Greetings,

Praise be to the Name of our heavenly Father who has blessed us with life in abundance!

We greet you all beloved supporters, family and friends in the mighty Name of our Savior, the Lord Jesus.

First of all we would like to apologize for our much delayed newsletter. We have no excuses. Please forgive us.

We are committed to our home church to have a newsletter every month.  We would like to change that if it’s okay with you to one newsletter for every two months.  (Would like to see a response on this request)

We would like to summarize events that took place in our ministry the last four months.  The last two months of the year 2014.  And then also the first two months of the present year 2015.

From Noelia, the best wife and mother ever

Hello dear supporters and friends! I guess you have been wanting to know how are we doing, and we hope we can answer your question through this newsletter.  As always I would like to thank all of you who pray for us and our ministry and family, we cannot tell you how much it means to us, please continue to keep us in your prayers.  Also I would like to thank the people who sent emails, letters and little blessings through mail, thank you, that make us feel special!

It has been quite a closing of 2014 and a quick beginning of 2015. We closed 2014 with a wedding.  An older couple from the church here, after living in fornication for over ten years, started making right decisions.  Mr. Mario, the man, one day stood up, went to the front, and with his soft voice said:  “I want to follow Christ”

December 31 they were ready to join in matrimony and in front of the minister of the Lord, they said their vows.  How beautiful it was to witness the beginning of a better future for Mario and Marta’s family.  Praised be the name of the Lord!

Now, in 2015, we have been busy welcoming people, hosting friends, burying a special young man, having birthdays and a wedding anniversary, starting a new project, teaching home school to a 4 year old, cheering on a 16 month old sweet boy who is learning to walk, leading the women’s bible classes, adopting a puppy, taking Ruth for the first time to the dentist to have a cavity filled, yes… busy.  We feel stretched sometimes with life but the Lord does renew our strength and our spirit.

Ruth is able to write her name and is showing so much improvement in her school, please pray for me that I can also teach her with my example.  She and Isaac have a new puppy. His name is Blanco and he is a very good puppy.  She still likes riding her bike and of course playing with her brother.

Isaac has grown so much and yet … he is not ready to walk yet but I think he will be ready soon… I hope.  He now says words like Daddy and Mommy and mooo… yes the cow is his favorite theme and everything he sees he relates to cows. He is a daddy’s boy. He loves to spend time with him and his sis, with whom he plays all the time.

As for me, I am still adjusting to the bugs, weather, and culture, but I must say it is starting to feel like home already.  There are so many things that I love about Honduras, but the thing that I like the best is the reason why we are here. It is amazing how God has shown us in the past months how much we are needed here, and we are humbled to see that He, the Almighty God, can use this piece of annointed dirt, like Jose says.  Yes, that is what we are, dirt that want to surrender to the Potter again and again so He can mold us for His kingdom. I still feel like a foreigner and I guess that is just God’s call for me to forsake my own for others. I miss home and family a lot sometimes. But God has shown me that even if I was in Argentina, I would still be a foreigner to this world and all that is in it. My question is, are you a foreigner passing through this world? Have you forgotten that our citizenship is in heaven? My hope is that we can always remember that we are not going to live here forever, but rather, an eternity with God in heavenly places where we will have our home to live forever and ever and ever… but until then let us be about our heavenly Father’s business.

Once again thank you…. Thank you for praying. Thank you for caring. Thank you for supporting. Thank you for sharing…

In Christ Jesus,

Noelia Gavarrete

NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2014                JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2015

School Graduation

We began the month of November with our first ever school graduation this 2014.  19 students graduated from our school: Saetas para Cristo (Arrows for Christ).  These past two months we have been very much involved in the school matters.  The closing of a year and the making preparation for the year to come.  Since some people from the community had expressed their interest to send their children to our school I was asked by the school director, brother Allen Summy, to meet with the new candidates to ask and answer whatever questions, and to emphasize the school vision with the newcomers, so we did.  Brother Jeremiah (Pastor) Luis (school board member) and myself went out to meet with the new families and we are still doing some of that as of today.  (This portion was written in early January 2015) May the lives of these children be influenced by God through the school, Saetas para Cristo.

