A rescue mission a yard from hell

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd

What would it be like to live a yard from hell in a rescue mission? I was sitting outside last night talking to Carlos and watching the neighborhood. Doing what we could to help. A whirlwind of events took place around us, numerous things happening. Mariana (one of our newly saved ladies) rushed by without stopping, crying out, “I need to talk to you.” Two other women at the end of the street began fighting with knives over food. An 11 year old boy ran by with his mother chasing him, cursing and throwing rocks at him. Another lady was yelling at and chasing her older promiscuous teenage daughter with a stick, the girl laughing as she ran from her. Neydi and Suyapa walked over to talk about Neydi being sick and wanting to return living with us. Then Suyapa's drunk "man" stumbled by us, barely able to stand, staggering his way home. I looked at Suyapa and her grimace said it all. He returned a few minutes later heading back to the bar. Another drunk man about to pass out at our window, began undressing with 3 teenage boys hovering and watching, just waiting to rob him. Barry Jr chased them off before the police showed up and arrested yet another man in the liquor store for fighting. All the while working these issues, Carlos and I were talking about the property the mayor wants us to buy for the church…basically all the slum housing in an effort to improve the area. The world’s way of solving problems…move them elsewhere. Several folks came by to say the police arrested Mariana too, only to see her walk back a few moments later. She had been arguing with the man in the liquor store. She sat down next to us and began to cry and pour her heart out. She had just found out the man she was arguing with was in a relationship with her husband….aaaahhhh. Now she and her house need to be tested for aids, because of the extremely high percentage of those engaging in sodomy here also have aids…Some say more than 70 or 80%. Honduras has the highest rate of aids in the Americas. She also shared she needs to find a new job because since trusting the LORD she cannot in clear conscience work for the Liquor store owner. She made food there. This was bothering her before this, right now it is unbearable. We stopped and all prayed. I would love to turn the slums into a rescue mission…but the LORD must open some hearts and eyes because I cannot do it alone.

The property outside the city for an orphanage etc. was sold before we even looked at it. The man on the property lost it to the corprativa holding company who had already sold it. He was trying to sell it again and take off with the funds….Welcome to Honduras- wisdom is needed in everything here. The mayor suggested a property out of the city toward Nicaragua. So, Sunday we loaded up in the newly repaired Kia (Amen!) to go see it. It was one of the most beautiful properties we have seen here to date, something you would dream about owning…21 manzanas (36 acres) of every kind of fruit tree and coffee. Good water and sewage. A creek and a small adobe home right on the Pan- American Highway…problem? $50-60,000 short. We thanked the Mayors helper for showing it to us, and looked at one other property of 2 manzanas for $12,000 but it had no electric or water and was off the road a ways. So, for now, this idea is just a dream.

I talked with Enemensio this morning. The older lady(the village elder's wife in LosTerreros) we picked up in Tegucigalpa and brought to Choluteca a few weeks ago, passed away yesterday. But not before trusting Christ with Enemensio. Amen! The new truck is a blessing, taking supplies into the mountians, giving a dieing grandmother her last ride home or pulling out a stuck neighbor from the muddy street and handing out tracts...why? Added example: The elderly lady's family has asked Enemesio to preach at the funeral…they are all not saved. Now, they shall hear the truth. Amen. Tommorrow we will be taking building supplies to Los Tererros and Thursday sand and cement up to Agua Calliente on Friday doing an outreach up in the mountian in Fray Lassero. Pastor Santos and the church men finished the church roof and wants to do the Ormundo Bible Institute in Agua Callente with the men. AMEN!

Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour
Barry Ritchie

"The best remedy for a sick church is to put it on a missionary diet." -- David Livingston

Candles, Cake & County Jail

Pastor Bossley, Brother Wellington and Brother Ben are gone. I believe we wore them out. They had several opportunities to preach with more than 15 trusting Christ. The last day we went a saw the 70+ year old Lady Maria I led to Christ last year and she ran up to the truck hugged and kissed me. Loaded up the truck and bounced down the rocky path for the movie and preaching. The outreach brought 125+ folks in and the men fed them bananas and tracts. Several churches were blessed this week and many hearts touched. In all, it was a really good visit.

Several things have happened since. 2 properties have come up for sale; one for the church in Choluteca; the second 3.5 acres 15 kilometers outside the city for the orphanage/home/farm/ another church and ? It already has a well, electric and a 60x20 warehouse type building that the owner is living in. Ben had discussed manufacturing vitamins while visiting…Hmm, there’s a huge need. But the property is $20,000….always a catch. 19 of us loaded into the minivan we rented (our truck is being repaired Amen!) and went to view the property. All felt it would be perfect for ministry if God opens this door…

The church property in the city is $12,000 and crosses behind our home from street to street with a section down to the river. We have about ½ of the funds needed. The property we were renting from the bar was sold again. This is good news and bad… (Good) The new owner is going to build a house there, not a bar… (Bad) in 3 months…..So the church really needs a meeting location soon.

