Hope in Time Newsletter

It’s been a while but Hope In Time Ministries is back online.

Needless to say, the COVID lockdown really put a dent in our initial ministry plans. Not to mention that Josh got stuck in the USA when the borders closed. The economic impact of the COVID lockdown has been hard on an economy that had only recently begun to thrive following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. You may have seen pictures of Brian and Cathy’s kid ministry and mountain outreaches while Josh was gone.

“Feed my sheep!” continues to be a recurring motif.

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Josh finally made it back from the US just in time to get sick and for Eta to hit. 

Now Iota is on its way. 

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The true extent of the devastation is hard to depict or predict. Hurricanes are brutal enough in the first world where people have plenty of food, good medical care, insurance, social services, a National Guard, and FEMA, etc.

Honduras has police.

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I am told it’s also never been hit by two storms back to back.

At this time the total death count remains unknown. However, it is estimated that at least 200,000 Hondurans have been displaced by Eta.

People in La Lima and San Pedro Sula had just a couple of hours notice before the government was forced to release water from bursting reservoirs into the already flooding city below. Several pastors we know told us that they and their families almost died as they watched the floodwaters rise in their homes. Some Hondurans were rescued by helicopter.

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Still, others were rescued by boat only to be robbed by MS13 and 18th Street gangs as soon as they landed on dry ground. The next day the government sent dump trucks to rescue some and take them to higher ground. That meant the median on CA-5 which is the Transamerican Highway. It has since become home to hundreds if not thousands of desperate people.

Again, there’s no HUD in Honduras

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The next storm is about 3-4 days out as I write.

Hope in Time is only getting started with relief efforts.

If COVID wasn’t bad enough, Honduras doesn’t have first world sewage systems. Sewage strewn mud carries its own set of health risks.

But God. Mk 16:18

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Our first food delivery included 400 pounds of rice and beans, Maseka,(cornmeal for tortillas) Sugar, Manteca (lard) as well as 25 prepared bags of food donated by the City of Refuge. They all went to a Christian school housing 15 families.

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The people housed there asked our permission to take the bags to 100 children from an orphanage that was destroyed in the flood.

There is a tendency in the contemporary body of Christ to always pursue Mat 17 Mount of Transfiguration type experiences. We sing “we want more”. But do we really know what we are asking? The mountain top is the place where God reveals Himself as the anchor to which we tether our faith as we venture into the muck below. The valley is where we come face to face with our own weakness and true recognition of our dependency on God. It is in the midst of our desperation that we encounter Him more.

“His strength is made perfect in weakness.” is not a metaphor. When we are weak, then we are strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Not only did Eta kill people and render them homeless. It also destroyed a large portion of crops that were due to be harvested. That’s not good. The price of corn and beans is going up fast in many areas according to their scarcity. We just spent two whole days searching for and buying supplies.

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We were able to purchase six hundred pounds of beans and rice as well as beds, tarps, and other supplies. Adult clothing is desperately needed and is sold in bales. We are still looking. Right now we need to watch and see what Iota does. Its current track is further north than Eta. A fair number of missionaries got blindsided by Eta and are now in need of help. We need to avoid becoming casualties so that we continue to be a help.

We know that amidst all of this that our God is sovereign. We know better than to cry “Why Lord?!” But rather “What are you doing Lord?” We know that whatever happens, fiery trials are not strange. They refine our faith and produce patience. Furthermore, tribulation is the seed of hope and is ultimately for our good because our demonstrated endurance helps to ensure the

“manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord”… Eph 3:8-12

These will be some of the foundational scriptures in any messages we give.

We just wanted to touch base with all our prayer partners and financial supporters and let you know we are alive and kicking and will continue until the Lord says otherwise.

“If you don’t quit – you win!”

-Heidi Baker-

If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to support our relief efforts click here.

Here is an approximate cost breakdown for how all donated funds are being used at this time.

• FOOD SUPPLIES
  • Beans – $40 – $50 per 100 lbs
  • Rice – $30 -40 per 100 lbs
  • Maseka – $30 per 100 lbs
  • Manteca Lard – $40 per 100 lbs
• ESSENTIALS
  • Tarps – $12 – $15 each
  • Cama (bed) – $30 -$50 each
  • Clothing – $200 per 100 lbs
• TRANSPORTATION COSTS PER OUTREACH $40 -$50 PER VEHICLE.

Please Pray for Honduras

MARANATHA!