Honduras Missions

The Ritchie Family / Children's Lighthouse

Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas and Weddings...

Three weddings (Bodas here) in one day…. on Sunday.
Not a feat I want to repeat anytime soon but a wonderful day none the less. A couple of months ago several newly saved couples fell under conviction about marriage. We began classes and teaching the importance and during this time I made a comment if they would commit I would cover the lawyer fee and allow it to be at the Children’s Lighthouse. That’s all it took and suddenly I had several weddings on my hands, and it always cost more than planned. They are all very poor and the cost of getting married here is prohibitive for many, especially if you have no conscience about it. The whole church got involved and it became a big event. Ladies preparing food and decorations, borrowing clothes, finding rides. After hearing Iris pray in church a while back they all wanted her to be the flower girl. I found a Cinderella coach to take pictures in. Lisa spent weeks finding all she needed to make a real wedding cake. Carlo’s mom came to church for the first time so I handed him my notes and had him preach. There were 3 in the large group of visitors who raised their hands for salvation…leave it to Carlos. Amen! Then he wimped out on the ceremony so I performed the wedding…kind of. To my surprise the lawyer jumped in and took over which I found was normal here…You need a lawyer for everything. When he was done I stood up and continued by adding there were no lawyers in the Garden of Eden… So now it’s time to make our vows before the LORD. And got a round of amens. It was a long but good day. I called Carlos at the end of the day just to talk about the days events. He answered quietly and said “Can I call you back. Two of the couples asked him to come over for a special time of prayer in their home…” all I could do is smile and say amen.


Christmas Morning in our house was a treat as well. Lisa had them make Christmas houses(ginger bread house out of gram crackers) and decorate them with candy and icing. All of the new children had never had a Christmas with presents before. Thankfully in the years before we came to Honduras Lisa and I had packed away some toys collected from various ways and shipped in our container. Plus a few ministering saints had sent some in crates a few months ago. This year we just didn’t have the funds to buy things, all of the children needed clothes, they wear them out so fast. Lisa found a bail of used clothing from the USA in the market for a couple of hundred dollars. By God’s grace it had mostly usable clothes in it. We still had a few toys left from the first container which allowed us to wrap presents for all 19 of the kids we have. Nothing major, but it made for an impressive mountain in the middle of the floor. We sat them all in a circle around our toy mountain, talked about the Lord, sang and prayed. Afterward we told the children to pull out presents with their names on them and open them…


Two videos were uploaded Click here to watch a short video of them Sing Silent Night
http://video.xanga.com/britcompel/8d5de962796/video.html
Or click below to watch them open presents
http://video.xanga.com/britcompel/d9e5d962778/video.html


It was then I got a little glimpse of what our reactions might be when we all get to heaven. To see them hug a teddy bear or eyes budge out with glee over a toy car or doll. And the best part run up and give hugs n kisses saying thank you papi over and over through 19 children… True thankfulness is found in the expectation of nothing…Thank you all for making it possible to serve the LORD here,

Unworthy servants to a Worthy Saviour,
The Ritchies

Monday, December 22, 2008

La Cruz Christmas


It was a good day in the Children’s Lighthouse. Transporting more than 120 people to the property for a special day of services for La Cruz Baptist Church. Carlos preached and a new lady raised her hand for salvation…That always makes it a good day. Carlos is becoming a good teacher/preacher, not because of training, but because it comes from a broken heart for souls. Our ladies arrived early to cook our geep. Not sure what he was maybe a cross between a sheep and a goat. But he had gotten rough with the kids head butting them causing bruises so his value became that of food. We let the kids play with their food a day before we ate him. Lisa made up little gifts, some with tags for bigger gifts, a little fun time for the kids in the bounce house and shot of the candy cannon for a final bang before shuttling them all back home. Another long day of ministry but one that brings sweet sleep when your head hits the pillow and treasure deposited in heaven…AMEN!


