2021 Has Been An Incredible Year

Listening to the news and looking around our world it would be difficult to make such a statement. The pandemic is ongoing and seemingly without end. There are sicknesses and health struggles other than COVID to deal with. Inflation is taking a bigger and bigger bite out of our budgets. There is political change, strife and uncertainty almost everywhere. There is famine in places, ongoing wars and rumors of wars in other places.

But when we look up instead we see differently.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.-Psalm 121:1-2

This verse has been at the top of nearly every newsletter for the last year or more and it is painted above the front door of La Casa De Rubén. The Lord who made heaven and earth has been faithful to help us, and because of His abundant grace and provision it truly has been an incredible year for FHD Missions Honduras.

• Because of your giving 11 families moved into new homes replacing those that were destroyed in the back to back hurricanes that hit Honduras at the end of 2020. We have plans and resources to build 3 more now that the rainy season has ended and we can send a crew and materials up the mountain.

• We stepped out in faith while lacking the funds and added three more outstanding students to our scholarship program giving them a chance to study and earn an opportunity for a better life.

• Our first two short term mission teams returned this year to minister with us in several communities and to finish the room addition at La Casa De Rubén.

• We celebrated the baptism of three new followers of Jesus in September at LCDR.

• In addition to Rubén and Rosalina, Bayron (12 years old) and Yovin (15 months old) began receiving care regularly through the ministry of La Casa De Rubén. Bayron is now taking his first steps in almost 6 years and Yovin is moving his previously paralyzed right arm.

• La Casa De Rubén received a donation of exercise equipment greatly improving our in-house physical therapy capabilities.

• Through a generous donation received from Mission of Harmony we were able to purchase four brand new wheelchairs, one of which was a pediatric wheelchair and two were reclining wheelchairs.

• In October we launched a matching grant fundraising campaign with a God-sized goal of raising  $100,000 to purchase the house we have been renting for La Casa De Rubén and begin construction for much needed expansion. We are happy to report that we have reached 96.8% of our goal only needing $3,200 more in donations to reach the finish line.

You have been a blessing to us and a blessing to so many others you may never meet in a place you may never get to visit. But through your prayers and financial support you are as big of a part of what God is doing in these mountains of Honduras as anyone else. A simple thank you does not seem sufficient but Jean and I don’t know what else to say, so thank you so very much. We are grateful for your friendship and your service to God’s kingdom through the ministry He has entrusted to us. Happy New Year!

-With our love in Christ, Greg & Jean

Quarantine Reflections

At the end of the day today, April 9th, Jean and I will have completed our 14 day mandatory quarantine (see previous blog post for details). This has meant that we were not permitted to leave our property, or to have any visitors, for the last two weeks. We are most thankful that we have remained healthy during this time and completely free from the Corona virus, and all other sicknesses for that matter. Needless to say we are looking forward to Good Friday being our first day of freedom from this order.

In the mountains where we live the only place anyone is allowed to go is to the small local convenience stores nearby. Fortunately tomorrow we too will be able to do so. We’ve heard that most of those are very low on supplies as delivery trucks have not been allowed entry by community leaders for the last two weeks or so. Gracias, a city of approximately 30,000 with gas stations, banks, grocery stores, etc, has maintained very strong controls about access to their city. This week everything in Gracias is closed. The national curfew was extended to April 19th with days of the week that people are allowed to go to the stores, banks, etc. based on ID numbers. Going to Gracias next Wednesday will allow us to do a few things we need to do. And by getting out for a little while some sense of normalcy will return at least for a little while.

In other cities people have been able to go out to get things they need on specified days of the week more so than in our area depending on the last digit of their identification. In these same cities home deliveries of groceries, medicine and/or food from restaurants has been permitted. However, in the rural mountains of Honduras none of these have been available options. Being completely isolated from our friends and neighbors and not having permission to leave our property has brought about a much greater appreciation for the freedom of movement and ability to get the things that are wanted or needed.

Rather than focusing on what we don’t have we have focused more on counting our blessings, and they are many. But even though we have many blessings to count there have been moments when it has not been easy for us. We miss seeing our friends and families. There is a sense of helplessness as we have been unable to do much for families that are in need. However, even while obeying completely our quarantine orders, God showed us a creative way that we could bless some families in our area and it was very satisfying to be able to do so from our home without having any personal contact.

