Ana's Heart

Update for Baby Ana Cristina’s pulmonary artresia with vsd open heart surgery. Through many days and hours of calls, the LORD has arranged for Ana to be cared for by some of the best pediatric heart doctors in the world, Aldo Castenada Foundation ( www.fundacionaldocastaneda.org ). They said yes, the only obstacle was the cost of a state run hospital in Guatemala City. Once I agreed to cover the cost some way, we got a green light. The surgery is $11,000 including up to 3 weeks in ICU. Several ministries have contacted us to cover transportation, food & hotel for family, the initial cardiac catherization and ½ of surgery. This leaves about $5000; considering our whole ministry and family operates on 1/3 of that amount per month, all we can do is pray. Besides, how could we say no? I am confronted with this verse daily in Honduras…pray I never “shutteth up”

1 John 3:17-18
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

I cannot think of ANY family in the USA that would let one of their children die for $5000. Ramon is a young struggling pastor and brother in the LORD making less than $200/mo. He and his family came over last night to talk, cry, pray and visit a USA Doctor visiting Choluteca, just to make sure Ana was fit to travel. She checked her and said yes but also strongly emphasized the urgency. Ana will need much prayer over the next week, as will the family and us.

IF THE LORD LEADS YOU TO HELP, PLEASE DO....
Unworthy Servant to a Wonderful Worthy LORD and Saviour,
Barry Ritchie

Salvations

Pastor Enmencio working the Mountain village of Los Terreros, led Felix (89 yrs old) to the LORD. The photo is of him in front of his home. Felix has a growth on his nose that we have arranged to have looked at by a doctor, even though any good prognosis is dim. He is a diabetic and cannot afford insulin which is a greater concern. He could use your prayers, but is comforted to know he now has an eternal home. Amen! Another one of the salvation decisions this week was one of our teen girls named Daisy. She came forward after the outreach event and said “I need to be reconciled”. I thought wow that’s a big word; we then sat and she shared she knew God did not like or want her to sin and she knew the penalty because the Holy Spirit has been convicting her. With a soft, humble spirit, she prayed and asked Christ to save her….AAmen! It was music to my spirit not unlike..."What must I do to be saved?"

Two more children received sponsors this week…Blanca and Jeny ...
THANK YOU LORD.

The Holy Spirit led Lisa to drop off a little food where Alba lives. We quit helping the family a while back for a multitude of reasons (gratitude, attitude, funds, ect) Then Saturday, an unexpected but pleasant visit from Alba and Toñyo. She had dressed up in the clothes given previously, and carried a sweet spirit about her, not seen in some time. It promted us to take them out for ice-cream and a talk. Maybe her spirit has softened; it would really be nice to see this tree bear good fruit. One can only watch and pray.

Prayer requests in brief:
Ana’s Heart, Vehicle, Funds for church property, Sponsors, souls….

Barry

Myra, Cynthia, Ana & Jeny

Pastor Santos visited from the mountain today. He came down to collect a small government scholarship for Cynthia; the orphaned little girl his family took in. She was proud she had won the award (Actually a teacher applies for destitute children’s grant and it is “awarded”) and really needed it to stay in public school. After making the long trip down, Santos went to the bank to collect and buy the things Cynthia needed; only to find out, even though she had "won", she was too far down the list, and the fund had no more money.
A disheartened Pastor Santos and Cyntha walked to our house because they did not even have the $2 bus fair to get back to the base of the mountain. During our fellowship, Cynthia and Jeny played, and we found there are many nights the family goes to bed hungry because he does not make enough to feed them all. Santos is pastoring 2 churches and working full time, but it is not enough.

When you look into the eyes of Cynthia and see the hurting your heart goes out. As the LORD would have it, a one time donation had come in a while back specifically for Cynthia and her lil brother Angel. It was not a large amount, only $70. But it happened to be about the same amount of the scholarship. Hmm, wonder how that happens? God never ceases to amaze me. His eye is on the sparrow…and her name is Cynthia. The little orphaned girl who does not know her birthday has our heavenly father watching her. We added funds to it for food, plus provided 50lbs mix of rice and beans for the family this month. I only pray more would see Christ in the eyes we see. WHEN SAW WE THEE LORD?
(Cynthia & Angel need sponsors)

Ana Cristina Heart Operation- No big news yet. Spending lots of time on the phone and overnight$mailing information to the USA, but as yet nothing concrete. I feel I am fishing with many lines in the water a few nibbles but no bites. She needs this to happen before she dies, so we need your prayers!
(Ana needs a major medical sponsor)

Souls-We have 2 more evangelistic outreaches planned in the next couple of weeks and a time of teaching about Mormonism this Wendsday. The big campaign Dec 31-Jan 5 is still on. The largest soccer stadium/field in town has been secured for those dates. PRAY!

