and fail to concentrate on where God seems to be leading you 

As I look ahead for the next year, our focus needs to be on our Honduran partners and their work in the prisons in that nation.  In the past years, they have been our focus and their work there is reaping a great harvest in the prisons in that country.

They have even been sharing the same discipleship material in the neighborhoods in Tegucigalpa and they are seeing satellite study groups starting up and entire families are being involved in sharing the good new of Jesus Christ with their neighborhoods and places of employment.

Our focus however remains on the prisons which have been part and parcel of what I have been doing now for seven years or more, starting here in the United States. God has certainly taken us on a journey - our mission work starting with a trip to Mexico in 2012 and including in that trip, (what else??) a visit to the prisons in Mexico!

It is interesting that now, almost six years later, that same trip is leading us to return to those beginnings.  The pastors and missionaries we worked with on that trip are now expressing interest in taking the gospel into that same prison and others and have indicated their interest in the Train & Multiply program that has been developed so successfully in Honduras by the faithful volunteers there.

God is good and His plan always surprises and amazes me.  He can take people and experiences of the past and bring them all together to set new directions or loop back around to include past experiences to set new paths in continued service to him.

Diane and I feel so very blessed to have the privilege to serve in what ever manner we might, wherever He chooses.  So whether it is now to include Mexico, or some other location, so long as we are of sound mind and body, we are excited to do what we can.  

We continue to thank you all for your prayer and financial support.  Without it, we could not serve with the frequency that we do.  

                                                                                            

GOD BLESS YOUR 2018!

GARY AND DIANE

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!

The Last of Honduras 2017

This will be the final episode from Gary and Diane for 2017. The post today closes out the details of their trip in November. Gary, Diane and all associated with their ministry hope that you had a blessed Christmas and will continue to follow their journey in 2018. Please continue to pray for the growing body of believers in the prisons of Honduras and for Gary and Diane as the continue to follow God's call to go. Blessings for a Joyful 2018!

November 10

Today we got up very early to begin out trip to the Prison of Choluteca. It took us over 3 hours of pretty difficult travel to get here. The road was very twisty with only 2 lanes. We crossed a beautiful mountain range that was comparable to our mountains out West.They are a continuation of the of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from California and Mexico.The closer we got to Choluteca, the worse the roads got. Very bumpy with lots of potholes. This is why they asked us not to come during the rainy season. The roads are almost impassable then. Now it is hot, dry and dusty.

When we got pretty close to the prison we picked up two of the volunteer pastors that are from the Nazarene Church. They are the leaders of the program in the prison of Choluteca. There were three pastor volunteers total. One spoke a little bit of English!

It is very hot here in this city. They warned us that it would be and they were right! Herasmo comes here about every two months or so. They said that it was not as hot as usual, and we thank the Lord for that blessing! After traveling through the town, we turned on a dirt road. This road took us to the prison of Choluteca. It was very bumpy and seemed to be made with river stones. This went on for about three miles. A very slow go. At some times, we scraped the bottom of the bus on the deep ruts. As we drove back this road we saw small homes with clothes hung over wire fences to dry. Sadly, they were getting dirty with the dust we were stirring up. There were busses and trucks on this road too. It was really only a single lane, so you had to pull over to let people pass. There are always children and dogs wandering around the houses, the same everywhere here in Honduras.

When we finally got to the prison we were escorted through the gate. They took our passports and gave us a round wooden coins with the number of the box where they put our passports! Kind of like a mail box with many slots - right out in the open! But there was an armed correctional officer beside it. After we left that station, we went to a room for the pat-down. Yesterday at the prison only the men were searched. But today, there was a woman correctional officer for the women. Nora and I were the only women.

We were lead through the open yard of the prison to a small space with the typical plastic chairs and asked to sit down. Thankfully there were a few fans that made it bearable in the heat. Before we got too comfortable they asked us if we wanted to see the men who had just begun the Train and Multiply Program in another block of the prison. So we left with an escort and Herasmo as our translator. We were told that these eight men were policemen on the outside so they are kept in segregation. They are just starting T&M and are very excited to be learning and sharing the Gospel. The place they were meeting was little more than a cramped narrow hallway with just enough room for some plastic chairs! They each told us what the program meant to them. We were very touched. As always we assure them of our prayers for them. It is amazing to us how they  receive our visits but the fact that we are willing to come means so much to them.

Then we were lead back to our original meeting space. There were about 15 men who were the leaders of the Train & Multiply Program through the whole prison. This is a relatively small facility. Housing about 700 men and 30 women(who we did not see) but with only room for 300 hundred. Many have to sleep on the concrete floors. This is not unusual for a Latin American Prison.

These leaders have the ability to move throughout the other areas on certain days to spread the Gospel and do training. We were blessed to be able to hear a testimony from each man. Thankfully Herasmo translated for us. We knew what each one said and were we're so touched. Gary and I both got to speak a few words of encouragement to them and tell what a blessing they are to us. We both could feel the Spirit of the Lord touching our hearts with each testimony. After the testimonies, they gave us pop and cookies. There were a few who could speak English, so we were blessed by being able to speak to them.

It was an exhausting day. But we are so blessed and encouraged by what the Lord is doing in this prison of Choluteca. They know that The Lord has not forgotten them and neither will we. Please keep these men of God as n your prayers. In less than 6 months the Lord has made wonderful progress to a saturation with the Gospel in this prison of Choluteca.

November 11

Today we left the hotel early for our visit to the Prison of Nacaome We all traveled together in the bus we always ride in. Thankfully it has air conditioning as it very very hot there. But of course, there is no air conditioning in the prison! 

We were lead back through the prison after the usual pat-down to enter. The room we went to was very crowded. Thankfully, again there were some fans, but it was still extremely hot. I guess it could have also been that these men were on fire for the Lord! Their worship was very enthusiastic and full of love for Jesus! Perhaps that added to the heat!!

This facility was smaller than the last ones we visited. With about 300 inmates it was still very crowded. The Prisoners Journey Program has been finished there. Now it is time for the Train and Multiply to start. There are about 60 leaders signed up to begin the program. They are really full of enthusiasm as are the pastors who come to visit on a weekly basis.

We all spoke words of encouragement and blessing to them. We really look forward to seeing the progress they will be making in their walk of discipleship with the Lord.

At most of the prisons, the inmates make various items to sell. This gives them a way to earn money to give to their families. At the prison of Nacaome, they were really persistent in their selling ! They were selling purses that they crocheted. So Herasmo and family bought us some beautiful gifts for a remembrance and to share with our family.

Even though we would have liked to stay longer to hear some testimonies from the men, we had to leave. Another ministry was coming and they only permitted one ministry visit at a time. This prison also does not have any cooperation among ministries as some others do. We are praying that will change and all can work together for the good of the prisoners.

Even though it was really, really hot there, we were blessed what what is happening there. We pray for these men and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives to help them share the Gospel.