The fact that we were allowed to return to our home two weeks ago even though the local governments had the right to deny us that is one huge blessing. We have friends who are stuck in other parts of Honduras, away from their homes and families, who have been denied this right for three weeks and counting. People in the rural mountains all across Honduras are struggling much more than usual because of this crisis. People either don’t have any cash or they don’t have access to the banks to get cash so they can’t buy what they need. We’ve heard that the government is distributing food but hunger is becoming a problem for more and more families in the rural areas especially.

So wherever you are, if you are in your home, if you have the option to go out, if you have the ability to visit with people (while following whatever social distancing rules are in place) or if you can purchase or receive deliveries of food and supplies (which implies that you have the means to make these purchases), please take a moment to give God thanks if you haven’t done so already. These are huge blessings and this crisis has brought this into much sharper focus for us.

We spent the first day of our quarantine processing and decompressing from the events of the previous few days as they had been mentally and emotionally draining. Then we of course thought about home projects, you know, the ones that you say you’ll do if you ever get the time to do them. Yes, we have those projects too. Well, all of a sudden we had the time. So, we did go about getting some of those done. There remain several projects not done because we weren’t prepared beforehand and now we can’t get the supplies that we need. So, with nowhere to go, and not as many projects to keep us busy we slowed down a bit like so many of you have done.

God has a habit of working through the decisions made by men and governments to accomplish His purposes. It was the order given by Caesar for a census to be taken that God used to send Joseph and his very pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem. God used this circumstance to fulfill the prophecy that had been written hundreds of years earlier regarding the birth place of Jesus. In God’s sovereignty nothing takes Him by surprise, and likewise nothing goes unused by Him to accomplish His purposes.

The world has not been as troubled as it is now for quite some time; this led me to a familiar verse, Psalm 46:10, in the NASB it reads as follows:

“Cease striving, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

The same verse in the NIV translates “cease striving” as “be still”. Even though the NASB is my personal favorite occasionally I find other translations to be insightful and this is one of those times. Both phrases, cease striving and be still, have very similar meanings but “be still” resonates more with me these days.

Be still. And know that I am God. What does this mean?

The call to stillness is not a call to laziness.

Nowhere in the Scriptures is laziness celebrated. Paul wrote that if a man is unwilling to work then he should not expect to eat (see Galatians chapter 3). King Solomon had plenty to say about lazy people throughout the book of Proverbs and none of it was favorable. Stillness with a purpose is not laziness.

The call to stillness is a call to peacefulness.

When we read Psalm 46 in its entirety we see that the Psalm was written as an assurance to God’s people. We need God’s assurances now. God is reminding us that He is our refuge and our strength. By using the imagery of raging seas and shaking and crumbling mountains, we are assured that in the midst of these things we have a hiding place in God. Regardless of what governments do God is still in control. He is still on His throne. He is still with us. He is our stronghold. In this we can be still and have peace.

The call to stillness is the antidote to busyness.

Far too often our value, worth, importance, significance, and I would even say our very identities, are determined by how busy we are. We admire and elevate busy people in our culture. The busier someone is the more important and successful they must be. We are all familiar with beginning a sentence with “I know you are really busy but…” I’ve only had a boss or two during my years in corporate America who would not let me address them that way because they did not want being busy to be a hindrance to our relationship. I’ve had other bosses and coworkers who proudly wore their busyness as a badge for all to see and admire. Unfortunately I have been this kind of boss and coworker before.

Sadly we see this in ministry too sometimes. With the best of intentions, if we’re not careful, we’ll fall into the same trap of busyness in our ministries. I wish this wasn’t true but it is sometimes. So even while serving God in ministry we need to be reminded that our busyness can distract us from what is truly important and that stillness is the antidote to busyness.

And Know That I Am God

This is what it is all about. To know God we have to take time to be still. God does not force us to know Him. The Bible says that He speaks to us in a still, small voice. Remember when Elijah was hiding out in a cave on Mount Horeb (see 1 Kings 19)? God told Elijah to stand before Him. There was a great wind, strong enough to break rocks. The wind was followed by an earthquake. The wind and earthquake were followed by a fire. And after the fire the Word says there was the sound of a gentle blowing. And it was in the sound of the gentle blowing that Elijah heard God speak.

