Day 6 in Honduras

Day 6 has been very hard. Today we made a trip to the mountains this was just amazing. We loaded all the boxes and giveaways into 4x4 trucks and piles everyone in to the other trucks and up the mountain we went. The ride up was bumpy to say the least the rain had cut huge ruts in the road. As we traveled up the steep inclines the view was spectacular. We tried not to look over the side of the road because it was a huge drop. When we reached the distribution we were almost to the top. We got out of the trucks and started to mingle with the people they were so friendly and happy to have us there. The distribution was at a small two-room school. The kids couldn’t wait to get out to us. When they did we were mobbed. As I was handing out the bracelets I had I looked over at Chrissy and the kids were all around her with their hands out for the little toys and jewelry she had. The kids don’t get things like this so this it a huge deal. After we had our service and unloaded the trucks I went outside the gate to do balloons. I’m so glad I learned the word for line up! They lined up and waited patiently for their balloons. Ben brought out the evengiball and they had Obi one of the translators come out so I could tell the gospel message to people who were not in for the service. There were to boys about 13 who made commitments. I gave the ball to Ben and they were off to play soccer as I went back to making animals. When everything was over I was called into the fenced area for lunch. It is so very hard to eat a sandwich when people who you know have not eaten or have little food in their homes are pressed against a locked fence watching you eat. Chrissy and I couldn’t do it. I found Chrissy over by the fence talking to a lady who didn’t get a food box. Just as I was going to call to her she got Angelica then she went to Denny. She ran over to the packed up suitcases and emptied one with a small amount of clothes. I asked what she was doing? She said I’m giving this away to someone who needs it. Some of the group didn’t understand what she was doing. They were a bit short with her because of empting a suitcase. They had already sorted and had ready to go back to the warehouse they didn’t realize the God moment that was happening. She took the empty suitcase and handed it over the fence to the woman she had been talking with while everyone else was eating. The woman’s face lit up with a huge smile Marney said wait I need a picture this was my son’s suitcase. I think she was happy to give it away. After that Chrissy tried to fix her small mess by neatly folding the close and placing them in a suitcase that had similar clothes in it. Only to be told that was the wrong one to put them in and there was nothing to use now. Someone found a box and said here. I’m so amazed Chrissy kept her composure very well though she was extremely upset that people missed what took place. I took her to a privet place and we talked as we sat. We were greeted by Susanna who was beautiful we talked and held her until it was time to move on.
Next our family went on a home visit we were the last group to go out. The home we had was the furthest up the mountain it was very small just a bit bigger then one of our shed in out yard. Three people lived here. They were very poor they had absolutely nothing. They had come to the church for a while but stopped. They were not Christians. We had a hard time communicating with them Chrissy knows some Spanish but not enough. The same was with Griffin who was sent to translate. They did their best. Chrissy and Tori ended up giving their shoes to the family. A lot happened so I will write more later but for now I have to go.
My pain seems to have gone thank you for your prayers! God is so good!

Day 5 is gone but it was great!

Day 5 this day has been by far the best day! Today we had 3 distributions this alone is not normal. But we went to the warehouse and I was determined to find a ball pump I have been looking for one for days. We have not been able to give soccer balls at all. So I went in and found a box of toys and it just happened to be one that Si recognized. He was excited he said “Dad this on is one I packed!” he looked at me with as much excitement as I felt because he knew there was a pump in the box. We dug down deep and I pulled out a pump. Praise God! We both knew we could use the evangiballs these have the wordless gospel message on them. After big smiles we were off to load the bus.
At the first stop Mary gave her testimony. It was very good the people were listing so intently. After we unloaded the bus I had Estella one of the translators come help as I called the kids over to explain the story of the ball. We had two kids come forward and made a commitment. This was cool.
We ate lunch by a stream and met a family that lived there. Won Ramón our bus driver shared his testimony. That was just incredible not matter how many times you hear it. We continued on to the next place. I had a big surprise here when they introduced the person to give their testimony. It was Chrissy. She said she would never ever do this. She got up and shared the best story from her life I don’t know that there was a dry eye in the place. She talked about our Niece when she passed and her brother Ryan. She shared that there is hope and prayers are not all ways answered in the way we want but in the way that is best for us and sometimes it hurt but someday that will be gone. This is defiantly in the top 10 highlights of my life! After that I had angelica help me with the ball all the kids we had there made commitments for the Lord. Angelica wanted me to do this for the service I had given a testimony before and didn’t want to take someone else’s opportunity. I said perhaps tomorrow. Before we lest the Hondurans had a prayer circle and they prayed for Chrissy and Ryan.
When we got to the last place it was a small. I was still on the bus looking for batteries for the camera. When I heard everyone call to me and say you come tell the story. Ahhh I was afraid I was taking someone’s place. But it all turned out Good. I used the ball and told the gospel message. It was amazing how God can use you. The people were just so interested in the story of Adam and Eve and God sending Jesus. Today was a great day.
Please pray for me I pulled a mussel in my rib area earlier this week and today after so strong Honduran hugs I am in much pain. I will not whine or complain just believe God will heal me or ease it so I can finish strong for Him.

