March 16^th 2020 is one of the dates from this time last year that sticks in our minds as we found ourselves far away from home trying to make it back with supplies before the lockdown/curfew went into effect that day. Some aspects of life here in La Campa, Honduras have returned to the previous normal but many have not. The constant in our lives and ministry is the abiding presence of the Lord and for Him we are most grateful. We are also most 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, Jose & Prudencia) and for Rubén and Rosalina.

Please pray for us as we plan to go meet another potential candidate to come to La Casa De Rubén.

Please pray for us and Yovin Eugenio, a 6 month old boy with a malformed arm we met in one of the communities where we serve. We tentatively have an appointment with a pediatric orthopedic specialist on March 13^th to begin learning what, if anything, can be done for him.

We are giving praises to God for the continued physical improvements and 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 approximately 98% healed! This was the most challenging ulcer, the one that the doctors said would not heal unless Rubén had a permanent colostomy done, which he refused. We are grateful that the Great Physician decided that the colostomy was not needed and guided the hands of our medical staff to bring about this miraculous healing.

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. In addition to that she is gaining much more strength in her legs which has the promise of bringing her much more independence.

Please pray for the Lord to provide the remaining funds that we need to purchase the home that we have been renting for La Casa De Rubén and complete construction of additional rooms to expand the impact of this ministry. There have been some positive developments in regards to this prayer request very recently and we are praising God for this.

Please join us in praising God for the wheelchair capable van that He provided for us towards the end of last year. With this van we are able to transport our guest patients to therapy much more comfortably and safely. And with this new mode of transportation LCDR is now going to a local church in Gracias regularly.

Please pray for the people and nation of Honduras. The impacts of the COVID-19 virus and the response, and the two tropical storms last November have caused no shortage of difficulties.

Please pray for our reconstruction efforts to assist families who lost roofs or entire homes during the tropical storms last November. We have completed seven roof projects and are getting ready to begin construction of 12 homes. The new home construction has been slow to get started. First we had to wait for the rain to stop, then time was needed to make adobe blocks, then we planned to go up on Monday March 8^th but a cold front moved in and brought unexpected rain for 2 days in Montana Verde making it impossible for us to get up there again because of the muddy roads.

Please pray for the nation of Honduras in regards to the elections this year. The primary vote is Sunday March 14^th and the general election will be held in November. In Honduras all elected offices (local and national) are voted on at the same time. Please pray for both electoral processes to be smooth and peaceful.

Praise God for His continued favor given to La Casa de Rubén during these last 12 months. We are praising God because everyone at the house continues to remain healthy and virus free. Please pray for this to continue as even a mild respiratory virus could be very dangerous for both Rubén and Rosalina in their circumstances.

Please pray for the spiritual growth and development of everyone at La Casa De Rubén. We have a weekly Bible study every Friday and with the van we are now taking everyone to a local church twice per month.

Please pray for us as we begin teaching one of our employees to drive. We are very much in need of someone else in our ministry who can drive to assist us with transportation to and from the therapy center weekly and other La Casa De Rubén events and activities.

All schools and universities have remained closed since last March leaving on-line learning as the only option. To date there are no firm answers being given as to when in classroom study and learning will resume. Marlen, Rubén’s younger sister who is being sponsored and has been living at La Casa de Rubén since it opened, just started 9^th Last year was a breakthrough year for her academically (and in so many other ways) so we ask you to pray for more breakthroughs in her life as she begins 9^th grade.

Please pray for God to provide scholarship funds for 4 new college students we’ve added to our scholarship program this year.

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 our website to learn more about our ongoing 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 .We can praise God because while the need for food still exists for many it is not as dire as it was in our area several months ago.

Hosting 10-12 mission teams per year was the primary way in which we spent time in the communities ministering with the local churches. While we wish it were different it appears that there will not be much short term mission team ministry again this year. In February we began weekly community visits with the pastors we work with to pray for families and share God’s word with them. Much fruit has come from these visits and we ask you to join us in prayer for the visits we have planned for the rest of March. It is highly likely that we will continue these weekly visits for the rest of 2021 at least.

Thank you for praying for our immigration status. After waiting for close to a year our permanent residency was approved last week. While we have our permanent residency we still don’t have our actual residency cards (they need 15 business days to physically make them) and that makes it very difficult for us to do certain things, including international travel. Please pray that there are no delays in getting our cards.

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, for our scholarship program students, 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.