If we want to know God we have to get someplace quiet and be still. Most of us don’t like being still, especially you extroverted types. You need to be around people with lots of activity. You know it is hard to hear and know God with constant activity all around but that is how you are wired. While I would not consider myself to be an introvert I tend to lean a little more that way. While I enjoy being around others I also have a strong need for quiet time. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the more introverted among us do any better at stillness.

In the quiet times it takes much effort, for me at least, to discipline my mind and focus on God to the level required of being still and knowing that He is God. Even if I am not physically on the run the distractions within are often enough to ruin the stillness of my external environment when there are few activities and nobody around.

In this current crisis God has intervened in a noticeable way, through the decisions of governments, to remove many of the external distractions that enable us to continue in our “busyness”. But the question now is this; are we taking advantage of this unprecedented time in our lives to deal with all of our distractions and busyness, to actually be still enough to know that He is God?

God has a purpose for this season that we are in right now. God is trying to get our attention. I think God is trying to prepare His people for things that are going to come. We need to seek Him, let Him be our assurance, refuge, and strength and then walk moment by moment in His peace. We need to use this season wisely to get prepared for what lies ahead. We need to be still and know that He is God.

Coronavirus Crisis in Honduras

At risk of making the understatement of the year there have been some pretty significant changes in the last couple of weeks for all of us. It is impossible to think there is a single one of us who has not been impacted in some way by the Coronavirus crisis. In this post we would like to give you a glimpse into how CV19 has affected life in Honduras.

On Sunday March 15th the Honduras government made the decision to close the borders effective at midnight. We were given about 4 hours notice. At that time they began to implement many of the initial preventive measures outlined by the CDC. With the restrictions there were exceptions so that many things could continue largely as normal, except of course entering or leaving the country. However, we knew life was beginning to change. We were wondering just how much it might change.

At this time there were 6 reported cases in the country. Just a couple of days prior there had been 3.

Over the course of the next couple of days the number of cases increased slowly but gradually and the travel restrictions became more intense as many of the exceptions to travel were being removed while more things were being ordered to shut down. There was a period of confusion as to which curfew and which exceptions applied as there were so many conflicting reports and rumors circulating. The changes were more noticeable.

During this time San  Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa and La Ceiba, the three largest cities in Honduras, were blocked off with none permitted to enter or leave and travel within strictly limited. It wasn’t long before movement within these cities was prohibited completely. Life had just changed dramatically for residents of those cities.

As cases continued to increase this became the norm as more and more smaller cities followed suit. It wasn’t long before Gracias, the largest town closest to us, was closed off. All of this was supposed to be in effect until March 22nd. However by Thursday March 19th the reported cases had grown to 24 and a complete nationwide curfew was implemented. This is when life changed dramatically for all of us.

All businesses, except pulperias (small neighborhood convenience stores) were shut down and everyone was required to stay home. The only exception is that we can go to our neighborhood pulperia for basic supplies. To enforce the curfew multiple checkpoints were set up all across the country. This curfew is scheduled to be lifted on March 29th and we are praying to that end.

The hunt for information about how to get American citizens stranded in Honduras back home was underway. Like the curfews, there were so many stories and rumors circulating it was very hard to understand what was happening, how or when people were going to get home. Fortunately within a few days we began to hear about evacuation flights being scheduled.

Beginning March 24th community leaders began to take matters into their own hands by erecting more road blocks in and around Gracias and La Campa. While some of these roadblocks may not have been completely “official” it is understandable why they were being established.

I’d like to take a brief detour from the story. There are some who are claiming on social media that Honduras is under martial law. While I am not a legal scholar it seems to me that the words “martial law” are somewhat of an exaggeration of what is actually happening. Yes, constitutional freedoms to circulate freely have been temporarily suspended. However, the elected government is still in control and all of the remaining laws have remained in effect and are being enforced by the police. One might call that martial law by another name but considering that the military has not taken control of the streets nor the country it is accurate and balanced to report that we are not under “martial law”.