Below is just one reason for an orphanage/home/farm/ future church location out of the city….All the children need the freedom to go out and play without fear.

Example--Wednesday, Barry Jr. was outside our home riding his bicycle and 3 policemen stopped him. Officer Maradiaga reached and took his pocket knife and tried to take his bike with no explanation. Barry Jr. came in and told me the police just stole his knife. I went out with a camera and called to them but they laughed and kept walking. I told Barry Jr. to go take a picture of him to show to the police chief…He got too close, the next thing that happens is they beat him in the head and arrested him. Several church members saw it happen and rushed back to where I was. Peddling there on a borrowed kids bike, I got the camera back and tried to talk to them, by then they were mad and put him in a truck. I continued to take pictures and went to the police station. Within 15 minutes many from our church showed up to show support. The “posturing” and lies began, trying to intimidate us. When we called a local news reporter Carlos knows and a police commissioner in the capital Omar knows, things began to move in the right direction. I made it clear if I left the next call was to the embassy. They asked if I would sign a paper for his release. No problem as long as it has NO lies in it. They did not know what to do with someone who insisted on the truth because God demands it. The release paper went through several “revisions”. Till it finally said we are releasing him to his father because we find no fault in him…..They were looking for a way out because they knew they had beat and arrested an American minor for simply taking pictures…. Wisdom says it is good to move them out of the city.

Even with all this, Church that night was sweet, with a surprise birthday party for Lisa. The folks here have truly adopted us as their own. More than 60 people packed in our carport in the dark (power was out with a heavy downpour) for candle service, reading the bible and the ladies feeding everyone food and cake. In the USA it would be a nice thing to do…here with the money they do not have… it is a grandiose gesture of love….AAAmen. Keep us before the throne of grace we need every prayer.

Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour
Barry Ritchie

The visiting men provided funds needed to retest the children this week.

For those of you who have been praying and following Alba and the rest of the children's story, you know what importance these negitave results are. We humbly thank each of you for prayers on her behalf, for our wonderful redeemer heard, and it availed much to His Glory. Amen.

If you do not know the story, look in the archives for November of last year to the right of the blog. Then pray and rejoice with us.
Thank You LORD!

ROLLED !

Maiden voyage hauling church building materials up the mountains in the new truck…. And rolled it over! Thankfully no one was hurt. We had a American pastor and two of his church members with us as well as Jeny and Barry Jr. Everyone crawled out the passenger window and left our cameras inside. oops. Once unloaded, we all pushed it back on to its wheels, started it to check it, then reloaded part of the load and made the delivery. Think of driving up a very rocky creek bed and you’ll understand the “road” we were on. The left rear wheel was pushing hard on a rock that moved and the tire went into the rock’s hole and over it went. The joke the rest of the day was me looking for a scapegoat. Someone else to blame, to say it was their fault not mine. Tried blaming Jeny but she would not take blame. Instead returning a pointing finger “You Papi” with a giggle and smile. Finally I settled on… it was the American men’s wives back in the USA. Yup, if they had fattened up the men sitting on the right side of the truck it would not have rolled. But I kept thinking, I think Adam tried that too in the garden…Anyway.

The church was blessed and encouraged on the mountain. The men’s hearts were broken in what they saw with lots of tracts distributed. In eternal value the trip was easily worth it, in worldly value it will be a 2-3 thousand dollars in repairs. I really do not have to worry about the kids scratching it now….:)

We took all the children for AIDS and Hepatitis testing again Thursday. Because of their stories, we included Jeny and Neydi as well. Results will be a 3:00 today.. Need prayer.

We have an evangelistic outreach planned out of the city for Sat as well that needs prayer.

Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour
Barry Ritchie

Our 3 Piñata Week

One was a birthday party for Neydi. She had never had a real party and we asked her if she wanted to have one at school. So arrangements were made and we brought out a bounce house, cupcakes and piñata for her class. It was a really good time for all. Lisa found a cheap red bicycle as well that lit up her eyes to make it a day to remember. Neydi gave Lisa her first kiss and hug. Her walls are coming down. On mothers day Lisa wanted have a piñata just for moms after church. It was great, they all turned into little girls for a moment just to beat candy and prizes out of a paper lady. Even some of our great grandmothers swung a few times. Another church family made food for all, children made gifts and handed out flowers. I could not help thinking like a papa proud of his children…I believe the Lord was pleased.

Our voodoo circus is back and their presence affects the spirit in the neighborhood. We even had a black cat with a slit throat put on the church property. A lot of superstition here.

