REPORT ON MY THIRD
TRIP TO HONDURAS

My decision to return to Honduras for a third missionary journey began sometime in late Aug. or early Sept. The Lord impressed me that it was time to return one day when Sulma finished talking to her mother and grandmother. A new baby was on the way and I immediately saw an opportunity for a closer bonding between Sulma and her birth mother, Suyapa, who had not really raised Sulma. Her grandmother had done that. Sulma had been working two jobs, saving her money for over a year to buy a home for her grandmother. But now her mother and the new baby needed a home as well. Sulma went first in late Sept. The Lord blessed her in finding the right house where we all could live when we visited Honduras four our missionary work.

My plan was to leave on Oct. 30th. As usual there was a lot of preparation, especially the "folletos" (pamphlets), 1,400 this time, along with 120 booklets, both in Spanish. The 8 1/2 X 11 booklet is a nine page translation of chapter 17 of my book, "INTO THE FATHER'S HEART," titled Jesus, El fuego La Verdad or "Jesus the Fire of Truth." On my second trip last year I only had about 50 of them but one dramatic experience made me realize its power and importance. It happened one afternoon at the bus station down in the capital, Teguchigalpa. Sulma and I were waiting for our return bus to Siguatepeque, tickets in hand, when some policemen began checking IDs, etc. When they came to me I showed them my Oregon driver's license and gave all four of the policemen this booklet. Guess what happened? They stopped checking ID's and sat down to read "Jesus, El Fuego La Verdad." Debera (Meaning "for real" slang). I was really surprised. So, this time I made up 120 not just for Honduras but to pass out to Spanish speaking people I met along the way on my drive to L.A. I wanted this "revista" (magazine) to look nicer this time. The Lord helped me accomplish this by purchasing an elegant looking cover a week before. I had no idea why I was impressed to buy them but a still small voice in my mind said, "You will be needing these soon." So, when I decided to prepare this booklet the Lord reminded me of this cover I had just purchased. I was really surprised and humbled to realize how wisely, gently and with such compassion our Wonderful God leads us. Then I thought, I need a nice border around the title. As I was thinking this I looked down on the floor and saw a Newsweek magazine opened to a page where there was the perfect border I had in mind. This was almost too much for me. I wish that I could express to you the feeling I had about this time. It was just a quiet and steady joy knowing the great God of the universe who had helped me to write IFH in the late 70's and early 80's was still guiding me as I attempted to get this same message to the Spanish people. It is really awesome to realize how much He cares and how He helps us in the smallest details when we give our all to Him. He also led me to add three new pages explaining the two Lords concept with some pictures and illustrations. This all happened the night before I left. Step by step Jesus showed me how to put all this together, run off the 120 copies on my Sharp copier and send a friend by to help me staple them. It was really exciting and confirmed all the events that had led me to this point. God's main purpose for this trip was to preach the gospel but He had used a family need to get the ball rolling.

We finished about 3:00 a.m. On Sunday Oct. 27th I finished all the other details necessary before leaving the trailer about 5:30. I drove all night, sleeping in rest areas when I was too tired to continue driving down I-5.

The Lord impressed me to go through Chico and Oroville to try and visit a family who had written the ministry a few times. A sister in the Northwest told me they were having some spiritual problems. The phone booth I pulled up to in Oroville was occupied by a Spanish man. When he finished I spoke to him in Spanish and gave him one each of my literature. I tried calling my party but they were not home. Once again the Spanish man tried to make his contact, also without success. He looked nervous and worried so I asked him, ?Que Pasa? After reading a little of my pamphlet, "Dios No Mata" he realized I was a pastor and began explaining to me in Tex-Mex or Spanglesh (a mixture of English and Spanish) that he needed to get back to Oroville to pick up his car. I explained to him that I was a pastor headed for the L.A. airport to fly to Honduras on a special missionary trip. "Lo Siento, necesito ir a L.A." I'm sorry, but I need to go to L.A." After trying to call my party one more time I began walking to my car when the Lord impressed me to help this man. It was only Monday morning and I didn't have to be at the L.A. airport until 2:00 A.M. Wed. morning. I began to realize why the Lord had impressed me to leave a day early. So, anyway, after we got into the car I told him that I was going to pray to God. As I began praying God's power came on me so strongly that I couldn't speak and I began weeping as the sweet presence of the Blessed Saviour filled my soul. The man put his hand on my shoulder as if he understood. I finished my prayer in Spanish, dried my eyes and started driving back to Chico. It didn't make any sense but I knew God was very happy that I was listening and following his voice. He let me know that there were many Spanish souls in Estados Unidos (U.S.) who also needed His message.

