The Hands of Christ Board Meeting

The Hands of Christ Board met today and had some very exciting discussions about the building of our Women's Clinic! Planning to apply for permits in 2010 and get the roads and water systems started. Please visit our website at www.thehandsofchrist.org to read more about our ministry and show your support.

NEW WEBSITE

Please checkout our new website at www.thehandsofchrist.org!

Dedication of the Land for the Women's Clinic

Hello from Honduras, John writing here. We have finally had a good rain here in the mountains after more than a couple of months without adequate rain. Maybe things will green up a little now. With the elections approaching on the 29 of November, the Honduran people are hoping to finally put their political problems behind them. It has been 5 months since the now ex-president was removed from office for illegally trying to change the constitution.
Yesterday, Tuesday, November 3rd was a special day for The Hands of Christ, Inc. We gathered 3 pastors and 12 lay persons at the Women’s Clinic site and had a dedication service for the land that the clinic will be built on. The land was anointed for Christ’s service and all that participated walked the land and spent time praying for the building process and the women and families that will be served there. One of the prayers was for God's blessing in the work that would take place there. Afterwards, all were invited to our home for a delicious lunch (I cooked part of it ). Please see the attached photo of the dedication. On the 9th of this month we will be coming to the states to participate in the Global Mission Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Please pray for our trip that it will be safe and very productive for our mission.
On a more difficult note, our truck is having more and more problems that are very expensive to repair. It is 11 years old and has served us well but it is time to get another one. If you can help us financially with this endeavor it would be greatly appreciated. We cannot go to help others if we do not have transportation. Please pray specifically and ask God if you are to help us and how, in the purchase of a new to us / used vehicle.
We appreciate each one of you and all your prayers and help that you have given The Hands of Christ.

Ana writing here. As my husband has already said, yesterday was really a wonderful day for us. It's true that months ago God gave all of us this land. And if you see, I said "all of us", rather than just "us" because each supporter of this ministry helped us take the first step in the vision for this to become a reality. We know that God already made it a reality before we did anything. We are witnesses of His tremendous power and love for His creation. Thanks to God, because He let us participate in this project for His Glory and Honor. God doesn't need any help but He wants to bless all of us for being givers. I am not talking about just money but giving of your prayers and letters that let us know that we are not alone in Honduras. We are all children of God. As Christians we need to take care of each other’s needs. Thank you for helping us care for the children of God in Honduras.

Thanks again because you have never left us alone. We are far away in body, but we are together through the Holy Spirit.

Work Continues at the site of The Hands of Christ Women’s Clinic

John and Ana continue to work and oversee work of the process of clearing the land for the future women’s clinic. All rocks, trees in the direct site and tree stumps must be removed and most of the work is completed by manual labor. The trees and stumps are piled together and burned.

Under Curfew

Good afternoon! John and Ana called this morning to say that they are under curfew as are all residents of Tegucigalpa. Ex-President Zelaya returned to Honduras under the cover of night and there is or was a demonstration in Tegu in support of him. The media would have us to believe that tens of thousands people were involved in the demonstration but John said that it was probably 4 or 5,000. The city is really very calm and under curfew. John and Ana do not feel unsafe in any way right now. They are using these days to prepare for upcoming clinics getting medicines and supplies ready and for rest. If you have not been to Honduras, just riding around the city will exhaust you because the road conditions are quite bad. There are some stretches of road that are nice and smoothly paved but most are filled will pot holes if they are paved and many roads where John and Ana serve are all dirt and rutted from rains and travelers.

Please continue to pray for their safety and ability to serve the needy people of Honduras. Also, pray that the United States government would realize that the majority of the people in Honduras are "for" the new government and not for Zelaya and what he stands for.

Shoes not required for service!

Hello from Honduras,
We hope this finds each of you doing well and enjoying God’s blessings in your daily life! Here in Honduras we are constantly being blessed by God as we continue to serve Him among those living under the hardships of struggling for their daily bread. In the last two weeks, we have worked with Compassion International checking children in Tamara, Fuerzas Unidas twice, El Naranjo, and Acaguaque. The latter two being communities 20 minutes and 40 minutes outside Lepaterique. In the next two weeks, we will work in Ciudad España, Fuerzas Unidas, Las Hadras, and San Miguel de Arc Angel. God is pouring out his blessings on our work and the people we serve. When you look at the photos of the people, look at their faces and feet. Most of them are gaunt and some including adults don’t have shoes. They certainly don’t have money for a doctor or medicine. In the picture of the very small 11 year old, Dr. Ana determined after talking with his mother that malnutrition and parasites played a large role in keeping him small. We need your help to continue this worthwhile work. Please consider a one-time gift or giving monthly to support our work. No amount is too small! Also remember us as you think about your yearend giving.

Our women’s clinic is moving ahead. We will be getting bids shortly to make the entrance road and connection to the highway. Please pray that God will continue to put good honest people in our project to help us. Don’t forget to pray for us to drill the well in the right place. This will be happening shortly after we get the entrance road built. I have added the picture of Dr. Ana standing alone unpacking her things to encourage others to come and help. Just one person or a small team. We need doctors, dentists, nurses, people to evangelize and anyone that feels God’s calling to help. Knowing Spanish is a help, but translators are available. If you are interested please contact us at johnyana_41@hotmail.com When construction on the women’s clinic starts we will be accepting teams to help with that also.

Hot Tin Roof!

Friends,
Another week has gone by and the political situation is about the same. Honduras for the most part is calm even though I have been told on the news in the states they are portraying it quite the contrary. There are still some demonstrations and some groups are on strike, but all that is very common in Honduras and most of the time no one gives it a second thought, except the foreign news media. Anyway, we had a good week working in several places. The photos are from “Las Marias de Nueva Armenia”. This is a very remote very poor farming community where houses are scattered far apart. People cultivate the steep hillsides growing corn and beans for local consumption. Most people walked 1-3 hours to come to the clinic and all were very appreciative of the help we were able to give them. Many heard the salvation message and were prayed for by a pastor that we work with quite often. Her name is Pastor Margarita. She loves the Lord and loves even more sharing what He has done for her life.

You might notice in the pictures the inside of the church… the handmade adobe bricks, the dirt floor, the handmade benches without backs, and the heat which you can’t see but you can imagine. It is hot under the tin roof. Can you imagine going to worship and praise God under these conditions? Just something to think about. How much God has blessed us in the United States with comfortable worship conditions.

We are fortunate to be able to serve in these communities, but we can’t do it without your continued help. Please continue praying for us and sending your financial support. We are very appreciative. Please remember our women’s clinic project as the end of the year is fast approaching. The project is moving slowing ahead. A detail survey with tree locations and elevation has just been finished. We will be applying for a permit to make a connection to the highway for our entrance soon and then we will build the entrance road. As you start to think about your yearend giving, please remember us and this very worthy project that will help many people.