2010 December Honduras

Honduras Newsletter Update
December 2010
Chris and Maria Rivera

This past Sunday must have been one of the most eventful, fruitful, and uplifting Sundays that we have experienced this year. With most of the staff on vacation to the US and the weather threatening the attendance, I as pastor felt that we were on board a small sinking vessel. It was on my mind to lock the church up and go back home. We then heard a car and it was Emely and son Angel David with a pinata and cake for church body. We decided that the church office was the best place to meet and pray, keeping us out of the draft and cold moisture. Feeling a little deflated we expressed to one another our sense of loss due to the lack of attendance that morning. During prayer time we thanked the Lord for all He has done and will do and asked Him to bless us and all the people who would eventually fill the empty chairs in our church and for blessings upon the next generation of youth, the ones that will take our place in the church.
Emely and my wife Maria, always with presence of mind, prepared cookies, cake, and a pinata, hopeful and faithful that some children might at least make a show. It was a windy, cold and wet mist that was on the attack this very morning, hastening us on. It was just about this time (10:30) that my cell phone began to vibrate (on silent), and on the other end was the voice of Oskar saying “Pastor we are on the way, we are a little late, but we will be there”. Then out of the palm leaves and forest mist I observed that Mrs Vasquez, baby in arms and most of her children in tow, were pacing their way up the main road to the church. They are a humble and simple people all seemingly born with gentle smiles. Oskar drives up with his mother, sister and children. Next thing I know I am up behind the pulpit opening with prayer and focusing our study for the service on Luke 2, the story of Christmas with Oskar translating beside me. No sooner had we begun when Henry from Salt and Light Ministry drives up with his little brother, Daniel, his father and his guitar. I finish the teaching and Henry begins playing Praise Songs, everything fell into place, not the way I nor Maria thought it would but just how God wanted it to be for this Sunday, December 26. We shared communion and afterward I encouraged members to stand and tell what they were thankful for and a few of the stronger members had words a plenty. I noticed Pastor Martin in the back row, (humble builder and founder of several churches throughout Honduras). Martin is Henry's father and I asked him to share a word from the Bible with us which he did, also from the book of Luke. We concluded with an invitation to those who have not ask Jesus into their lives as we have done. Four young ladies came forward and received Jesus Christ. What a wonderful ending to the start of a bland day. As we concluded we placed the pinata in the back of the church to be sheltered from the cold. Tradition has it here that the smallest child has first go at the pinata. In a matter of dashing moments candy was strewn about the floor, and adults were momentarily turned into children.
Isaiah 55:6-11 says: Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts, are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
God is always faithful. He loves us all so much we can't even fathom it. Nothing we could have done nor have planned would have been as precious as this Sunday. Seeing empty chairs filled, but most important, witnessing the miracle of lost, empty souls being filled with eternal life and hope. The Lord's hand was gracious to us this Christmas in Pena Blanca, Honduras. Thank you all for your support and most of all for your prayers. We pray for God's continued grace, joy and peace upon all of you in this New Year. What an awesome God we serve! We love you - Feliz Ano Nuevo!

These are the proud chefs of the first Calvary Pena Blanca BBQThis is one little hungry member,as he demonstrates in Marias arms

Other hungry members waiting for the grub

Here we are fanning the flames so we can cook and eat

I think we all had fun, we must do this again soon...

Little extra income

From the trees to the bucket and then we truck it to the market...

We have been harvesting and taking to market Navel Oranges from our random trees, the economy has not been robust here in Honduras, and we are feeling it here in our mission status. We do what we can to make ends meet as we and co-laborers know the Father see's our needs and deeds............Pastor Chris, Calvary Pena Blanca

Can boxing count as "outreach"?

Roberto Santa Maria Medina, a good friend and brother, spars with me, it was great!

We both hit each other pretty good, and at the same time, spun our head gear around...time out.

Back at it, I hope to attract young men in the area to participate in a mentoring club, and keep em out of trouble.....gotta get in better shape.

Oil painting and needle point wont keep guys like this around, boxing has a certain attraction.

THE END...........................chris

Graduation Bilingual School, Honduras

Back home Maria coddles a new member of our family.....

Mrs. Maria Rivera hands out diplomas to all 40 plus of her Prepatory students.

They came with smiles and joy, their parents overjoyed and tearful as this is a huge "step"...

signing the certificates was a last minute chore, as the children move on.

