Team Ministers in San Matias Community

Our team was instructed to be ready to leave with all luggage this
morning at 8:00 a.m. in the event we were unable to return to
Tegucigalpa. While we have not experienced first hand any political
unrest, the climate is poised for any shift at any time. I must say that
the local police department has done and excellent job in being
pro-active in what could be a volatile situation. Because of the
pro-activity of the police department, they have issued a mandatory
travel document for all transport companies. Our bus driver, Tito, was an
hour late to pick us up because he was procuring the proper documents for
our travel to a village approximately ninety miles up the mountain and
into the woods. It was there that we spent the entire day ministering to
our new friends.

As we exited the bus it seemed as if we had been working together for
years. Everyone knew exactly what they were going to do and begin setting
up various ministry stations to love and care for these beautiful people.
Our Community LIFE crew went to work in several areas. Kenneth, Loretta,
Karen, and Hali helped take hundreds of pictures and print them
immediately for the children and adults to have. Kenneth commented in our
share time that he had never seen such huge smiles on the faces of
children over a simple photo. We do indeed take so much for granted. Most
of the children, with which we ministered to today, have never even seen
themselves in a mirror much less a photo. This was made obvious as they
began to fall back in line for another “shot” at a photo. Trey threw a
Frisbee and kicked a soccer ball until his hands were blistered and leg
muscles were frail from exhaustion. I, of course, roamed for a while but
found myself tying balloons into swords and animals. Before sculpting
balloons one must start by blowing them up. I was given this task because
they informed me I was a “big blow hard” and matched my skills with what
was needed. I eventually graduated to sculpting when I proved myself.
(O.K. so they just needed to take a lunch break) Needless to say, we all
had a terrific time sharing the love of Jesus with simple task as
pictures, balloons, and kicking a ball. Some of the other ministry teams
painted faces, taught a Bible school lesson and even fitted some of the
senior men and women with reading glasses.

We ended our time with our new friends by worshipping together in songs
of their native language and I was privileged to preach the message. I
and the interpreter shared the story of Zacheus with great animation and
the people responded by understanding God’s love for them through Jesus
who knew them by name. Several people prayed to receive Jesus as their
Lord and Savior and of course this was the greatest blessing and miracle
of all. Following the worship service, the local pastor proceeded to give
out food bags for each family in attendance. Our team assembled these
bags on Sunday night for the families and they were well received. Each
fifteen dollar bag of food would feed a family of five for at least one
week. I want to challenge our folks, when we return home, to adopt some
families in this village and help continue what was started this week.
There is no greater joy than to see that we have met not only a spiritual
need but a physical need in the lives of families around the world.

Gary, our fearless leader, had been in contact with the folks in
Tegucigalpa all during the day and informed us that we would be returning
to the Hotel Excelsior for the evening. At this point we were ready for a
hot shower and a warm meal. The peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
followed by a “hot” coke were good but not what our spoiled taste buds
were accustomed too. As we entered the city our bus driver was taking
what he thought to be the safest route back to our hotel. As we
approached one part of the city, we all noticed heavy black smoke and as
we turned the corner, a group of protestors had set tires on fire outside
the residence of the president. Tito, our bus driver, instructed us to
squat down and keep our faces covered so that the protestors who might be
anti-American would not be given the opportunity to express themselves
violently toward us. He immediately turned the bus around and we took a
much longer route back to what was going to be our final destination for
the evening.

The dinner plan for the evening was to enjoy the local Honduran cuisine
at a restaurant called “El Patio”. However, just before leaving for
dinner, the Concierge informed us that an evening curfew had been set and
no one was to be on the road after 6:00 p.m. Leaving everyone else at
the hotel, Gary, Tito and I traveled downtown to pick-up some “take out”
for the team. It was an eerie experience to travel downtown in no traffic
when just one hour before it was bumper to bumper. The only place we
found open was Quiznos that was just about to turn out the lights when we
entered. We ordered and immediately returned to the hotel where the team
was nourished once again.

Tomorrow we begin our day with a three to four hour journey to the
orphanage Immanuel. We will spend the remainder of our time here in
Honduras loving on the children and workers at their 900 acre ranch. From
what I have been told, the operation of this ranch is a sight to behold.
I wait with great expectation to see what God has for us to experience in
the following days.

