Under The Mango Update - Winter 2011

We are constructing a Christian ministry center in downtown La Ceiba, Honduras. This facility will contain a high school, church, medical clinic, a theological seminary, a homeless child center and a two-story dorm.

Watch this 3 minute and 40 second video to see all the progress:

Armenia Bonito Ministry Center - Winter 2011 Update

Here is an update of the two acre ministry center we are constructing in Armenia Bonito, located in La Ceiba, Honduras. This facility will contain a high school, church, medical clinic and a multi-use building.

Watch this 3 minute and 40 second video to so all the great work:

Hymns in Spanish

I have a sweet friend who has dedicated the last few years putting together an incredible web site and resource for those working in Spanish speaking areas, or who work with Spanish speaking folks in the U.S. He and some fellow friends translated, put to music, and provide demos (and a CD) to 40 hymns. His web site is www.alabanzare.com If you click on the Himnario at the top of the web site it will direct you to all the hymns in Spanish. He has "okayed" me to pass this information on so you all can benefit from his hard work. Enjoy!

A Foundation Formed

3 1/2 years ago Mike, Madison and I arrived in La Ceiba, Honduras, with the idea that we were here to do God's work. Little did we realize what HE had in store for us!  First we applied and received our residency, while at the same time establishing a recognized church by the government.  The church couldn't be recognized until it's board members (Mike and I) were residents.  Once we received our residency, the church was officially recognized by the government of Honduras.  In the meantime we started building.  Building structures, and building an amazing team!  Two High Schools, two medical clinics, a seminary, Street Children (run by Kate DeFuniak.) and a single mom's house run by our team mate Shannon Innes, and the  construction and short-team hospitality overseen by our team mates the Clow's our team has been running non-stop.  We have more coming...The Troxell's will be working in another area of La Ceiba, The McLaughlin's will be joining us and the Cain's will be coming also.  And then...we needed a Foundation.  The Foundation has become Puerta de Esperanza (the door of hope).  This was inspired by Shannon and her women's house for high-risk pregnant and/or single mom's.  The Foundation's name and legal standing will oversee all of our other ministries that we start.  It's been a long time in coming...and little did Shannon know that when she chose the name, she would be choosing the name for our future Foundation.  But what a great message. Shannon chose this name because she was inspired from Hosea 2:14-20 (verse 15 refers to the Door of Hope)

The LORD’s Mercy on Israel

 ¹⁴"Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
   and bring her into the wilderness,
   and speak tenderly to her.
¹⁵And there I will give her her vineyards
   and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
   as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.

 ¹⁶"And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.' ¹⁷For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. ¹⁸And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. ¹⁹And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. ²⁰ I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.

To be consistent, there is a likelihood (although we shall see as time passes) to use "Puerta de Esperanza" and attach what the ministry is - "casa" - for the women's house, "hogar" - for the children's house - "clinica de salud" for the medical clinic...who knows...we shall see as the Lord leads where this will go.

Childbirth Classes

Jolie and her sweet baby wearing clothes she received from my class

I have posted before about the prenatal classes I am teaching in Armenia Bonito, and am now starting to see fruit from that.  Three moms who have attended my classes have all given birth, and to some extent all have used techniques they learned in my class.  They've also received tons of additional information about labor and delivery, and some free gifts for attending the class.  Soaring Oaks Church - my home church - held a baby shower for me when I was home.  A friend of mind, Annette C. had sent me an e-mail and asked if there was a way they could help out - and she set the whole thing up.  I would love to post pictures from the event, but on my way to the States my camera was stolen...sigh...so no pics.  The ladies at the church all turned out and I was OVERWHELMED at the love that poured forth from all of them.  The gifts they gave will go a long way to provide some much needed necessities for the very poor ladies in the village.  After the moms deliver, I take some pictures of their babies, print them out at home, laminate them and give them to the moms.  These are probably the only pictures they will ever have, and I feel privileged to be able to give this small gift to them.  I look forward to when our clinic opens, and I can offer more of these types of services!

Kids Club

Damaris, Keidy, Sairy

I've been doing Kids Club since summer teams left and wanted to do things a little different; to make it more of a "club", and engage the kids in some deeper thinking.  So - I started the children's catechism.  I'm taking it slow.  I want the kids to get a deep understanding of each question and each bible verse.  So - I'm taking 1 - 2 weeks per question, and 1 week for the bible verse memorization.  So - we just started week 7 and question number 3.  It is SO exciting to have 35+ kids all reciting the answer to the questions and all knowing the bible verses week after week.  I review each question and each bible verse EACH week - to keep things fresh and in the front of their memory, so they can hide Gods word in their heart.  I also have bible verse and catechism question cards to take home - many have told me they are putting them on their walls to remind themselves.  I also am sending home a take home sheet to share with their parents.  It goes over what they learned that day, verses to study, ways to apply the lesson to their lives, and a prayer to say each night.  The kids love this too - it's a way to share with their parents what they are doing and a great way of parent participation.

As for a craft today, we made an Advent Calendar.  You know - paper rings you all made as a kid as garland for your tree.  The kids absolutely LOVED it! Of  course cutting out 25 pieces of paper per kid and wrapping each up in ribbon took a LONG time last night!  Whew!  But when I explained that each day in December they should tear off a ring to count down the days until Christmas they were horrified!!!!  They all wanted them as decoration for their rooms - I doubt a single kid will tear off their rings.  Ah well - they all got the idea and were all so meticulous in making each ring perfect.

Because of the way I am structuring Kids Club, I am easily averaging 35 - 40 kids each week.  This is the most amount of consistent kids I think we've had!  And we are getting some new kids too - that are coming each week!  Praise God in the teachings they are receiving!

School Supply Drive

School Supplies for Armenia Bonito

We would like you to prayerfully consider providing school supplies for the children in Armenia Bonito.  Please purchase school supplies, have a school supply drive at your church, or have the children all bring in school supplies for the children in Armenia Bonito and mail them to this address by December 31st:

Mike & Erin Pettengill
P.O. Box 1090
La Ceiba, Atlantida
Honduras
Centeral America

Let us know if you would rather send money and Team Honduras can purchase supplies in Honduras.

Video from last years school supply drive: