Missions: Honduras 2008

Just a quick note to let y'all know I returned safe and sound from Honduras on Saturday 23rd, flying into Pittsburgh, PA, around midnight. I went to church with the Ingole's and their church family Sunday morning before Bill Hoffman drove me home.

HONDURAS was awesome! There are so many things I could say about the place, the people, the trip itself, but I'll try and limit myself just a little...

We arrived in Roatán, Honduras, August 8th, drove across the island to a location across from The Key (a smaller island which never appears on maps and juts off of Roatán) and then took a couple boat trips across till we got our luggage and our team across...I must break quickly to mention our team consisted mostly of friends and church family to the Ingole Family, most of whom I had met at some time but only the Ingole's, Bill Hoffman, Pastor Joe (first week), and Michelle Harter (second week) did I truly know. Now, thanks to the trip, I can truly appreciate them and even better I can now call out most of the people in Jubilee church by name (that's saying something for me!)...back to the trip. We went to Brian's shack, which the guys would be tearing down and rebuilding during the two weeks we were there, and found all it's posts submerged under sewage water due to the recent rain. Bill Hoffman immediately responded with "we can't do this," however, as it turns out, the guys did manage to tear down the shack, dig holes, which they filled with cement, cement blocks, and more cement, and then add floor to the new building in the first week. And it was now stable. The neighbor across the path made a huge fuss, and continued to cause problems during the two weeks, then we found out she was into witchcraft and did intense prayer over the building between the morning and evening church services on the 17th. It did take till the very last minute on Friday the 22nd for the guys to finish the last bit of the new house (they finished by flashlight) before we left early Saturday morning.

THE FIRST WEEK, our team consisted of 12 people, then on Saturday two left (Pastor Joe and Pastor Amie) while 11 more arrived. It was rather full, then, at the mission house, but as I said before, I had a great time getting to know everyone...The first week, Monday-Wednesday, us ladies did a Bible School in the afternoon for the children of The Bite (the poor area, near the shack being torn down, and a Spanish-speaking area [The Key was mostly English/Island with little Spanish, while Roatán and it's Bite were Spanish with little English speakers present; yet they were oddly, only a quick boat ride away from each other!]). Wednesday morning, we also had a soup kitchen in the same building as the Bible School, and in the evening the Mission House where we stayed (which also has a school for the Key and a church) had its usual Wednesday Night church service which we attended. We saw almost 200 kids that last night in the Bite...Then Thursday we had a day off, for us ladies that is, and all but one of us went to a natural beach, which takes really long to get to, but was definitely worth it! Clear and calm, beautiful! Oh, and we stopped and shopped briefly on the way for little trinkets for family back home; maybe that's why the trip seemed so long!...Friday, while a couple of the ladies went to help the men, I and one stayed and rested--I was due for a nap!--and Emily went out boat riding/driving with three of her long-time friends from the area (they are now my friends to, we call them Yo, Jo, and Carretta)...Saturday Emily spent most of the day at the airport, dropping off two people and waiting forever for the next eleven to come, while Erin Fisher and I worked on making a cake at the neighbors, decorating it, then carrying it back over for Michelle Harter who's birthday we had missed because she was only coming in that day!

THE SECOND WEEK we did clinics. Monday and Thursday was in the same church as the Bible School had been in down at The Bite. Tuesday was quite a drive farther down the island, and Thursday was a long boat ride around a large section of the island. We saw nearly 700 people in the clinic over those four days, and blessed the people with medicine, care, love, and prayer. The first two days I was a gofer-girl (I ran between one nurses table and the clinic table for supplies), and the second two days, when Pastor Mike had to go back to help the guys, I took over the position of praying for each patient after they had been seen and giving them a little gift bag we had designed (various assortments of candy, pencils, rulers, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cream or lotion, or other such little things they all appreciated!)...Friday was another day off for us ladies and once again we went to the beach, this time without any stops on the way there or back. And spent longer there before coming back earlier--we had to handle the Youth Service that night. In the end, most of the ladies helped the guys finish by flashlights and Emily, Michelle, and I were left at the last minute re-planning what we were going to do...

