Honduras Missions

The Ritchie Family / Children's Lighthouse

Friday, February 24, 2012

Bitter Sweet



The funeral of a christian is always a bitter sweet experience But to see laughter and joy expressed between the tears is a wonderful thing. Eyes filled with sadness and tears on a face smiling with joy and hope. I have not seen laughter and joy at the funerals of those with no hope. With much of the La Cruz church sitting outside and Omar's family and friends inside, I preached. There were 7 adult hands raised wanting salvation, including 2 sisters of Omar. The church sang "When the Roll is Call up Yonder" and a half a dozen others. Our children sang another just before I preached. After, while people were coming to give condolences to Blanca, our girls sang softly in the background. As they did the extended family came in to sit and just listen... It was a a beautiful night. And our children seem to be giving even more and longer hugs now... a blessing. We will be burying him tomm and then going directy up the mountain to preach a previous commitment... and the kia is broke again...wee. And please keep a private request in prayer I will share it with those that ask...

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Precious in the sight of the LORD

Psalms 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Went to visit Omar again Monday, and saw the difference between those saved and those lost in this time of trial. I talked to Josiln, his oldest at home daughter, last week about how she is now in a position of spiritual leader in her home, and it is important to continue the path started by her father... As I entered in the hospital room it was a grim scene. Only he and his wife and younger children are christians, the many other family present are not. Omar could no longer talk but was still communicating by moving his head a little. I find out that he told Josiln a day after I did all the same things. I just smiled. Everyone thought I was going to pray but I asked Omar, "Has Joslin prayed with you yet?""Would you rather Josiln pray?" He reacted with a strong nod yes. She prayed a sweet prayer, not as one seeking a last minute miracle but as one steadfast in her faith convicted of the blessing to follow the grief. When she finished, others in the family heard it and the oldest daughter who was in rebellion knelt crying saying she was sorry and pleading for forgiveness... There was not a dry eye. I saw Maria the youngest standing outside the door almost forgotten and waved her in and she broke down and cried in Lisa's arms. The unsaved family had been arguing to do his funeral at a funeral place until they heard this and became convinced it should be at the church Omar helped build... There was a last straining attempt made to help him but it was futile. They sent him to Tegu in an ambulance hoping for better results only to be turned away at 2 hospitals already overloaded by the prison fire we just had. When they saw his medical records no Dr would accept him, and the ambulance brought him back. He almost did not survive the trip and his breathing is heavy and difficult, I did not think he would. So it is just a matter of when the LORD opens the door to depart...Omar is ready....Are you?



Wends..
Joslin just told me Carlos had an impromtu church service last night with Omar and most of La Cruz Baptist showed up and sang many of his favoite hymns. Carlos preached sideways from the doorway so those inside and out could hear. Omar seems very pleased.
Returned wend evening.



Went by to drop off some more adult diapers and bed pads to Omars family. I can still remember joking with Omar when these came in a donation container acouple of years ago. Why would some one give these? Must be a reason...little did we know. Jenny and Patricia wanted to go with me to see Omar likely for the last time. He is no longer urinating and is swelling in the legs and arms. I prayed with him again and whispered to Jenny and Patricia. Do you want to sing something for him? It is the best gift you could give him right now. I asked Omar if he wanted a song and he nodded yes. So they sang a sweet song called perfect amor. They sing it around our house often. Just ever so softly they sang after a few moments to compose themselves. All the noise from the rest of the house went silent, tv and all. A few unsaved family members peeked in to see and Joslin Blanca, Maria and even Omar welted in tears.. Oh ya... me too. And the girls sang through the tears as well... Just beautiful. As we left I asked them. "Was Jesus pleased with that?" I got hugs instead of answers. I do not believe they will ever sing that song the same way again...


We have another private prayer request as well that needs prayer. I will share it with those that ask...Thank you.


update: Omar was called home to the LORD just before 9am this morning...

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Omar


Jr and I visited Omar this morning. His eyes lit up and he smilled and squeezed my hand with all his might, but it lasted only a moment till he was exhausted once again. The test results are expected back monday or tuesday verifying if he can even start a medical treatment. Or if he is too far along to try and the meds only usher in the inevitable faster. They called Carlos in the middle of the night and thought they were going to loose him. I was shocked how emaciated he has become in such a short time. His tongue is swollen and he can hardly talk but he is still fully aware and communicating. We read some scriptures and prayed a while. I believe the church and ministry are about to learn the biblical way to care for the widows and fatherless... He was comforted in knowing many are praying for him.
A thank you to all our ministering saints

Thursday, February 16, 2012

A heavy day




Here are a few photos from Valentines day and school starting. Lisa has a way of finding and collecting things to do special events. V-day was no different. She made a very special meal and trimmings so we could have a “romantic” meal served by the kids. Sarah and Adam seemed impressed considering they went shopping in the market with Lisa then saw the result. What a contrast. The classes started for school both adult and our children. It seems to work if we can get all the bugs worked out.