He told me that he needed to go to the state police station because they had impounded his car. Up to then he hadn't said anything about the police. There I learned we needed two licensed drivers to get his car out of the local towing company about two miles away. Next we went to get his friend who wasn't home. Fortunately, his wife, a Christian black lady, was there and agreed to go back to the station. So, I was able to witness to her and give her some of my papers and my book, "Into The Father's Heart." Then we drove to Noe's towing company. The owner of this towing company also turned out to be a dedicated Christian. So, I gave him and his wife two issues of my papers and an IFH. Before we left I asked them to pray with us for this Spanish man to overcome his drinking habit and for the success of my trip to Honduras. So, we all stood together in a circle holding hands as I prayed for each of our needs. It was a beautiful experience. The Spanish man had told me he would give me $10.00 if I helped but I decided not to remind him. Without my asking him he opened his billfold and gave me $10.00. I asked him if he could afford it and he told me he had a good job. Then Bro. Noe was so impressed with my missionary plans that he filled up my tank with gas. By the time I was headed south again on I-5 it was nearing 1:00 P.M. but once again I had the sense of a mission accomplished and some new names to add to my mailing list. And these were all non-SDAs. More and more people in the world are responding to the truth of God's true character message. Just a few days before I left a man from Ohio called one morning asking if I were the author of the book, "INTO THE FATHER'S HEART." When I confirmed that I was he told me that he had tried unsuccessfully to locate me for five years. Although raised a Catholic he had gone to various churches. He was always searching for the "truth," as He put it. One day as he was browsing in a second hand book store he came across my book and bought it for 25 cents. He had read it more than once and wanted to know if I had written anything else. Finally, he contacted the Library of Congress who supplied him with the information he wanted. After a good talk on the phone I told him that I would ship him a box of books and videos with back issues if he would help with just $5 or so for the postage. "No problem," he said. Imagine my surprise three days later when I received a check for $125.00 from this father of seven children. He said he is in construction but needs our prayers. Thank you for praying for this very sincere seeker for truth.

When I first published IFH in 1982 I had no idea the Lord would send this 412 page paper back around the world even though only 50,000 copies were published in 1982. It needs to be in a smaller format. So, pray this will happen in the near future along with more translations into Spanish and other languages as well.

My flight left LA at 1:55 A.M. Wed. Oct. 30, arrived in Houston at about 7:00 A.M. where I had to change planes. My flight to Honduras left at about 10:00 A.M. leaving me three hours to prepare nearly 30 letters I planned to send some of my supporters who had not written to me for several months. This was crucial because if they didn't send in a donation in the next three weeks I would not have the funds necessary for my Christmas mail-out and last newspaper of the year. Some people smiled and others wondered what I was doing on my knees writing as furiously as possible and addressing envelopes. Since I had a dress suit on they probably thought I was just another busy executive taking care of last minute correspondence or that my secretary had quit. Who knows what they thought. "Es no importa." (It doesn't matter). I had to get these letters in the mail. Finally, I was finished and taking the letters down the wide hallway to a mail drop when I heard the last call for my flight to Tegucigalpa being announced over the loud speaker. What should I do? The mail drop was too far away. I wouldn't make it. Just then I spotted a friendly, looking, young black girl about 19 or 20. I think she was an employee of the airport. She looked honest enough. "Please, would you be so kind as to put these letters in the mail drop for me. My plane is leaving and I have to go." All the while I was talking I was handing them to her before she could even say yes or no. But her smile and nod told me she would do it for me. "Thank, you so much and God bless you!" I called to her, waving as I bolted back down the corridor to my waiting plane. Everyone had already boarded. They were getting ready to close the door and take off. Another minute and it would have been too late. On the plane I was able to witness to several people. A nice meal had been prepared and it seemed like we had no more than finished eating than we were coming into the capital. It was 1:00 PM Centro-America time. After I cleared customs with no problem Sulma was there to meet me and we soon hailed us a taxi who took us downtown where we boarded a bus for Siguatapeque, about two and half hours away.

