AMEN, WE BROKE DOWN AGAIN !

We headed out at 3am toward San Salvador, El Salvador from Choluteca with Joran, his father, Carlos and me. The trip to the Bosco University was flawless. Joran received the examination, casting and plastic arm piece formed, plus selected a new prosthetic arm to be ordered in a few weeks. Within a few miles of leaving, the “good” truck we borrowed blew a lower radiator hose. A few hours, dollars and taxi rides later we are back on the road. A couple hours down the road; pow the radiator blew apart up on the mountain pass, in the middle of nowhere. We bought all 12 gallons of water from a roadside store and began adding 3 gallons every ½ mile. Had to start the truck and get up to 60kph and shut it off and coast as far as we could…I was thinking this is going to be a very long trip. We stopped every time we found someone with water, creeks, fountains, houses didn’t matter who. Finally made it over the crest of the mountain shut off the engine and coasted 15+ km. 60-80km/h with a rock hard brake pedal, no engine running and no power steering, tires squealing around the curves not wanting to lose speed and coasted into a town at the bottom. Carlos joking screamed all the way down, “aaaaah I don’t want to die Barry” “I have a family to care for” Until we coasted right past a radiator shop and just up the highway was a “no tell” motel. I started the engine and pulled in. Carlos smiles and says “see I knew you could make it, God is with you.” The Hotel was in a word ..yuck, but beggars can’t be choosers and it was a place to rest. Made me glad we did not bring the family though. All of us were asleep before our heads hit the pillows. The next morning we were first in line for a radiator…the radiator had blown apart(plastic) and new parts were not available(duh)…but they can make a new all brass radiator in about 3-4 hours…for a price. I had enough, just enough to say get it done. Their workmanship was amazing and fast. Two young men 18 &22 worked solid to finish us asap. We all sat in the truck and I asked "what if we had died coming down the mountian"....Gives new meaning to some save with fear in Jude. Never the less our LORD Jesus Christ opened the door of salvation for Joran Sr. and Joran Jr. and they BOTH stepped through. AMEN and Amen. Father and son will remember an old dirty radiator shop thousands of years after the memory of a lost arm is forgotten. More Glory for him…….
Barry Ritchie
Unworthy Servant to a Wonderful Worthy Saviour

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM !
Never a dull moment, time here is always filled with fear and trepidation-Wonder, Praise and Joy! We revisited the gold mine to look at a truck they have for sale. It is a 1996 Mitsubishi diesel P/U nice only needs a few things and would fill our needs. Prayerfully the LORD will open this door. While there we asked to take pictures of the mine again since Chay has not seen it. Walking up to the entrance the ground shook and we hear 3 loud booms.
Dust came out of the mine tunnel and you could smell gunpowder. Whoa, what was that? “Oh they just dynamited the mine, you’ll have to wait about 10 minutes to go in.” Thats ok we don't have to go in...Our escort led us back to the place they just blew up in the mine. Talk about dark. Chay picked up a rock while no one could see, but Lisa snapped a photo anyway. Looking close at the photo later, it looks just like a gold nugget.
The special order baby chickens arrived and distribution begun. 40 of them went to hungry families in ministries we are working with. This is something we would like to do more of, if Our LORD provides the “Milk and Honey” Land.

Another great blessing was Christian School kids in NH gave a Love offering for the Children’s Lighthouse. Without thinking…(no comment per Lisa) I thought we should use it to put Blanca in Private Christian School. With the price I was thinking we only needed a little more. Chay stepped up and said she would give some too. So I made the commitment to the family then found out my price, was not the schools price. Try more than 2x as much. Those little add ons add up. (but still very cheap by USA standards). Not wanting to disappoint we chose to sacrifice to cover the rest. We also bought her a bicycle because the distance it too great to walk. As of this writing her dream of a Christian education is two days old. We had to sign her into school because her mom cannot even write her own name… We are praying someone takes Blanca on for support for a few years to allow her to finish school.
We also felt the need to buy Enemeniso a new KeroLantern and gave him a supply of tracts and candy to work visitation on the mountain this weekend. Pray all the LORD points us toward will bear much fruit and give Christ Jesus Glory.
Pray for Joran’s trip for an arm on Monday -a very long drive to El Salvador. Pray for souls during an outreach we will have next weekend. Pray for Enemeniso on the Mountain. Pray for a vehicle, Land, Safety, wisdom, protection, Bible Institute…..If you lift us up in Prayer the LORD will show you the needs…..AMEN
What should a Christian do when Lazereth sleeps at his gate full of sores?...Stay in Honduras a while and you will have many opportunities to find out . My new quote for this week

ARE YOU PRAISING THE LORD TODAY?
That's what He made you for…..
Barry Ritchie
Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour

And Thus it begins... A Church in Los Terreros

After several visits to Los Terreros asking about property the word spread quickly. Those that preach “another gospel” began rattling their sabers, making promises to some and threats to others, basically don't sell to Baptists or else. One man, Senior Ordoñez, did not take kindly to this influence. He and his father hiked down the mountain on monday to find us. He offered to sell us his small mud and stick home and small lot to start church services in. He was asking 12,000 lemperia, that is about $645 dollars depending on the exchange rate of the day. Bro Enemensio said it would work, he knew the man and the papers are in order. Now for the clincher. A church in New England, South Swansea Baptist Church, sent a special love offering for us to use how we see fit. It was sent out in January, to our surprise it arrived last week. It was a $644 check…I did not check the EXACT exchange rate-but is there any doubt? We signed papers Tuesday, church services start on Sunday.
Matthew 6:7 Jesus said …for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, BEFORE YE ASK HIM.… AMEN! and Amen! The LORD’s desire is to use his saints to do his will. But it is us who must distance ourselves from the busyness and noise of the world, so we might hear the small still voice and simply reply… Yes LORD Yes, to your will and to your way

PURE CHURCH 2 The Video!

Double Click PURE CHURCH VIDEO to see and hear the Church first mentioned at the bottom of this Blog. Tonight my family and Chay attended this unnamed church that began in a mud and stick home in a poor Barrio in Choluteca. Pastor Ramon gave a great message "You Love God when you obey God" 36 people were inside this bedroom sized home with 10 or more at the windows and doors. Kinda gives me goosebumps and want to shout AMEN ! ALSO--As of today we own a tiny stick-n-mud home up the mountians in Los Terreros to start church services this Sunday. More news to follow on the next post.. Its another amazing story. We give God all the Praise and Glory !

Search me O' God and know my heart today....

Blanca needs you to pray and listen to the Holy Spirit. Then read your Bibles and prove what the Spirit tells your heart. Obey them, and it will be treasures at the Saviour feet. Blanca and her family attend the “Pure Church” written about in the first entry at the bottom of this web blog. Just scroll to the bottom, please read it; click on Blanca’s profile and read it. Read Proverbs 21:13 and/or 1John 3:17… it is humbling to know one day we will stand before Christ Jesus and give account of what we did with His treasure.….

Los Terreros Church Planting Trip

Nine people, a generator, Pulpit, PA system, 100lbs food and tracts, lighting, Extra water, tarps, all loaded into the old borrowed Isuzu. It was 1st gear all the way up the Highway. When we hit the trails(Literally, almost lost the rear bumper on rocks) all the men had to push the truck up many sections because it could not make it on its own. As we began the outreach, Chay was wondering where all the people were coming from…she only saw a handful of homes all the way up. The Pa system played loud through the valleys and invited folks to watch a free movie called La Esperanza-The Hope, and hear preaching. About 150 showed up, 30 or so stood the entire 3 hours we were there. In the states we complain if we stand through 3 songs. Afterward Bro. Enemenso preached a good hard sermon.. but no one came forward. You could sense the grip of fear on the people. Many wanted to, some even asked questions, but what would happen to them Sunday if everyone saw them go forward in a “Baptist” service? Much work to be done. The need for a building is apparent. I put Carlos(my interpreter) to work with the children. He did a wonderful job. At the end I gave him candy bags with tracts to give out for answering questions. His wheelchair got swarmed. He looked at me with a big smile and said “What are you doing Barry… trying to kill me?” Overall it was a great trip. Friendships were made, without exception everyone asked us to return and teach and preach more. The door has been opened and we need to step in.

FACES OF HONDURAS

Matthew 25:40... In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

What Is The Price Of A Soul? Jesus Knows...

Want to Store Up Treasure in Heaven?
This is a large family’s home in the mountains. It is still under construction but shows how nicely you could build a church.

For $7000 one could purchase the land and materials to build a church similar to it. Once coated in concrete it will last 50+ years…How many souls could be won, lives changed, and families taught in... 50 years? If you really want to store up treasure in heaven sell that second or third car and build a church building in the mountains of Honduras.
2 Corinthians 8:14…that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want… As a USA church congregation, keep the old carpeting in the church another year and build a whole church with the funds… better yet also come help build it… I guarantee you will not regret it in heaven. What is the price of a soul? What is the value of souls for 50 years? Amen!
Luke 18:22... Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

How That The Blind See...

