Weekly Prayer Requests

¡Hola!

This week has been a week full of great rejoicing and deep mourning. This past Friday, we had the opportunity to celebrate the graduation of Marvin and Pedro Luis from the 6th grade. It was a joyous moment in which we celebrated just how far from the streets and abject poverty the Lord has brought these two young men. However, yesterday, we also learned that long-time supporter and dear friend Mary Yates had passed away from cancer. There are few words to express the sorrow that this loss brings to us, her family, and her friends. However, as we mourn with the significant people in Mary's life, we can still rejoice in the legacy that Mary left behind in serving street kids all over Honduras and in the knowledge that she is now celebrating with her Savior. Yet, in the end, it can be hard to see such gain and such loss in the same week. Still, we press on, trusting the Lord's goodness and His faithfulness. As we do so, we look ahead into the coming week, bow ourselves before the Lord, and ask Him to aid us. Please join us in prayerfully pleading for:

 * Comfort for the Family of Mary Yates.
It is always tragic when someone's life and ministry is cut short like Mary's. Please pray for the comfort of her family, even as we rejoice that she has now joined the heavenly festival. Also, please join us in praising the Lord for the mighty work that He did through Mary during her time here on earth (for more information on Mary's ministry, see: http://micahcentral.blogspot.com/2008/04/using-talents-to-build-gods-kindgom.html).

* The Wiggs Family.
  We are excited here at Micah over the arrival of the Wiggs family today. Brian Wiggs is a talented mechanic and plans on opening the Micah Project technical school here in Honduras for older street children and Micah graduates who may not wish to pursue advanced academic degrees. Please pray for the entire Wiggs family as they transition into this new country as well as for Brian as he begins setting up his new school (for more information, see: http://www.micahcentral.org/Staff/staff.htm).

* Health
-Long-term Micah staffer Roger Figueroa has had continuing health problems. A few times, he has had seizures in the middle of the night, and is currently taking some time off in order to relax and consult with the doctors. Please pray that the doctors are able to swiftly find the root cause of his health issues and that Roger himself is able to receive the Lord's comfort as he worries over his health.
- Tony, one of our friends from Villa Linda Miller. Back in 2006, Tony broke his back while diving into a river and lost the use of his legs. Since then, he has pressed on with his schooling and has focused on finishing high school. Recently, though, we received word that he has had heart issues and is the hospital. Please pray for him and know that we'll keep you all updated on his situation!

* Our Strategic Plan
Micah is in the midst of creating a five-year strategic plan. Please pray for wisdom for us as we look ahead into the future and ask the Lord what He would have us do in that time. 

* True and Deep Revival in Micah House
 Pray that the Lord works in the hearts of our guys. As a staff, we strive to teach them the way to Him, but in the end, only He can change their hearts. Please ask the Lord that the Holy Spirit will continue to move powerfully and tangibly in everyone here at Micah and please pray that the Micah guys will be filled with a longing for the Lord and His ways.

* And, as always, it is my pleasure to bring to you the things that cause us to praise!
- The graduation of Marvin and Pedro Luis. Despite an occasionally bumpy road, both of these young men arrived at an important marker in their journeys. Marvin, especially, has had challenges along the way, but has always returned to his studies. Praise God for how he has grown!!
- The arrival of the Wiggs family. We are very excited about how our God can use them here in Honduras!
- Wonderful and Refreshing visits from Mary Floye Federer and Marvin Morazan. It is always a joy to receive a hug from Mary Floye and to hear Marvin sing!
- Meeting the national soccer team. This is not a joke: while taking Mary Floye to the airport this past Sunday, Michael and the guys met Honduras's national soccer team while waiting in line with Mary Floye! The guys were able to get their pictures taken with several of the players, and most of the guys are still parading the shirts that the players signed. This was an entirely random, but very fun, happenstance!!

It is truly my joy to walk this path with all of you, our friends and family. Even when we have sad news, such as the passing of Mary Yates, it is a comfort to know that we have a faithful group who will eagerly offer support and prayer. Please keep the family of Mary Yates especially in your prayers this week and seek to support them however possible. Dios les bendiga (God bless you all).

