Thank You Lord for Your Goodness

The Turners are gone and our roller coaster ride of life continues. Work abounds here but so do the blessings. Christ’s ministry here this week has rescued the perishing, help one who was half dead, been a house of refuge, given a cold drink of water, defended the faith, proclaimed the gospel, taught the children, fed, clothed and offered the Love of God to all who enter in.

Both Suyapas came to us after our family and home class to talk.
Suyapa2 (Marcio’s mom) shared her concern about Marcio and how wicked some of his friends are, making it difficult for him. Pressuring him to do what they do, in an area where it is possible 1 in every 5 has AIDS, … very dangerous situation. We need to find a way to move him and give his new Christian roots time to grow. I need wisdom and providence in this. After a long very frank sometimes pointed talk, a weeping Suyapa looked straight at me and said… "I have brought my son and parents here to hear the gospel and they all asked Jesus to save them…I too need Jesus to save me”. After a moment of shock, We prayed and she believed on Christ Jesus. The Spirit of the LORD is at work. Amen and amen.

Suyapa 1 came in after to talk about her situation and Neidi. She needed assurance our home could be her refuge. She is in a dangerous situation and the threats she is being pressured by are real and life here is cheap. Because of our stand and involvement, these threats will soon turn toward us, especially if we get the authorities involved, which seems likely. Neidi said she was willing to go through with it all but I am not convinced just yet. In some ways this will be harder because the family involved lives all around us here.

Pastor Santos walked 5.5 hours down the mountain to visit with us and ask if we had medication for his wife. She had a miscarriage up in the mountain a few days ago and was very weak. Lisa was able to give them what they needed and he went to town to get some supplies. I told him to come back and I would drive him back up. While he was gone I was talking to one of my old bus ministry workers about Santos, his church building and things here. He pop up and said he wanted to help put a roof on the church to encourage that ministry. When I told the pastor he was excited. So off we go. This trip is a real test for the new truck…it worked flawlessly climbed like a mule sometimes feeling like your going straight up. It scrapped bottom lightly a couple of times over rocks because we had 7 men sitting in it, and picked up more riders on the way up, so it now has its first scratch and we can quit worrying about getting one amen!.. Since we have a welder… time to “modify it” for a 20 year life in ministry here…Amen.

Thank you LORD for your goodness and wonderful works toward the children of men. Psalms 107

One of our babies in the ministry got malaria this week and we were able to treat her. A mom of one of our ladies needed to be rushed to the hospital. Sasha defended her faith once again with the mormons. 6 people raised there hands for salvation in the Wednesday service…more follow up. amen.
Taking the Turners to the Airport we found ourselves in the midst of a transportation strike. (the taxis and busses block all the roads). The national guard and national police were called out to break it up. It seemed peaceful and we finally made it, but the news at night showed them turning over a Taxi that would not move…Welcome to Honduras.

We have a truck !

The Turners are here visiting to see what the LORD has for them in life. They are a 50 something couple willing to surrender to full time ministry, possibly in a 3rd world area. In just the first few limited days here their eyes have been opened to the differences in poverty, spiritual wickedness and love here compared to the USA. The same day the Turners arrived, Neidi came to stay with us for protection. Not sure if it will be a day, a week or years at this point as she begins to share her thoughts and fears and we work with her mom. Monday morning in prayer, Neidi shared the man in her home had raped her on several occasions, and he was not always drunk. She needs prayer as her mom looks for a safe place to live and work to support 3 children. Her mom cannot read or write so it will be hard. I would love to hire her to help in a feeding kitchen but for now that dream seems a long ways off, we do not even have a church property in the city yet and the need is now.

On Sunday we had 102 people show up for church under the tent in 97 degree heat. It is suppose to get to 106 degrees or higher this weekend. Not sure how much longer the tent will hold up as it has begun tearing at most stress points as the sun dries it out. Pray the door for property opens soon. The need is very great.

A Major praise and burden lifted!!!
We have a NEW 4x4 Kia diesel truck. The LORD provided the funds. A ministering saint called up and said how much more do you need to buy a truck? If you had the funds when would you buy one? Uh?…Tomorrow….Then go buy one we will pay the $9000+ balance. AMEN! We called the dealer and there was only one left in country till the next boat arrives and its now in our possession for our masters use…AAAMen! We hopped a bus to the capital and it was picked up Monday night and driving back down arriving home at 10:30pm. What do you do the first day you get a new vehicle? Get it dirty.... and climb a mountain and visit Los Tererros with Pastor Enemesio do visitation, visit school children, hand out candy and tracts, and check out the progress on the leveling of the land…finished and read for a foundation. Now we have a truck to bring up materials… God’s timing is perfect.

