See pictures from Beach Christmas 2012!

Originally posted January 7, 2013

Thank you to everyone who contributed to make Beach Christmas 2012 possible! Our residents had an amazing time as they shared in food, fellowship and Christmas traditions (presents!) on the shores of Amapala.

We cannot say thank you enough to those who provided the funds for this special trip. It was an incredible time of togetherness that our residents will not soon forget.

In case you missed the pictures going up on Facebook, here is a link to view the albumthat captures all of the festivities.

Blessings!

Breaking Chains Honduras

- Hengi and Nayeli at the beach

Merry Christmas! Keep Breaking Chains Honduras in mind

Originally posted December 11, 2012

Merry Christmas! Above is the 2012 Christmas card from Breaking Chains Honduras, along with the following request that you keep us in mind for your end-of-the-year giving.

This year was an incredible time of growth for Breaking Chains. Along with your help, we achieved numerous goals: purchasing our ministry building, enrolling students in education and vocation programs, continuing our weekly meal outreach and church services, beginning a modified Celebrate Recovery program, and continuing to show the love of Christ to those in need in Tegucigalpa.

In 2013, we hope to continue to be God’s instruments through ministry by increasing focus on spiritual development and discipleship, growing and improving our education and vocation initiatives, transitioning families, and hiring functional staff members so that our ministry staff can focus on teaching and mentoring.

With a growing ministry also comes a growing need for financial support. We need your help in order to accomplish our goals and sustain the ministry. As 2013 draws closer, we ask that you consider Breaking Chains in your end-of-the-year giving. All donations to Breaking Chains are tax deductible and would be an incredible blessing to our ministry.

We also ask that you consider Breaking Chains in your budgeting for the coming year. The majority of our goals will rely on a great increase in monthly support. By setting aside an amount each month, you can make a huge difference in our ministry and in the lives of those we serve. Please consider adding us to your regular monthly giving.

If you would like to donate, you may do so online via PayPal on the “donate” page of our website. You may also sign up for regular monthly payments on the website by using the “subscriptions” button. If you would like to donate via check, you can make checks payable to “Breaking Chains Honduras” and mail them to P.O. Box 20454 Oklahoma City, OK 73156.

Thank you for considering us in your financial giving. And thank you for continuing to support us through prayer and encouragement. We look forward to sharing 2013 with you.

Bendiciones,

Breaking Chains Honduras

With shock and awe we thank you for your generosity

Originally posted December 9, 2012

God continues to shower us with his love and shock us with his incredible power. Please share in our prayer of rejoicing. All 29 of our residents have individuals or families who want to bless their Christmas experience. Each soul has a sponsor.

Diestafano and Hermalinda’s children, just of few of who you helped sponsor

Our BC team started to get nervous a few days ago when we had so many people who still need sponsors. God must have shaken his head. Then he delivered, and today we received the last nine sponsors we needed.

God continually bursts from the box we try to put him in. And we thank you for his omnipotence of which we know so little.

Many of you expressed interest in sponsoring one of our family members but didn’t get the chance. Well, we humbly offer another option. We are blessed to be able to take those residents of our building and give them a special Christmas. But we serve more than just them. We could give gifts to more than just them. You could help us show a little love to the truly forgotten, the truly homeless. You could help our residents give back to those who need it.

For two sponsorships of $125 for Christmas Day….

1. We could provide a meal that our residents can share with our friends from the street.

2. We could hand out little gifts to forgotten people who won’t receive Christmas presents otherwise.

3. And we could give each of our families some money to spend on their own kids. They likely won’t have money to buy even the littlest gifts or doing anything special for their kids.

Our Christmas Day 2011 celebration with both residents and friends from the stree

New Year’s Eve is a very special day for families here. Everyone wears new clothes and spends the day enjoying their families. But for those who don’t have families, we want to be theirs. For our teenagers and for our friends who live on the street.

For two sponsorships of $125 for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day…

1. We could share a special meal between our residents and those a part of our street ministry. We love encouraging our residents to reach out to those who are in a situation they were once in. We love watching them pay Christ’s love forward.