Walking in Mercy,
David Hawthorne

Weekly Prayer Requests

Buenas Tardes,

Every Sunday night, we here at Micah have a worship meeting. The theme of our meetings can vary from asking the guys to remember a lesson from the week or reminding them of some basic scriptural truth. This past Sunday, Michael used the events of the past week to offer a challenge to the guys: make wise decisions. Using the example of someone from our neighborhood who threw away a chance at Micah in order to steal some stuffed animals, Michael spoke about how one bad decision in youth can have repercussions throughout life. He then challenged the guys to avoid seeking the temporary pleasures of this world and instead focus on the eternal pleasures of the Lord. He asked them to use their coming vacation wisely, in order to learn and grow rather than just misspending their time. I hope and pray that this challenge sinks into the hearts of everyone who was there, and that we are able to see change and growth over the next three months. As I, and the rest of the staff, pray for Micah this week and for this vacation period, please join us in praying for:

*'Summer' Vacation
The school year is over and the guys are out on vacation! They are very excited, but this also means more work for the staff and more opportunities for conflicts to arise. However, it is also an excellent time for the guys to explore their own talents as well as pursue individual personal growth. Please pray:
- That the guys would use this time wisely. Michael challenged them to make decisions during vacation that would honor the Lord and lead to growth. Please pray that this comes to pass.
- For our staff. We are somewhat short-staffed at the moment due to illness, so we are all carrying a larger portion of responsibility than normal. Please pray that we are able to have the endurance and wisdom to handle our increased workload.

*Health
Long-term staffer Roger Figueroa has been having seizures at night. He is undergoing further physical exams and medical tests in order to discover the underlying cause of his health issues. Please pray that the doctors quickly discover the cause of his seizures and are able to treat it. Also, please pray that he will receive the Lord's comfort as he worries over his health.

*Graduation this weekend
Please pray for a smooth ceremony and that we are able to joyfully celebrate the graduation of Marvin and Pedro Luis from the sixth grade! Also, please pray for a safe journey for Mary Floye as she comes to visit and celebrate with us. (Interesting fact: 2 1/2 years ago, Marvin was a street kid with no formal education - isn't God amazing?)

*Our guys
Many of us here at Micah feel that we are waging a war over the lives of our guys. Please pray:
- For the staff as we strive to see God's work in their lives and to hinder Satan's plans for these young men.
- More importantly, for the young men. Pray that they will see God's love for them and that they will positively respond to that love. Pray that they are able to confront pain from their pasts and that they will be able to grow through that pain rather than cave into the temptations of anger, pornography, or rebellion. Pray that the Lord will work in their hearts and raise up another generation from Micah Project filled with maturity and a desire to carry out the Lord's work in their lives!

And the stuff that makes peanut butter and chocolate ice cream seem petty: PRAISES!

*Graduation
Marvin and Pedro Luis are graduating from the sixth grade! Praise the Lord that these young men are forging ahead, despite all obstacles and temptations!

*Marvin Morazan coming to visit
"MJMV Little" (as he calls himself) is coming home to visit for graduation! We here are very excited to have him visit and encourage our guys. We are also grateful for how he has matured and grown!

*For continuing strength to work in the lives of the guys.
Like I've mentioned before on the blog, Micah life is tiring. We are grateful for the strength of the Lord as well as His faithfulness to us as we work here. Our God is so loving!

*Wilmer

This young man has shown incredible growth over the past year! He has gone from being one of the youngest, more immature members of Micah to an example to which we can point. We are so thankful that he has come so far!
As always, the faithfulness of our Lord continues to overwhelm me. Not only does He work in each of the guys and encourage us, but He also has brought us loyal family members and friends who care and pray for us. Thank you, each and every one of you, for responding to the Lord's call and partnering with us in prayer. Thank you, Lord, for continuing to be our foundation.

Amen,
David Hawthorne

A Video Recap

Here is a short video in which several of the young men get a chance to share about what God taught them last weekend on our spiritual retreat in PANACAM, Honduras.

Please accept their (and our) gratitude to all of you whose prayers and support made this retreat a success!

Weekly Prayer Requests

¡Hola!

This past weekend was a wonderful time in the Honduran mountains, laughing and playing. The time away from the city was not only a time of personal relaxation and renewal, but it was also a time for us to take time out of our hectic lives and reflect on the amazing relationship that we enjoy with our Savior.  Today, we are back in Tegucigalpa, hurtling back into midst of our routines and 'normal' lives. As we (literally) come down from the mountain and prepare ourselves for this new month, I ask that you join us in praying for this week and the start of the month. Please join us in praying for:

*Applying lessons from our spiritual retreat.
This past weekend was a wonderful time for us to focus on our limitations and weaknesses as humans...and on how the Lord loves us, saved us, and works in us - despite our failures! We were all able to have good times talking about sin, forgiveness, and giving praise to our constant Lord. In light of the lessons of this weekend, please pray:
- That the guys are able to internalize the lessons of this weekend into their hearts. We can teach, model, and discuss the Christian faith here in Micah, but only God can change the hearts of our guys. Please pray that this weekend marks the start of a period of spiritual growth and revival here in Micah.
- That, as part of our efforts to facilitate growth in the guys, that we are able to have meaningful conversations with each of our young men over the course of the next few weeks. Please pray that we are able to see continued growth.