Unworthy servant to a Worthy Saviour born in a manger,

Barry Ritchie

Monday, December 15, 2008

Family Photo


Thursday, December 11, 2008


Here are the faces of all the children now living with us. Welcome to a glimps of the Children's Lighthouse.
I will not ask or say anything except pray and listen to the Holy Spirit. To God be the Glory, amen!
Barry

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

...nothing shall be impossible unto you


The day started out making several trips around town to the Lighthouse to Pastor Enemesio’s house, picking up supplies and the doors and windows for the church in Los Tererros. I also wanted to take Gloria some corn for the children since we were up there. She has been caring for 5 children for us, almost a year, waiting on the Lighthouse to be finished. (Just started tile and banister work a long way to go yet) We started out at 7:30 with Barry Jr and some of our kids to help, by the time we got in the mountain it was 11:30. Enemesio and Barry Jr quickly went to work. At Ememesio’s request Jr was to stay and help but now needed the welder for the window bars.(Ie another trip up and down the mountain). Since we were up there, I took some corn to Gloria’s house to visit, and again was asked by the children, “When are we coming to your house?” Gloria also had 3 more new children that were only temporary and needed to visit Choluteca for supplies. So we left and headed back to town. Talking with her she too asked when? I called Lisa and explained, she turned to Alba and asked are you willing to step up and be moma #2 she agreed, so even sick Lisa said yes. We stopped at child services and they were happy to change the paperwork. They also asked if we would bring the other 3 temporary children down the mountain (since they had no vehicle at the moment) and keep them for the night for a meeting in court. Ok, back up the mountain with a welder and generator and Gloria and supplies. Pick up 3 children , all dirty and filled with parasites. Return home drop them off to Lisa and head out to a marriage counseling class still dirty from work…When I returned home Lisa had cleaned them up, given them all deworming pills, cleaned their rags of clothes, found some more to fit, had devotions and ready for bed.(did I mention one was only a year old?) Today I will take more cement to the Lighthouse, drop the 3 to child services court, then take the Child service lawyer to the mountain and pick up the other 5 to live with us…and Barry Jr and Enemesio who sleep in the church last night. Our house will now have 21 mouths to feed, clothe, school, and care for. We thought we were stretched when we had 4. I was talking to yet another pastor last night who graciously offered to visit any churches in his area and intercede on our behalf…. Not sure how all this is going to work, feeding and caring for this many, christmas and school just around the corner. Though I can relate a little to Peter being bid come and walking on water… especially the “LORD Save me!” part. All I know is we are in the LORD’s hands and that is more than good enough for me… AMEN!


Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour,

Barry

Sunday, December 7, 2008

No Greater Joy...

Nursing home in Choluteca,

3 John 1:4 No Greater Joy…
You know that rare feeling when everything… just works, you know the LORD is pleased, and everyone is joyful. We had one today. The ladies and the young girls combined classes today to go and minister to the only nursing home we have here. Not the quality of home that you expect in the USA by any stretch, but better than the alternative of living in the street, as many others do. They rarely get visitors. Some school classes visit as community service training, but it is kinda like going to the zoo. No spiritual purpose just go, smile, and watch. The Ladies on the other hand did a wonderful job with the girls ministering. They prepared meals, presents, handed all books of John and some got Bibles. (A ministering saint donated a bunch of ty-baby stuffed animals. A great blessing for ministry.) They all sang, served and fellowshipped, and gave gentle touches and hugs to let them know they care, they showed a gospel witnessing movie and witnessed, many had tears of joy. A few were bed ridden and the girls went room to room reading out of their Christmas devotional books Lisa made and their Bibles. Jenny with Nancy led one lady to Christ. After they prayed the lady began weeping profusely. Jenny did not know what to do except asked her why? She told her she was the first person to tell her the truth about Jesus and for the first time in her life she felt free because a burden and worry was lifted. Jenny and Nancy were excited. Blancita one of the girls we put in school also led another bedridden lady to the LORD. A rather fiesty, very old, and slow gentlman was refusing to let the girls help walk him to the pavilion. "I can do it myself!" Till I leaned into his ear saying, "When was the last time you had two beautiful godly young ladies in both arms wanting to walk and talk with you?" Ding, The lights came on as well as a smile and change of attitude. He put both arms out and all began to laugh... Another blind man put his ill fated trust in Nancy to guide him, and they also giggled and talked as they bumped in to a few things along the way. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon, all learned something and put treasure in heaven… amen.

