A message from David and Jill Sweet from Bulgaria

JFM & HONDURAS 2020

INTRODUCTIONS:

PASTOR DAISY - JFM has had a relationship with Honduras for the past 12 years!  Over those years, that relationship included Teen and Adult Ministry Trips for the purpose of construction projects, VBS, evangelism, relationship building and distribution of water filters and mosquito nets.  In 2019 after a Team from JFM attended a Free Methodist Church Planting Summit in Honduras, the JFM Global Outreach Team began the slow steps of developing a ministry partnership in the area of Puerto Cortez Honduras.  The GO Team aim was to develop a Ministry Partnership with Free Methodist Pastor Daisy to plant churches for the purpose of "cultivating changed lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ."  Pastor Daisy and the Honduras church leaders focus included evangelism and planting Free Methodist House Churches in the 36 Garifuna villages along the Coast of Puerto Cortez (see map).

DORIS SNYDER - MINISTRY MANAGER

 One of the Key persons for helping JFM in Honduras over the past 12 years is Doris Snyder.  Doris has been a long time friend of Pastor Jason, his family as well as the many JFM Ministry Teams that have traveled to serve in Honduras.  Doris served JFM as their translator and cultural bridge.  Doris is Honduran, married to Johnny Snyder an American.  They met in Honduras at church, fell in love and married.  Doris and Johnny have three grown children.  Doris has now worked and lived in USA for 40 years, owns a greenhouse business and entered a new season as a widow three years ago.  God has provided Doris as JFM Ministry Manager to Honduras, serving God with her talents, time and gifts.  Speaking the language, understanding the culture, experience with JFM Team Ministry trips to Honduras and having family still residing in Honduras gives JFM good connection in Honduras.  Yet what sets Doris apart in a called role to serve JFM ministry partnership in Honduras is her Love of Jesus and People, her knowledge of His Word and her desire to see people's lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially the Garifuna people. 


DORIS PROJECT UPDATE FROM JANUARY 2020:

Dear JFM,
My recent trip to Honduras in January was designed to scout out the culture of the Garifuna people and the best way to reach them spiritually.  (who are the Garifuna People:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garifuna) I met with Pastora Daisy and her husband Troibeo, who are currently working to share the Gospel of Christ with the Garifuna people.  I was able to observe their needs with many church leaders who are working with Pastora Daisy.

I believe the trip was key to understanding how God is leading the Jackson Free Methodist Church to work in this area of Honduras.  I prayerfully asked God to show me how to report what I saw as I interacted with Pastora Daisy and the church leaders and some of the Garifuna people.  I believe there are possible bumpy roads ahead, but we should not concentrate only on the bumps, but on what God is calling us to do.

The Garifuna's are a challenging group of people.  Their culture includes a condescending attitude toward women by the men.  Many men are unfaithful to their wives and addicted to alcohol.  Because the men are often idle and do not provide well for their families, no only are the people poor and homeless, they also lack good nutrition.  This compromises their health.  In fact 8-10% of the people are suffering from AIDS.  Also this culture includes witchcraft.  

The men do not often attend church, but for the most part do not prevent their wives from attending.  Therefore, the servants in the church are mostly women.  I personally watched these key women work tirelessly to help Pastora Daisy.

Pastor Daisy's husband, Toribeo helps with the maintenance of the buildings and drives the church bus.  He picks up people for the church services and various activities offered by the church 

Toribeo would benefit from being trained to use his full ministry potential, and in turn would be a great example to the other men who do not understand their role in the family from a biblical perspective. 

 Another critical issue is to train parents on how to treat their children.  They are rarely loving to them, treating them with harsh punishments.  Therefore, many children are constantly abused.  These children do not understand real love.  They could greatly benefit from people who would just play with them and show them the joy of knowing Jesus.  Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  If the parents could  understand the love of God themselves, they may be more open to loving their children as the Lord would want. 

The Elderly are also especially affected in this community.  Often they are simply abandoned by their families.  The issue with the Garifuna people is their need to know that they have value in the sight of God.  

I can see that it will be necessary to gain credibility with the people by establishing relationship, helping with "deeds" for the needs they have just to survive.  As well, there are many opportunities to reach out to the Garifuna people with the "word", developing spiritual awareness through examples set by Christians who actively love them and minister to their emotional, physical and spiritual needs.  Jesus taught that "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matt. 25:40

I trust that God will guide JFM as we pray about the Honduras ministry partnership with Pastora Daisy and the Garifuna community.  It is my joy to work and serve with JFM toward this goal.  IN God's Grace, Doris Snyder

CURRENTLY THE JULY TEAM MINISTRY TRIP TO HONDURAS HAS BEEN POSTPONED BY THE HONDURIAN GOVERNMENT.  TO DATE 200 PEOPLE IN PUERTO CORTEZ ARE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 .  PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR THE HEALING IN HONDURAS AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESCHEDULE THE TEAM TRIP TO SERVE.

Bulgaria - St. John Home

St. John Home

EXCITING the people of JFM to the critical ministry in Bulgaria is one of our primary goals for our missions committee.   Our missionaries to Bulgaria, David and Jill Sweet said it best, “We believe that a reduction in the incidence of human trafficking is a natural byproduct of healthy church communities.”  As Jill continues, “at any given moment, in the Roma village here in Kyustendil, more than 100 girls are in danger of being taken.  The situation is desperate.” 

With this in mind, please be praying for upcoming concerns for the prevention of human trafficking in the form of a home for at-risk girls, St. John’s Home.  In Jill’s words,

1
    Meeting with mayor of Kyustendil, Bulgaria to present the almost finished St John Home, looking for permission to open it.

    David Carr, former director for the conference in Bulgaria is coming to talk to the Minister of Religion on getting the government’s endorsement on the St John’s Home.

    At the conclusion of both critical meeting, hope to have an opening date set.

Please continue to pray that the roadblocks of spiritual warfare will be stopped and God’s work will prevail.

Exciting Update from the Meeting with the Minister of Religion:  The meeting was very positive!  The minister loved the work we are doing and gave us a clear path forward.  He knows the mayor and will work with him directly to get the approvals quickly.   Overall, a great start to a relationship that will help us grow our impact on lives here.