Jorge Samuel Nuñez

This is what it is all about folks. This is one of the things that continues to touch our hearts and the reason we want to serve here in Honduras. Read this letter Samuel wrote to his sponsor church:

Lydia of Zion,

Hi! God bless you. May he prosper you in all of your paths, your plans, and protect you. There are my wishes. The reason I write to you is to show my appreciation for your support this past year in preparing me here at Escuela El Sembrador. I appreciate your prayers and I know God put you in my path to be a blessing to me.

Thank you so much for the guitar you gave to me. The truth is this has already been beneficial to me and my classmates and will continue to be. I’ve always asked God to help me get a guitar from my adolescence. Thanks to God and to you, I was able to get one.

I want to tell you a little bit about my life and the dreams I hope to accomplish. I was born in a home where there were great economic, social, and physical difficulties and much more. From the time I was small, I began working and I had big conflicts within my own self because of this. I thought many times that my family was the most desperate of everyone around. My self-esteem was very low and I always felt like a loser. The most difficult thing had to endure was my Mother’s health. She had ulcers on her feet and she has suffered so much. In the middle of it all, she had to be strong to help us to grow up in the midst of her problems. Well, I can’t tell you everything or I would never finish. This small bit part of my life will give you an idea of my growing up years. I don’t tell you all this so you will feel sad for me, but because I want to demonstrate the changes God makes in the human life.

Although their have been issues with our family, I know that God began a good work in us and he will continue until Christ returns. Thanks to God, almost all of my family is serving the Lord and working hard in ministry for Him. My dream since I became a Christian was to serve Him in a special way.

I’ve always dreamed of being a good person. I want to accomplish success in three areas: spiritual success, family success, and social success.

I want to tell you that of the nine of us siblings, there are only two boys and the rest are girls. I didn’t really enjoy growing up with my brother because we are very different.

Right now I have six nephews (all boys!) from the ages of 10 to 17 years old. The good thing about each of them is they all enjoy being at church and they all enjoy music. The most difficult thing for them has been split families. Two of them don’t have fathers, another two of them have fathers but they don’t have any emotional support from them they need, and the other two, although they are economically good, their families are really different because to have had to leave their children and wives (my sisters) to make a good living. One of them lives in the capital city of Tegucigalpa and the other went to Spain.

So, about these six nephews of mine, I enjoy each of them and they are all fighters to be able to continue on in life. My dream is for them and me to form a music team together, uncle and nephews so they can give their all to the Lord. I’ve already talked to them and they are all motivated. I don’t know if this is in the Lord’s plans but I know He will provide. I have more dreams to fulfill but maybe at another time I can share more with you.

I hope you never give up on praying for me and my family and for all the plans for my future.

Brothers and Sisters of the church, thank you for everything!

I hope you will write to me as well because I would like to know more about each of you.

Don’t forget: What God has for your future is even better than what has been in your past.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in Jesus, our king and savior.

Attentively,

Jorge Samuel Nuñez

Juan Carrasco

Here is another great letter written by Juan:

Andy & Reatha,

Hi! It is a pleasure and privilege to have this paper and pen to be able to write to you. I am happy and content to know you. You have been a part of the formation of my life. We’ve been able to pass some good moments in the presence of God. My loving sponsors, thank you so much for your incomparable and unconditional support.

When I am with my family I always talk about you and tell them how special you are to me. I admire you both. Aside from your work and your ages, what I admire is how you enjoy life together. This is great. Thank you for expressing this liberty with me.

Thank you for the nice Bible concordance you sent to me for my birthday. The night I got this gift my roommates asked me if Doña Lori had sent food back for them. I said, yes, but not the type you are thinking of. It is the best type of “food” for me, the bread of life. This was one of the biggest surprises I’ve had in my life. I gave the book a hug and said, Thanks FATHER.

The day Doña Lori had sent for me to come to her house for my Christmas gift from you I had just gotten a toenail removed and I had to walk to her house very carefully because it was night time. She said you were willing to let me use the money you had left for my Christmas gift for the expenses I was incurring for our outfits we had to have to wear to the graduation of the other Bible School students. I want to thank you so much for this.

The tools and help you have sent me have continued to help me.

Andy & Reatha, thank you so much for your love and for caring for me.

My biggest wish I have for my life is to become a Christian author and write books. Please help me to pray to God about this and that He will give me strength.

May God bless you today and always.

With love and care,


Juan Carrasco

Tranlating Letters

Today I've been working hard to get letters stuffed to send to the states with some men who are leaving this weekend. I'm stuffing letters from the Christmas party as well as 150 sponsorship letters. There were several letters which had to be translated still and I worked on those as well. Two of them just touched my heart and I had to share them with you. Take a look at these two young men's words.

ITESH Graduation

This is the fifth and last graduation for us for the year. We had three students going to the Instituto Tecnico El Sembrador Horeb school this year. They were: Alfredo Santos Euceda, Jose Israel Otero, and Jose Misael Baca. We were asked by Israel to walk with him as his parents for the graduation, which was a beautiful honor. Both Alfredo and Israel asked us if we would be "padrinos" for them. So, we walked with them and signed as their witnesses. Alfredo was given the honor of leading the class in the national hymn because of his good grade on the test. Israel was given the outstanding Christian character award. These boys continue to make us proud. They are both currently making decisions as to what they will do next. Alfredo is looking for work and Israel is trying to decide between the airforce and university.