I knew it was going to be good because the spiritual attack began early. Lisa got sick last night and was not able to sleep, nor was she able to keep the meds down or go anywhere today. We think it might be amebic dysentery; she was handling a baby with it a few days back… She finally slept today, while I juggled shuttling 40 girls and ladies to the nursing home, and feeding and caring for the other 10 younger kids in the house and getting meds. Barry Jr went with the ladies to do video ect. Yet I still managed to pour a section of the stair railing at the property… in my “spare" time. Amen!


Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour,
Barry

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Distressed decisions


Dentists, doctors, dirty carports and distressed decisions … I had an invitation to a preachers conference from a like minded missionary in the capital. We took seven of our pastors and wanna bees to it, and it was really good. Pastors from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatamala, US and Honduras were there. We also brought then a truckload of scripture to share and distribute. Our men were loving the conference and wanted to stay longer but we were not prepared to do so. IE not enough $$ and time. 2 of the men had to get back for work. One preacher returning with us to the mountain had his congregation still waiting (100 folks) as we arrived an over an hour late for their reg tues service. (tried but could not call them). Plus we picked up a member’s grandfather in the capital who has prostate cancer and is quite sick and needed to return to our city (The truck now stinks really bad…urine, vomited rotten food in the seats and carpet from the a sickening curvy mountain ride back) wee… One of our pastors led him to the LORD a few weeks ago…The least I could do is go the second… 100 miles…None of our men had been exposed to Ind Bapt preachers preaching to preachers(Turbo button on the pulpit) And want more…We were kicking around some Ideas on the way home and thought about maybe a weekend all night revival service in the Lighthouse(when it is more ready) and invite some preacher boys down here to our mission where its hot and preach a yard from hell….That means it’s a earshot to paradise. Hmm?

Our wend. service was again in our carport with 90 or so packed in. One of the men wanting to get married came forward for salvation, an answer to prayer. Amen
During prayer time several adults along with several youth offered to pray, Isis and Nancy were two of them and moved the heart of congregation in fervent prayer. Suyapa came at the beginning of service crying. Her baby had gone listless. Lisa rushed them to the pay hospital. The baby was very malnourished, from lack of care and parasites and had severe amebic dysentery, after an IV, antibiotics ect he was doing better. The doctor talked to Lisa privately and asked her to keep an eye on them. I will be giving him another shots today. Recardo saw Ermita our dentist earlier in the day to have his double row of teeth removed. Now he has a more normal smile and less pain…many of the kids need dental work.

I was sitting at the Children’s Lighthouse property yesterday, listening to all the kids play…and ask for water every 2 minutes. Looking at all the work done, then realizing all that still needs to be done…as my eyes began to welt tears, the reality and weight of what it is going to take to run this ministry, once it is in full gear, began to overwhelm me. Then the weight of other needs, the churches that need built, feeding kitchens, the shipping supply line of food donations ect. It is way beyond what we can do in our current supply. Much has been done already to the Glory of the LORD through ministering saints, sacrificing for all the different projects and special offerings. For this we praise and give God all the glory and it needs to continue. But through it all our base level support has not changed much. Our regular daily expenses continue to rise both in costs and increase load. Ie more mouths to feed at a higher cost per mouth. We struggle just to buy food and pay utilities. And it limits how we minister, When Lisa runs to the Hospital for a sick child the money is taken from something else for there is none to spare. Our bank account sits many a week with less than $50 in it.

Then it hit me. Why not ask some of the Godly men who have been here, who know us personally, and are vested deeply with us in this ministry, all of whom are in ministry and preach… to visit some churches and speak from the heart. The apostle Paul interceded in this way. I returned home to call and see how the response would be. The first reply was “Brother I would go anywhere in the world for you, how can I help?” Amen!
The LORD knows exactly what we need and when. I am hoping to get them geared up to visit churches early next year. The intercessory team can share our burden from first hand experience and share their hearts.
Now we must find churches with an open door, pastors and congregations with an open heart… If anyone knows of ministries that are open enough to allow them to come in share the burden, and just let the Holy Spirit do the rest. Please let us know.


Call me at 603-397-0606(USA line) or email at
britcompel@msn.com.

All in a days work for the ministry of our wonderful Saviour,
Unworthy of such a task and honor,
Barry Ritchie


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