2. We could take our teens to play games and provide them with the family they long for on a such a family holiday.

Arriving at the carnival trip we took New Year’s Eve 2011

We always want to provide a place for the forgotten to go where they can find love. It’s not about the food or the gifts but the love we give along with it. These days are opportunities to show the unconditional love of our Savior. We open hearts with every hug and touch of kindness.

Help us provide a safe, loving place for the hopeless and forgotten to come this holiday season. Please be a part of opening up our family to the unloved this Christmas and New Year’s.

Brayan enjoying last year’s New Year’s Eve dinner

Or if you would rather, we are looking for sponsors for several of our elementary school kids for the next school year that begins in February. Brayan (in the photo above) is one of them. If you are interested in something like that or in sponsoring our Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve festivities, you can email me at michael@bchonduras.org. You can donate online or by mail, just simply let us know what you would like to help with specifically.

Most of all thank you for your beautiful hearts who continually give again and again. We are moved. We are in awe of your generosity. Thank you. Thank you. A thousand times, thank you.

Diestafano’s family: our hospitable, island friends

Originally posted December 9, 2012

Diestafano, Hermalinda, their children, niece and two nephews

We took nearly 50 people to our first Christmas in Amapala last year. That means we needed several boats to transport us from the mainland, we ate a bunch of food and we required a lot of clean up. One family did that with a sweet smile on their face and laughs to share – Diestafano, Hermalinda and their whole crew.

Amber has gone with various people to Amapala for years, and along the way she struck up a friendship with Diestafano and his family.

These sweet ones have served us with kindness ever since. They served us so quickly last year despite our large numbers and crazy group. There were nearly 50 of us, and not a one of Diestafano’s family ever complained.

Their family team consists of Diestafano and the older boys manning the boat traffic. Hermalinda and older girls helping with the cooking. All the family helps with the serving. And the little ones…well, they’re just good to giggle with our little ones playing in the waves.

We gave each of this family gifts last year, and they looked at us with shocked faces. We want to do the same this year. Please allow us to serve this family this Christmas in just a smidgen of how much they serve us.

Eric: laughing eyes cover crying soul

Originally posted December 8, 2012

This is as close as we could get to Eric (far right). He WILL NOT let us take his picture.

Eric Alberto Castillo Yanes towers over everyone he meets at over six feet tall. Due to a poorly healed broken leg, Eric walks with a limp and is one of the more awkward looking young men you will ever meet. But his curly hair and shy smile will quickly disarm you.

Eric is one of the brightest young men we have had walk through our doors. He can talk at length about geography and his favorite subject is history.

Most of our kids are repulsed by the thought of reading a book, but Eric can sit for hours absorbed in anything he can get his hands on. That’s my kind of kid.

While still very hesitant to talk about God out loud Eric will choose a book about God and applying the Bible to his life.  He often surprises us with questions about salvation and God’s saving power.  Eric is full of a bravado that covers the hurt of his past and refuses to say anything negative about the parents that abandoned him at seven years old.

It’s obvious there is a river of hurt behind those laughing eyes, but he’s determined to make something of himself despite his addictions.

Eric is one year away from finishing high school and dreams of going on to college.  He would love to travel around the world seeing other cultures.  Eric is still opening up to us, and I pray the Christmas trip gives him the push he needs to feel a part of our family.

Carly Sofia: a new life, new possibilities

Originally posted December 7, 2012

We have all ages at our Breaking Chains building, from our oldest resident Grandma Cici at 70 to our youngest Miss Carly Sofia at three weeks. We can’t say much about this little one’s personality just yet, but we can say she gives the bright light of hope to her proud padres.

Her 17-year-old papa and 18-year-old mama beam at the sight of their new daughter. Gerson calls Carly “My Little Love.”

When Gerson and Cyndi came to us a few months ago for help, they were just a pregnant girl and a deer in headlights. Now…they both are most of the time. But he and Cyndi love that little girl even though they barely know what to do with her.

These new parents are learning, but they do know they love their baby. They want to be the best people for her. I love watching the way they look at her, especially Gerson. He’s so out of his element, but he can’t help but be giddy when he holds her.

I can’t wait to see little baby girl continue to change her young parents for the better. God can use even the littlest of ones for his incredible glory.

Will you provide for baby Carly Sofia to spend Christmas with her parents?