Steve Dean

FCM Team Arrives Safely in Honduras

On this day twenty-seven followers of Christ met together in Miami,
Florida to begin a week long ministry to the people of Honduras. With
luggage and supplies in hand, we begin what will unfold in the following
pages. Our expectant hearts await the blessings God has for each of us as
we willing share his love through word and deed to the people of
Tegucigalpa and the Orphanage Immanuel. Knowing that God’s plan is
greater than we can possibly perceive we step out in faith to experience
God’s loving hand on each of our shoulders.

Sixteen of our twenty-seven member crew hails from Alabama while eleven,
ten of which were from North Carolina and one from Tennessee met us in
Miami to begin this great adventure. I along with Trey and Loretta were
scheduled to take a later flight to our final destination, but after some
sweet talk and charm we were able to travel with our fellow teammates. At
this point, however, we are unsure if we will ever see our luggage. The
decision to travel together and take a chance was based on the political
unrest we learned about just hours before our trip. The Honduran
president was arrested and based on speculation and rumor we just learned
that the power to all of the country has been shut down and martial law
instated. Doing only what we know to do, we called our fellow believers
and ask them to begin praying for our safety. With confidence in God and
the knowledge of American Airlines, we proceeded with our journey. I
write this as we are flying from Miami to Tegucigalpa.

When we arrived in Tegucigalpa the team gathered and one by one we made
our way through customs with no certainty what awaits us on the other
side. At baggage claim, Trey and I wait with baited breath to see if our
bags had traveled with us. As we watched for our entire luggage, around
the corner comes my back pack and just seconds later Trey’s. What we had
been told would be impossible to accomplish God found a way. The entire
luggage arrived and our team met our fearless leader, Gary Clark, and
proceeded to our bus where we met some locals who were graciously waiting
to assist us.

With watchful eyes we scanned the parking lot and surrounding area for
signs of unrest and discovered that the electricity had been turned back
on and there was no sign of any danger or trouble. This day seemed to be
as any other day through out the city. The government had already
anticipated problems and secured the areas where there may be unrest. We
made our way to lunch at the local Pizza Hut and watched what appeared to
be a news conference which of course none of us could understand.
However, those dining with us seemed not to be worried in the least. I
believe their attitude helped to calm our spirits and reassure us that we
had made the right decisions in continuing our journey.

Because of the unrest and curfew that had been set in the city, we made
our way to the hotel Excelsior where we will be spending two nights
before traveling two hours into the mountains to the orphanage Immanuel.
The time we spent together as a team today helped build a bond that will
ensure great success on the field to which we have been called to serve.
Each of us awaits a good night’s sleep and look forward to a great day of
ministry on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa on Monday.

Steve Dean

Honduras Days 1 and 2

Hey guys!! It's Cortney here in Honduras. We are all so excited to be here!! We can definitely see the great things God is doing here.

Yesterday was a very trying day for all of us. We met at the church at 2 a.m. and I think the churches from Alabama got up even earlier than that. When we reached the Miami airport, things were looking fine. However, 10 minutes before boarding our flight, a woman in the airport tried to convince us that Honduras was unsafe because of the political unrest. We made a split-second decision to get on the plane, and I think we are all glad we didn't miss out on this opportunity. After being picked up at the airport by Gary and Tito, our bus driver, we headed to Pizza Hut and back to the hotel for rest. Then we packed the food bags to take out to San Matias today. We are all having a great time fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ from different churches.

Today, we got up early and headed out to San Matias. It was a pretty long and curvy bus ride, but finally we arrived. Even though I have been to Honduras and Venezuela multiple times, the poverty is still shocking. In San Matias, we did a carnival with the children, including face painting, games, coloring, and pictures. We all had a lot of fun! These children are so sweet, humble, and giving. They just longed for love and a physical touch. I know it was awesome for my sister Cameran and I to see some girls that we met last year come up and recognize us. The children are still wearing the shoes we were able to provide them with last year. We saw the seeds that we planted last year actually growing. After the carnival, we gave the people food, which they were very gracious for. Overall, it was a wonderful day and I know that God is certainly working in Honduras.

