End of the Year

I am writing to you today as a thank you and a reminder about end of year giving. Many of you have already sent in a donation and for that we say “thank you very much”! If you have not taken the time to pray and ask the Lord how you are to help us then we ask you to do so. As we pray for our support team, we ask the Lord to make it clear how and where our financial support comes from. We have some looming practical expenses in the next few weeks. They include a new refrigerator to replace a 25+year old model that we brought to Honduras when we moved here 5 years ago and the replacement of a truck for our mission work and life in general. Our truck was 11 years old and we have repaired, patched and fixed as long as we could and it simply will not last any longer. A truck is most vital to our work as we cannot go out to the communities and villages without transportation. Over the years, if you have looked at the photographs of the roads we must drive on or if you have been to Honduras or any under-developed country, you know that the roads take a serious toll on a vehicle. If you would like to give a one time gift to help with the practical matters please let us know. Also, if you would like to become a “Helping Hand” monthly partner please let us know that as well. You may visit our website (www.thehandsofchrist.org) and click on the “Donate Now” button to donate thru PayPal or you may send a check to the PO box listed below.

We are a 501(c ) 3 Non-Profit organization and all gifts are tax deductable.

What a Gift!

We recently received a gift from a young lady 10 or 11 years old who asked her friends to give money to The Hands of Christ instead of giving her birthday presents. She and her friends gave a $105! Wow!!! Way to go Elizabeth! Their sacrificial giving will help the needy in Honduras receive medicine and hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Elizabeth for your example of putting others first in the name of Christ!

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.