* End of the school year/vacation
- Our school year finishes at the end of this week. Please pray for our guys' ability to focus until the end (it has already been a challenge so far this week). Also, please pray for us as we plan for 'summer' vacation.

* Marvin Soto
Please pray that he finds work.

* Our Staff
- All of us, both Hondurans and Americans, work long days while pouring ourselves into our young men. While Micah's work can be very rewarding, it can also be emotionally and mentally draining. Please pray that we are able to find sufficient time to rest, to be spiritually refreshed, and to deal with the details of our lives (like finding time to wash clothes or buying food to eat).

* Peace
- In our home.
- In our barrio.
- In our country.

And, once again, it is my pleasure to bring you PRAISES!!
- For a safe, refreshing, and growing weekend (not to mention the beauty of a Honduran rainforest...).
- For an encouraging visit from Melody Dunne.
- For a proposed (and likely to succeed) peace deal that will finally end Honduras's political turmoil.
- Another day of life in which we can walk with our Divine Lover!

Our Lord is so faithful. This weekend, with its times of reflection, powerfully reminded me that the Lord is our foundation for everything that we do. No street child passes through our doors and not one of our young men matures without our God working in them. It is the same work of the same God that drives on myself and the rest of Micah's staff. By the grace of our Lord, I, alongside the rest of Micah's dedicated team, am able to press on through all challenges and help to raise these young men. May the grace of God continue to be sufficient for all of us.

Lord Have Mercy,
David Hawthorne

"A Grown-up Ministry": The Micah Project Fall Update

To read this post in printable form, click on www.micahcentral.org/Fall09update/Fall09update.doc

"A Grown-up Ministry"

     It’s just after lunch on a Monday afternoon. We’ve finished our classes for the morning, which begin with a 7:30 devotional and end at noon every weekday. All of us pitch in to teach an aspect of our home-schooling program; I teach high school math and sciences. Lunch today was a hearty chicken and rice dish, which our cook Aida made from scratch earlier in the morning, and mounds of piping hot tortillas. Noon chores have been completed by the ten young men that live in the Micah house, and everyone is beginning their afternoon activities.

     A missionary named Barry Horst, who comes to the Micah House twice a week, is on our interior patio teaching carpentry skills to Hector, Jason and Nelson. Currently, they are building a closet to store our garbage cans, although this year they have built everything from bird houses to go-karts.

     There are creative juices flowing from our living room, where our art teacher Herman is teaching Cristofer, Edwin and Eduardo how to paint typical Honduran landscapes with oil paints. There is as much paint on their faces and arms as on their canvasses, but their paintings are beginning to take shape anyway!

     Four of our boys’ moms, Telma, Aleyda, Maria and Deisy, are in the library practicing their sewing skills as part of the new Micah mamas program. Each of them received a sewing machine as part of this ministry, and come to the Micah House three days a week to practice on them.

     Two street boys just came to the door, Jose Daniel and a boy we’ve never met named Jerson. We have been trying to get José Daniel into the Micah House for two years, but his addiction to yellow glue keeps him on the streets. Today, neither street kid is too high on glue fumes, and we invite them in for lunch. Afterwards, our spiritual life coordinator John Bell gives them haircuts on the patio, shearing off their matted hair with his clippers. Little did John know when he joined Micah last September, modeling the Christian life at Micah is as much about cutting (and de-lousing!) hair as it is about planning discipleship groups and Bible studies. He does both with grace and patience!

     Rebecca Bell has the most stressful job of the afternoon: fighting her way through Tegucigalpa’s chaotic traffic to take Wilmer, Hector, Miguel, Maycol, and Pedrito across the city to the home of Brian Silverio, a volunteer who is teaching them a form of martial arts called jeet kune do. Their soccer league has been cancelled for the last few weeks, so this has been a good way to get some energy out!