Myra- The little girl with a birth defect in her brain, we helped in Jan, came by with her dad. Lisa had made a dress for her birthday and we had a few other things. I blew up 8 balloons and tied them to her wrist. Jeny has become our little ambassador with other children and they played for a few hours.
(Myra needs a sponsor)

Helping Hands…sometimes aren’t. Last night Lisa heated water for the girls to have warm sponge baths. Jeny has never had a warm bath or shower and really liked it. Great, so today she wanted to repay the favor by helping Lisa. Soo…This morning while Lisa and Sasha were out in the market, I was on the phone and Jeny and Barry Jr were doing their school work, so I thought. Jeny started to help with the laundry. I am oblivious to the events happening in the kitchen until Lisa returned and walked in to find: washing machine in the middle of room, garden hose running it over with water, water covering the entire floor, one lone red hanky in the tub of white clothes and the strong aroma of bleach, the clothes on the floor bleach stained……and Jeny greeting her with a big smile of thanksgiving. Lisa walks into the office and says "Barry I hope you like pink"…. Soo... at least the floor is clean,until tomm.
(Jeny needs a sponsor)

Jeny is 11 --- Ana Needs Prayer

Jeny, the little girl who was abandoned, abused and running streets at 6… is now 11. We had a private time on her birthday with gifts and play time. The girls went out for ice cream and brought lil Cindy for fun. The Ice cream was huge, the glass bowl was dipped in chocolate and nuts. Jeny really enjoyed the day. Lisa promised after church on Sunday Jeny could celebrate her birthday with friends from church. When word spread that the Americans were having a “girls only” Princess Birthday party…her Sunday School class swelled to over 50. To keep control, it was held in the gated parking area where we will start having Wednesday services. Boys lined the fence to beg for candy. Jeny in her princess dress made by Lisa, a piñata that withstood a 30 minute beating and still would not give up its candy, Bobbing for...potatoes?, Lettuce ball(like musical chairs & double dare). A day Jeny will remember forever.

On a more sobering front is a little 15mo old girl named Ana Cristina. She is the daughter of Pastor Ramon, who is shepherding the people written about in our first ever blog post called “Pure Church” in January.
Ana has a severe heart defect, that if not corrected will end her short life. Ramon came over Friday to talk, cry and pray. He has been through the socialized care in Honduras and was told they could do no more in Honduras; just take her home to die. The only hope was USA medical care. We have been on the phones ever since looking for an open door. She needs prayer. What Glory for Christ, what praise and joy it would be, to see this struggling family, living on $190/mo, relying only on prayer to have them answered….

If you want to help with the already mounting costs, just note for Ana on the check or the paypal donation link to the right

Send support to
Honduras Missions
PO Box 501
Kenton, OH 43326

Field Contact:
Honduras Missions
PO Box 51
Choluteca, Honduras
Central America

Internet PH 603-397-0606
Cell in Honduras 011-504-925-3538
britcompel@msn.com

Work & Play

Wonderful times in the Name of our LORD Jesus. Last weeks service was a time of refreshing. The LORD prompted to open the service with a 5 minute question and answer time. Nothing was off limits. I asked about beginning a 2nd week day of church, and all present shared the same desire. Then their questions began, simple at first. Example- Why did Jesus say he did not come to bring peace? But then the questions turned more personal, each person publicly sharing trials and quandaries. Some members have aids, others less notable diseases; some have children in jail, another asking how and with whom they should begin a relationship after the death of a spouse. Each yearning to know why and what would please God. It was nice to see them corrected and comforted by God’s Word. It ended up taking up the whole service but drew the church closer. The first Wednesday service should be one of prayer, this seems appropriate. The problem is where to meet. The tent is a lot of work to put up and down and cannot be put away wet. (It rains every evening doubling the work). If it is left up at night it will be stolen. The tent stakes were stolen again this week but a lady in the church found them and made the man give them back. She weighs only 90 lbs. Our rented house is not large enough but the area where we park might be if everyone does not come. Barry Jr and I, are trying to roof it all in with lightweight tin as we are able and the church agreed to try it for a while to meet in on Wednesdays. It would be nice to purchase the rented land and build, but that seems so distant and the need is now.

Jeny’s 11th birthday is Thursday. Lisa is making her a beautiful princess dress and wants the day to be special for her. We have been working with Jeny and she rarely calls herself ugly anymore. Sasha learned that Jeny’s mom studied with Mormons and got the idea dark skin is from a curse and bad. Now I at least understand where/how this lie was started and how it tainted a little girl’s view of herself. Sin never affects just one person…. Lisa purchased all of the Honduras School books and is home schooling Jeny for now trying to get her caught up a little. Her grade level is way behind due to her rocky life history. She worked diligently much of the day Tuesday on math and we finally let her out to play with church kids in the vacant lot where the church meets. Barry Jr taught them a little about American football…ok ok it was more like chase & tag the person with the football, but smiles were dealt out liberally.
Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour
Barry Ritchie