New School Year has Begun

Monday February 23, 2015 our school, Saetas para Cristo (Arrows for Christ), welcomed all students enrolled for this year.  It was the first day of classes and the teaching and learning came together for another beautiful year of school.  This is only the second year for the school and it is already growing in students, teachers and building size.  41 students are enrolled for this 2015, the number of students doubled in size compared to last year, which was only 21 students. We also welcomed two more teachers.

The school staff is as follow:

Allen Summy the principal (PA)  Renita Steiner (Ohio), Marta Roca Torres (Peru), new teacher Julie Yoder (North Carolina) and new teacher Mario Gomez (Guatemala) member of the church here.

We started building two more new classrooms.

Our desire and vision is that the lives and future of this children be influenced by God through the school, Saetas para Cristo.

May they become sharp arrows for the King of kings and the Lord of lords, against the kingdom of Satan.

• Please pray for the staff that will be teaching these students that they can teach with their example and love for God.
• Pray that they will work together as one.

Traveling and Preaching

Invitations to preach at different places still are coming in.  I have gone to preach and teach to other church groups in the last four months far and near.  As a result of preaching the simplicity of the Gospel at least 13 people have made a public decision to follow Christ as their Lord and Savior.  I am very much encouraged and excited about preaching about the power of the cross, the power of the blood that was shed, and the power that is in the person of Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Savior of the world,  King of kings and Lord of lords.  For I determined not to know anything among you (them) except JESUS CHRIST and Him crucified. (1 Cor. 2.2)

CHRIST died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again on the third day according to the scriptures.

I have witnessed the impact of the simplicity of the message of the cross, the Gospel.  I am convinced that I do not want to preach anything else but Christ Crucified, Buried, and Raised from the dead on the third day. There lays the power of God for the salvation of men.

Again and again I am excited about the power of this message.  The uniqueness of the characteristics of this message when it is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and humility;  the person that hears this marvelous truth is confronted to make a definite decision to ACCEPT IT or REJECT IT.

What a great privilege to go out and about to offer to mankind such a profound Truth, a message of hope, an offer of life even after the grave.  Jesus makes a total difference in people’s lives.  Yes, the risen Christ has become a reality in some Honduran’s lives.  Glory to God, Hallelujah!

Just last weekend (February 21, 22) I was invited to speak at some evangelistic meetings where over one hundred people gathered under the stars to hear this marvelous message of hope every night.

The first night, the Holy Spirit convinced some people of their spiritual condition, and they made public decisions to follow Christ, the second night the crowd gathered again, and we all had big expectations in our GREAT GOD and the Lord harvested souls for His kingdom, who came weeping and kneeling down at the Savior’s feet begging for mercy.  Hallelujah!  Christ is the King!  Hallelujah, Christ is the Savior!  Hallelujah God’s uses insignificant things to bring souls to Himself.

Traveling to the U.S.A for two weeks.

I will just paste here part of what I wrote during the trip and after:

Today is December 9, 2014 and eight months have gone by since we boarded a United Airlines airplane in Charlotte, NC, that took us to Honduras to serve the Lord Jesus Christ there.  Now I am at 39,530 feet of altitude travelling at 485 miles per hour, crossing the Gulf of Mexico. Nearby, at my left side, is the coast of Matamoros, the last city of Mexico before entering USA territory, and Cuba is to my right.  The Lord God has put me in first class in this United Airlines airplane. I am on my way to North Carolina. Lord willing.  Our missionary life in Honduras it is a very fulfilling life, and we are content travelling places for the Lord Jesus Christ our master.

Noelia and the children are staying behind. I am just going for two weeks to take care of few things in North and South Carolina.

It was very hard to leave my beloved family this morning. Noelia, Ruth. and Isaac waving their hands at me at the porch of the house, wishing me a safe trip.  We have learned in these past months that in missionary life you are constantly saying Hello, and you are also constantly saying Goodbye. No problem, there will be a day where we no longer will say goodbye, and we will remain together FOREVER AND EVER.  We will be together with our Everlasting Father forever and ever amen, but until that day comes we want to labor for the One who has given us the opportunity of a life where we will never depart.  Praises be unto Jesus the Lamb of God that was slain for our sins.  Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5.24

After landing twice on U.S. soil that day, one of the last things I saw that night was a very familiar picture: Welcome to Charlotte. It brought a sense of nostalgia.  And how blessed I felt when faithful brother John Weaver was waiting for me at the luggage claim station with a thick jacket for me, to take me to his house.  Thank you, may the Lord bless you even more dear brother John and sister Anna Weaver.

