Honduras Missions

The Ritchie Family / Children's Lighthouse

Monday, October 19, 2015

Little things...

Little things. Sometimes it is the little things that have the most.... It will be a long story about little things.. bare with me and you will be entertained.. and praise the Lord. Amen.
Alberto proposed to Jenny she said yes. That would be enough to say, but it is the details that make it sweet. Alberto asked me last Jan permission to seek Jenny's hand in marriage, he has won all hearts including mine by his walk in this. Well the day he opted to ask her to marry him was the 10 year  anniversary of me coming to Honduras and Jenny entering my life,.. to the day. All was set he had used a years savings to buy the ring. Actually it was his motorcycle funds and a change of priority as he won her heart and built a foundation for marriage. The rings were suppose to be ready for pick up. He got there having all plans in place.. Jenny on the way and I get a frantic call from Alberto.. rings not ready or available what should I do? I said quickly buy a cheap substitute(meeting at our mall) and do not show Jenny till after she says yes. He thought it was a great plan and bigger relief. So later on the "ring"(in spanish) aka ferris wheel, he proposed... she said yes. Then I get a text. "Papi the ring is plastic!! I texted back, did you already give an answer? ...she texted "yes". What was your answer? "Yes" again. "Well daughter a deal is a deal. Can't change your mind now. But maybe we need to talk to you both about finances because anyone who pays that much for a plastic ring is a bit gullible"... and it gets better. She comes home treasuring the the cheap plastic ring. She visits Alberto's mom the next day and it rains hard and floods the house. While helping clean she looses the plastic ring and comes home very sad... I think something horrible happened. And make it worse by laughing in relief when she finally does tell me. Funny how much and how fast we can place value on little things. To her relief the little sister finds it the next day. When the real ring comes in she tells him it must be done over because he did not get on a knee last time... So she gets two chances to turn him down. She is now wearing the real ring... and made me put the plastic one in our safe...little things.
Had one of our girls sad because the wood doll house she had broke. So a couple of nails and super glue... and a smile of a little girl in the Lighthouse is back in service. In case you ask what missionaries do, just little things,...lots and lots of little things.
Had one of our preachers cut his foot with a machete. Pack up meds before church and run to the mountain to care for him and make it back in time to pick up folks for church. Then on way home pray and give one of our church members $20 so she could test her sick little girl for hepA. (Positive) on meds now. Little things.
Still need to do a few other little things, we received two crates from the Usa with items collected. Some tools donated, trailer parts needed, clothes, and an industrial sewing machine for a mountain pastor. Haven't delivered it yet because of a lack of little paper things. For the same little things we have not been able to repair the San Geranimo church yet. Was able to get blocks and deliver them but need more materials. Cement, rebar ect.
Bigger things...because of ministering saints, we were able to purchase property for another church plant near the border. Our bible inst grads are working that area since the Drs visited back in Jan. They are also preaching/teaching bible in 3 public schools all grades every week... little big things.
Our Nic. preacher acquired another property in Nic and building materials and was lacking 1000 dollars in cement and rebar... which ministering saints provided. Little things...
And though we are always in need of little paper things we are also very much in need of a little thing called prayer always. Had a wreck in the new kia on way home last week. After a flat, then ac fan went out finished the work of the ministry, dropped of fan at electrician and headed home. Started raining hard as it grew dark. On a desolate stretch of highway I came up on three tractor trailers in the road. As I slowed to pass, the last truck also had the same idea forcing me off the side of the road. Then a lady came running out from in front of the truck right in front of me. Hit brakes hard to miss her and slide toward the ditch only to see her baby laying in the ditch at the last moment. Let off brakes to steer and just missed the baby, the lady and the truck...instinct given only by God's mercy and grace and His hand controlled all. All that happened was kia hit the bank and ruined about a $1000 worth of parts + some body work. Thankfully no one was hit. But the lady complained she hurt her back so I took them to the hospital. Three sisters in a dark raining highway stopping traffic begging with baby in a watery high grass ditch... At the hospital the one sister began to complain to everyone and tried to get the security to hold us. So I was forced to call police. X-rays showed no injuries. Strange thing is they took my licence and now I have a date with a judge on Tues...hmmm,  the picture is them the following day back in the road....had to dodge them again... little things.
Back to other little things. After Jenny said yes I began marriage counciling with both of them. To test the waters one night I opted to talk about a girl named Dinah in the bible and said a few things, then had Alberto read a few very selected verses. I just let his imagination wonder and ponder for a bit and connect the fake dots. When he finally understood that part of the story he turned white and the blood left his face. He actually said if its is biblical, for Jenny I will do it. I almost felt sorry for him for a moment...almost, then I was kind of impressed by the commitment.... before I let him off the hook and finished explaining the story...
Even after this... Jenny and Alberto's birthdays are just a day apart so they wanted to take parents out to dinner. That means me... Little things...
Yet the work of ministry does not stop for little things. Several more have trusted the Lord in the churches and are ready for baptism. We went with our city preacher to a new area in need of a church and did an outreach to test the waters. Went well. There are 1000 homes within a 5 min walk. Just need more little things to make all the big things happen....amen... one ministering saint buys an special alt to allow lights from kia.  Where? Australia...little things. Another provides funds to buy church plant property, another  food, another ships needs, another gives to buy building materials to build a church... little thing add up to big things and the interest for riches in eternity is unspeakable.

Ps update... went to the police station about the wreck. Our lawyer never showed but the Lord was there. After much talking...disagreeing. They threw out the report and handed me back my licence. Amen. Thank you Lord and thank you to your ministering praying saints. Now to fix the kia. Found parts needed but are on the other side of the country. Need to send them the money and get someone to put them on a  bus.


View Larger Map