But there is something else that you may find more remarkable based on the reputation that Honduras has in the media; the country has been completely at peace. Until very recently there were no uprisings or protests, there has been no looting of stores even though many more Hondurans are doing without more so than usual. Within the last 24 hours there have been a few incidents in some of the larger cities where people are running out of the basic necessities for living. There are also many who are suffering economic hardship because they are not allowed to work. One such example are the taxi and bus drivers but there are many, many others. Please pray that decisions are made as soon as possible allowing people to return to work and to be able to get the things they need to survive without compromising public health.

Whether you think this virus is being exploited for other purposes or that it’s severity is simply being blown out of proportion, the Honduran people largely have respect for the measures being taken to stop the spread of a potentially dangerous virus. People here understand how fragile the healthcare system really is and that it would not take much for it to be overwhelmed. In these circumstances a perhaps not as deadly as predicted virus could still cause a lot of damage.

There was something else that we found very encouraging. Jean and I were in San Pedro Sula on Sunday when the announcement was made about closing the borders. We had a volunteer who had come here to serve at CRILE, the therapy center in Gracias, and at La Casa De Rubén who was scheduled to return to Georgia on Monday morning. Obviously she couldn’t and there will be more written when that chapter is finished.

Due to the border closure we found ourselves nearly 5 hours away from home, with a volunteer who was not permitted to leave the country, and needing to get a few things with a 6:00 p.m. curfew looming (this was the first curfew that was to be in effect until March 23rd). While Jean was talking to Delta about the changes I (Greg) went out to get the few remaining supplies that we needed for ourselves and some others in La Campa. Even as the new curfew was drawing closer I didn't witness the panic buying and hoarding of toilet paper or other supplies that had been common in other parts of the world. The lines were a little longer but people went about calmly purchasing just the things that would be needed.

You might at this point be wondering about La Casa De Rubén. Well, we have been unable to visit La Casa De Rubén since March 14th but we are very happy to report that everything is going very well there. We are so thankful for all of the staff who are working so hard to make sure that Rubén, Rosalina and Marlen are being cared for properly. We are so thankful to the family who owns the grocery store from which we buy all of the food for the house. Maria, our director, had made sufficient plans for the house to be stocked at least until the 24th, the first shopping day after the first curfew was to be lifted. However, on the 19th when the new and extended nationwide curfew went into effect, again with very little warning, Maria, our director, talked to the owners and they agreed to make a special delivery of food as all movement within the city of Gracias, except for medical emergencies, had already been prohibited. This delivery provided enough food for the house to last until the end of the month.

One aspect of our ministry that has been impacted very significantly, besides the fact that we can’t leave our property, is that short term mission teams are unable to come and serve. Before the border closure and curfews kicked in the team leader for the group from Kentucky made the decision to postpone their trip until July. We have heard that many June teams are cancelling and in fact one of our June teams has made that decision. Based on the information we have at present cancelling June trips is not unreasonable. Jean and I had made plans to visit the states in May but at this point it is looking very unlikely that we will be able to make this trip.

None of us know what the future holds. Based on what I am seeing it seems hard to imagine that life will return to the previous normal that we all knew prior to March 2020. Does that mean all is lost? Absolutely not! I am starting to think that a new normal, at least in some areas, might not be such a bad thing. Unfortunately I think we collectively as humans, and within our communities and families, and individually, will have to pass through some trials to get there. In my spirit I sense that we are just barely into the beginning of the trials. I don’t enjoy trials any more than you. How we respond to the trials has everything to do with where we end up.

In the world right now most everything looks bleak. People are infected and many are dying from the Coronavirus. Entire nations are shut down. People are stranded, struggling to get back to their home countries and families. The global financial system is under extreme stress and in some ways is collapsing before our very eyes. Incredible amounts of wealth have been wiped off the books in an unprecedented amount of time.

Life as we knew it has changed. Dramatically.

Will the financial system recover? Yes, eventually. Will everyone who wants to return to their home country do so? I think so. But we can tell you that it is not done easily based on our experiences of the last week figuring out how and helping others to return to the U.S. from Honduras. And there are any other number of other things happening that could be cited.