Sometimes the city is a little interesting with everything going on, but we all feel safe and happy to be here. Tomorrow morning we are heading up to Orphanage Emmanuel and are leaving the hotel at 6:00 a.m. Yikes!! It is going to be amazing to work with the children at the orphanage.

I think we are all excited to be here, and tonight we discussed the idea that the safest place to be is in the center of God's will. We are all certain that we are in the center of God's will, and have a peace about being here in Honduras. Your prayers are very much appreciated! Keep up the prayers and we will keep you all updated. See everyone soon!!

In Christ,
Cortney

Impacted by the Watoto Children's Village

Hi folks!

After a delightfully restful 22 hours of wandering through aiports, relaxing in the plush, extra roomy seats on KLM Airlines (or is it cattle lines), and eating in-flight meals that would make the Cheesecake Factory turn green (and not with envy), Tripp, Harold and I landed safely in Entebbe last night around 8 pm local time.

Harold's and Allen's bags also arrived safely, and we were grateful to see them. We were even more grateful once we realized that KLM kept Tripp's bag. It's a really nice bag, or so he told us. After waiting in line for another hour, the cattle line told us they were optimistic he'd get his bag back sometime this week.

I held my bag extra close on the ride into Kampala, thankful once again for the little blessings.

In the meantime Tripp has no underwear (don't tell anyone, it's a secret) and is borrowing clothes and toothpaste from me. You share a lot on these trips, sometimes more than you want. In case you're wondering, I did offer to share a pair, but not very enthusiastically. Tripp declined, quickly. We guys have our limits on fellowship and sharing.

This morning we met Fred Erisata from Watoto Children's Villages and Pastor Nelson Kyasooka from Grace Fellowship Church, and spent the day touring Watoto's ministry sites that are in the Kampala area. What an unbelievable ministry God has birthed here in Kampala!

Here's the story, as Fred told it. By the way, Fred is a 23 year old law student at Makere University here in Kampala. He is an articulate, outgoing and happy young man who wants to practice international law as an activist for human rights. His father died when he was 5 and then his mother died when he was 8. He was one of the first Watoto kids, and they are still supporting him - all the way through college - which is what family does. Right?

Watoto was started by a small church led by a Canadian pastor. In 1994 this small church in downtown Kampala became convinced that God was calling them into a ministry that went beyond bible teaching, fellowship and worship. The Father birthed a desire in their hearts to reach orphans and widows, in the midst of a country overflowing with ignored orphans and widows.

By the way, they had little money and few resources and no experience.

But they stepped out in faith and rented a house and placed a widow and 8 children in that house. The church could barely afford to feed them, so the widow worked hard to grow food for her and the kids in a little garden site next door.

In time they added a second house and then a third, as God began to provide some support from outside the church body.

In 1996 they decided to send a kids choir from the first village on an international tour to tell the story of the orphans in Uganda. They sent 18 kids and 10 adults. Fred, our tour guide today, was one of those kids who toured the U.S. and other countries in 1996. They've sent 36 choirs on tour since then.

Today Watoto has three children's villages (2 near Kampala and one in the north in Gulu), a babies home, a retirement home for house mothers, as well as other ministries I don't remember.

By the way, they now care for 1,750 children, ages birth to 23 years old. They have 400 staff, most Ugandan, but supplemented by international staff from Canada, the U.S., Australia and other places. They take chidlren who are in desperate circumstances, most of whom have no family or support to live.

Today, we first visited Bbira Children's village, which hosts 828 children, in the midst of a park-like setting, covered with beautiful trees. Then we visited a second brand-new village at Suubi on top of a huge ridge, overlooking miles of beatiful valley.

Children live 8 per home, with a mother caring for each group of 8. Some of the house mothers have up to 2 children of their own (part of the 8 they care for). If the mother has two female children, then she cares for 8 females. If two male children, then all males. If the house mother has a boy and a girl, then she takes both to make up the 8. If no children, then she gets to decide how to arrange the family. It's a great arrangement.

The homes are simple but well-built, clean and functional - with tin roofs and painted mud-brick walls, and nice concrete floors (about $30,000 each to build, add utilites, and equp with furniture and stoves and fixtures). The house we visited had a genuine warmth to it. It did not seem at all like a home for orphans.

