Overview-September, 2023

 " However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." - Acts 20:24 (NIV)

Family Update:

Wondering where I am going to
put all my plants for the winter.

Major transitions in our lives prompt us to reflect on the things that are of great value in our lives. Wherever we are located, the desire to continually "testify to the good news of God's grace" has not diminished. "Serving others" has brought us back to our roots geographically.  While we still have strong ties to Choluteca, God has given us new ministry opportunities while living in Ohio. 

Our family is doing well. We are thankful to be able to support our daughter Rachel's family during her cancer illness. She has completed her chemo and radiation therapy.  We are grateful for all the medical people who have been a part of God's healing of her body. All our children and grandchildren are doing well. Thank you for your prayers.

We have visited a lot of friends and attended both of our 50th high school class reunions. Our flower and small vegetable gardens have been a source of relaxation this summer. It's time to prepare for the Ohio winter and to bring in our porch plants that we want to save. 

We continue in ministry...

...and God is using us in new ways. Retirement from full-time ministry with World Gospel Mission has become a transition in ministry. We continue doing some of the same things and are involved in new areas of ministry. We enjoy being members of a local Global Methodist Church in Fredericktown, Ohio, and we serve on the Global Methodist Conference Committee on Missions. We still work with the scholarship program in Honduras and help monitor and evaluate projects worldwide for WGM. We pray for God's direction about becoming involved in other ministry opportunities.

We live in Ohio...

...but we are planning for friends from Honduras to come visit us. Many of you know our Honduras family. Maribel lived with us throughout her high school and university years. After she married David, they followed us as pastors of the Shalom congregation.

David and Maribel's family plan to visit
 us in December.

Maribel lived with us when she was in school.

The  Echeverría family plans to visit us next year.
Let us know if you would like to schedule a visit
with them.

Osman and Leslie Echeverría and family join the World Gospel Mission team in Choluteca, Honduras, to use their God-given gifts and talents. They plan to work alongside the projects WGM already has going on. God has also burdened their hearts to minister to pastors, couples, and struggling young people. They are currently raising their team to pray and support their ministry. Osman and Leslie are raising their support package to enable them to continue in ministry. Here is a link to WGM's website for more information about the Echeverría family and a form for secure online giving to their ministry if you are interested. 

Updates from Choluteca

When I (Larry) was finishing my Ph.D. studies at Ohio State, I focused my research on the problem of so many young people in Honduras dropping out of school.  When I defended my dissertation, I vividly remember a committee member asking, "What do you plan to do about it?" My thesis, or "theory of change," was to add an after-school program to the regional ministries that were already being implemented. The church is the foundation of all that we do in Choluteca, and education programs are our most effective tools in accomplishing the purpose of "testifying to the good news of God's grace." We believe that by involving Choluteca youth in the church and our additional programs school engagement will be improved. School dropout rates will decrease. The following are testimonies of the impact of these ministries.

A 4-H Update from Pati Rodriguez: (#25492)

"In June, after the parents of the children in our groups saw what was being learned, they requested that we start an adult 4-H club. It is more work, but we did not want to miss the opportunity to impact these parents with lessons from the Bible and the benefit of learning skills, too. They learn about agriculture, crafts, entrepreneurship, health, sewing, and others during the last week of each month.

This year, it has been a challenge to work with 177 children, 40 adult women, and two adult men in Bonanza, Colonia 7 de Mayo, Iglesia de Santidad Shalom, and Apacilagua. We believe in the power of their transformation; our focus is to develop their abilities, skills, and talents while helping them stay in school."

From Dilcia Osorto (CEVTI Vocational School Director): (#25495)

"The Vocational Educational Center for Integral Transformation (CEVTI), located in Cuidad Nueva, Choluteca, Honduras, is a center where young people with limited economic resources are trained in technical careers and learn about a biblical worldview through devotionals held every Friday. Young people receive training in Auto-Mechanics, Computer Science, Welding, and Sewing, graduating a total of 350 young people annually. his year, we also offered courses in the areas of men's and women's hair stylists and computer science. Thanks to all the people who have sent donations to our school. With your help, we can impact and improve the lives of the youth of Choluteca."

From Director Tania Moncada (Nursing high school (IETI): (#25643)

"This year has been full of blessings and challenges to meet. Honduras is undergoing a transition
Nursing school students teaching
at a health fair in central Choluteca.
process from one government to another, which needs to be more satisfactory for education and health institutions in our country.

Our current challenge is encountering places where our students can better develop their skills in a supervised clinical experience. Due to the political jealousies between health department authorities, we cannot sign an agreement that will ensure that every year our students will have open doors in hospitals and health centers for their practicum."