This picture is one showing the wedding ceremony, prescribed by Honduran law, uniting Antonio Rosa and Sonia Dubón in marriage. This couple has been living together as a man and wife, (without having been married) for at least 14 years. They have two children together Darwin (12) and David (10).

      When we first met Antonio, (nicknamed Guyabo), Phil began talking with him about God's plan for marriage and the family. Guyabo offered many reasons for why he shouldn't have to legalize his marriage with Sonia. One of those reasons was, "if I marry her and we get divorced I can never marry anybody else".

  This type of mentality is prevalent in the society and culture in which we are ministering. In fact, the norm here is that couples do not marry and instead opt for "free unions". This has led to a state of "serial marriages" instead of the permanent, stable plan for marriage and the family that God designed.

   Through a combination of teaching and offering economic incentives (via paying for the documents that the Law requires the couple to have) we are happy to report that MUR has been able to help nearly 30 couples legalize their marriages over the past three years.

  

 

We know that many of you pray for us and God's mission here on a daily basis.  We know because you have told us so and also because we feel the results of your prayers.  Many who visit marvel at what God has done, which is hard to transmit in words in newsletter form. 

Here are a few items you could be praying for specifically if you would:

 

 Our main focus as missionaries is to reach the lost and help those in need, all in the name of Jesus Christ. We want to remain strong and faithful to what calls us to do as His servants. In order to do that, and because we too are flesh and blood, we often need personal encouragement and support.

     Many individuals outside of the Pine Tree family provide that type of love and support as well. But, today I am especially thankful for our family at Pine Tree, their hospitality, their financial support, their encouragement, and their prayers as we continue to work here.

  We may be the privileged ones to be on the ground doing the work, but those of you who support us in prayers and encouragement are also doing the work. Thank you for being there for us and keeping us in your prayers!

 

 

 

    

Wow...what a response we have gotten to our school backpack program. Here is a photo of some of the backpacks that had arrived early last month in our Longview, TX warehouse location. In total to date, we have received a combination of backpacks and donations sufficient for 1,400 individual backpacks.

  We are ecstatic with this response. This is a sufficient number to be able to distribute one backpack per child in each of the thirteen public schools where our DESEO program operates. Each backpack is filled with notebooks, pencils and other supplies for the school year. And in addition, with the donations we have received MUR is buying and distributing a small Bible to each of the children as well.

 

     Now begins the process of loading the backpacks into a container and shipping it to Honduras. Please be in prayer about this project.

     Over the last two years it has become more and more difficult to deal with the customs officials in the port of entry here. The process of getting the container released from customs can sometimes take an enormous amount of time. We anticipate receiving the container and being able to distribute the backpacks to the children just prior to the beginning of their new school year in February 2013.