But the main question is this-are you fearful or faithful? I’d be lying if I said that we have not been fearful at times. But mostly, we have been faithful and I encourage you to be faithful too. Place your faith in God if you are struggling with all of the changes and difficulties because He is faithful. He has promised to never leave or forsake His children. He never promised that we would not have problems in this life. But He has promised to be with us when the problems come. One of the greatest opportunities for His children to bring Him glory is by standing firm in our faith during the greatest of challenges. So now is our opportunity, those who claim to be Christians, to be the light in the world during these difficult times, to draw others to Jesus as we love the Lord with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength; and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Personally, and on behalf of FHD Missions Honduras we thank all of you so much. You are a greater encouragement to us than you can know. If there is anything we can do, any way that we can pray specifically for you, please contact us. May you find the peace from God that surpasses all understanding during these difficult times. Blessings to you and your family.

Feelings of Worthlessness

Many of you know very well the story of Rubén. And many of you also know that a young woman named Rosalina recently became our second patient guest to receive the benefits of staying at La Casa de Rubén. If you are not familiar with these stories please scroll down and read the two previous blog posts and then come back to this one.

One of the things that disabled people often suffer with is boredom and feelings of worthlessness, of having no purpose in life. Imagine how great the struggle was for Rubén while spending 2 1/2 years laying in a bed with nothing to do except to look out a small window, or maybe listen to the radio occasionally.

Much of this changed for him simply by coming to La Casa de Rubén and going to physical therapy 2-3 times per week. As he gained strength, and with the help of the staff, he quickly began to be able to stay in his wheelchair more and more. Now bedtime is the only time he is not in his wheelchair. Some of the time in his wheelchair is spent reading now that he has enough strength and movement to hold down a book and turn the pages.

But even with this the feelings of boredom and worthlessness persist. Thankfully we have a God who cares.

Let me introduce you to a young man named Aguinaldo. Before the idea came to us for La Casa de Rubén we hired Aguinaldo to do some electrical work for us in La Campa. It was easy to get to know and like him because he is such a humble, gentle young man. He also happens to be an excellent electrician.

Shortly after we moved into La Casa de Rubén we needed some electrical work done so Aguinaldo was called upon again. He came and did excellent work. But he also took time to begin building a personal relationship with Rubén. One day Aguinaldo pulled me off to the side and told me that he had an idea that would help Rubén and asked permission to pursue it. Of course, I said yes, go for it!

Because God cares He had touched Aguinaldo’s heart to find something for Rubén to do that fit his interests and could be done taking into account his physical limitations. Yesterday Aguinaldo’s idea became much more clear when he presented a small, basic CNC machine that he built using materials he had in his shop and small electronic boards and processing chips that he purchased.

The machine is connected to and operated by a computer. Currently the machine only has the capability to draw images from the computer onto paper. But even this opens up opportunities for Rubén to be able to spend his time doing something that makes him feel productive. There is great dignity in feeling and being productive.

Yesterday we spent a lot of time talking and dreaming at La Casa de Rubén of the future possibilities there are for Rubén using a computer, this machine, and his creative desires to produce all sorts of things that he can sell to support himself, and perhaps someday, his own family.

Rosalina came to the house with her sewing skills and while she is there she continues to produce beautiful hand stitched cloths of various sizes. These cloths can be used as table cloths or decorative hanging tapestries. They typically serve a more practical purpose here in Honduras as they are often used as tortilla warmers. You’ll be hearing and seeing more about Rosalina’s cloths very soon.

We are so grateful to God for how He works by bringing people together in ways that can’t be predicted. Who knew a contract electrician would be the one God chose to use to open up a whole new world of value and dignity to people like Rubén.

We are also grateful that the Lord has brought you into our lives. Thank you all for your prayers and support of FHD Missions Honduras and La Casa de Rubén. We can’t do this without you.

Expanding Our Impact-Meet Rosalina

Shortly after opening La Casa De Rubén last April, during a meeting with community leaders we were having at the house, we heard about a young woman named Rosalina. The person telling us about her said that his organization had helped her several years ago while she was still a student in school. While many years had passed and he lost track of her she had made a lasting impression on him. He couldn’t remember exactly where she lived, only that she was in a smaller community located somewhere near Caiquin.