Omar is not doing well, none of the test have come back with good news. He received 3 bags of blood yesterday just trying to bring his numbers and strengh up enough so a few meds could work. The meds they will try today are $75 per dosage and will need them several days. But the Dr says it does not look good. His older daughter Josilin was with us yesterday and on the way home I was talking to her. It became clear she did not know the true depth of the problem and asked me. I did not want to be the one to tell her but had to, and she broke down and cried. It took a couple of hours to calm her. We prayed and talked of the change in her home since Jesus came in, it finally got a partial smile, how she may soon be the spiritual leader in her family and she needed to be strong, and how it is better to have a hard life and finish in Jesus arms rather than a wonderful life and finish without Christ. We also talked about how she needed to be tested as well because she cared for Omar and has been stuck with his insulin needles. She finally agreed to let Lisa take her today. After Lisa takes her shopping because there is no food in the house since Omar is not working. The whole family needs to be tested because one of the test came back positive for aids. Blanca, his wife, is not taking it well. Keep us all in prayer we are dealing with a dangerous situation that needs wisdom and can eat up alot of time, talent and money and yield little result. Before La Cruz Baptist church began, Omar was a drunk sleeping in the streets. for the last 6 years he has been a spiritual leader to his home and to many others and preached the gospel and helped us plant 2 churches... We can be forgiven of sin, we can be pardoned of the penalty of sin... But there is still the scar of sin that affects this earthen body. But some day that too will be remedied... incorruptible amen. 1 Cor 15:53-58
An unworthy servant to a Worthy Saviour,
Barry

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Not Indestructible

It has been a hot couple of weeks for us. Our temps are starting to climb, days in the 90s and the nights losing their cooling effect. We had 90 at midnight this week. Normally not a problem but when the kia breaks down and our bedroom a/c breaks one must choose; no food or supplies for 2 weeks or no sleep for two weeks. It ended up as no sleep. Jr did managed to keep the little truck from overheating and dieing also, so food runs were made. I hit a rock with the our big kia and broke the front axle. It's not indestructable after all. After 2 weeks waiting on parts we got it welded back together. So its on the road, at least till the rest of the parts get in.

Hard to sleep when it is over 100+ degrees in the bedroom. Our room has no ventalation so the fan just moves hot air and dust around like a convection oven making sure your toasted all over. After just a few days of hot sweats, an hour or so of sleep a night spread amid 6 hours of sloshing and sauteíng back and forth in your sweat,.. your sheets and pillow case begin a look and feel of a dirty melting glazed donut...(your welcome for the visual). Thankfully both are now fixed... and sheets are washed.

Not being able to sleep Lisa was up playing with her camera to try night shots. The camera actually sees a lot more than we can if it is set right. The pictures are from the front of the Lighthouse.

Our school starts this week. Jr got the classroom wired and fans installed as well as the pavillion/church/school building wired. I am sure going to miss the donated electrical wire we had. We almost finished the church with it, but ran out on the classroom and had to buy an extra 100 feet of the local car type wiring, it was all that was avalable...$300. Yikes. The window screens and doors are in and Lisa and the girls did some late night cleaning, prepping and decorating. It is going to be an ecclectic mix, our children taught at a certain time in their classroom, adults (some in the 1st grade) taught in the church building. And pastor Augusto will also working under our umbrella in Santa Teresa with more students. Jr agreed to help Pastor Augusto teach the english classes. All of course will have the Bible institute curriculum as well.

I joked with Adam and asked what he was preaching on just before Thursday night church service. I exited before church time to deal with a situation and was delayed returning. I returned to find Adam in the midst of a sermon. Amen. He now thinks I did it on purpose. We also discovered Sarah is allergic to cashew trees just like like Lisa. Adam opened one seed to see the cashew and the toxic oil got on his hands... then later on Sarah. Kinda like the caught red handed episode in the last post... :) Newlyweds :) ...If they had been married 30 years, likely less of a problem. So a week of drugs, showers, and A/C to make it subside before school.

Sayder is learning he is not indestructible. First the tree bug, joint infection, then 2 weeks ago he tied a rope to a tree and was twisting Duman and spinning with him when the rope broke and he did a face plant on a root with Duman sitting on his head. The bloody scratched face brought fought back tears. This time he was in the mango tree as we were talking to the teacher and students signing up for classes and plop. Fell out of the tree and rolled to a stop. Jump up smiling to fight off the pain. A hour or so later his wrist was swollen and he could not move it. To the Dr to find he broke his wrist. Dr said stay out of trees. So we have photographic x-ray proof Sayder is breakable.. contrary to his popular opinion... A next door neighbor yesterday died from a fall out of a tree he was cutting, so it kind rings home with Sayder. Photo is of new building about 1/2 hour before church service. Keep us in prayer, for the attacks are endless on every front...
Unworthy servant to a worthy Saviour,
Barry


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