There are 2 major praises attached to this as well that affect other ministries in the USA. I would love to share them, but to honor the request for anonymity it is hard to share it all. Our LORD knows. Lets just say the folks that sacrificed in giving toward the vehicle…did just that, sacrificed and it had a ripple effect for glory and serventhood. We do see God’s hand in it all and it is wonderful.

There is a need to do some modifications yet to the truck so pray for this as well. (cage/ rack, seats in back and change the tires to off road type ect). All this makes it even more multifunctional. The children insisted we use the new truck on the first day to take them to school instead of stacking 15 kids in Carlo’s 4 passenger taxi….Kinda hard to deny them that.
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN
Thank you LORD for the hearts you placed in your servants. Please bless them as they have blessed us!

Unworthy Servants to a Worthy LORD and Saviour
The Ritchies

Sweet and Sour

This week has been filled with sour heart wrenching things and trials, mixed moments of sweet glory for Christ too many to list on a post.

Example: We get our truck back with the absolute assurance it is ready to drive anywhere, I just smile. Lisa and I take it for a test drive to the Capital. 1 hour into the mountains (first time it has run more than 15 minutes!) it has used 1 qt oil, leaking radiator and no clutch. We turn around to try to make it back down and the rear end begins to howl and grind severely, but gets us home. Sitting in front of our house frustrated Omar’s little girl came over to the window to say hi. riding the bicycle Bary Jr rebuilt for her. We talk, then I ask how is it at home now. She replies Bien Bien (Good Good). I ask is it different now than a year ago. “oh Yes”…Why? …”Because Jesus is there now”…..Instantly the truck was a non issue, because we are here to work for the things that last forever.
You see last year, Omar was one of our passed out in the street neighborhood drunks who beat his wife…now has the eternal testimony of his daughter, and he and his wife are faithful members of the Cross Baptist Church. Amen.

We are sitting in our carport talking with Tono about stealing(A long hurtful story) when Miriam the lady who came forward for salvation in church 2 week ago stops in our gate to say thank you. She continues with a testimony; Since trusting Christ she is beginning to see things differently and she doesn’t understand why she wants to smile now….I was not about to burst her bubble and all I could do was say Amen.

Another new Christian, Suyapa (Niedy’s Mom) came over crying and asked if she could leave Neidy with us a few days for safety. Suyapa has been making some good but difficult choices since becoming a Christian. She was not going to allow her “man” to return to their home and knew it could get violent. They were never married and he is not the father. He is a drunk and a bad drug addict, a very wicked man who has already tried to rape Niedy. We added if Suyapa or the boys need a safe place they are welcome too. She began to give this testimony... Before coming to us that morning, mom and the young boys were walking back from town with this situation heavy on their hearts. One of her boys saw the beautiful newly refurbished old catholic church (A historical site here) and said…mom can we go in and pray? I had just taught it did not matter where you pray but your heart condition is what God hears. She entered to find no one. The young boys sat in a pew and began to pray. A man appeared, put his hand on their shoulder and said “The Lord is with you”. Suyapa quickly looked up yet he was gone. She then came to us to talk. I will let your mind contemplate this, but I am sure many of you will have the same thoughts I had.

The photo is Neidy and our girls in dresses that arrived this week, made by a ministering saint in the USA.

We need much prayer, situations we deal with here are dangerous in many ways.
Working with 3rd world poor and severely abused children and adults creates all kinds of issues most people never even think about… We work without a net so to speak.

As servants of Christ Jesus, we are willing to give our lives away…
for the things that last forever and things that never die.

The Ritchies
britcompel@msn.com email
603-397-0606 Internet phone for USA users

What can you do but Laugh?

Funny story about the children this week... a slight discipline problem. Not putting dirty clothes out to be cleaned kind of thing and mixing clean with peed right after they have been cleaned. All they have to do is put their dirty clothes in front of the washer…not under the mattress, not in the dressers, not on the floor ect.
So, Lisa had all the children wash their own clothes the way they used to; on a wash board in a 5 gal bucket. Julie was in the 3'x5'girls bathroom doing her laundry then Lisa heard the shower and went to look why? When Lisa opened the door, Julie was almost up to her neck standing in suds. She had used a 1/2 gal. of the new shampoo just purchased in the capital to wash 1 skirt. The whole bathroom was full and poured into the hall. Lisa acted upset, but had to rush to the bedroom to laugh and compose herself before the kids saw her....Some moments your too busy laughing to catch them on film.
Psalms 126 is true in many forms...Amen.
Unworthy
Barry