OH, and I forgot, the first Monday there Emily and I covered the chapel service for the school, and I shared my testimony of healing from the wheelchair. It was too early to be up and I crashed for an hour nap afterward, but it was good. All the more practice for the big Friday night...

YES, Friday, I preached for my first time! Not just sharing for a couple minutes, or giving my testimony, but preaching...Don't laugh, but I spoke on Zacchaeus and The Covenant of Friendship. Maybe you'll hear it sometime, or I'll post it here. At any rate, it came about because I opened my mouth and said I'd had something cooking. I was smart enough not to say it any sooner then that Friday, but I also said I had something because I felt the Lord urging me to share it and when we needed to come up with something at the last minute for that night, I thought "It's now, isn't it, God?" So I mentioned it...It went great! God was definitely there and was really hitting my interpreter. There were a couple times I had wait a while before she could speak again, once she sobbed and said "This comes straight from the Throne room!" and then, finally, she couldn't speak and a friend of hers in the back stood up and took over...I know I'm called to be a missionary, and through friend's and prophecies I've been told I'd preach, but now I can see it. I know God is moving me that way, and I'm glad He's using me...now matter how great or small!

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Blessing to y'all!
<>< Hannah Joy

A Little note from Haney-Pack Where packing means carrying Christ to the Nations

PHILIPPINES 2007:

Her name was Kim (with a Spanish “I,” like Keem). She lived in a remote town on the little island of Busuanga, part of the Palawan cluster of islands in the Philippines and a twelve hour boat ride from Puerto Princessa, Palawan. Like some of the Filipinos who attended the small church in Chey (pronounced chew-y) during the time the missionaries where there holding conferences, Kim was there to help out. She wanted to enjoy the free food and did not want to be affected by the meetings; nor did she expect it.

During the first night of meetings, the Holy Spirit fell so strongly that not only were most of the Filipinos either falling out under the power of God or laughing with the Joy of the Lord, but so did most of the missionary team! Not a person was un-effected. That is except Kim.

She was outside preparing a late night snack for everyone when she was drawn in by the laughter and joy lighting up the night air. She peeked in the back church door, and the next thing she knew, several hours later she was staggering and laughing her way out the door on the arms of one of the young missionary women.

My name is Hannah Davis, but my nickname is Haney-Pack as I am always giving out waist-level hugs! I was one of the team my Aunt Debby took to the Philippines last fall. We saw several people healed and delivered while we traveled across the islands and while we ministered at the churches. Though the whole trip was awesome, I was specifically affected by what happened during our week in Chey. Not only did God talk to us and give us new revelations while under the influence of the Holy Spirit, but He used us too! Even in ways we never knew of at the time it occurred!

While we spoke, shared, talked, and enjoyed our time in the meetings, the Lord touched Kim and many others like her! But for Kim, it was extra special. After that first meeting, she shared with us her testimony! During that meeting, though not a word had ever been spoken about or prayed over her concerning her being Lesbian, she was immediately delivered from it! And when we last saw her, she could not stop commenting about how handsome a certain young man looked!

What’s more, the Lord is still moving in that little town. The Lord is anxiously waiting to impart more to His people! Every night since we left that little church, they have been having meetings and God has been there waiting every night! Amazing!

AFRICA 2008:

He was about five years old and his name was Abel (pronounced Ah-bell). He was one of over eighty children at the orphanage in Benin, West Africa; the orphanage Pulcherie ran and the visiting missionary team tried to support. While several of the orphans were adoptable, Abel was not for his mother was still alive, though she resided indefinitely at an asylum for the mentally ill.

Abel had a cute smile and a ready laugh, but mostly he just loved to be held. He was a rambunctious boy and did not like to sit still long, so rather then stay in one person’s arms continuously, he would clamber from one missionary team member to another. And he never stopped smiling!

For the first week in Africa we held two ladies conferences in the morning and afternoons, and went to different churches in the evenings. We saw many people uplifted and delivered of various ailments and diseases; I saw one girl, who as I prayed for her to see, her eyes suddenly lined up and she looked right at me! While another young lady was delivered of a demon when a friend prayed for her!

