Team Solhiem – Update
It’s been 5 years that Club Aslan has been in existence working with middle schoolers in a community just outside of La Esperanza. Every Saturday, at least almost every Saturday, Kelly and Steve have held Club Aslan so that they can get to really know the kids and for the kids (and parents) to get to know and trust them. We have worked with the club for almost 3 years.
This year God has opened doors, brought in Hondurans to help and His word is going forth! 3 of the girls who have graduated the 9th grade are in a mentoring program with Kelly having a weekly Bible study. A Honduran lady, Sandra, who has been friends with Kelly for several years now is on staff for the club. She visits the students’ families; helps with planning for the club and has brought in young, Honduran volunteers who love God and want to help others know God. They assist in preparation for the club and some help with club on Saturdays. Sandra also takes lead in teaching Bible lessons each week. She is an answer to prayer and a blessing to the children.
In February Club Aslan took a trip and spent the morning at a local outdoor activity center. The kids were able to hike up a hillside to climb a tower that overlooked parts of La Esperanza, they played football (soccer), walked a tight rope, climbed trees, threw Frisbees and played board game ending with a chicken dinner for lunch! It was a fun morning and a first-time trip for several who had never left their community.
We praise God that He is reaching out to these young people through Christian friendships and the teaching of the Bible. We are expecting to see great things from these children and in their community.
Amor Que Redime – Church Update
Over the past 4 years our church, Amor Que Redime, has been meeting in a small restaurant made of wood. Now, the building has been enlarged and is made of block! The lady who owns the property will continue her restaurant Monday – Saturday but on Sunday it is Armor Que Redime.
Jon & Alicia Looney are the pastors of this church and on March 30 we held our first outreach in the new building by inviting the neighborhood children and families to come receive school supplies. Thanks to our supporters, Heart of the King Ministries was able to help purchase some of the supplies! Over 40 children and several parents came to church! We had praise and worship, singing many children’s songs with motions. The kids joined in with smiles and giggles; the parents had fun also. Pastor Jon spoke on “God’s Free Gift”, yes, they were going to receive a free gift from the church but there is a greater gift, for free, they can have from God; knowing Jesus. Pray with us that the seeds planted will grow and prosper. It was a joy to see the church full and we believe everyone in this community will come to know Jesus!
TeachMe2Love Academy – Update
This year has been going strong for Teach Me 2 Love Academy. This school has been in existence since 2018. During that time, God has done many wonderful things in and through these kids and their families, as well as for the staff. Jon and Alicia were educated in the states as special education teachers. When they first arrived in Honduras their plan was to work in a school helping students with learning disabilities. After seeing that most children with disabilities were not allowed in any schools here in Honduras, God led them to start a school. They started with 3 children in their home and now have 17 children enrolled in school Monday – Thursday with a growing waiting list. There are also 40 children with learning disabilities that attend “Bee You”, a class that meets once a week to tutor, help with speech problems and increase interaction with others. God is so good to love the children and provide this school!
The school meets in a municipal building that is more than 100 years old. One day, the roof began to leak. Upon reviewing the issue, it was noticed that the wood had rotted and mold was growing on the ceiling panels. When this was addressed with the mayor, they said that no work had been done on the roof in over 50 years. This was not a good environment for students. So, after getting permission from the city mayor and his agreement to help replace the roof, a request for funds was sent out to supporters and friends of TeachMe2Love Academy. Funds were sent in to purchase the wood which had to be cut and dried, this process began in November of last year. As more funds came in the old roof was taken off, piece by piece since it was tiles that needed to be kept and put back on to keep with the tradition of all the surrounding buildings. Then one of our Heart of the King supporters stepped up and donated the remaining funds needed plus some. The roof was completed and the ceiling was replaced in early January before school started back after Christmas.
Blessings to you! God is an on-time God! Now there are no leaks, the ceiling is bright and clear of mold, the wind no longer blows through the roof and we are glad, very glad! The kids now have a safe and warm environment to learn in. Oh yes, part of their daily program is to sing and worship God. As they praise God and pray for each other, their lives are being enriched with more love and the goodness of God.
We shared the above to show that if we persist with our dreams, God will do great things and as we wait in expectancy, greater things will be done all for the glory of God!