As I walked down the middle aisle I began handing out my little folleto (pamphlet). About half way down the bus a middle aged man eagerly took the pamphlet and then turned to yell out the window. "Dios no mata, Dios no Mata," all the while motioning to his friends he had just left to come to the window so he could give them the good news that GOD DOES NOT DESTROY. Several of his friends gathered at the side of the bus and he implored me for several more. I ended up giving him about 10 more copies. I began thinking to myself. "I haven't even been here for an hour and already God is moving others to preach this message. At this rate my literature will be gone in a few days." But as I thought about it I decided that it was God's work and not mine and He would conduct it the way He wanted and I would be a quiet, obedient participant or happy observer of His marvelous grace and miracles.

Although I was only in Honduras for two weeks it was another fantastic two weeks of seed planting and gospel penetration with the character of God message. Thursday and Friday were spent helping Sulma and her family get the house more organized and stocked up with supplies. In the Super Mercardo in El Centro I met an old friend from my first visit who translated for me in two of the local churches. He agreed to let me greet the people and pass out my pamphlets. I was given five minutes to tell about 200 souls of my little pamphlet and offer it to all who wished to read it. But instead of passing them out my friend suggested I stand at the door after the service which was a better idea. I also invited them all to come to the house warming at 7:00 P.M. We thought maybe 10 or 15 would come out. So, when about 60 people showed up we were really surprised but very happy because this was more opportunity to teach the character of God message in between serving our guests as fast as we could. But it was one of the best meetings I've ever had. Although I am now able to speak enough Spanish to communicate I was glad to have a young man named Walter, a colporteur, there to translate for me again as he had that morning in church. The people's joyful eagerness bubbled over as they reached out, imploring me again and again for more pamphlets to share with their family and loved ones.

That Sabbath alone was worth the cost of the whole trip in terms of reaching souls for Jesus. But in reality and retrospect it was only one of many.

The following day I tried an experiment in the afternoon. I went downtown by myself passing out my pamphlet. I decided to ask people first, ?Usted leer bueno? (Do you read well?) If they nodded or shook their head in the affirmative I would give them the pamphlet saying as I handed it to them, "Is para ti, gratis." (Is for you, free.)" I also learned to look into their faces to discern the character of that person. And to listen to the still small voice who told me whether or not to give the pamphlet to the person. Most of the time I would get on a bus and just sit there, usually in the back and wait until I heard God's voice telling me how and where to start passing out the pamphlets. There was only one time a person refused the folleto and the young man was drunk.

The following week we tried but failed in obtaining the necessary documentation to take the baby back with us. This was hard to accept but we had prayed for God's will to be done in His own time and way..."Dios perfecto tiempo y camino." So, we praised the Lord for all things as Scripture tells us to do. Eph. 5:20 and I Thess. 5:18.

We were able to visit various members of Sulma's family in different locations, riding the bus each time. In one place a little boy of four years tried to help me organize and sort out some letters I was preparing to mail out to some of you in EEUU (US). He talked and talked to me in his childish Spanish and I would answer him and then teach him some English. It is amazing how quickly children can pick up new words. He even picked up one of my gold colored fliers and began trying to read it making the English sounds he had heard me speak. When we got ready to leave he wanted to go with me. Sulma said he cried a lot when he was told he had to stay with his mother and grandmother. On the bus again I tried something new because the bus was so crowded that I couldn't walk down the aisle. So, I said: "Si, usteds gusta una folleto levante su mano." This is probably poor Spanish but it got the idea across. "If you (in the plural) like or would like a pamphlet raise your hand." I could have used the word "quiero" (want) but my vocabulary is still limited and I am so used to saying "gusta" that it just came out that way. Of course, they know I am a "gringo" or N. Americano just by looking and when they hear me speak it is confirmed. At first I thought that perhaps I was a curiosity of sorts to them. But I have changed my mind about that. There is something very supernatural that takes place inside of people's hearts everywhere I go. They sense that I care for them and have something very important and special for them that they need. I have continually observed this now for over two years analyzing it very closely as I do most things that happen in my life and it is very supernatural...a real phenomenon. The love of God is truly the most powerful force in the world.