Through the
CHILDREN'S LIGHTHOUSE
Thought you all might like pictures of Joslin getting her glasses. Her eyes have gotten much worse. I opted to get her nice ones (even though the price was more than what she had in her Children's Lighthouse account) because I have similar vision and understand the problems. If you use glass, the lenses are so heavy they fall off your face often. Plus she is already very self conscience about her looks with her bone disease…no reason to add coke bottle glasses to the mix. She picked out nice pretty frames and we special ordered thinlight transition lenses. When you have severe astigmatism, sun causes glare halos through the curved lenses. Getting auto tinting UV lenses corrects this. Thank you on her behalf. Through prayers and one of God's ministering saints, you gave her something to smile about. Ministry like this could not be done without them.
CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE, PRINT OR SAVE
Unworthy Servant to a Wonderful Worthy Saviour
Barry Ritchie

Bibles...God's Word never returns Void

Personalized Bibles with cases were donated for Alba and Yulissa by friends in the USA. In this case, pictures tell much more than my words. We had a very sweet visit, Alba never broke into tears but you could tell she was on the edge of doing so. I think the LORD was smiling, and the Holy Spirit was busy as well.....THANK YOU

Voodoo...We need a little extra prayer

Click on the Picture
to enlarge or save
Chay, Barry Jr, Sasha and Lisa have been going to the market, picking up supplies and bagging tracts, candy, toys and food. This is for the Saturday gospel movie outreach on the Mountain in Los Terreros. But the voodoo Circus next to our house needed some attention. They decided to go and hand out tracts there too...Amen. The noise from the circus is unnerving and will be 25 feet from our bedroom windows for a month. The Power went out this afternoon and we all thought, "great a little quiet"...nope the power came on at 5pm and the noise followed moments after....Oh Joy...we get to learn more patience
Unworthy Servants to a Worthy Saviour
Barry, Lisa, Sasha, Barry Jr...and Chay

Harvesting Fruit in the Promised Land

Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, help and support. It has been needed and used for the Glory of Christ Jesus on your behalf.

I was asked by Pastor Candido to teach a Leadership conference last week. Godly leaders begin at our Saviour’s feet. Each night the messages were strong stepping on toes including mine. The nights on marriage and family, the alter filled. Carlos my interpreter got out of his wheelchair and dragged himself to the altar. He prayed for his family and that he would learn and be the Godly leader in his home.. wow. In essence they were

Godly leaders come from Godly churches
Godly churches come from Godly Families
Godly families come from Godly Marriages
Godly Marriages come from Godly people
Godly people come from people surrendered at Jesus feet…..

Friday night I taught soul winning. I have been amazed at the lack of understanding in this area. But I should not be, it is not much different in the US. God’s Word taught the law, repentance and grace. The end result was 4 more adults bowed, surrendered and humbly asked Jesus to save them from the wrath to come. One was a new man visiting, another was Maria aka(Luz) The woman dieing of aids with 2 young boys. She was in tears. No one ever confronted her, no one ever wanted to upset her…last night her tears washed Jesus’ feet and he lifted her up. Her body is dieing of aids but her spirit has been given life everlasting, she is no longer under condemnation and death. Afterwards she stood, still weeping, and put her head to my shoulder, tears stained my shirt as she hugged me repeating, gracias, gracias, gracias over and over. A preacher, evangelist, missionary, soulwinner, can receive no greater honor on earth than this. If we accomplish nothing else, this alone is sufficient to lay at my Glorious Saviour’s feet….

Also on friday, Lisa went to the capital to pick up Chay Balletto, a friend of Sasha, who wanted to visit the mission field before bible school. I was a little hesitant about letting Lisa take the borrowed Isuzu. So I sent Barry Jr and lots of water with them. Chay will be helping us for 3 months. While Lisa was gone I visited a piece of property outside of town that would be perfect to build a church, Children's Lighthouse, bible school, subsistence farm. It is about 8 Acres adjacent to a river, water well, electric, shanty house, just off the highway, just out of the city, with near a 1000 banana trees and 4-5 acres of melons, beans, coconut and corn. The man who owns it is in poor health and would like to sell. The only problem....He wants $26,000 a really good price but a wee bit more than we have…. Ok ,ok a whole lot more than we have...but not our Father in Heaven. The reason we are looking is the first container with our supplies…the shipping has been paid for and will be coming soon! AMEN! I need a place to put it that I will not have to move it later. (A very difficult task here). The other IHNFA donated property is not ours yet…and may not be with world vision really looking to get it and they have much bigger influence…$$.

So we are in dire need of prayer for a vehicle, property, Bible Institute, church starts and Lighthouse. If you are with a ministry we have visited with in the past would you consider helping us in the future, regular support, special projects, trips to labor, ect. More help in these area is crucial. Chay has only been here one day and is already saying “American Christian’s do not understand the need or the potential harvest in 3rd world countries”. If I could get everyone to see what we see… help would be no problem. A few tear stained shirts work miracles in hearts.

Unworthy Servants to a Wonderful Worthy Saviour
Barry, Lisa Sasha, Barry Jr,…and Chay

Love... in Deed and in Truth.

This 8 year old little boy, Eduardo, needs the Love Of Christ not just in words... but in truth.
On Eduardos behalf, I ask you to click on the Picture to enlarge, read, pray and obey the Holy Spirit...Please.