Since we work with Pastor Jorge in that area I called him. He did not know Rosalina personally so we started to investigate. We learned the name of her community so we drove there and started asking around. It took a few roadside conversations but we finally found Rosalina.

We had to park on the side of the road and take a walk down a narrow, uneven trail, that was mostly dirt but with some rocks scattered here and there, to get to the modest home where she lived with her mom. But they weren’t alone as there were also some other little children, dogs and chickens running around. After finding her community, experiencing the trail to her house and seeing Rosalina in her wheelchair it became more clear why she was not getting the physical therapy she obviously needed.

When we met her she was sitting in her wheelchair outside working on an embroidery project. It was amazing to see the detailed work she was doing with her delicate hands despite the pain and the way they had become deformed due to the crippling arthritis. She told us that she sews mostly to keep her mind busy and pass the time, but also to have something to sell so that she can earn some money to live.

Sadly we were unable to bring anyone else into the house at that time but we promised that as soon as we were that we would contact her. By mid December we knew that we would be ready to bring others into the house in early 2020. The house was never intended to only be about one person but it took us a while to get everything organized and working well enough to be able to care properly for more people. The closer we got to being ready the more we talked and prayed about Rosalina.

For the followers of God there are no such things as coincidences.

At that same time as we were talking and praying about Rosalina we received a call from a doctor at the hospital in Gracias. The doctor wanted to know if Rosalina could come and stay at the house. At the time of the call Rosalina was in the hospital for the second time in just a few months being treated for a respiratory infection that was bordering on pneumonia.

Her doctor told us that the arthritis had so affected her posture that her chest cavity was compressed to the point that she could no longer breathe adequately. However, he also said that with physical therapy her posture would improve enough to significantly improve her breathing.

Before today it had been six years since Rosalina’s last therapy session at CRILE. However, because of La Casa de Rubén she will be able to stay in Gracias to get the care that she has gone without for so long. One of Rosalina’s sisters is staying at the house with her. Her sister will help care for her while staying at the house as preparation to care for her better when they return to their home near Caiquin.

During her session today at CRILE Rosalina began to learn and practice new breathing exercises. She also began to experience just how difficult the physical therapy is going to be because during the consultation and evaluation her limbs were moved in ways they have not moved in over six years. Despite the physical pain we believe that she began to experience the love of God in a new and practical way today.

So please pray for Rosalina as you join us in welcoming her to La Casa De Rubén!

Please contact us if you would like to learn more about how you can be a part of helping Rosalina and others like her.

You can make a one-time or monthly on-line donation here to support La Casa De Rubén. With your generous donations we can continue to improve lives for people like Rubén and Rosalina.

Please text FHDTeam to 66599 to subscribe and receive weekly text updates about the work that is being done by FHD Honduras through La Casa De Rubén and our other programs and ministries.

Please consider joining us in prayer daily by setting an alarm on your phone for 12:11 p.m. daily. But why 12:11?

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”-Psalm 121:1-2

2019 Year End Update

2019 has been an incredible year for Jean and me personally, for the ministry God has entrusted us with in Honduras and for FHD Missions Honduras. Neither of these exist without you.

One year ago we were looking at, for the first time, photos of the house that has become La Casa De Rubén. We did not know how the foundation was going to be able to afford the rent but we thought it was the right house.

It took a little while to finalize the lease and get the utilities established. The house would be of no use without the proper staff so we began to search for the people who would make La Casa De Rubén work day to day. We did not know how the foundation was going to be able to afford to pay salaries but we thought that it was the right time.

In March 2019 we went to visit Rubén at his home in Mescalio to see how he was doing. He was doing relatively well physically, meaning he was infection and fever free, and that his skin ulcers were continuing to heal slowly. But he was not doing so well in other ways (please read the year end letter below for the details). We did not know how the foundation would be able to sustain La Casa de Rubén but, after this visit, we knew it was the right time.

Then the big day came, April 26th, the grand opening of La Casa de Rubén, and the moving in of Rubén and his younger sister Marlen.

So much has changed for them since then. Marlen is growing physically, emotionally and spiritually. As a result of hard work she has passed 7th grade and will be going on to 8th grade this coming February. Rubén went from wanting to give up ten months ago to sitting upright in his wheelchair without restraints, feeding himself, and even moving his wheelchair by himself. But more importantly he has new hope.

