Greetings! (Not warmest greetings, but definitely hottest greetings!)
The sun has slipped behind the mountains. The air conditioning is on, we are working quietly in the office, and still dripping with sweat. This spring we enjoyed record breaking lows -- down even in the high 70’s! Now we are coasting through record breaking highs -- above 110! Join all of Central America as we pray for rain, cool, temperature lowering, refreshing rain!
Thankfully the heat has not stopped construction on the new school building in El Manchon. El Manchon is at the end of the world. After you leave the highway, AFTER you drive through the dirt roads, AFTER you lose the trail in the fields, AFTER you cross the pasture, you still have 8 creeks to ford and 9 gates to pass through. Blocks were driven by truck to the end of the road, tractor to the end of the trail, 4 wheel drive tractor made it as far as the last hill, and they are being carried the last mile to the construction site by horse. The horse can carry 9 blocks, the man leading the horse can carry one. The horses can each make maybe 10 trips a day. All of El Manchon is in an uproar over the novelty of their very own, brand new, school building!
We thank God for helping us overcome all the obstacles (mostly literal as in creeks, hills, ruts, etc.) in the way of construction on the El Manchon school building. We are thankful for the children who will receive godly instruction as well as an education. We are thankful for the sponsors who so faithfully send in the school support. Mostly we are grateful to those who pray for the children, teachers, families, and communities these schools serve. For we realize that it is God who provides, sustains, and guides. His are the schools and all the glory be to Him for allowing us to serve in this small way.
Please continue to pray for the schools. There are many new children this year who need sponsors. Pray for solid Christian teachers who will stay with the schools. Often we find our training and experience at our schools are just a stepping stone to a better job. Exciting things are happening at the Bible Institute. The graduates are helping with promotion this year. Twelve graduates are going out in groups of two to the different districts in Bible Institute promotional trips. I don’t think anything could better advertise a school than solid graduates. We are hoping, working, and praying that May 19 will bring in many who are called into the harvest field.
There is Yesenia Erazo. She was only a year or two out of school when her mother died. Her church was still small. She was a single young woman. Yet she stepped in when other relatives would not and is raising her three young siblings almost single handedly. Her church is growing. She is very faithful in the work of the ministry.
Omar Guzman graduated with this testimony. The work he was pastoring during his years at the Bible Institute almost let him starve on the weekends. He said it was OK, since he used that time to fast and pray for that area. He had not complained about it to anyone. When asked if he wished to go to another church, he said, "NO! I have prayed for Villa Ernestina. God has given me Villa Ernestina. I cannot leave." Now some 6 years after his graduation, his faith is realized. Villa Ernestina is a thriving church.
Freddy Guevarra pastors El Manchon. He spent a lot of time on the weekends in travel to and from El Manchon. But he was faithful to the work during his time at the Bible Institute. Not only that, but he has a vision for that remote area. There is no electricity, nor does there seem to be any hope of getting it. Some day in the FAR future they may get a road. I am certain phone lines will not reach back there for some time, if ever. Still, Freddy has a vision for that area.
I could go on and on about the graduates. They are some of my favorite people, and their stories are the ones that impress me most deeply. But this is a letter, not an endless epistle.
We are preparing for a year in the States. Although it is long overdue, we are somewhat reluctant to go for the work is very close to our hearts. We are excited about seeing family and friends that we have not seen in two years or more. Still, it is with a tug of the heart that we pack away our belongings, prepare storage places, and say our good-byes to friends and coworkers.
You can help us carry this load of separation with your prayers. Please pray for the Bible Institute -- that God will hover over that place, set them on fire, guide and protect both students and teachers. They all have a LOT of traveling they do every week.
Pray for the grade schools -- that God will anoint the teachers with His Holy Spirit, that the students will become as flaming torches for Him, that parents, family, friends, and communities will not only be impacted by the gospel, but that they will receive with gladness the Good News.
Pray for our pastors, their families, church leaders, teachers -- That they will be as one in their purpose of reaching the lost for Christ. Pray that they will be full of the Holy Ghost, faithful in their labors and in walking with the Lord. Pray for their protection against the enemy attacks. Pray that many will be saved, healed, filled with the Spirit, that captives will be set free, blind will receive their sight, deaf will hear, lame will walk, and above all the gospel will go forth with great power.
Pray that God will provide for the 14 new congregations that do not have a building to worship in Pray that God will provide for them in such a way that they will know it was their Heavenly Father that was the provider.
On a more personal note: WE CONGRATULATE SCOTT ON HIS UPCOMING GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL. We are not looking forward to his leaving the nest. But we are excited about his desire to continue his education at Messenger College this fall. Please pray that God will work out all the details of his enrollment, etc. I have this feeling we will learn more than he does this first semester!
We also congratulate Rosalie on her intense dedication to her books this last semester. (I don’t think it was entirely for that promised puppy!)
I both laugh and cry with Craig as, at 15, he is reaching his brother’s height. Where DID the time fly!?!
For all five of us, please pray that we will draw ever closer to the Lord in this next year. That we will become more and more like Jesus. Daily may we walk more in His Spirit. OK, pray that for the ones we leave in Honduras as well. We deeply appreciate your continued support during this next year, especially the support you give on your knees before the Throne.
To God Be the Glory for the Great Things He Has Done Here,
Les & Charlene Melton,Scott, Craig, & Rosalie
P.S. We will be flying to Houston on June 10th. Our current e-mail address will continue to work till then. We already have our Stateside e-mail address. It is "l_cmelton@juno.com" This address is already active if you wish to change now.
Last Updated on 6/18/03