2006 | iglesia-honduras

Newsletter- February 2006

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of the Lord. We would like to take this time to share with you and your family about the work here in Honduras.

For the past few months Chuck has been spending a lot of time ministering to people in our hometown of Siguatepeque which has a population of about 80,000 people. Every night of the week he has church services, study classes, or cottage meetings except for Fridays which is family night. We would like to share with you about some of the families that are receiving classes so you can be praying for them. There is a young couple who live down the mountain from us. They are unmarried, but have a small child that is about two years old. The young man’s name is Jose and his companion’s name is Mayra. Jose grew up on the street and never had a chance to attend school. This is Chuck’s testimony in his own words.

I met Jose a year or so ago while I was giving cottage meetings to a young lady who was a neighbor of his. Jose had his stereo system turned up so high that a block away people couldn’t hardly hear what I was saying in the cottage meeting. Needless to say, there is no such thing as disturbing the peace here. When I told the lady that I was going to ask Jose to please turn the volume down, she said that I needed to be careful because Jose was somewhat dangerous.

Of course I went on over to Jose’s house. When I got close, I noticed that Jose hid a bottle of beer behind his back. I appreciate it when I see someone do that because it shows me two things. One, they know that what they are doing might offend me, and two, they want to have my respect or they respect that I am a minister. I realize that it is hypocritical for someone to drink and then try to hide it when a minister comes around, but it shows that they are not so hardened in their path of sin that they don’t recognize that it is offensive and possibly wrong. From my personal experience, when someone is like this, there is usually some type of opportunity to be able to share Jesus Christ with them.

When I told Jose that we had a Bible study class going on down the road and that we couldn’t hear each other because of the loudness of the music, he apologized and had one of the children go turn down the stereo. I also noticed that when I said that we had a study class going on, he kind of perked up and became interested. So I asked him if he and his companion would be interested in having a study class also. He said he would and that he and his companion were reading a little in the Bible every night before going to bed, but that they didn’t understand hardly anything that they read. We began having classes with them the next week and have continued until now.

The second family is Elba, her three sons, and Elba’s mother. Elba has been attending church for a year now and two of her sons have been attending Sunday school for three years. Regina asked Elba if she would like to have study classes in her home. After a few classes she invited her mother to come. Right now Chuck is sharing the missionary program “I will build my church” with this family.

There is a third family that we would like you to keep on your prayer list. The couple’s names are Noldo and Vilma. They have two young sons. This couple attended a congregation in another city for two years. They moved to Siguatepeque four years ago. Chuck began to visit them and gave them cottage meetings for almost two years. Vilma attends women’s meetings and for the past four months Chuck and Regina have been visiting this family each week. There has not been any commitment for baptism. They
were attending church fairly regularly, but in the last few months they have stopped coming and have begun visiting another church next door to their house. There they have heard all kinds of things against the Book of Mormon. When we visited them last week, we agreed to read three pages in the Book of Mormon every day. Please keep them in your prayers.

The family camp in January was a success. It was enjoyed by 120 members. We were privileged tohave Seventies Frank Frye and George Knotts attend. Camp began on Friday January 6. Registration, dinner, and a church service was held. On Saturday morning, Frank Frye gave a class to the men (8 yrs and older), and Regina Sperry gave a class to the women during the same hour. At 10 am a historic event took place during camp. The first National Conference of the Restoration church took place in Taulabe, Honduras. Socorro Vasques was chosen as the National President. During Saturday afternoon there were classes for adults and children. In recreation we shared three pinatas. One for the children, one for the youth, and one especially made for the adults. It was great! George Knotts even got to hit it a few times.

Sunday morning we shared in a sacrament service. Ismael Bevilaqua attended the camp. He is the friend of ours from Peru that lives here in Siguatepeque. We have been sharing with him and his wife for a few years. He now believes that the Book of Mormon is true. We ask you to pray for him, his wife Maruja, and his family.

From the Family Outreach Mission Board:

The Sperry's are planning a trip to the States in March. We ask you to pray for a peaceful and safe journey. Please prayerfully consider their financial needs during this time. There are repairs to be done on the vehicle, they have to pay for a guard to watch their home while in the states, and there will be the expenses for travel and higher living expenses while here in the States.

Please also pray that the ministry in Honduras will be able to continue while they are gone. Chuck is especially concerned that some of the families he has been meeting with will not get the ministry they need. He is even considering going back to Honduras by bus in April to be able to continue his ongoing ministry. He would then return in June and drive back with his family. Regina will be vising an orthopedic surgeon to have her arm checked. Chuck continues to have prostate problems (not cancer), so he will be visiting doctors also.

We want you to know that the monies sent during 2005 were not only used for supporting the Sperry family and mission trips, but the money was used for other needs in the church of Honduras. Money was given to purchase a lot to build a church and to help build another church building in another village. Seven children are receiving financial assistance to go to grade school. These children would not be able to go to school without your help. May God bless you in your endeavors to serve Him.

En Cristo, Chuck and Regina Sperry