Traveling Back to the Land of Plenty of Coffee, Honduras

Today is December 23, 2014

I got up very early this morning at 2:30 AM, at the sound of the alarm.  Brother John Weaver brought me to the Douglas International Airport here in Charlotte, NC.  I am sitting at Gate A10 waiting to board flight number UA6105 to Houston, Texas.  As I walk in here this morning I see lots of people traveling to different places and I see their faces and the only thing that I think of is that every one of them has a soul, and that some of them are empty without the Person of Christ.  It is very sad that in this modern age that we live in, men are so apathetic about the message of the cross. Just yesterday, two people rejected my gospel tract. They very firmly said NO.  How sad I felt for them, but this is the way it has been and this is the way it is.  We will all face judgment day and there will be a lot of regrets on that day.  O Lord please have mercy with us.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened.  And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.  And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20.12

It is a great privilege to travel in the Name of the Lord, and to travel places with a purpose.  It is my desire to walk faithfully in His sight.

Well, the flight is now delayed because there is very low visibility at the Houston Airport.  I said Lord may your will be done, I just ask you to please take me safely today to my Noelia, Ruth, and Isaac.

This airplane is now flying up high. We departed right at 7:30 AM.  It is a cloudy day, but I am content because my beloved father is in control.

The pilot of this plane announced that we will be stopping in Alabama to fuel up in order to make it to Houston. Because of the visibility problem, they are traveling different route.

My time in the USA is up and I am destined for the land that is holding part of my treasure, my beloved Noelia, Ruth, and Isaac await me.  I enjoyed my time visiting friends in Lancaster, SC, and my family at Springs Creative Products with Mr. Close (former employer in Rock Hill).

I enjoyed very much my time visiting some of the brothers and sisters from our home church at Cleveland Believers Fellowship.  We feel very loved and supported by them.  Thank you for everything, dear family at CBF.

After landing on Honduras soil and traveling in the truck that evening with Denis and Michael, I remember how I could not wait to see my beautiful family.  How grateful I felt that evening sitting at the table with my very loved family. I remember how I wanted to freeze time when Isaac was repeatedly calling me, “deddy,deddy,deddy”, and Ruth prayed a very meaningful thanksgiving prayer.  I sincerely tell you that was heaven on earth!

Building the House

As you probably all know we have been living at Brechbill’s property in brother John and Anna Weaver’s house.  We have prayed asking the Lord where would He want us to live and so after months of asking the Lord, we heard that there was a piece of land for sale in El Eden, we went to the property and prayed that if it was His will for us, to give us that piece property to build a house.  And that is exactly what took place. God moved brother Aaron in Ohio to buy that piece of land and then start building a house for us to live in.  The construction began the second week of December 2014.

We would like to express our gratitude to brother Aaron Martin and family for their kindness, and for investing their time and money in the kingdom of God.  Thank you for building a house for us to live in while serving the Lord here in Honduras. We will try our best to take care of your place.  Gracias hermano!

I have never built or helped with the construction of a house before, so this is all new to me.  I have to say thanks to Brother Jeremiah Martin for his major input while this house is being built.  It has been a good learning experience for me.  I have tried to help in whatever way I could.  Thank you for the opportunity.

• We thank you Lord for this is what He has provided for us here in Honduras.
• We are yours Lord and thank you for taking care of us.

Monthly Visit to David Yoder in La Tigra

We gladly travel one hour and a half to the  Yoder’s village, La Tigra (La Tigra is a village up in the mountains above Siguatepeque), once a month to share the message of Christ with that group.  The Yoders are a family that have adopted children from Honduras and have a servant heart. They have a wonderful testimony, and people around the La Tigra area respect them a lot because of their love for Jesus.

They have church at their house where people come to worship the Lord with them. So we go once a month to preach and fellowship with them. We are very grateful for the opportunity God has given us to proclaim the good news together with them here Hondurans.

San Isidro, Intibuca

San Isidro is a village up in the mountains of Intibuca.  It is Lenca territory (Lenca: large Indian group in Honduras). We were invited there for a youth event.  Vicente Funez a pastor of Camino de Santidad who have a burden for the lives of those people invited all of us to come and support their event.  So we came. We all traveled together, Davin Martin, his younger brother Jared, Fernando Bowman, Kevin, and also Daniel Troyer, who was along with his son Weston.

