Dear Family and Friends,
August 2, 2004 we said our tearful good-byes to family, and flew to Honduras. Scott took us to the airport in Detroit Michigan. It was a strange feeling, even stranger leaving him.
Our welcome home was rather heated -- LITERALLY. It seems they have had a rather cool spring and summer -- until we returned! We assured them it did not come from Michigan!!! We are looking forward to a little cooler weather SOON!
We had a WONDERFUL re-entry occasion! It was the 5th biennial Central American Pastors Conference, or Congreso de Pastores Centroamericanos. WOW! What a neat way to come back home!
Honduras hosted this conference. I must congratulate them on a job VERY WELL done!!! They had a place on the coast. Rosalie and I were very impressed by the fact there was air conditioning and IT WORKED! Rosalie drew attention to the fact that this was a real milestone: THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE EVER BEEN TO SPANISH CHURCH WITH AIR CONDITIONING!! I think maybe the delegation from Guatemala were also very happy about that. (Some of them are not used to heat like we have in Honduras!) The food was very good also.
The Central American Pastors’ Conference is like a homecoming or reunion. There are people from Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It is a time for enjoying old friends and making new ones.
We were so happy to see the delegation from Guatemala, led by their new superintendent, Vicente Martinez. We were delighted to see Sis. Martinez. There were a number of pastors we knew from many years ago. We had a good visit with Timoteo and Virginia from Belize, and enjoyed making some new friends from that delegation. The delegation from Nicaragua were enthusiastic. (Unfortunately, the Womacks were in the States. We really missed them. ) Of course we knew everyone from the Honduran delegation. And boy were we glad to see them again!
The services were great! Bro. Vicente Martinez (Guatemala) and Bro. Angel Orellano (Honduras) taught the daytime classes. Hector Flores (Hond.), Mario Requena (Guat.), and Vicente Martinez (Guat.) preached the evening messages. I wish I could translate the messages for you. But something is always lost in a translation. I can only assure you that Central America has produced some fantastic preachers and teachers!!!
The Praise Team was from a local church on the coast. They knew how to lead worship. Alejandro Rivera sang and also led some worship. He is a wonderful musician and worship leader. To top it off, we had a group of mariachi style singers from Aguacate, Honduras, adding their special flavor to the praise and worship. Central America has also produced some very fine Christian musicians!!!
It was very heartwarming when we were presented with a lovely plaque in appreciation for our years of service in Central America. Bro. Mario Mendoza and his family were also recognized. Most unfortunately, a death in the family prevented them from attending. (We sincerely missed Bro. Mendoza!!!)
The last night we ended with a moving time around the Lord’s table. There was a wonderful time of prayer and tears during the communion. We were dismissed with this thought: We will meet again soon when the Lord comes, or in 2006 in Guatemala at the next Central American Pastors Conference.
As I end this email, I have a feeling that ‘something has been lost in the translation’. I cannot adequately express the warmth, fellowship, love, familial bonds we all felt. Since you just had to be there to understand and enjoy it, I certainly am glad I was there!
However I can express to you our gratitude, and the gratitude of our pastors in Central America for all the help you have extended over the years. The harvest is still plenteous, and the reapers are more because of your support -- financial and prayerful.
Through your prayers and your dollars, you have helped in this great work. There are now 232 churches in Guatemala, 86 churches in Honduras, 42 churches in Belize, 26 churches in Nicaragua, and 2 churches in El Salvador according to the reports given at this conference. Only God knows how many have been snatched from the flames of hell because of the support of our brothers in the U. S. God will reward you. Thank you so very much.
Yours for Missions,
Les ,Charlene Scott, Craig & Rosalie Melton
Missionaries to Honduras C.A.
Honduras Ph. 011-504-566-3710
Honduras e-mail: lcmelton@sulanet.net
USA e-mail: l_cmelton@juno.com
Last Updated on 12/18/04