Honduras Reports – More Than We Asked For

by Elsa Willis

 

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory.” Ephesians 3:20, 21.

We believe with all our hearts that Christ is soon to come, and that as God’s people, we should be watching and praying—and so our congregation has recently begun meeting an hour earlier every Sabbath to seek the Lord in supplication. We are asking for the outpouring of God’s Spirit and for opportunities to proclaim His truth for this time.

Our Father has heard our cries and given us more than we could have asked for. We now have more Bible study contacts than we ever had before! God is working in amazing ways.

Last month Brother Hernando and Freddy, a recently baptized brother, went to minister in the village of San Manuel. As they waited at the bus stop on their way home, the Lord brought by a childhood friend of Freddy: Pastor Abel, an evangelical. Freddy introduced him to Brother Hernando and told Pastor Abel that Brother Hernando had recently conducted a prophecy seminar at our church.

“A prophecy seminar!” the pastor exclaimed. “We have been praying for someone to come to our church and teach us prophecy. Would you be willing to come?”

Brother Hernando was all too happy to agree, and soon plans had been laid for a 2-week seminar at the San Nicholas Evangelical Church. Although a bit nervous, we could hardly wait to see God’s amazing work unfold.

The first night of the series, we arrived at a full church. Sixty members, with notebooks and pencils, paid full attention to Brother Hernando’s presentation. Even Pastor Abel took notes.

Our whole church prayed for our brethren in the evangelical church. It was so exciting to see their interest and hear their questions. They clearly wanted to understand the Word! We started with Daniel 2, and although the information was new to these believers, they accepted it from the Bible.

The meetings ran from 7 pm to 8 pm, but sometimes we would not actually leave until almost ten. The people would surround Brother Hernando, asking questions and wanting to know more. When we studied Daniel 7 and the little horn power, Pastor Abel himself gave the answer as to whom it represented. As the truths of Daniel and Revelation unfolded, the people could see their fulfillment in the recent papal visit to the United States. God truly has many sheep that are not of this fold—and He is calling them.

On several occasions, Pastor Abel humbly came to the pulpit and admitted to his congregation that he had not known the real truth of the gospel, and that he had only taught them what he had received from other leaders. Now that they were learning new truths, he told them they needed to follow the Bible. He even expressed his desire for his fellow pastors and their churches to hear Brother Hernando’s seminar. He said, “If we are teaching our people error, then we need to become learned, and teach them the truth.” Do pray for Pastor Abel and his congregation to continue to study and follow the truth!

 

A Memorial for God

by Brother Gerbert

 

I still remember the first time I heard about a church being built on the mountain of Piedra Hancha. The Willises related how a group of young families had put their monies together to purchase some land. Before they were even baptized, these brethren had started digging and making their own adobe blocks for a church.

One Sunday morning a little over a year ago, my family went with the La Zona Church for the hour-long hike up the mountain, where we helped haul sand, rocks and other materials. Men, women and young children worked together harmoniously. Forming a line, we tossed rocks one to another to lay up materials for the foundation of the small house of prayer.

This was the first of many special experiences with the brethren at Piedra Hancha. By the way, Piedra Hancha means “Wide Rock,” and we literally had to remove a 300-pound boulder from the building site. It took seven or eight men to push it out of the way!

After a few weeks, the foundation was laid and the walls began to go up. The rain slowed down the project, but our brothers persevered, working tirelessly many long days to keep the work going. As the days, weeks, and months rolled by, the walls were completed, the roof installed, and the concrete floor poured. We had to carry many, many shovelfuls of sand and bags of cement to the building site, but the Lord provided the strength, the funds and the laborers. We began in faith and continued in faith; and now that the building is nearly complete, by God’s grace we will finish it in faith.

Sometimes I ask myself if the Lord is calling us to build churches in these end times. Should we be investing time, energy and money in buildings? I get my answer every time I climb to Piedra Hancha to share a Sabbath sermon, and I see the young families with glowing faces singing and worshipping the Lord. I can’t help but rejoice with them, and I tell myself that those backaches were well worth it!

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The hard work of hiking up that mountain, helping move the boulder, and hauling cement for the little church has taught me about the Christian walk. It is not an easy road. We encounter obstacles and often face discouragement when things don’t come out the way we planned. But as we put God first, last and always in our lives, He leads us and provides everything we need for this life and life everlasting.

I thank God with all my heart for the opportunity to work with the church family in La Zona and in Piedra Hancha. Many brethren, neighbors and even young children have given their time, energy and money for God’s work—but most importantly they have given their hearts.

Now that the Lord’s house of worship is nearly complete, our brethren are holding regular services on Wednesday and Friday evenings and Sabbath mornings, with 25 to 30 people attending on Sabbath. What is needed for God’s memorial to be 100% complete? The church still needs doors and window bars, and the brethren want to build a small room for the children’s Sabbath School. Although we do need funds, above everything else we need your prayers. Pray that the Lord will guide us as we continue to labor for His Kingdom. Time is short, brethren. What we do, we must do quickly and without reserve.

 

“When an interest is aroused in any town or city, that interest should be followed up. The place should be thoroughly worked until a humble house of worship stands as a sign, a memorial of God’s Sabbath, a light amid the moral darkness. These memorials are to stand in many places as witnesses for the truth.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 100.

 

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