During our visit with Sulma's aunt in this little town, Podrillios, between Siguatapeque and San Pedro Sula we met Pedro, Sulma's step-father, the father of about 10 of Suyapa's 13 children. Sulma invited him to return with us to Siguatapeque. At first I wondered how Suyapa would relate to this for they had been separated for several years. When I asked him if he was married or living with any woman. He said no. ?Porque ellas quebrar su corazon?" (Because they (ladies) all broke your heart). "Solo Ella," (only her) he replied, motioning toward Suyapa who was in the next room. Pedro's neck and back were hurting him so I gave him an adjustment.

For her part, Suyapa basically acted like Pedro wasn't even there. Sulma told me later that Pedro had not always treated Suyapa very well and that was the reason she left him. That was sad but it was also good that Sulma was beginning to understand her mother better. Pedro lives up in the Mountains with seven of his children raising them by himself. I had no idea I would soon be visiting this family. Before he left on the bus to return to his mountain home Pedro used some scrap lumber and his machete to build a nice little bed for Jose, not quite one year old. Sulma asked me if I would like to meet her younger brothers and sisters she grew up with. Not realizing the road conditions or what all would be involved I agreed. So, we eventually found ourselves riding in the back of this pick-up truck which served as a bus for these mountain people when they needed to come down into the real, "civilized" world to buy whatever bare necessities they could afford. Although it was probably only about five miles to where Pedro lived the roads were so bad that it seemed like 20. By the time we got there we had less than an hour to visit before we had to return. They lived in a small sod house surrounded by jungle vegetation including oranges, planta, etc. Although it was not cold, it was the cooler part of the year, between 45 to 55 degrees and sometimes less up in the mountains, especially at night. The children had little clothing, no shoes or blankets to keep warm at night. Yet, they had the best dispositions and sweetest characters I have ever encountered in such a large family of seven ranging in ages from 3 to 16. Angela was the oldest, serving as their cook and mother for the entire family. They all seemed to take care of each other and each had a deep respect and reverence for their father, Pedro. Perhaps he had changed through the years. We soon found out that it was too late to go back down the mountain. We would be spending the night here in the mountains. We had walked about a mile back down the mountain to ask one of the truck drivers to take us back to "civilization." He wanted 400 lempiras or an equivalent of about $40.00 in USA currency. In the morning we could go back down for about $2.00. That's when I decided it would be a good education to stay overnight. And I am glad we did because I truly learned how they lived or I should say, "survive" day by day.

We didn't sleep too well on the hard mats and "beds" but we survived. Angela prepared us some tortillas from scratch on the little wood burning stove which was made of mud, stone and a piece of metal on top. It was all very primitive. It was a long night but we all survived somehow. Suyapa, baby Hose, Sulma's grandmother, Sulma and myself along with about five of the children all slept in the same room. You could not see your hand in front of your face it was so dark. If two of the older children had not held my hands as we walked back up the mountain I would never have made it but they seemed to have night vision on that horrible road. At 5:30 the next morning we were joyfully surprised to discover we had somehow survived the night with no blankets, smoke in our eyes from the fire and the baby crying to say nothing of the very hard bed. Two of the older children went with us down the mountain again to visit their relatives. Sulma and I decided to go shopping in Podorillos for some blankets, clothes and above all a flashlight. If we hadn't got stuck on the mountain with this family we probably would not have been willing to do this. In addition to that one of the children found my lost American Express Money orders which Suyapa had packed in one of the bags by mistake when she was cleaning up our room, not realizing what it was. We had searched everywhere for them. So, the Lord, in His usual manner provided for us just at the right time and place so we would be properly grateful to this family and be willing to provide for some of their needs. God's love for children never ceases to amaze me. So, we returned in about three hours with several bundles of presents for the family including two used machetes I bought for only $1.50 each. They use these machetes for everything from cutting wood for the fire to peeling their oranges.