Danger Comes In Many Forms

Dan Asher visited to see about helping build a structure in Los Tererros for a church. Like everything in Honduras it takes twice the effort to do things. He wanted to rent a 4x4 be able to get there, but this being a huge holiday week here things are either busy or closed. We had to rent the truck for a week because they would be closed the rest of the time…that was after we found someone with one available.
So we take a bus for 3 hours to the capital pick up the truck on Monday. I took Toño and Barry Jr, about 2hours in on the mountain curves Tono stunk up the bus which triggered other passengers who also vomited. Return home then drive back tues to wait all day for a plane that never arrives. Return home to find Dan stuck in Houston. Return Wednesday pick up Dan and make it back in time for church, Enemesio preached and the lady Sasha has been witnessing to who studies with the Mormons came forward for salvation, Amen. The next morning head to Los Terreros to see the property. Since we had a 4x4 also decided to visit the witch doctor. Steep dangerous drive but found a fairly good welcome and a breath taking mountain top view. First Americans to visit her home. Carlos chose to wait in the car and said with humor and a little seriousness “Barry whatever you do don’t eat or drink anything here, I need you healthy to drive me back down…I have a wife and child you know!” So what happens… she offers a homemade concoction to Enemesio, myself and Dan. I sniffed.. it smelled old and slightly fermented… must be safe (read Mark 16:18). Then look at Enemesio, he shrugged his shoulders we smiled said amen and drank it. Dan on the other hand was like a cat trying to get out of a cold bathtub of water, back peddling as fast as he could with multiple excuses why he could not. We left her and her family with snacks, cold water, bibles and gospel tracts. It made a strong impact. Not sure if she will burn the Bibles on the altar she had in her home but some were paging through them as we left.

We also went to Aguas Callente (different mountian) to leave Bibles, tracts, and some food for Pastor Santos, Cynthia and Angel. Everyone was very nervous when I had to turn around on a path and teetering the truck on 2 wheels. Dan and Enemsio hung over the side for weight to keep it down. I used to do this for fun in the USA now its all in a days work for missions. Friday drop Dan at the Airport for yet another long dangerous drive back home. Monday we do it again to return the truck. In all we went through near 100 police check points, drove 25 hours on paved and about 10 hours on mountain paths, saw a dozen bad wrecks. One was a fuel tanker overturned and leaking on the mountain.

A photo taken by Dan

Saturday I took the older children up the mountain to honor a promise I made to Alba. I had said when we were able I would take her to see her grandmother. With the new rented 4x4 we were able to reach where she was. It was a sweet visit for Alba, Toño and Julie with some tears of joy. When the truck goes back Monday I am hoping they do not inspect it real close mechanically and we get our $1000 deposit back. It has a lot of noises in the suspension it did not start out with but not a scratch on it. :) Welcome to Honduras....

Sunday Easter services were packed. Lisa had the idea to make a passover meal for the church to teach about the last supper, death, burial and resurection of our LORD Jesus Christ. It went very well. Thank you Lord.

Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour
Barry Ritchie
britcompel@msn.com

Please to remember to pray for a vehicle, church property or meeting place, Safety, Health and Souls....

Battling Spiritual Wickedness in High Places

Battling spiritual wickedness in high places continually,… leaves you fatigued, and your armor in constant need of inspection, repair and upkeep. Thankfully our rest is in the LORD.
This week in Honduras many wonderful things happened preceded by many efforts to thwart each one, some succeeded some did not. Baptisms have been a topic as of late with Sunday scheduled for a river baptism service. Iris came to me and asked to be baptized, after a lengthy talk I could find no reason not to, for I felt she had trusted Christ. In Wednesday service I picked her up in my arms as an illustration of Jesus saying "suffer the little children to come unto me". It was a touching moment as she shared with all her testamony. But this must have set off spiritual wickedness alarms, for heart wrenching events following the next 2 days. And made it so that Iris and her sister Bessy are no longer with us. I can only hope the little light that has been lit will burn bright and God will not only protect her in the wicked environment she will enter, but use her to save others.

Thursday was a surprise birthday for Carlos. We trucked 73 folks from our church to his house in 4 trips with a truck we borrowed from the mechanic at the last moment. A sweet time of preaching, fellowship and Honduran chop suey. Since we had the mechanics truck we held it ransom until ours was done. Amazing, it came back quick, but it is still not right and wont make a trip out of the city.

Sunday arrives and set up church on the river at 6am for a 10 am service. 60+ church folks show up for special baptism services. We shuttled them to the river in the datsun. It took 7 trips including tents and stuff, a lot of work but…. 14 were baptized! AMEN! Folks brought food to share, we brought a homebuilt barbeque and Lisa fed many. And the church was like a big family for about 6 hours.

If you seek to please the LORD Jesus Christ in all things, spiritual wickedness will seek every opportunity to damage, delay and discourage you.
PLEASE keep us in prayer!
Current prayer requests, Church property, vehicle, safety and health, souls...and spend a little extra time for Iris and Bessy....

Unworthy Servants to a Wonderful Worthy Saviour
Barry & Lisa Ritchie