Update- 07.01.2019

Dear Friends of Gathering Hearts,

I don’t think any of us could have predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic would be such a long siege. We pray against it with UNITE714, which has united Christians around the world to pray the same prayer twice a day against the pandemic. Ultimately, even though God uses doctors, nurses and researchers, it is ultimately He that will use this plague for His glory, to bring many to Him.

Gary and I are still quarantining in Tulsa, but that has not stopped us from being able to minister long distance. We’re so grateful for this digital era in which we live. Gathering Hearts’ supervisó, Nicolás, and our lead teacher and pastor, Nelson, are our capable hands and legs on-site there in the mission center and the villages.

The week before last we sent down to our church, Templo Evangelical Emmanuel, a Sunday morning message on Titus I and II. The scripture exhorts our brothers and sisters to remain faithful to the Lord, and faithful to reaching out to their brothers and sisters. We are seeing young converts come alive as they reach out to help others in their own poverty-stricken communities. It is rare for villagers to see the needs of others, but this pandemic is causing them to look around and to look up and seek God for protection and provision. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purposes.” Romans 8:28

We are so grateful to so many of you and to Southern Heights Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan who have funded the bulk of the food relief program during the pandemic. As we had mentioned before, God is using this food relief outreach to bring people to the Lord and to the Gathering Hearts ministry. As our workers distribute food, we are also praying for each individual. This outreach has put Templo Evangelical Emmanuel church on the map in this area with a reputation for serving others. We provide food relief and services our church people, and to the poor in general, believers and non-believers, and members of other churches. And we have particularly emphasized finding the children who came to our ministry and the sick and elderly to assure they have provisions.

The people we serve are very poor and have very little resources. Most of them live day-to-day and as a result many of them, right now, are going without food. Honduras continues to be shut down; people are permitted to go out of their homes only two days a month. Many are out of work, and many without resources. At this time, the president of Honduras is hospitalized with coronavirus. Our workers in Honduras are telling us that more and more cases are showing up in the villages.

While we are so grateful for the help with food relief in the impoverished area where we serve in Honduras, please pray with us that we can also afford to pay our workers. Over the past 20 years God has been faithful, but, like many other ministries, we are facing a financial crisis. Like so many times in the past, just in time and not a day before, donations came in to make the payroll due today with $13 to spare. Our workers depend on us, and many people – not just their families – depend on our workers for their provision.

So you will know who you are praying for…this photo was taken of our entire staff, in uniform, just before the 20 year celebration in Honduras and right before we returned to the US for the 20 year celebration in Tulsa. We are so anxious to return. God is in control and teaching us a new thing!

We are grateful to our partners who continuously support us as we share the Gospel, educate young people, feed children and their parents, train adults in vocational skills and provide medical services to surrounding villagers. May God richly bless you for your love for the Kingdom and the people of Honduras.

Stay safe and protected, under the shelter of the Most High.

Gary and Cheryl