Five Years Later

July 2003

Not only was this the first time I came to Honduras, it is the year we built the church at Los Pinos. Today we worshipped there. Not only were we remembering that five years ago we were worshipping there for the very first time, the people at Los Pinos were remembering it as well. At times, it was just a bit emotional. Happy emotional. After church, one lady, through tears, told me she had been at that first worship service five years ago and been at every service since.

I love to go to Los Pinos once in a while to worship. This morning, as always, the singing was beautiful, the worship meaningful. It was a full house and would have been even if the Americans had not been there. In the classrooms, 120 sweet children were also worshipping God. I was late and when I got there, I could hear the angelic voices of the children singing in their classrooms. After church, there were four baptisms. Praise God. There were many of you that I wished could be there with us this morning, some of whom had a part in building the church building or the classrooms.

The church at Los Pinos is a beacon, the center of the community. Many things happen at that church building each week besides worship. There are community meetings, clinics, clothing give aways and so much more. Last week as houses were built in that community, the church building became a congregating place for some as they watched and listened to the activities in their community.

A kitchen was added on the side of the building last year. Every Sunday morning every child there is fed a hot meal. For many of those children it is the only meal they receive that day. For some it is the only meal they receive for several days. For those that prepare and serve that meal, it is a true labor of love. Preparing a hot meal for that many little mouths is not an easy task.

In the last five years, there has been a tremendous growth in that church, both numerically and spiritually. As the people of this church continue to reach out to the people in the community to help with physical and spiritual needs, God will continue to bless this church.

I was blessed, and I think many others were blessed to be a part of worship this morning at Los Pinos five years later.

Terri