Day 4 in Honduras 09

Tonight I can honesty say I have reached the point of beyond tired. It was a great day but it was hot! I heard 110° who really knows though. I just know it was Hot! We handed out over 100 food boxes. I know that I did at least that many balloons and Clark did too. Today was a very special day for Chrissy and I, we were able to get to know Clark and Mary Kay a lot better while on the bus ride it was great to share with someone with a like beliefs and who is in ministry too. About a year ago Clark took on a new Job for WCN and has been walking in faith that God would provide all his needs. He raises all his support for his position. Clark is in charge of the disaster relief. He and Mary Kay are a big encouragement to what God can do if you commit yourself totally to Him. I’m thankful for them and their friendship!
The first distribution went like clock work. After we were all packed up we ate lunch at the church. We had extra time for some of the kids to play with them and talk. Chrissy was amazing! I look out in the yard and there she was playing tag with 10 kids running around. Yes in the heat. She also led the kids in two rousing games of in the water out of the water. The kids loved it and her. I just love watching as she scurried around to find prizes for the winner of the game. It was also neat to see her compassion for the kids. They would want to take something home to a brother or sister she wouldn’t let them leave until she found something.
Tori painted little girls nails as they jabbered in Spanish to her. She was so cute. Si and Jonah have made so many friends too. There are doing so good. Jonah was asked if he would come back by a little boy. I think he is struggling with how to answer these type questions, as do I.
The high light was at the second stop I was trying to keep up with an ever-growing line of kids wanting balloons. I was getting so tired I was ready call it quits. But we were only half way done with handing out the boxes. That is when this lady came up next me and pulled my balloon pump out of my bag. This is no big surprise this happens all the time then she started going through my bag, which is over my shoulder. I had a balloon in my hands and wasn’t able to do anything but I felt like God was saying just relax so I did. She pulled out a balloon and stared to figure out how to pump it up. I have people try to get their own balloons all the time because they’re impatient. So she blew the balloon up and handed it to me and as I was twisting it she reaches in my bag and gets another balloon out and blows it up and watches for me to tell her when it was full enough. She looked at me and wanted to help by inflating the balloons as I made the various things for the kids. I was so humbled! I was able to continue until our time was up. I thanked her a number of time but she was so happy to help! It was an incredible moment.
I can’t wait for tomorrow for God to teach me more.

Day three God is just amazing!

All right day three is coming to an end. Today was the first day of distributions we stared by going to the warehouse this was a new location. Things were a mess! But the team pulled together and did their best to make sure we had what we needed. This seemed to be a bit of a challenge but it all worked out in the end we had 100 boxes to hand out 40+ in the morning and 50+ in the afternoon. Our villages that we went to were about 1 hour away. But because of the bad roads it took longer or so it seemed. When we arrived the people were already there and waiting for the service to start. Clark gave his testimony it was very good and the love of Christ was shared as well as the God’s plan of salvation. At the end of the service the people were told to welcome us and to do it quickly! At that moment were we rushed by open arms of Hondurans giving blessings and hugs. The love and joy in their eyes was amazing. I guess I will never get use to how they can have so much whit so little. I looked over my shoulder to see Chrissy and she looked at me with tears welling up in her eyes and starting to stream down her cheeks. She said you didn’t tell me this would happen. She looked at Ben and said it again. She was so touched but the love the appreciation that she was overwhelmed. I know that she was thinking that she never ever had been greeted with such open arms and accepted like this back home. She now knew what I had experienced last year. I could do nothing but praise God for his love.
I would have to say this was my highlight of the day. The Kids were great I had tons of fun and with balloons and stickers but nothing compared to God love being poured on us. the afternoon was just as awesome as the morning Janet gave a great testimony! Chrissy and I got to go down the road to use the bono so we had had the opportunity to be in a home /market. It was not big at all. The mosquitoes are bad there so they have nets covering their beds. With all the standing water around to flush the toilet it was easy to see why they had that problem.
We did have another surprise on the way back home some boys had found a Boa Constrictor and were holding up by the road. We stop for the photo opt. It was dead but Si got off the bus and had to touch it. He was ecstatic!
I can’t believe how God just uses you and blesses you when you come to him with no reservations. Just willing to go. I’m reminded of Isaiah in chapter 6 when God asks who should I send? And he replied send me I will go. When we go for God he has a habit of showing up to do amazing things!

