Overholt Overview-April 2021

 "BECAUSE HE LIVES I CAN FACE TOMORROW."

John 11: 25-26: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

We have all been affected negatively by the virus, but through Jesus'sacrifice, we can look to the future with hope. Just a year ago, on March 15th, immediately prior to everything being closed down in Honduras due to COVID-19, we left Choluteca for the last time as permanent residents of Honduras. As World Gospel Mission missionaries, we now work from a different location, but our role has expanded to a broader outreach!

Spending an afternoon with the grandchildren.

Like you, we have been forced to move beyond just adapting to the new situation. We are continually seeking innovative ways for having a continued impact on the Kingdom of Christ.

Though it has been tough staying away from many of our friends, Angie and I are grateful that we have remained healthy. We have been extra careful, partly because we are in the health high-risk category, but also because we live with our daughter Rachel’s family. Due to our concern for the health of Angie’s 90-year-old mother, she moved in with us recently. We are very grateful that 9 of us, covering 4 generations, are able to live together in one house and all of us remain healthy. We are especially thankful for a big house and for the generosity of our children.

God continues at work in Choluteca, in all of Honduras, and around the world.

Much of the innovation taking place is not in spite of the virus but has begun because of the virus. Ministry, through World Gospel Mission, is expanding in ways we could never have imagined 365 days ago. There are now “virtual mission trips” taking place in Albania, Roatan, Honduras, and Papua, New Guinea. While you can not actually eat the food in your host country, someone may share a new recipe with you from these countries. You can also learn new ways to pray for other parts of the world. Prayer meetings have been held with WGM missionaries attending all around the world at the same time through video conferencing. Hybrid and online classes are being designed and delivered on different learning platforms for many of WGM’s educational institutions. These classes are honing the skills of the students around the world to adapt to communicating and studying online. Larry still teaches Sunday School at the Shalom Church. The really amazing part is that you can attend, too, if you would be interested. It would be good for you to practice your Spanish!

Choluteca ministry leaders are moving ministry impact to a higher level.

• In January, the nursing high school started its 5th class of students. Classes have started back on campus on a hybrid schedule. We are very grateful for the new classrooms that are fully conditioned to provide better learning opportunities. They are much larger which allows the students to keep a safe distance from each other.

• Your gifts allow us to encourage and facilitate the continuing programs in Choluteca. We are ready to purchase a solar energy system to be installed in the nursing school as soon as travel opens up again. This will help the nursing school’s administration towards the balance of the budget.

• The provision of highly trained nurse graduates in January 2020 could not have come at a better time. A new Home Health Ministry began last year as an emergency outreach to help identify and treat COVID patients in their homes. Now, the Public Health Department is requesting that this program continue more permanently, to help alleviate the overwhelmed public health system. There are some funds to get started, but not enough to maintain the program long-term.

• The vocational school is preparing for hybrid classes so that students do not have to travel to the school every day.

Education is one of the primary keys to helping transform Honduras.

In spite of the difficulties, this year has given us a great opportunity to see Honduras from a different perspective. While not all of you have been there in person building buildings, teaching classes, starting schools, or doing discipleship programs, you've been supporting missions in other ways. Thank you for your faithfulness in supporting the ministry in Honduras and beyond, whether monetarily and/or through your prayers! You have been an encouragement to all in the ministry!

• Thank you for helping students have an opportunity to stay in school. There are 191 students sponsored this year.
• The 4-H program has grown to include a third community. There are a total of 83 children and 14 adults participating. Our coordinators are helping “To Make the Best Better”. 
• One of the results is to encourage youth to stay in school and learn life skills from a Biblical worldview.

Through 4-H, young people are being mentored.

Current Prayer/Financial Concerns:

• Home Health Team: To continue the outreach, the Choluteca nursing school plans to start with one team of 6 people for 4 months. $7000 is still needed. This is the newest project that we are helping to establish. We will be monitoring and evaluating the impact this team has. This outreach will also serve to enable nursing school students to become involved in the healthcare system. (#25496)
• Both the nursing school (#25643: need 25 computers) and the vocational school (#25495: need 15 computers) need to purchase new computers. Would you like to provide a computer at the cost of $828?