Each village has children's homes, a kindergarten, a primary school, a middle school a high school, a medical clinic, a library and computer center, athletic fields, water pumping station, security guards, fence for security. One site was 75 acres and the other was 194 acres. The 194 acre site at Suubi also has a vocational school.

The villages are unbelievably beautiful and well-designed and well-run, from all we could see. Actually, they were stunning. Neat, clean, creative, happy, active, manicured, practical, fun...instead of the misery of livign on the street that all of these kids would have known, if they had survived at all.

We ended the day by visiting the home for babies in Kampala, they care for over 100 babies, premature to 2 years old. We asked where all these babies come from. And they told us the heartbreaking story of many babies in Uganda.

Most come from the "rubbish heaps" where people throw newborns they don't want, or can't feed, or who are deformed or premature. Sometimes people find them in time, rescue them and bring them to Watoto. Sometimes the parents leave them at a hospital and sometimes at a police station. These newborns have no hope of survival, all of whom would have died in the trah, or in a street alley, or in the bushes.

We walked in to the babies home and, oh my. I have three little girls so it's hard to write about it. There were 19 children under 6 months playing on the floor in the room where we were. They were all clean and well fed. Their eyes...always searching yours, wanting to be held and hugged and loved on. So we did.

It was perhaps the most beautiful place we've seen. They intentionally built it to look like a palace so that they babies could come from the trash heap into a palace (like Moses, they say). They have mothers who work in two 12 hour shifts that take care of a cluster of babies. And there are babies everywhere...so beautiful. We got to hold some of them. I sang to the ones I held and several smiled back at me. You could tell they were well cared for. And they are all permanently adopted by Watoto, who will raise them through college or vocational school.

We met a young lady named Annie, from the U.S., who leads the home (since it was built three years ago). What an incredible place.

We had to pry Harold loose when it was time to leave the babies. He may have snuck out of the hotel and already gone back to hold more babies while I was writing this.

I think we could spend our entire week there, just taking care of the little ones that came within hours of dying alone and unknown. But they were never alone for one millisecond of their life, and there is a Father who knew every one of them - even the ones who die before they are found.

There is so much overwhelming demand for a place to take unwanted babies in Kampala that they are presently building a second babies home - for 200 babies.

So here we are. Amazed at what we've seen. Aware that Watoto is a drop in the bucket of the need here. aware that watoto has taken 15 years to get to this place. Not yet sure what God is doing or where He is taking us on this journey...but aware that He is doing something and taking us somewhere - somewhere special - if we will only be willing to go with Him.

Just like the babies, He knows us. He is with us. He has our lives in His gentle hands and He knows what He wants and where He is taking us.

Pray that we will hear His voice and see His movement as we walk forward listening and watching.

So why do I write all that about Watoto, when I am with Four Corners?

Because I want you to know it's possible for a little group of people with a God-planted desire to do the immpossible.

It looked impossible in 1994 for thise group to do anything more than care for 8 kids and one widow in a ramshackle rental house. Now they are nourishing and cherishing 1750 kids to a hope and a future that is much brighter than what most of these kids parents could have ever given them.

I have a sense that we, along wtih Pastor Nelson and his church famiiles, will one day get to hold babies and play with children who were rescued off the streets and out of the trash heaps through the love of the Four Corners ministry team and all of you who are reading this - if we are willing to patiently wait on the Lord and when it is time to leap off the cliff of faith into whatever adventure of trust that our loving Father has for us.

Ask the Lord if He wants you to jump. He told Watoto to jump and they did - with empty pockets and no idea where He was taking them. He has provided everything they needed, when they needed it - through people who were delighted to give.

I hope it happens again. There is SO much tragic need here among the babies and children, but there is also something much greater than the tragedy of hundreds of thousands of orphans. There is infinite hope and joy in a rescuing God who delights in lifting up the least of these, and delights in touching them through those who are the least of these, like me. And probably you.

I hope you know how delighted your Father is with you today, if you are one of Abba's kids. I hope you have had a glimpse of how much He loves you. He loves you just as much as the baby they're bringig in off the trash heap right now.

Grace and peace and love to all of you from Kampala,

Allen Haynes

FCM Staff Arrive in Uganda

FCM began bringing teams to Uganda in 2007. Since that time, God has laid it on our hearts to build a children's village that will include homes for orphans, a medical clinic, a church and a school.