High School Graduation

This was our first year to go through high school graduation here on campus. The focus was always on getting the boys through 9th grade and vocational school. We felt a sense of pride to watch our boys receive their diplomas. Travis and I were asked to be the "padrinos de la clases" (the class parents) and sit at the head table at the graduation. We put on a dinner for 175 people afterward. Everything went great.

Bible School Students

To say thanks to the Bible School students for putting on such an awesome campamento, we had a special lunch for them and then had a special time with them afterwards to give them each a devotional and then we played "Robber". It is the game where each person gets a number and they pick a gift in that order. I had fifteen gifts on the floor and they could take a gift from the floor or steal from someone who had already opened a gift they wanted. They had so much fun stealing gifts from eachother.

Campamento 2008

This year was the second annual youth camp held here on campus. The Bible School students and director organized the entire event from the music team to lead the songs, activities, services, etc. They even got both dorms ready to house everyone. We had 175 in total with youth, leaders, etc. It is always fun for me on the hospitality side to try and plan the right amount of help in the kitchen, enough food, etc. when we don't have a clue how many will come. But, it always works out. This was a great spiritual time for everyone involved. We're so proud of our Bible School students and their dedication.

Industrial Mechanics Graduates

Agricultural Mechanics Graduates

Woodworking Graduates

Woodcarving Graduates

9th Grade Graduates

Bible School Graduation

 
The Bible School graduation was today too. We had three students graduating from the Bible Institute and many more graduating from the intensive courses program. It is great to see these outstanding students accomplishing this and be ready to pastor in our Holiness churches.

Vocational and 9th Grade Graduation

We held our graduation today for 9th grade and vocational students. After much hard work by the students all year long in their areas, they were able to walk proudly today and recieve their diplomas. Their success is our success!

Ally Helps Mommy

Ally helps me get the gifts ready before the graduation. Isn't she a sweetie?

Testimony Night

Testimony night is when all the graduates get time to share words about changes they've made in their lives, thanks to different ones who helped them get to that point, etc. It is always my favorite time, to hear what each graduate has to share.

Special Little Friends

Lixy is just one of those precious little ones close to our hearts.

A New Baby on Campus

Our head counselor and his wife just moved to campus this year and they had their third baby on October 23rd. He is a welcomed addition to campus and to the Salgado family. Luis and Patti already have two little girls so a little boy is extra special for them.

El Sembrador Students Growing in the Lord!

We count it a privilege to serve teh Lord at El Sembrador. We have boys who are yearning to find the place where they belong. When they make that decision in their life to turn it all over to Him, it thrills our souls. Today was our baptismal service in the morning. We watched thirteen profess their faith in front of the entire campus. Praise the Lord! Eleven of these were students, one an employee's daughter, and the other a worker in a home on campus.

Volleyball Tournament

We've had volleyball tournaments this month. I even formed a team of ladies. We were out of our minds to go up against all these Honduran teenagers, but we had a blast (and we didn't lose all of our games). Pictured are the first and second place teams.

Andy's New Guitar

Today is Andy's birthday. His sponsors, Ted & Donna Gastier, purchased him a guitar for his birthday/Christmas present. Andy knew something was at our house for him so he came VERY EARLY, first thing in the morning so we could wish him a Happy Birthday and so he could get the gift he had been waiting on. What a surprise for him.

Visit to LaPaz

I like to go to the village of LaPaz to visit and pray with different families. The kids wouldn't let me leave without playing "pato pato ganzo" otherwise known as duck duck goose. I had group members with me which made the game even more interesting as their Spanish words of "plato, gato, among others came out instead of pato. The kids enjoyed chasing us and laughing at the funny North Americans I brought with me.

Ramon & Bessy are About Ready to have the BABY!

Diane and I went to the hospital in Juticalpa to be there for Ramon and Bessy, but she most likely won't have the baby until tomorrow. Ramon is an x-student. For those of you who remember the bad accident in November of 2006, Ramon is the one who was thrown from the pick-up truck bed.

Day of the Pastor

To celebrate Day of the Pastor, the ladies on campus sang the hymn Stand Up for Jesus (in Spanish of course). We sounded pretty good.

Boy's Birthday Party

We celebrated the boys having birthdays in July, August, and September tonight. It was a fun time. Diane Johnson, a missionary volunteer (Anna & Ally's school teacher), found a neat idea in a magazine. So, we took t-shirts, got them wet, and then froze them in a large freezer (putting wax paper in between each one). We had five boys volunteer to come forward to see who could open the frozen shirt first and put it on. Each boy got to keep the t-shirt and the winner won another t-shirt. There was singing, cake, and a bottle of pop for all the boys, workers, and children of course. Each boy got a bag of goodies including a toothbrush, toothpaste, candy, and a hat. Then they came to our house after the party to get their real gift, a shirt. Some chose El Sembrador shirts and others chose polo shirts. We are always in need of shirts for prizes for the boys. If you ever find a good deal and would like to donate some, the most popular sizes are large youth (14/16), xl youth (16/18), and small adult.