News from the Francises

News from the Francises

Since I now work less than half time, my news is less frequent. However, there is much to say!

I returned to Honduras in February and beginning of March, alone this time, in order to participate in the annual Convention of the Baptist churches there. I had been asked to give a conference on pastoral integrity. I also preached at the ETBIL graduation that was held during the Convention. Several of the graduates were from our church in Siguatepeque. I was in Honduras for only one week, and a few days after returning home, I had the opportunity of saying a few words, via Skype, to another group graduating in El Progreso.

While I was there, I made plans with the leadership of the Baptist Convention, to return in June to teach two courses: Biblical Counselling and Homiletics. The second of these, which is my principal reason for returning, will be an intensive course taught in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. Over a hundred pastors are expected from all over the country. For many of these, the mere fact of travelling to Tegucigalpa will involve considerable expense. In order to help them, we have offered to pay their meals during the week from what is left of my mission fund. This will amount to somewhere between $3000 and $3500. Much less, of course, than what it would cost here in Canada! Lise and I plan to leave on June 26^th and return on July 10^th.

This summer we will spend two Sundays in Chibougamau. There will be a baptism! I believe the Lord is doing something in that little church. I am praying that the Lord will send them a young pastor/evangelist who would be prepared to support himself with a secular job while he serves.

In the Fall will take up our ministry every second week in Chateauguay, where I will teach a course on the Holy Spirit on Sunday afternoons. At the same time, I plan to follow a course in LSQ (Quebec sign language) in order to communicate better with our grandson James.

Health:

A series of minor problems have affected me since the beginning of February, but most of it seems to be in order now, apart from a back sprain. There has been nothing major, just one thing after another. But it made the end of winter a little difficult for me.

Lise is in fairly good health. She works in the garden (and is worried about what the garden will look like after we get back from 2 weeks in Honduras).

The Family:

We continue to take care of our grandson James, picking him up after school (kindergarten). We were able to visit Daniel’s family in Quebec once. We need to be careful since our little Emma, born on December 31^st, has a weakness in the Larynx, which should resolve itself sometime between the ages of 18 months and two years. But it is essential that she avoid getting a cold. Catching a cold for her could mean intensive care, with tubes to breathe. So while I was with a perpetual cold, no visiting!

Her big sister Elena, who is now seven years old, attends an English school, and is doing very well.

Lise is involved with the local Cercle des Fermières, and she continues to coordinate the sponsorship of children for the Home in Honduras.  (If you are interested you can communicate with her at francis.lise@gmail.com). This summer she will teach two Sunday School classes in the church in Chateauguay.

Annie teaches in a high school in Lennoxville. During the summer she has several child evangelism activities (camps, good news clubs). Samuel continues to work at “Maison du Père” in Montreal, collecting and organising donations. Richard has been working for several years in the training of people who do customer service by telephone. Daniel works in construction in Quebec. And Melodie continues with the Children’s Home in Honduras.

The children’s Home:

There is coming and going. Elena has begun university in Siguatepeque. A new little girl was added to the group in the Home. Financial difficulties continue, since we have not succeeded in compensating for the tremendous loss in revenue from Spain. A number of individual Canadians and Canadian churches help through Fair, but that is still far from taking up the slack!

A suggestion: Have you considered having a benefit Garage Sale in your church property, in order to raise funds for the Children’s Home? As well as helping the Home, it could also give a bit more visibility to your church. (It is surprising to find how many people living in the area round a church building actually don’t realize the church even exists!)

Prayer requests:

•           The health of our granddaughter Emma.
•          Our trip to Honduras (effectiveness, protection and health)
•          Financial support for the Children’s Home
•          Preparation of courses (difficulty in concentration).

Many thanks for your prayers. May the Lord bless you greatly.

John and Lise Francis