Update Rivera Mission, August 2010

It is already the end of August and it seems like this summer has blown by like the wind! It's been raining nearly every day in the late afternoon or evenings. It is really beautiful out here. he School, LYBS, is getting ready to begin on September 1st and the Lord has been faithful to bring us great teachers but we still need one more for the pre-school. So, if you are feeling a tug in your heart for Honduras, email us. Maria is not teaching this year but will be overseeing the preschool section and she has over 60 little ones from ages 3 to 5. The church doors are open, 10 AM every Sunday and Pastor Chris says this past Sunday was one of the best so far. The praise music was very sweet and Paul's writings in 1st Timothy were exciting and thought provoking. This summer we made friends with short term missionaries who came and experienced Calvary Chapel Pena Blanca Honduras for the first time and other returning missionaries. We grow one by one and our church membership is increasing little by little but our faith deepens seeing the faithful members that come. Maria and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on the 25th of August. We are just amazed at all God has done in us, through us and inspite of us! He is truly an Amazing God! We want to thank all of you who continue to support us financially and prayerfully. We are truly grateful and pray for God's peace upon you and yours. Bendiciones!

Dear Friends, this summer of 2010 was one of the best that I will remember!
1. Allison and ministry of Eternal Family Project (a girls home) are praying about moving from Porte Cortes and joining us here in Pena Blanca! It will be like family moving out here to join us!
2. Adam Cowan and team from Calvary East Albuquerque, NM was here and what a wonderful reunion we had! His team brought with them genuine helping hands that did things like fine tuning our plumbing problems in the bathrooms to mixing cement and security, the ladies ministered to precious people of the area, also helped decorate for the grand opening of Calvary Pena Blanca.
3. We had the opening service of our church here in Pena Blanca, good friends donated finger foods and drinks, we figured can't wait til the last door is hung or the final coat of paint is on. There will always be work to do, so we now call ourselves a church building.
4. Pastor Tim and helper Kyle Branum set up an incredible work team from Tenn., Grace Calvary, we know them as a connection from the Eternal Family Project. They set up our church driveway and trimmed the church with side walks, very helpful during the rain season. The water force is something to rekon with.
5. Not long ago we met this missionary fellow that wishes to remain unknown, he too proved to be a blessing to our church as he deals with church boards and elders that approve "helps ministry" to mission groups such as ours, to make a long story short we do not have to play church we can be church!
6.I also want to shout a big thank you to the folks that live in the great southern Bible Belt Region, that seem so akin to the building and fellowship of missions south of the border (US).
7. Last but not least a big hug to the local people here in Honduras that sence our needs and respond, we love you all much........Chris, Maria and the Staff. AGAPE

We sure had fun with old friends and new, look at all that talent up there grown by the Lord.

Pastor Chris and wife Maria, cut the cake, Calvary Pena Blanca.

Final blessings final prayer....................we are a church building.

THE END

Lots of people came to the grand opening of Calvary Pena Blanca, from right Brother Doug, Pastor Gary, Don Gaspar, and wonderful Mrs. Maria Rivera

Pastor Randy,Brother Jesse, Kat and Adam soon to be wed, thats why he is smiling.

Adam teaches the word...kinda looks like a bible character, like a voice in the wilderness.

We were so blessed this summer, by friends and family, it made the year, so worth it, thank God

The ABQ Team made here with no hitches. Big smiles on... they cut decorations for the Opening Day...don't have Walmart nearby.

Finally got the 25 K transformer up and set, in just a little while we will have electricity all of our own.

The ABQ Team took time out to spread some cheer at the Girls Home, it was super hot, but we were thankful for shade, the sand roasted our toes like peanuts.

We say goodby to the old, and hello to the new... missionaries

A time for praise, worship, and devotions as led by Adam.

Many things have been happening since last we wrote, we got a deep septic hole dug and capped, fianlly got to the level that we need, which allows quick drainage. We got most of the electric work done still need details done in the Sunday School. Some times things seem a little overwhelming and that is how it is. Now we are in the midst of trying to get the pvc under sink and toilet to match. We hire the talent that is availible and then we run the ball, sometimes we make a touch down other times we fumble and all the eyes and comments are on the quarterback, and thats good because my Father is all about gettin back up and do it again. He is a good coach. One of the final items is to get the transformer up and wired. Keep the words "completed project" in prayer for us here.

Finally got the car stickers, we think they look pretty good, saw similar types in C.C. Nicaragua

Water flooded the floor, problems with the water hookups,will need to be redone, till then no bathrooms yet.

Members chating before the service, can't believe how far along things have come. Thank you Lord

We are looking at a more complete church

The photo below will be our cafe-kitchen ministry we hope to raise support here as well! We now have electricity, can't wait for the completion of Calvary Pena Blanca.

At long last and much requested, the bathrooms are being completed...

Below is the septic tank took a real long time, but to quote a brother..."lets do this right"

And here is a look at the sunday school building, will add more on little by little.

Well, it is all comming together, with God's speed all I have to do is hang on tight and be brave.

Sometimes, life doesnt get any better, wallamelon and delicious chicken, shared w/ friends

Family Day/ Dia de Familia

The end of the year is close upon us and we are ready to turn the page, we will say good-by soon

Mrs Maria, leads all of prepatory thru their studied song and sign show, parents, as usual, very proud of their little ones