Well, 2020 post March 15^th still does not look much like what we expected. The impact of the global response to the Covid-19 virus continues to have dramatic impacts in every facet of our lives. We are so thankful for our ministry partners who continue to be faithful in supporting us and the growing ministry the Lord has given us. So, thank you for praying and rejoicing with us in the following:

Please continue to pray for La Casa De Rubén, specifically for the staff (Maria, Angela, Marcos, Emilson & Prudencia) and for Rubén and Rosalina.

Please pray for the Lord to provide the funds that we need to continue operations, and more importantly, for Him to provide capital donations to purchase the home and make it the permanent location for La Casa De Rubén.

Please pray for the people and nation of Honduras as the virus and the economic, social, mental and emotional impacts due to the response continue to have serious negative impacts in people’s lives. The hospitals are overwhelmed and supplies are running low. Many are not receiving the treatment needed, not only for COVID but for other things as well. You can read more about this on our blog as we just posted an update there.

Praise God for His continued favor given to La Casa de Rubén during this crisis. Most of the roadblocks and checkpoints are gone but the travel restrictions remain so most everything is still being delivered.

Praise God for the continued health of everyone at La Casa De Rubén. Please pray for this to continue as even a mild respiratory virus would be very dangerous for both Rubén and Rosalina in their circumstances.

We are giving praises to God for the continued healing that Rubén and Rosalina are receiving. Rubén continues to gain upper body strength, flexibility and mobility. The last of 5 serious skin ulcers he had is almost healed. When Rosalina came to the house she was so hunched over that she had to eat from a plate that was in her lap. She is now sitting upright and eating at the table with everyone else!

The physical therapy center (CRILE) has not reopened. We met with the president of CRILE earlier this week to discuss the situation. At this point it is not clear when CRILE will open or how they will function once they are open. There are new health regulations being developed in response to COVID that will impact their operation significantly. Please pray for us as a ministry and CRILE as we explore options and opportunities to work together so that this vital service continues to be available, not just for our patients, but for the population of two entire states, Lempira and Intibuca.

Praise God for the continued studies of our sponsored university students. Using online platforms they have continued their classes so they are not falling behind.

The schools were closed in March and the decision was just made that there will be no campus classes offered for the rest of 2020. The school year is different here (February-November) so this is a really big issue. The education system has been trying different platforms to prevent the students from losing the year but we are not sure how all of this is going to work out, specifically for Marlen (Marlen is Rubén’s sister who is being sponsored and is living at La Casa de Rubén with him). We have been able to buy equipment she needs (smart phone and a radio) but it remains to be seen how effective these substitutes will be for in class teaching. It was a hard year for Marlen last year but she overcame many obstacles and was able to advance to the 8^th This year started off well, a good routine had developed, and then all of the changes upended things. Please pray for Marlen to adapt, overcome, and continue to grow and develop academically. Please pray for all of the high school and grade school students as they and their families now have to deal with the impact of these changes.

The economic impacts of the response to the virus are having much worse and longer lasting impacts on families in the mountains of Honduras than the virus itself. There are so many who have not worked for the last two months. As a result hunger has become a much larger problem. In response a new ministry opportunity has opened up for us. Please join us in praising God for the generosity of so many people who are continuing to make it possible for us to provide food for both the bodies and souls of people in need. You can visit fhdhonduras.org to learn more about our new food bag ministry. Please pray for the Lord to continue to provide resources for us to be able to help meet this need as long as the need exists. At the same time please pray for things to change so that hunger does not continue to be a problem.

Praise God, everyone’s crops are planted and He has been sending us rain. Our corn and beans are doing well and when we are able to be out and about it looks like everyone else’s crops are doing well too. A good harvest will prevent hunger from being a persistent problem. Please join us in praying for God to continue providing the right amount of rain at the right times and protection from bugs, animals, etc. so that we can all have an abundant harvest later this year.

Please pray for resolution of our immigration status, the border closure and lack of commercial air travel. Because of the closure of the country residency applications and card renewals are not being processed. The Honduran government recognizes the facts so all of us missionaries in this situation are still considered legal residents. We can leave Honduras if we want or need to but we will not be allowed to return until the borders are open and commercial air travel resumes. There is reason to believe this might happen mid August but we just don’t know for sure.

We are so thankful for how God has provided for us. We are grateful that our water, electricity and internet have been extremely reliable and that our computers and telephones continue to work enabling us to stay connected. Please pray for the technology to continue to work so that we can stay as connected as possible. We are most thankful to have a reliable truck and a comfortable home and the multiple other blessings from God that are ours. While the lack of freedom to move about has impacted us and our ministry in so many ways we are grateful for the times that we can move about and for the opportunities to serve, although differently than we expected. Even with God’s abundant goodness towards us it has not always been easy coping with the lockdown and the resulting circumstances. Please pray for us personally as we cope with many of the same things that so many of you are coping with day to day, and for the things we face that are more unique to our situation here in Honduras.

Please pray for us as we try to figure things out and plan strategically, from both the personal and ministry perspectives. We had planned to fly back to the U.S. in May for a short visit to see family and friends and to fundraise but that didn’t happen as commercial flights are not available, nor do we know when they might resume.

Please pray for us to live moment by moment in ever increasing faith, remembering how faithful God has been to provide all of our needs personally, for La Casa de Rubén, for our new hunger relief ministry, and for all of the other ministries that He has entrusted to us. Please pray for us to be wise and courageous in these challenging times, and for us to make decisions that are obedient and honoring to Him.

Please pray for Pastor Emilio, his family, and Ministerio Torre Fuerte here in La Campa. Please pray for peace, protection, wisdom, and continued spiritual growth and impact in the churches and communities represented by this ministry.

Please pray for Pastor Jorge, his family, and his ministry in Caiquin, Coalaca and Mataras de Caiquin. Please pray for peace, protection, wisdom, and continued spiritual growth and impact in the churches and communities represented by this ministry.