I arrived in Uganda last night, along with Harold Harmon, one of FCM's Board members, as well as Allen Haynes, one of FCM's strongest supporters. The three of us have come to Uganda to meet with individuals that lead organizations that are involved in taking care of orphans. We are also planning to look at potential sites for the children's village that we hope to break ground on in 2010.

Please pray that God will give us wisdom and discernment during our time here in Africa. The pain that so many of these children have endured is to great to fathom. They need to experience love more than ever.

For the Joy,

Tripp

Sowing Seeds of Love

The energetic crew from South Luverne Baptist Church headed to SIFAT¨s new "dream project" today. The construction team dug a gaping hole in the earth for the foundation of a 4 story day-care facility (the dream yet to realize), and the VBS team entertained, taught, and loved on dozens of Ecuadorian kids with Bible lessons, skits, and various activities. We convened for lunch at the VBS site with the SIFAT staff and shared some laughs guinea pig. Not really, it was chicken, but you never know in Ecuador.

Before you skim over this part, read this....

I was standing in our project, a four foot deep hole, looking up at Will Tate, our team leader, and our Ecuadorean compadre, Rafeal. Rafael oversees construction on this project and also serves as the pastor of a local church. We were working on the foundation by digging holes in which to bury the columns to support the four story building. Rafael was holding the tool of choice of which we have become very familiar this morning - a pick ax. The dialogue that ensued went something like this...

Rafael (R): In the U.S., how is this work done? By hand, like this? (holding the pick-ax)
Will (W): No, we use machines.
R: Ah, yes.
W: How much does it cost to rent an excavator here?
R: Oh, about $50 an hour.

Will looked around and saw 5 holes that were all 4 feet deep. Each one, including the one where I stood had to be picked away, bit by bit down to 8 feet. The shovel and pick ax was already wearing on our hands, backs, and our will. I was elated by the idea of renting an excavator. We could knock out what it took 5 men working about 3 days in just one hour for only $50 bucks!

Humbly, Will says, "You know, we can afford to rent an excavator if you prefer to do it that way."

Rafael responded, "Nnnnno. It is better by hand. You are sowing a seed this way....for the children. It is more difficult, but you will remember this for the rest of your life."

WOW. I was floored. Will was too and agreed. We continued the rest of the day, and will the rest of the week, sewing seeds of love for the children of Ecuador, one stroke at a time.

-Jerry Cotney

Fun Trip to the Equator

As we get used to the altitude of Quito, we walked through a series of scientic experiements and laughs along the equator today. Some team members even succeeded in balancing an egg on top of a nail head standing straight up. I still don't understand that one.

SIFAT briefed us on what God is doing here and what they expect God to do through us this week. Our group of nearly 40 will split into construction, medical, and VBS teams tomorrow.

We appreciate your prayers and hope to report great news throughout this week!

-Jerry Cotney

FCM Team Arrives Safely in Ecuador

The short term mission team from Crenshaw County, Alabama arrived in Ecuador late Saturday night about 9:30 PM and then escaped airport immigration and baggage claim to get back to our hotel at 11:30PM. All in all, traveling was good, a little turbulence here and there and a little flight delay in Miami for about an hour but we have all our luggage so Praise God. Everyone was tired and exhausted.

Today it is Sunday and we are headed to the Middle of the World (Equator). What do you wear to the Middle of the World? We will tell you all about that later tonight. We will go to worship service later today and meet some of the residents here and experience worshipping the one true God together. We are looking forward to making a difference in Ecuador today. Please pray for God to lead and protect us as we serve Him.


-Tracy Watson

FCM Prepares for Community Development Trip to Uganda

FCM began working in Uganda in 2007. After several years of ministry God has given FCM's Board of Directors a desire to construct a children’s village that will rescue hundreds of orphans that live on the streets of Uganda.

I am excited that FCM has raised enough money to take an exploratory trip on June 25th for the sole purpose of learning the best way to move forward as we prepare to break ground on the village in 2010. The village will contain homes for orphans, a medical clinic, a church, a school, recreation fields, and gardens to help feed the kids. Please pray that God will give us wisdom to know where to purchase land and where to plant this vision.

-Tripp