Hospital – Ministry
Gene, Sharon and I continue to visit the children’s ward at the local hospital. We pray for each child, encourage the parents and give out tracts, New Testaments, coloring pages or what ever we have that they can take home with them to read and learn more about God. Not only are the children blessed, the nurses are also. Last time we were there the nurse asked us to wait as she ran down the hall to bring a child and her grandmother to us. The child’s belly was swollen with parasites from the water she has to drank. We prayed believing this child is healed and that pure water can reach their area. The needs are great but God is greater.
Prison – Ministry
Each month this quarter we visited the local prison. Gene or Sharon (our missionary friend from Love in Works Ministry) shares a message as we encourage the men to know God and build their relationship with him. In March, Heart of the King Ministries was asked to participate in this year’s Father’s Day celebration. March 19 is Father’s Day in Honduras. A special meeting was held with the staff, 2 ministry teams and all 295 men in attendance. Sharon spoke to the men, a local band performed several songs, lunch was served and gifts given out to each man.
A few awards were presented including a certificate of recognition and appreciation to Heart of the King Ministries for our work with the inmates.
The inmates were given gift bags containing hygiene items. With your donations, we were able to provide soap and toilet paper to be included in the almost 300 bags. It is and has been a blessing to minister to the inmates. We believe, trust and pray that each man will allow God to move in their lives as they hear His word.
Robin and Sharon have also been meeting with and giving the word of God to the 2 – 7 women inmates housed in a separate area of the prison as they can schedule times to meet. Pray with us for these women. Two of them are in for several years and are believers, praise God! We pray that their relationship with God is made stronger and the love and messages we share will bring joy in this dark place.
La Ceiba – Charis Team
In February we went to La Ceiba, a 7-hour drive north of us, to work with Whitefields Missions – Allen and Vicky Shelton. They had a team of 19 people from Charis Bible College come down for the week to minister to the neighborhood children, the local school, children from a local orphanage as well as visiting “The Village” where homes were built for families and a church was planted. The team also visited and ministered in a local church. Bible lessons, sermons, hugs, games and laughter were shared with all of these. God was big and poured out His blessings. We believe each Charis student left with hearts filled and new visions.
While there we, with the help of our Heart of the King Supporters, were able to bless the teacher we helped last year. This year she is no longer in the mountains but is teaching in a one room school with about 40 students, grades kinder – 6th. The school is located closer to town but out in the country. It still takes her about 40 minutes by taxi and bus to get there but she is faithful and great with the kids. The people in this area are very poor so she was very thankful for the notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons and other supplies! The team sang songs, gave a Bible story and gave coloring pages to each one. We left with hearts full of joy!
Laurie/Pinky the Clown
In early March Pinky the clown came to Honduras for a visit. Laurie is friends with one of our missionary friends here in La Esperanza and while here we were able to take them to several places for ministry. They visited churches, schools and the hospital taking gifts of school supplies, food, telling Bible stories and playing games. How can you not smile and have fun with a clown nearby? We pray that God does greater things through this ministry and we know that everywhere she goes God goes with blessings for everyone.
Ministry to other missionaries
A part of our personal calling as missionaries is to help and encourage other missionaries. Several times a week we meet with fellow missionaries to pray, study the Bible, go out to eat & fellowship and to encourage each other. We have started a new group inviting any and all missionaries in the area to come over, listen to a Bible teaching then discuss what we’ve heard. Since each of us have our own religious foundations, we hear the topic discussed from different perspectives. Then we focus in on how to apply this for ministering to the Honduran people we serve. The Honduran culture is different and we don’t want to offend them but with God’s help we can show them how the love of God can be applied to every situation.
When you think of us, please pray that we all grow in God’s grace and knowledge so that we can share clearly the gospel of Christ. Our desire is for La Esperanza and the region of Intibucá to be a light for God, a city on the hill shinning with God’s love for everyone in Honduras to see.
There’s more but let us stop here and say Thank You! We could not do this work without your support of prayers and donations, gift boxes and love. Great things for the Lord are being done here in Honduras and we are thankful and glad!
We love you,
Gene & Robin
Heart of the King Ministries
If the Lord leads you to support our ministry financially, all gifts are tax deductible and should be mailed to:
Heart of the King Ministries
115 Creden Pl
Alabaster, AL. 35007
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