A couple of opportunities to help support our work...

We have a couple of opportunities for any of you who want to help support our work here, but can't do it on a monthly basis. It has become our custom to provide bunk beds for the children whenever we move a family into a new home and currently we have a need for 8 more beds at $325 each.

We also need to purchase approx. 30 more plastic chairs for our church @ approx. $6 each. The church has already procured 25 chairs themselves using our weekly offerings, but now we need more to get ready for our teams this summer. As a point of information our church has also used its' offerings to purchase a tract of land for a homeless family of 6 so we can build a home for them. This body is helping themselves and not looking for constant hand-outs, but we could use some help at this time

If any of you feel led to help us you may send your donation to: Wellspring of Life, P.O. Box 3027, Plant City, FL. 33563 and mark your contribution for "El Doradito".  Thank you in advance!

Sunday Blessings...

This Sunday had some special moments for us as we ministered at our church, Los Discipulos de Jesus, in the village. During our prayer time one of the men asked for prayer for his wife who was ill and couldn't come to church. After the service I went to speak with Roberto (the husband who asked for prayer) and on the way the Lord prompted me to ask if we could go to his house to pray for his wife; and he responded, "yes". I asked Joyce to join us and then on the walk to Saida's house (the sick wife) I asked Joyce to lay hands on her and to pray for her.

When we got there Roberto called Saida to the door and when she stepped out onto the porch I explained that we wanted to pray for her and told her about the passage in James that says, "...the prayer offered in faith will make you well..." Then we all laid hands on her as Joyce prayed and Mauricio translated. It was a wonderful feeling...like you could feel the presence of God!

After the prayer Saida told Joyce she had a small present for her. She said she meant to give it to her on Mother's Day, but she couldn't make church that day and so she had it in the house. When she came out she had a handmade card for Joyce, but before giving it to her Saida told her the following: "I wanted to make something for you, because I consider you to be the mother of the entire village and I especially consider you to be my spiritual mother." 

Now that by itself is awesome, but here's the kicker! Joyce didn't even know who she was, had never spoken to her other than to say hello; but evidently Saida knew who Joyce was and had been watching her. Joyce often prays during our church services and that's one place Saida would've seen and heard her. She also knows Joyce is working diligently to help the ladies of the village to become self-supportive even though she never attends any of the meeting since she is a teacher. So here's the point....we never know who we're influencing! It was Joyce's demeanor and her character that so impressed Saida! Just when you think you're not being utilized by God He drops a Saida into your life! Remember to exude Jesus...the world is watching!

The other blessing was seeing Fabiola take charge of the teenagers in the village and begin a Bible study session with them while we're having church. She rounds up the kids and takes them to quiet spot on the football (soccer) field where they sit on the grass read the Proverb that corresponds the date of the day. Then they each select their favorite verse and share with the group why they like it. She did this on her own; not at our prompting, but rather at God's! And she has some tough characters in her group and reports that each them is participating in a good way. Five years ago Joyce and I felt God told us to rescue these children, bring them to know the Lord, and turn them into disciples. It's great to watch it happening! Below are a couple of pictures of some of the group...I'll try to get some of Fabi soon.

Just like Elijah's floating axe head...

Fabiola was blessed by her good friend, Tony, with the gift of a hand-made ring. She cherishes this ring and virtually never takes it off. Last week during a 'dual' birthday party for Mauricio & Rosa we had a swimming party at the house. After everyone left for their homes Fabi came to me and said, "I can't find my ring and I had it on when I went into the pool." I told her to pray and then to enlist the help of the boys and put on their goggles and search the bottom. 

Earlier one of the other girls had lost her earrings and the boys donned their goggles, dove to the bottom and found them almost immediately, so we were pretty confident they could find Fabi's ring. However, it was not to be. Next she searched her room and the outside bathroom where she had changed, and still nothing. She was totally disconsolate! I told her she needed to write to Tony and tell him she'd lost the ring he had made for her. Brokenhearted she did just that. But she continued to pray believing God would cause the ring to show up somewhere.

Today, four days later, Mauricio was vacuuming the pool and went to empty the skimmer basket. When he bent down to pull it there among the leaves he saw Fabi's ring! Now we all know rings don't float! But just as Elijah caused the borrowed axe head to float in 2 Kings 6:5, so God caused this precious ring to float to the top and drop into the skimmer basket. And then He allowed Mauricio to see it instead of just dumping out the leaves. 

Prayer really does work!!!

Another blessing from above...

Yesterday God sent the Holy Spirit to our church, Los Discipulos de Jesus, to call forth another soul for His family! 

Carlos, the 16 year old son of Carlos & Maritza, came forth to answer the call of God on his heart. At the end of the service Carlos came up for prayer and was joined by his mother and father as he invited Jesus into his life and Lord and Savior! It was a great moment which carries with it a great responsibility for discipleship by his parents and his church family. Together we will help Carlos walk out his newly professed faith.

Thank you, Jesus!

Another well completed...

Today we were able to finish another well. This one is in Seis de Mayo, Rivera Hernandez. The heat was so brutal today that I'm still paying the price. I'm cramping all over my body...guess I didn't drink enough water, but it felt like I drank enough for several people. 

God really blessed our efforts and allowed us to finish this well in just two days!!! 

Thank you, Jesus!

Ovens & Earthquakes...

We drilled today and it was a mixed blessing: the equipment worked perfectly, perfectly and it was actually a joy to use. However, it felt as if we were drilling inside an oven. The heat was just unbearable, even my Honduran helpers were running for shade as often as we had an opportunity. God gave us great favor with the equipment; now if we can just get a few clouds and a breeze or two...not complaining God!!!

To make things even more interesting we had an earthquake! Some say it was 6.1 and some say it was 5.5, but it evidently set things, including the earth, to shaking resulting in lots of schools closing early after evacuating classrooms. No damage that I've heard of to this point. Joyce said it was really strong here at the house with all the hanging lights swaying back and forth accompanied by a very loud noise. She said it definitely got her attention.

It's braggin' time!!!

Indeed, it is braggin' time!

Fabiola came home with her third quarter report card and she is on the High Honor Roll! 

All of our children did exceptionally well, but Fabiola outshined them all. Some subjects don't come as easily to Fabiola as they might to others, but she had a desire to prove herself to be much more than just capable and so, she put forth the effort it required. She worked many hard hours, but now is smiling a dazzling smile of renewed self assurance! Thank you Jesus!