I was invited to speak on Sexual Immorality.  After preaching the Gospel the first night, we all together prepared the topic for the next day on Sexual Immorality.  In this culture, like any other culture, the message of purity is urgent. The devil is using sexual immorality to sexually pervert the young and the old.

It does not matter where we come from, whether from a remote village up in the mountains of Honduras, or from any modern city in the world. The greatest need of men still the same.  Without Christ in men’s lives, the heart is still deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.  So whether men are rich or poor, modern or old, the need of the heart is still the same.

So to be pure, one needs to experience the transformation offered by God through the person of Christ.  One need to be born again.  When the problem of the heart of a man is fixed by Christ, everything else is now fixed. Praises to the Savior!

Thank you, Daniel and family, for coming to visit us. It was very nice to have you and share special time together.

Welcome Brechbills

Our neighbors, the Brechbill family, are back.  They came back from furlough the 19 of January and we are very happy to have them back at the LoveJoy farm.

In Search of Peter’s body

It was Tuesday, January the 20th, around 2 PM when I received the call from Michael Byler telling me that Peter Lapp had drowned. It was hard to believe what I had just heard.  I rapidly drove to that part of the lake and the news was confirmed that Peter had just drowned.

The search was now on.  Everyone was engaged in the search of Peter’s body. Little did we know how long that was going to take.

Day 1, day 2, and day 3.  Praying, begging the Lord to help us to find Peter’s body in that large body of water.

Local authorities, firefighters, divers, and media were faithfully present on that big boat, day after day.  We had lots of volunteers trying to help.  The local fishermen came out in their wooden boats, rowing with their oars, helping in the search.  Some other friends from the community lent us their boats to help in the search.  Even the U.S. Air force Base in Honduras sent a helicopter to help with the ongoing search.

On the morning of January the 23rd, I wrote a text message to brother John saying:  10:44 AM, the search is on.  We hope today is the day that we will find Peter’s body.  He replied: We are praying…

That Friday, the Lord God of heaven heard our cry; after around 75 hours of searching, the Lord God made Peter’s body to float.  It was 5 minutes after 5 PM when that happened.  God is good!  He always has and He always will be.

What is to us a loss, to Peter was gain.   For the one that is in Christ to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1.21

Taking Brother David Miller (from CAM) to see the Clinic and Hospital in Gualcinse

For those of you that didn’t know, Christian Light Missions has a Clinic that provides health care to an area of very much poverty in the Lempira region. Lempira is a department in the western side of Honduras (Lenca Territory).  Christian Aid Ministries, CAM, is the non-profit organization that provides the meds for us.  Thank you CAM for enlarging God’s Kingdom through a response of love.

The first week of February, brother John Weaver picked up brother David Miller from the airport who came to see if we are using the meds as we are supposed to. So the next day, I and Mr. David drove to Lempira to see the clinic, and also to see the hospital at a nearby town, Gualcinse, since they also get meds from CAM through us.

Mr. David was pleased with what he saw.  He got to see the clinic in action the next morning, and he was pleased with what he saw.

I spent two days with brother David and at the end of the trip we were already friends, and I want to tell him thanks for coming to Honduras, and I want to ask him to say thanks to CAM for all they are doing in Honduras.  It is a great joy and privilege to be co-laborers in God’s vineyard.

Thank you

We were blessed by the company of Brother John and Sister Anna who stayed over a period of 3 weeks. They came to visit and to encourage us and to help with a team that came to work at the house.

Thank you bro John and sister Anna for all you do for us here in Honduras.

The team was from River of Life Church in Ohio.  Along with them came the Stellema brothers from Ohio, and they came to work also, but their stay was only one week.  They worked so hard in the rain and in the hot sun. The team got to help and travel some.  Jose and Brother John took them to Erandique for two days so they could also see the work that the mission does back there in the mountains.  A few days afterwards, the Bowling brothers came from North Carolina to visit for 10 days. They worked at the house too, and spend time with us.
It was our first time with so many people coming to help us and to be with us and we are forever thankful for their time, their support, their love, their words of encouragement, and their prayers.

• We thank you all and the Lord for bringing people into our lives and for always taking care of us.
• We also would like to thank all of you that are continuously praying for us.