We have grown through all of this too as God, through so many of you, has proven himself to be faithful to provide. There have been times when we have not known how the medicines, supplies and food were going to be purchased. There have been times that we have wondered where the next payroll and rent payments were coming from. But God. He has been faithful. And He has done it through faithful and generous people like you.

There is so much more that could be said. We have shared much more in presentations and around tables with so many of you over the last few weeks and we are grateful for the time to do so.

As we began with, none of this happens without your prayers and financial donations. We did our first traditional mailing just a few days ago. Included below is the letter that was mailed in case you hadn’t received one. Please take a few moments to read it, and if you are touched to give, we thank you in advance.

Monthly support for the operating expenses is very much needed in order to offer these services to more people beginning in January 2020. We also have a large capital need as the foundation has the opportunity to purchase the house currently being rented. You can read more about all of this below.

Monthly or one-time support can be made here. If you would prefer to write and mail a check please make it out to FHD Missions and mail it to 2850 Jericho Road, LaGrange, KY 40031

If we receive the check by 11:59 December 31st it will be a tax deductible donation for the 2019 tax year. If we receive your donation later it will be tax deductible on your 2020 tax return.

100% of your donations for La Casa De Rubén go to operate the house. Jean and I receive nothing personally from these donations. If you would like to donate to support us and our other ministries you can do so here. These deductions are also tax deductible.

Here is our year end fundraising letter:

When we met Rubén in 2017 he was 20 years old, paralyzed from the chest down due to a spinal injury, confined to his bed in a remote mountain community with no hope of anything ever changing. Thanks to people like you, things are completely different for Rubén now.

Rubén is still paralyzed. Short of a miracle it is unlikely that he will walk again or regain full use of his hands and fingers. However, he is no longer living mostly alone in an isolated community. He is no longer spending nearly all day, every day, in bed.

Because of the amount of time Rubén spent like this, his body deteriorated significantly as 2017 and 2018 passed. By March of 2019, for the first time, Rubén told us that he was tired of being a burden to everyone and that he was ready to give up. Prior to this, despite the struggles with paralysis, large and deep skin ulcers, fevers and infections, he had always been upbeat with a big smile.

From this came the idea of opening a place where Rubén, and others like him from isolated communities, could come and live temporarily to be near the physical therapy center to receive the care they need.

This place is called La Casa De Rubén. It is the first and only one like it in all of western Honduras.

When Dora, Rubén’s physical therapist, saw him for the first time in over 2 years, she left his room and cried because she had never seen anyone decline to this point. Rubén’s family brought him to the physical therapy center right after the injury and that was the first time Dora met him. Because of the distance, difficult travel and economic limitations, Rubén, like so many others, never came back.

But now Rubén is receiving physical therapy three times per week.  At La Casa De Rubén he is being cared for by nurse assistants who help him with his exercises. Rubén has been eating healthy meals and is well on his way to regaining the 40 pounds he had lost.

With the gaining of muscle tissue he now sits upright in his wheelchair without restraints, feeds himself, helps with small chores like sorting beans, and uses his hands and fingers as they are to read. He even moves his wheelchair by himself now!

But more significantly, Rubén has new hope. He is realizing that he has value and purpose despite his limitations. There are approximately 60 other people in any given month living in isolated communities with no hope of receiving the care they need to heal. Just like Rubén, they need La Casa De Rubén. And this is where you come in.

Your support makes it possible for Rubén and others to receive treatment they need to heal, finding value and purpose in the process. Please make a gift today. Your one-time gift of any amount, or a monthly gift from $25 to $100 or more, will fund the La Casa De Rubén monthly operating budget.

You can also make a one-time gift to our capital campaign to raise $155,000 needed to purchase the house and land we are currently renting for La Casa De Rubén.