Day 2 in Honuras

Boy am I tired it’s a good feeling though. Today the team went to church in El Progresso we were some of the first to arrive. But it didn’t take long for the room to fill. The service was great the songs that were sung were a lot of ones we do back home. Just in Spanish. Right away I felt like I was in the presents of God. I felt whisked to place that I missed and had be longing for. Its not that I don’t worship or spend time with God this is an indescribable feeling; that only when you stand in Gods presence do you understand. The sermon was great it was about crucifying the old man or your old ways after you have come to Christ. The service was very conservative but very relative. One of the neatest thing that happened was when the pastor asked all the youth and kids to come forward for prayer. We were praying for them to be bold and strong in their faith and resist temptation to return to the old ways before repentance. After the kids were up front the congregation was ask to come up and pray over them. In the middle, as we were being lead in prayer by the pastor. It was like God showed up the mic’s went dead the fans stopped all electric noise was gone just the sound of prayer was heard for the kids. it took about 5 minuets for someone one to flip something. But in that short time it was amazing to hear the passion, love, and the hope in the voices of the congregation for their kids. It was incredible!
After lunch we toured the orphanage and nutrition center here we saw before and after pictures of children who came through the center. Some were just mind blowing. The sad part is that I know that in our country we take better care of our pets than some of the babies I saw today. This is the result of not sharing Christ and the blessing God has entrusted us with. To whom much is given much is required.
I watch as my Silas spoon-fed one of the babies one of their meals it was very moving. I watched my wife do the same and the joy that appeared on her face was priceless! There is much work to be done here but it’s not anything that can be done with out God. We are so very blessed. God is so good I do hope my family can handle the responsibility of our blessing. Got to go God is going to do great things tomorrow in our first distributions

Here we go off to Honduras

It doesn’t seem possible last year at this time I was still in the air traveling here. I wondered what God would have in store for Ben and I. Little did I think that I would be back in Honduras let alone bringing my entire family. When I told Rick K that if I came back it would be with everyone I had just hoped that God would allow me to be so blessed. Chrissy and I Prayed and asked for Gods leading as with all my ideas that I get. I felt everyone we told thought we were crazy! Not to mention depending on God for the finances of this trip. God has knocked down every barrier that has came our way. So praise God he is good!
On our way out to the air port is started to rain no big deal but as our trip continued the storm got progressively worse. It was truly a spectacular display of lightning! The rain was hard the visibility was little to non but Rick kept going it seemed like every few seconds we would hit a puddle of water making a big bang. Hail was falling a few times trough the night it seemed that something want to discourage us from making it on time. We left at 11:30 PM we needed to be in Indianapolis at 4:15AM. We hoped to sleep but that was not going to be easy for some of as. We made it to the airport around 4 am with time to spare. We met up with the other and handed in our passports when Dennis discovered his missing. It was at home we called Rick who had already left to come back and get him. We worked out all the details so he could make it to Honduras a day late. No big deal. W
We arrived in Honduras only to find out we lost a suitcase we waited for a long time to get the paper work everyone was out waiting on us. we got through only to discover our suitcase and Denny’s Missing. So we had to go back in and Praise god he Found it with in Minuets. We were off!
I will leave you with this. Later we found out the Rick was growing very tired and needed a rest from driving so Denis took over. Dennis was the only one who had a bus license be sides Rick. Rick I don’t believe would have rested. Everything happens for a reason cant wait for tomorrow!

Off to the DR

Okay, well I didn't expect to be the team leader for this trip when Josh asked if I would go on the youth mission trip. He needed another male on the trip over 18 and asked if I would go. Well with not much hesitation I said sure. That was about 6 months ago. After that all was good great even the kids raised amazing amounts of money for the trip and all was good that was until last night. Last night Josh went to the hospital. He found out he had some issues that would require further treatment. This was bad news because he would not be able to lead the trip to the Dominican. So the final call came this morning the day before we leave I was to take the team and lead them. So here we go on a new adventure God never stops amazing me! He has brought everything together. Theres more to the story that will be shared at a later date. For now were off on a mission trip to take the Gospel to people who don't have a relationship with Jesus! Please Pray for me and our team and Josh too.
Watch for daily updates when I can.

Is anyone out there?