But, perhaps, one of the most memorable times for me was the second week. It started out with an awesome youth meeting, where the youth on our team—including me—went and each took turns sharing. I had almost nothing to say as I stood up to share, but each time the interpreter finished and I opened my mouth again the next words where there! As a result of all of us allowing God to use us outside of our usual comfort zones, the meeting became a powerful prayer, worship, and time of intercession! We did not get back to our rooms till very, very late! But it had been totally worth it!

Then, for the next several days, we went to the orphanage we are trying to raise support for. While several on our team played and distracted most of the children, the two nurses looked over each child one at a time, and when they were done looking over that child, I prayed for, blessed, and gave him or her a candy. But in between each child, I sat and held one of the younger children and kept a small, enraptured group entertained with little games or tickling. And if I were to choose a favorite, it would have been Abel; he had an incredible smile and beautiful laugh, which I constantly tried to draw out with another tickle!

OVERALL:

In the last year and half I have been blessed with traveling to many places in the US, West Africa, and the Philippines! My dream has always been to be a missionary, travel, and help missionaries. And starting in 2006, that has been exactly what I have been doing! I have been helping and ministering with Fred & Debby Davis as part of DavisMission. It has been awesome to be such a blessing to those we meet and those I live with; albeit, it has been a big stretching, growing, and learning experience as I learn to get along outside of my comfort zone—my bedroom! I have learned much about trusting God in the everyday mission’s life, but I have been enjoying every minute of it too!

With God’s help, all things are possible!

I am expecting to continue in this ministry and traveling to carry God to the nations with my Uncle and Aunt; but I also hope soon to venture out with friends and on my own too! We hope to go to the Philippines again in October, perhaps finally go to somewhere in East Europe next year, and I am also planning on traveling to Honduras with my nurse friends this August.

PRAY:
- Please pray for God’s guidance and continuous direction, as we travel and minister both in the
US and abroad
- The provisions necessary to continue this work,
- And for the orphans in Benin, whom we are trying to raise support for!

As the Lord blesses us, may you also know his blessings “exceedingly abundantly above all that we may ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph 3:20)!

Christ's love to y'all,
<>< Hannah Joy

The Cross

On Sunday, I forgot, but Emily had also mentioned the cross. How the cross is not a burden, since the Lord said, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light," (Mat 11:30).

Well, oddly enough, tonight Pastor Charley spoke on the cross. And it brought that part of Emily's message to mind, though he did not word it exactly the same. He did say a lot more about the cross itself...and now, because I believe it's important, I'm going to repeat it here but in my own words with a few other additions that I sensed in my spirit (like the emphasis on joy).


THE CROSS. (Mt 16:24ff; Mark 8:34ff & 10:21; Luke 9:23ff; etc)

First off, Emily is right. It's not a burden. It's not something like a disease or some "cross to bear" like everyone always says. It's not awful. Nor, something horrible that we say "Whoa is me, I have to carry this thing!" I believe it is something that, at least in spirit, we have joy over it; over serving God in this way. Or at least, we should, for the Lord rebuked His people in Deuteronomy 28:47 when they neglected to serve Him with joy. And over in I Thessalonians 5:16 we are commanded to "Rejoice always" (NASB); while several times in Scripture, and particularly in Psalms 16:11, it declares that in God's presence there is "fullness of joy." Where is the burden in that?

Secondly, its like Pastor Charley said tonight. It's a voluntary action! You can choose it, or not. You can pick it up and lay it down later. Jesus hid and walked past a crowd that tried to kill Him (Luke 4:30 & John 8:59), and we know He had angels at His disposal (Ps 91:11-12; Matt 4:6 & Luke 4:10-11), YET He did not lay down His cross and sneak off on that day we now call the Day of His Crucifixion...Pastor Charley mentioned fasting. And I think that is a good example of a cross. We choose to do it, maybe because we really felt an urging from God or because we know that God doesn't ask "if" we fast but "when" or for some other reason, like the fulfillment of prayer. Or perhaps, all the above. But at any point, we could quit. We could never go through with it to start with, or we could stop halfway through the original time we had set aside for it. We might feel bad about it later, but we can quit! That's a cross we choose to carry! And, as an application of the cross, it may lead to other applications in your life; learning how to lay one thing down can lead to laying another down (like one bad thing leads to another, but in glorious reverse!). But, if we choose to carry it, it should be with joy and peace (Rom 14:17)...Sometimes a cross might be a responsibility, like honoring your earthly parents and supporting them as they get old (but remember, always with joy!), or some other thing we feel we must do...It is, however, not a disease! We can't choose a disease! ...Again, a cross is something we choose to carry! Even a responsibility, which may seem like an obligation, is something we can choose to carry and therefore is a cross.

Basically, a cross is not a burden and is a voluntary choice we must daily choose to carry. Hopefully, we'll learn to carry it with peace and joy and not a boasting "whoa is me" attitude (Gal 6:14), for only Christ's cross should be boasted of! And what burden is there EVER in serving the One you love? So rejoice! Die to yourself! And pick up your cross to follow Him (Heb 12:2)!

Christ's love to y'all,
<>< Hannah Joy

Mother & Daughter: Blessings of the Weekend

Wow! Did I ever have an exciting weekend! Bill, Cathy, and I went to the Ingole household for the weekend.

First, for Becky's 50th birthday party on Friday where we danced, talked, and karaoke-d the night away! Was it ever a blast! We raised somewhere around $5000 for rebuilding their 'adopted' son's house in Honduras (that was all Becky wanted for her birthday: money towards Brian's family's new house!)! How exciting! ...and yes, though I've never done it before, I tried to sing karaoke with Michelle Harter and one of Emily's friends, Heather. Well, okay. Really, I was dragged up there, and, though I tried to avoid the microphone, Heather didn't let me get away with out it in my face at least a few times. And we sang for at least two songs. But what the songs were, I cannot tell you. Not because they were bad, but because my education never included secular songs (outside of what you hear in stores when you listen and the movies/TV commercials). So if you want to know, you'll have to hunt down either Michelle or Heather! LOL!

And, Secondly, we went to enjoy a whole weekend with the lovely Ingole family! Okay, maybe that was more the bonus on Saturday: hanging out with whoever came over to play games. Originally, the main reason for staying through Sunday had to do with a long drive that no driver wants to do too soon and hearing Emily preach (my reason, Hello! I'm not the driver!) the Sunday morning service! Woo who! And was she good! ...of course, in the end, we opted to leave early Monday morning so I could hang out with the dynamic 'Ingoley-Virgonte' and the lovely 'China Doll' a little longer. And, in the process, I got my hair colored back to its original color--does anyone even remember what that was?

Oh, wait; you wanted to know what Em spoke on?! Oi! Do I have to tell you everything...Okay. John 4:22-24; Luke 4:1-2, 4, & 14-19; Col 1:13-18; Timothy something; and there was more, I'm sure, but that's what happens when you forget to write it ALL down: you can't recall it later! So that's it. There you go......Oi! All right. Here's my notes. Under John 4:23, I wrote: "God is now drawing a line between those who worship in Spirit and Truth and those who are 'religious' or a 'good person'. We are called out of carnality or being a carnal Christian. It's not whether you wear a skirt, or shoes, or dance, that will send you to hell, but not having a personal relationship with HIM that will!" and "People may praise you, but then you get to real with them and they criticize you; Jesus [see John 4] felt everything, but He knew how to combat it too!" Under Luke 4:18-19, I wrote, "You can't do anything without Him" "He doesn't need you, He wants you" and "there's a qualifier to that: you have to say 'Yes' and daily!" And Under Colossians 1:15 & 18, I wrote: "He went there first, and He'll be there by your side when you get there." And, the main point that I got from it, was "overcoming your religious spirit/pride and dying to yourself; but knowing God would be there in the end, because He wants to use you!" Or something like that (I'm not very good at re-wording my jumbled thoughts, which seem to only make sense to me!). I mostly caught the dying to self because that's what God has been dealing with me about a lot lately! But the urging to do that (die-to-self) has come about because I feel the urgency for God longing to use ME! And do greater works (John 14:12)!

I know I was blessed by the whole weekend. The fellowship. The fun. The friends. And the death to self! Oi! What a combination; but a good one!

Thank you Ingole's and others for the wonderful weekend!
And doubly thanks to you, God, for being there in and through it all!!!

Christ's love to y'all,
<><>