No gift is too small, all gifts are tax deductible, and 100% will be used for La Casa De Rubén. If we receive your check or on-line donation by 11:59 p.m. December 31st it will be tax deductible for the 2019 tax year. So please mail a check in the enclosed envelope, give on-line at fhdhonduras.org, or call any one of our board members for more information:

Rick Lucas: 502-643-4461

Dennis Mangum: 502-648-4257

Kathy David: 404-791-7278

Charles Hodnett: 404-788-2804

With much gratitude,

Greg & Jean Hines

Founders, FHD Missions Honduras

P.S. We believe education changes lives, families, communities and even nations. Time prohibits us from telling you about the progress of Rubén’s thirteen year old sister who also lives at La Casa De Rubén. She has returned to school to continue her education, an impossibility where she lived before. Value and purpose are taking root in her life as a result of the education and care that she is receiving. You can make a difference by sponsoring one of our outstanding high school students enabling them to go to college.

Finding Rubén

The Mescalio Story

It was a damp, drizzly and cold day in January 2016 when we, Greg and Jean, first visited this small village located slightly more than an hour away from both La Campa and Gracias. A small team from Atlanta, GA had come to spend a week with us to teach on the importance of prayer. The teaching was put into action by visiting families in Mescalio to actually pray with and for them. 

Drizzly morning in Mescalio

Arrangements had been made for us to go with Juan, one of the church leaders from neighboring Mataras, who had been doing house visits in Mescalio. The homes are fairly spread out across the mountains and it is difficult terrain. That particular morning it was also a little muddy as we went on foot in the streets and narrow trails, climbing across fences and walking through pastures to visit several homes. As noon approached we were ready to call it a day but Juan had another idea and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He wanted to visit one more family and the looming storm on the horizon was not bothering him so off we went.

At this last house lived a family who had recently moved to Mescalio and were operating a pulperia, or small convenience store, out of their house. This is one of the many ways they work hard to make ends meet in an isolated village with few opportunities. As we were all talking, the mom, Gloria Marina, shared with us how difficult it had been for them since their move. There were many reasons for this including that there was no evangelical church for them to attend. We prayed with Gloria Marina and her family, we committed to visiting again, and left thinking our visit had been very encouraging to them.

Getting ready to start construction in Mescalio

In March 2017 a team of builders and nurses from several churches near Louisville, KY came to build the first evangelical church and conduct a medical clinic in Mescalio. It was then that we met Rubén, one of Gloria Marina’s neighbors. Rubén had been shot in October 2016 and was paralyzed from the chest down. When we met him his spirits were low and his overall health was poor. One of our interpreters shared the gospel with Rubén and he accepted Christ as his Savior. Even though Rubén was still physically paralyzed, he was spiritually healed.

Rubén in Mescalio before coming to La Casa de Rubén

In early 2018 Rubén was hospitalized with a high fever due to various infections. His physical condition was grave but his spirit was not. Despite his struggles he always had a beautiful smile and was encouraging to us. We learned from the hospital staff that while Rubén was there he told some of the other patients, if you will come here I will pray with you. He could not visit others bedside but he cared enough to want to pray for them. How awesome is that! Rubén is proof that God can and does use any of us when we are willing to serve Him.

Over time as we visited Rubén we got to know his family. Marlen, Rubén’s now 12 year old sister, had completed 6th grade and was helping care for Rubén. As she would run from Rubén’s bed to get water, a towel, or whatever else was needed we would talk with her. During one of these talks we learned that she wanted to become a nurse so that she could better help her brother and others like him. However, this was an impossible dream for her because there are no educational opportunities beyond 6th grade in Mescalio.

But when Marlen and her brother moved into La Casa de Rubén in April 2019 everything changed. He is now getting the care and physical therapy he needs while she is attending 7th grade in pursuit of her dream to become a nurse. Will she achieve her dream? Through her hard work, favor from God, and our new scholarship program we think she will. But above all we want her to have the opportunity to learn about God and Jesus and grow into the person that He designed her to be.

There is much work to be done in Mescalio and La Casa de Rubén. Will you ask God to show you how He wants you to join in His work in Mescalio? Will you pray for the love and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to continue to be shared and received in this community? Will you pray for Rubén, Marlen, and everyone else who comes to stay at La Casa de Rubén? There are many ways to support the work in both of these places. Will you prayerfully consider how God may be calling you to be a part of this work He is doing?

Want more updates? Visit inhinessighthonduras.com/blog