30 77 Rue college, Apt 111
Sherbrooke, QC J1M 2E5
Dear praying Friends
Greetings, and many thanks for praying! We wish you a Merry Christmas, and, while it is early, a very happy and blessed New Year.
Since our last newsletter much has happened.
My 5-hour trips to La Ceiba continued every second weekend. They were made a little more complicated by security issues, as a bus driver (in the Siguatepeque-La Ceiba line) was shot dead by a lady passenger while coming out of La Ceiba, and 2 weeks later the bus was held up by a group of gangsters, there was a shoot-out in which one person was killed. I was not present at either incident.
My students in La Ceiba graduated from their first level of ETBIL courses on September 9th.
I made two more trips to Gracias, in Lempira, as my students there are continuing in the second level of courses. Lise and I also made a trip together to celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary.
On June 18th I began a series of premarital counselling sessions with … Yeffri and our daughter Melodie! I married them on September 3rd. And repeated the ceremony at the Vida y Libertad Home for the children on September 10th.
Lise continued to work with the two AWANA groups in our church (Iglesia Bautista Hermon) and the daughter work in Brisas del Bosque. As well, she participated in two more “Brigades” (one-day medical missions to remote villages). This has involved doing paper work for the medical team, helping in the distribution of medication, and helping in the distribution of used clothing.
In May I was asked to start a new ETBIL group (First Principles) at the Hermon Baptist church. I accepted on condition that I could train a new facilitator for the group. Alfredo Lainez became my assistant, and eventually took over as facilitator of the group. He is a fourth generation ETBIL student, from a group that Lise had been facilitating. Alfredo is also making plans to help a pastorless church start ETBIL courses among their congregation. It would be great if leadership could be developed in that needy context.
Two of my students, Miguel and Fabricio, are now preaching regularly in the Hermon Baptist church, as well as giving leadership to the youth group. Miguel and his wife Paola both feel called to do mission work in the jungle areas of La Mosquitia.
Fabricio
Miguel
Our commitment to Honduras was to end in September, at which time we needed to decide whether to renew it or not. As my energy level had diminished considerably, (I am now 67 years old, and Lise will be 66 in December) I felt that it was time to return to Canada and officially retire (as of January 1st 2017). It was difficult to leave our friends in Honduras, including Roberto, who has been like another son to us during the past three years and more.
If funds permit (Fellowship International is keeping our account open), Lise and I would like to be able to return to Honduras once or twice a year to do follow-up on the Leadership training.
Lise also continues to coordinate the sponsoring of children in the Vida y Libertad Home. There is much financial need there.
We are now living in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and enjoy helping our single daughter, Annie, take care of her little James, whom she adopted in Viet Nam. James has a number of physical challenges, which involve regular hospital visits. He is a very clever little 4-year old, and quite active!
Many blessings, and thanks again for praying
John and Lise
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