Wow, I posted this blog on my facebook and I also sent out a letter to let friends and fam know that were going to Honduras this summer for a mission trip. I needed to let everyone know b/c were trying to raise money to go. I've been asking God to bless this for us but I have only heard back from one person. I so appreciate that response! Just knowing they got the letter and read it was so encouraging.
As of right now I don't doubt that the funds will come in. I know that God wants my family to go on this mission. He has surrounded us with signs that point us to this belief and some others have seen them too. I'm struggling with knowing that others have read what we wrote. We know that they may not be able to give and that is okay! It's our hope that they will ask God to supply what is needed for us to go. Knowing that others in your circle are lifting you up in prayer is so encouraging.
If anyone reads this and can pray for our family and our mission trip let us know that you’re praying please.
This past weekend we made the first financial commitment to the mission this was about 8% of the over all amount needed to be raised in the next two months. It definitely was a sacrifice for our family but it will be so worth it. We have many fund raising ideas and are in the process of making plans.
Please share this blog with friends and family so they may be encouraged and blessed by what God is doing and will be doing over the next few months! Adios



KidzpastorB

Our Family Is going to Honduras

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope this letter finds you all doing well. It has been a long time since we have seen some of you, but we think of you all often and pray that God is blessing your families. We are still living in the Chicago area where Butch is the children’s pastor at a church called Deer Creek Christian Church. It’s hard to believe that we’re in our 4th year serving at this great church!
Ben is now a 6’5” 16-year old ready for his driver’s license. He works part-time at a private Christian school as a teacher’s aid in the after-school program. He has a real gift for working with children, and we are praying that God will direct him as he begins to make plans for college and a career. At 13, Tori Jo is growing up beautifully. We’re often amazed at the maturity and responsibility she shows. She has a job doing weekly cleaning for an older couple in our church, and volunteers with several different organizations.
Jonah is now 11, and looks like he is heading in the same direction as Ben concerning his height. We are really hoping that his feet stop growing soon, since we have a hard enough time finding size 15’s for Ben! This year Jonah is excited to be taking drama and music classes with an organization called Midwest Homeschool Fine Arts. And, finally, our 9-year old Silas is still a fireball of energy. He fills his time building with legos, drawing, and playing practical jokes. Trust me, there’s never a dull moment in this house!
The reason we are writing is to tell you that we are about to take the biggest step of faith our family has ever taken. As a family, next August (God willing) we are planning to join World Compassion Network on a Family 2 Family mission trip to Honduras. This will be a huge financial undertaking, but we are confident that if God wants us to go, we will be able to raise the money.
Family 2 Family is an annual project of WCN that gives food and supplies to impoverished families overseas. More than half of the world's population lives on less than $2 a day, and an estimated 250,000 children will die of malnutrition this year. WCN collects food boxes and clothing from partnering churches and delivers these boxes directly to families in need.
Ben and Butch were privileged to be a part of a week-long WCN Honduras mission trip just last August. It was a life-changing experience for both of them. Each day their group loaded up their bus and traveled to two different villages to hand out food boxes and tell people how much Jesus loves them. At each village they were able to spend time interacting with the people. Butch’s favorite thing to do was make balloon animals for the children, many of them didn’t even know what a balloon was. Ben loved taking Polaroid pictures of the families who received the food boxes and giving the pictures to the families as a gift. For most of them, it is the only family picture they will ever have taken. The people who benefit from this program live in extreme poverty; it is hard to imagine how difficult their lives are, but Butch and Ben found them to be loving and hospitable with great faith in God to meet all their needs. As a result of taking this trip, Butch and Ben were able to see firsthand how God answer the prayers of His people in amazing ways, and our entire family has seen our own faith grow tremendously.
Our children are excited about the prospect of sharing their faith with the people of Honduras. Since we are homeschooling, we are incorporating Spanish lessons and an in-depth study of Honduras into our schoolwork. They are also busy making plans for a fundraiser. This trip will cost us approximately $1400-1600 per person, for a total of $8400-9600. We know this is an incredible amount of money. We are asking you to prayerfully consider partnering with us in this ministry both financially and with your prayers. Again, we are certain that if this is God’s will, he will help us raise the money.
If your church or small group would like us to visit and share more information about this mission, we would love to do so…before or after our trip. Butch and Ben already have a lot of experiences and pictures they would love to share with you. You can also see all of their pictures at www.kidzcreek.com Click on “Blog” at the top of the page.
If you are able to make a donation, please make your tax-deductible check payable to Deer Creek Christian Church, and enclose it with the memo card in this envelope. (Please do not write our name on the memo line of your check. Doing so will make your contribution non-tax-deductible.) Or we have set up an online giving site hosed by our church you can give by debit or credit card too. Click Here To make an Online Donation
If you are unable to make a donation, we ask that you please keep us in your prayers.


Thank you for taking the time to read this letter…God bless you all!

In Christ,
The Hunter Family

Butch, Chrissy, Benjamin, Tori Jo, Jonah, & Silas