Our third piñata was Jeny. Ok not really but she is beat up like one. Lisa took several of the children on a bike ride Sunday and a car swerved and hit Jeny. She was unconscious for a short time. We got her to the Hospital for x-rays and set her dislocated shoulder thankfully, no broken bones. AMEN. She will be out of school for at least a week and is doing fine right now. What added to the panic is our new truck is broken (Starter?) so we had to rush to get the old one going to rush her to the pay hospital and call the doctor in (We have his cell phone). No 911 here. Keep her in prayer.

Karen also re-infested with parasites…why? We caught her and Sayder using straws to drink toilet water… eeww…. could use prayer too…

We leave at 5am to take the truck to the dealer tomorrow by 8 and hope it is done before we need to pick up pastors at the airport. Pray for their time here to be fruitful for Christ Jesus.

A sizable donation has been made from a ministering saint of our LORD. About 1/3 of what is needed for property. We have chosen to use it as seed money for church property which is a major encouragement to the church. The church folks have sacrificed and put over $1000 toward property as well. Still a long way to go though.

Directline Ministries is also accepting shoebox gifts to ship in a container for our ministry at Christmas. If you want to help or get your church involved please contact us--

britcompel@msn.com or Paul Deem through their website info www.directlineministry.com

Don’t wait till Christmas…

Issues and Baggage

Issues and baggage from sin filled lives. The children we now have come from some very bad environments. It comes at no surprise that the sin nature they were born with was gorged and made fat. Therefore, will take some time to starve off and mortify it. Example, we have had a ongoing issue with theft over the months each dealt with appropriately and proportionally. Never the less returning, just more creative each time. Even church offerings disappeared. This week we may have crossed the tipping point for the good…finally. All the children have issue in this but Alba and Toño are key and where the most pressure was applied. After finding the last money hidden in a mattress and under a vase, and taped to the back of a drawer, We picked up Alba from school in the middle of classes and parked in front of child services to talk…ok preach. It was very open, two side and frank, lasting more than 7 hours. But the end result was glorious, for it is rare see a soul cry out for Jesus as Alba did. The closest example from the Bible is Mark 10:47 Bartimaeus healed. After praying there was a calm in her face that was missing before and while I was actually thinking this, she look at me and said “Papi, I’m not scared, that I'm living a lie anymore, thank you for loving me even when it hurts and no one else would.” I was stunned, and overjoyed at what I had seen take place. But the job was not done The Bible was opened to John 8:1-8, for this is a very appropriate passage in our discussion from every perspective. But ended with... go and sin no more…. Pray she has lost her baggage. AMEN!

Toño was a different matter, he did not humble under instruction, his heart was hard. He is every bit a small version of his father whom we helped put in jail; stealing, lying, even beating and threatening the girls in secret. He needed a shock lesson. I talked with child services and they agreed to the entire plan. They were to pick him up and put him in jail to await an opening in the juvenile institution. The police were also informed and emphasized their part. After a few hours he began to beg and plead to return to papi’s house till the police brought the child services back in to listen to him. He promised to obey, not abuse his sibling, nor lie or steal…if true it is a good start. The lawyer walked him to our house at 10:30 pm to ask if we would take him back. I said if he was repentant and asked for forgiveness and wanted to change the Bible says I have no choice but yes. He began to cry and jumped into my arms repeating over and over "I’m sorry papi"….In the days since returning he has shown a much more humble spirit. The road we travel may not paved or straight but pray it is going down hill now.. Amen.

On other news. The first of the funds have arrived to begin the church building in Los Tererros. We will be purchasing material on Monday and taking it up…in the new truck amen!

Also an offer to help replace the roof on the building for Pastor Santos’ church in Agua Caliente. That will be a major blessing as well. It will be ready when the doctors visit in July. Amen!

Pray, for our church still need a place to meet. Property, building.. something. Near 100 degrees under a tent is tough on anyone.

Suyapa and Neydi: Suyapa agreed to meet with Child Services about the danger to her and Neydi, and we made arrangements to do so Monday. But at 2am friday he was put in jail for abuse for trying to lite her on fire while she slept. We now will meet on Sunday. For safety, pray he stays in jail. Within our ministry we have numerous situations of women getting saved and wanting to do right but traped physically by force/threat or financially in dangerous situations. No welfare here. The formula is simple: no man, no work no eat, for them or their children. Pray for wisdom as we guide and help as our LORD Jesus would.
I often feel like I am chained to a tree on a beach watching people, friends and family drown just out of my reach. Lisa and I want to do more....Pray that we can reach them and our chains loosed.

Carlos our interpreter, friend, sunday school teacher, my right arm most of the time shared he led his wife Luz to the LORD a week ago. And he has seen a godly humility sprout forth as good fruit since. As he was telling me this he got a text message from her asking for permission to do something...I was amazed for 2 weeks ago that would not have happened.
Lives changed for eternity... what other work has that value?

Unworthy Servant to a Worthy Saviour
Barry Ritchie