Of course, they were just speechless for joy. No one had ever done anything like this for them. When Sulma told me that she was raised up there in those same mountains I was non-plused. That was the main purpose of the trip. She wanted me to see where she grew up and how she had suffered as a child and why her motives were so strong to provide a better way of life for her grandmother and mother. I only wish that you could have been with me on this trip my friends. It would help you to realize how well off we are in this very rich and blessed nation. I also realized that the time may come in the not too far distant future when God's people may have to escape persecution into remote regions such as this. At least I now know what to expect. As we rode the bus back to Siguatepeque I realized again God's Providential guidance in all of our affairs. When I saw that almost all of my folletos and most of my booklets had been distributed I realized that it was time for me to return home. I didn't have time to prepare fliers for the Thanksgiving and Christmas mail-outs as well as the December newspaper. Sulma would return a week later on the 21st, as planned, to finish up some important matters for her mother and grandmother. After prayer and thoughtful planning we figured out how to take care of everything in one week. My flight didn't leave until Wed. morning which meant we had to stay over in the Capital. As usual, the Lord gave us a good taxi driver who helped us find the right hotel near the airport. That night I met a man from Switzerland who, with his traveling companion, were fully ripe for the character of God message. What a joy it was to share with this intelligent, young, German-Swiss brother and get his address for further contact in the future. But the most exciting experience of the whole trip happened the next morning at the airport. It seemed God had saved the best for last.

As we got out of our taxi I once again began sharing the last of my folletos with as many of the taxi drivers as possible because we had over two hours before my plane left. I told Sulma she needed to return home to get started on the final details. So, after her cab left I continued talking to the cab drivers. One of them asked me to follow him into the airport to meet a good Christian friend who owned and operated a souvenir shop. His name was Jose. I gave him both documents and he quickly understood the concept. Then he reached under the counter and brought out his Spanish Bible. I took out my bi-Lingual, Spanish-English Bible and began to explain level one of the character of God message. This only took about five minutes as I was giving him the short version. Next I explained the animal sacrifice system was not God's perfect plan or will but His permissive will. This was level two and took about ten minutes or more because I wanted to build a good foundation before we went to to level three, which is the concept of the two Lords. But he had no problem with that either. At first I would read the text in Spanish to him and ask him if he had any questions and understood it clearly. But then I realized it would be faster and more efficient for him to read the texts in his own language. We spent about an hour together finally touching on the fourth level. All the while we were standing there at the counter various taxi-cab drivers, friends and customers were coming and going, etc. He had a friend wait on some of the customers for him. Everyone seemed either curious or fascinated by our conversation, especially a little ten year old boy whose name also happened to be Jose. He was shining shoes and selling newspapers. Finally, my friend reached across the counter and took hold of the prayer beaded crucifix he was wearing around his neck. He held it in the palm of his hand and then turned to me with the question: ?Pastor Mike, que es su opinion acerca este. Es necesario? (What is your opinion about this?) To those of you who know the Spanish language, please understand that I am by no means an expert. I am using the simplest words to get the basic idea across). I gave him the same answer I have given Catholics for years. I told him that it is better to go to God directly yourself for it is faster and more efficient. The Father is waiting to hear your prayers in the name of Jesus. You don't have to go through Mary. "Besides," I told them, Mary is dead. She cannot even hear your prayers. She isn't in heaven but awaiting the resurrection. Of course, this shocking revelation made it necessary for me to give another Bible study on the state of the dead which the man understood and accepted immediately as I gave him the texts. When I showed him in Acts 2:27-34 that even good King David did not go to heaven when he died he grabbed an ink pen and wrote that down. He was so excited. But the best part of the whole experience happened next. The little shoe-shine boy reached down and lifted this crucifix off of his neck and laid it on the counter and walked away in his new found freedom in Christ Jesus. When I tell this story to people their mouths just drop open. One Christian brother at a Thriftway store last night said, Mike, these are the kind of signs and wonders God said would happen in the last days. Praise God. Well, I never thought of it like that but it was very dramatic.