When my husband first shared with me about moving to Honduras to be full-time missionaries, my thoughts started to go crazy.  Images of a grass hut, jungles filled with deadly snakes and spiders, and hunting for a meal immediately flooded my mind. My thoughts and emotions had blocked me from seeing the truth and reality of the mission field. God has called Shawn and I to minister, strengthen, and assist pastors and the people in Honduras.  While sharing this with others; they would always ask me the same questions.   Where are we going to live and what kind of food will you eat?   I quickly concluded that I was not the only one with crazy images running through their thoughts.  God showed me I am to present the mission field as a place of possibilities for future missionaries.

Over two years ago we received a message from a Christian counselor asking if we thought there would be a need for her profession in the mission field.   Immediately, I thought of the three tragic situations we just encountered visiting families door to door with a local pastor.  From the loss of a child at birth to a family confused about how to help their child with extreme unsafe disorders.  After several conversations with Patty, the door opened, and she joined us here in Honduras for a week.   We revisited the families where she was able to listen and give counsel to them as well to the pastor for follow-up visits.  Having the professional education, she was able to assist and train staff members of an organization with different steps and methods to counseling in both tragic and minor situations.   With a vision for all to know their value in Christ Jesus, I had Patty minister with me at a woman’s conference.  Throughout this week she began to see the mission field as a field of possibility for her.  She began to see herself walking the mountains and streets of Copan Ruinas.  Everyone has a gift for others to enjoy.  Sometimes it is in the foreign field and sometimes it is your neighbor next to you.  The real question is are you willing. 
 
These past couple years we have been helping Patty to transition into the mission field full-time here in Honduras.  She now can see herself taking this step of faith to say “yes” to the call of being a missionary.  She has been back and forth several times now and continues to minister HOPE to the hurting and troubled here in Honduras and Guatemala.  She will return the first of the year and continue reaching out to the hurting and troubled through classes, bible studies, and visiting homes with us.  We are so thankful and blessed to have her gifts and talents to be used in Honduras.  Glory to God!


Nancy Paul

In order to grow a children’s ministry and church you need to reach out, sheep beget sheep.  So, therefore, we do various children outreaches with ministries we are connected to.

Luke 14:23 instructs us to go out and compel others to come to God’s house.  What greater way than to call all children to come to the soccer field for a day of fun.  We use these events to not only reach out to children but also a time that we can build relationships with those who do not attend church.  We have a captivated audience for 3 hours.  We pour our love out to these communities.  We play games that may only involve the children and some involving the families.  Once we have played several games and have gained their attention, we share a message with all and follow up with the children doing a craft to take home to hang up. 

Through these outreaches we meet new families in these communities and establish a relationship of trust between them and us.  Not all the families will end up coming to the church.  However, the door that once was closed has now opened for us to minister God’s word to the children first and believe for the entire family to follow.   


Nancy Paul

Words can’t even remotely describe the joy in my heart by being a part of SMTI (Supernatural Ministries Training Institute).  This is a Bible College that we have been offering the pastors we serve here in Honduras.  We are now in the 2nd year and just completed part 2.
 
After the last class is done on Saturday, it never fails, I have this deep connection in my heart with the men and women in attendance.  I am overwhelmed with joy knowing what they have learned and how they are going to further advance in their ministerial work.  From when we started to where we are today, it is unbelievable to see the difference it has made in their lives.  They leave with a heart of such anticipation for what God has called them to do.

The future of SMTI in Honduras looks brighter than ever.  We have two more parts to complete and they will graduate the two-year course around February 2020.  Then we are turning SMTI over to two local pastors, Favio Mayorga and Oscar Miranda.  They both will offer SMTI to the leaders within Ministerio de La Red and Manos de Jesus.
 
Just grasp the power of this.  We laid the groundwork and foundation for the pastors that work in over 22 communities.  It has built them up into mighty men and women for God.  Giving them a greater understanding of the local church, but now, they can pass this onto those who they serve.  Therefore, helping develop stronger churches for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
One final note, after we complete SMTI here in Copan Ruinas, we will be taking it to another area of the country, Yoro, Yoro.  Through JMSM (Jimmy Squires Ministries), we have a connection to another church in Honduras.  We will be working with Pastor Oscar Barrientos, from Iglesia el Camino.


Shawn Paul

I’m sure many of you have seen our posting on Facebook about our immigration status.  For those that are not aware, we just got approved for our permanent residency.  Before doing so, for the last 5 years, we have been updating our status yearly, but now, we are officially recognized permanent residents of Honduras.
 
You may ask, what are the benefits of becoming a permanent resident versus before.  Well, honestly, I don’t know other than now having a residency card that expires in 5 years instead of 1 year.  Maybe we get a discount on a Slurpee at the local convenience store, LOL.

What I can tell you, what it means to us, this is a long-term commitment for the hearts and lives in Honduras.  There are missionaries that come for a short-term and that is fine; that is God’s direction on their lives.  With us, we know, he has longer plans for us.  We have a large vision for the future.  It will take much time to complete and we are up for it.  Also, I’m sure God will add more as time goes by.  We love living here and being a part of the people’s lives; helping pastors make a greater impact upon those that they serve.


Shawn Paul

I firmly believe in sowing, it’s a major part of who we are as God’s people.  We should always look for places to sow our seed into.  Ministries sometimes overlook this.  They are great in giving to the community, but you can always link the benefit back to them.  My pastor always taught me, give to reap a harvest for your vision and it can’t be a direct link or correlation to your work.  I have seen him, many times over, packing up his truck with tools heading off to another pastor’s church to lay tile, build out bathrooms, and other things; all the while, he has no personal connection to the church that he is helping.  This has never left my heart, and it has set a great precedence in my life.
 
This leads me to share with you, there is an incredible ministry, Urban Promise for Honduras, here locally that is mentoring youth of Copan Ruinas and surrounding communities for the Kingdom of God.  Within their organization, they have UrbanTrekkers.  They continue the vision of UPH through bicycling, hiking, and camping.  Their vision is incredible and what they do for the lives of the youth is so impactful.  For the past ten years, they have raised up an army of young people that can now dream and see those dreams come true!

Recently, I noticed their bicycles they have received through various donations and they are not in the greatest shape.  These bikes are used for long distant biking events such as riding across the country.  Also, they ride on some treacherous roads with their mountain bikes.  Even though the donated bikes were great at the time; they now, need to be retired.  So, we at MorningStar Missions have decided to not only financially help with getting them some bikes but do a major crowdfunding project.  Our goal is to raise around $15,000.
 
For this project, we have connected with Bike World in West Des Moines, IA.  Together, we will kick off our event August 20, 2019.  Through Bike World, our goal is to purchase around 10 to 15 bicycles, equipment for future maintenance, accessories, clothing, and much more.  The remaining funds will be for shipping, import tax, and customs.
 
We at MorningStar Missions believe that this event will help propel UrbanTrekkers to a great level in their ministry to the youth of Honduras.  Today, people are so quick to point fingers at problems, but lacking so much in the solution.  Through this event, we are not only suggesting a solution; we are bringing it forth for others to take part in.
 
Stay tune for the kickoff of the crowdfunding event.


Shawn Paul