I pray this letter finds you well. It seems like sometimes everything people hear about countries like Honduras is negative. Unfortunately, a lot of what you hear is true, but there are definitely a lot of good things happening in Honduras too.
Let me tell you some of the good things that are happening in Honduras. In the last 13 years that we have been in Honduras, I know of 23 independent Baptist churches that have been started. Nine of those churches were started by 7 American missionaries. Seven of those churches were started by an equal number of Hondurans who were saved in the United States and came back to Honduras to reach their own people. Seven were started by 6 nationals who were reached by missionaries. Thank God for missions-minded individuals in the United States who help make this possible. I believe I am seeing a Bible promise fulfilled before my eyes: “. . . But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5:20)
The following story is something you might not see happening in the United States anytime soon. A guy in our church teaches physics and chemistry in a local high school. He is allowed to give the students extracurricular activities to earn some points. He told his students, “If you want some extra points, come to church with me on Sunday.” We had over 50 visitors because of this incentive (attached pictures). Some of them got saved, and some of them are still coming to church. We are planning our next big day around final exams (I am not kidding). Just recently I heard the Secretary of Education say, “If I could, I would cancel math and science and teach nothing but values to our students for a few years.” I thought if a U.S. Secretary of Education said something like that, he would have a lot of explaining to do.
Although our family and our church seem like we are doing a small part, we are, nonetheless, part of the good that is happening in Honduras. We are grateful to you for helping us be a blessing.
December 1-4 of this year, our church will be organizing the “Fuegos de Evangelismo” (Fires of Evangelism) conference. I would like to ask you to please pray for this conference. We will have pastors and leaders from three to possibly four countries in Central America. Pray that the people will get to the conference safely, that people’s hearts will be touched, and that God will call workers to His field.
May God bless you and use you.
Truly,
Osmin Gutierrez