     Back here at the house, Marvincito just had a bit of a break-down…or blow-up, really…which is a fairly regular occurrence for this fifteen year old sixth grader as he struggles to put the habits of street life behind him. I distract him by having him file paperwork in my cabinet as I write this update at a table in my classroom. Strangely enough, this seems to have a calming effect on this intelligent but needy boy…maybe I should hire him as my secretary!

     I take a few minutes amidst the bustle of activity to check my email. We receive regular updates from the American embassy as to where the protestors are marching, which has happened daily since Honduras’ president was flown out of the country and into exile on June 28. I want to make sure that Becca doesn’t drive into a protest zone while taking the boys to their martial arts class. All is clear on her route, so I open a message from Marvin Morazán, who is studying music ministry in Costa Rica:

     “I had an incredibly blessed weekend this week! I was in southern Costa Rica sharing my testimony at a church. It was such a blessing to be able to share in the worship service and with the youth afterwards. I’m having so many incredible experiences and am growing so much. Thanks for everything… see ya’ and much love. One of your sons, Marvin.”

     I also take a moment to re-read an email that Jarvin, who is studying psychology in Costa Rica, sent to encourage the boys who are currently living in the Micah House:

“You might not believe me, but you all have the authority to act against the things in your lives that tempt you to make bad decisions. You can challenge yourselves to do good without depending on your leaders to force you; you can make good decisions on your own. God says that he has plans for each one of you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. This should give you the hope and the faith necessary to help change this sick society in which we live.”

     There’s something about today—about the electric buzz of energy in the Micah house as so many people are being served in so many ways, about the encouraging emails from our college students, about seeing John minister to the street kids right out on our patio—that, to quote Jarvin, gives me the hope and faith necessary to keep moving forward in ministry. Today makes me feel like the Micah Project has grown up. Ten years in, Micah has taken on a life of its own. It still takes creativity and a tremendous amount of energy, grit and prayer to keep all of our guys focused on their futures and our outreach ministries functioning, but, thanks to God’s direction and intervention, it happens successfully every single day.

     As we move closer to our tenth anniversary on January 8, we have begun a process to make sure that the Micah Project keeps maturing--keeps using the resources that God has given us in the best way possible in our next decade of ministry. As part of this process, we are engaging in strategic planning regarding our philosophy of ministry, the structure of our staff, the long-term usefulness of our facilities, and the structure of our board of directors. Though God has used the Micah Project to impact many lives in the last ten years, we feel that our ministry in Honduras is just beginning. There are still children wasting away on the streets, still single mothers unable to feed and educate their children, still young ones waiting to be mentored into the Christian leaders of Honduras. We want to do each of these things even better in our next decade than we did in our first!

     As this afternoon draws to a close and our dinner hour approaches, I leave my laptop and take a minute to walk through the Micah House, observing the different activities taking place in every room. I take a moment, while I help sweep up the sawdust from the just-finished carpentry class, to thank our heavenly Father for all of you who have supported us with your love, financial support and fervent prayers. God has used you to transform lives in Honduras, lives that are beginning to reach out and impact others as well.

     We ask that you continue to pray that God would prepare us for all that He has in store for the Micah Project in the next decade of ministry!

Su hermano en Cristo,
Michael Miller

Above: On October 23, Jo Bewley, the founder of the Micah mamas group, came to Honduras with her husband Bob to meet the moms! She had a chemotherapy treatment earlier in the week in Houston, but that did not stop her from coming to meet the ladies whose lives she has impacted. Here, they show off their creations to Mama Jo!

Weekly Prayer Requests

¡Hola!

Dear Family and Friends, it is once again my privilege to bring you Micah's weekly prayer requests. In an (occasionally very stressful) instant, another week has come and gone. Now, as we look ahead to another week of insanity and joy, please join us in praying for:

*Our spiritual retreat this coming weekend.
- For both safety and peace between the guys as we travel.
- That the Lord would use this time to work in both the hearts of the guys and the staff. Please pray that our theme of repentance is brought home as we all confront and confess the sin in our lives. Also, please pray that as we come to fuller understanding of our own sinfulness, we will also come to a deeper knowledge of Christ's love in delivering us from sin.

*Tino Hernandez and Marvin Soto
- Please pray for these two college grads as Marvin looks for work in the U.S. while Tino searches for a job here in Honduras. Also, please keep all of the unemployed in Honduras and the U.S. in your prayers.

*Classes
- For a good and focused end to the school year! Please pray that our teachers are able to get their grades finalized and submitted to the government on time and with a minimum of stress.

* Peace
- In Honduras. As the two political factions continue to talk, there have been reports of near-agreements, but nothing has been finalized. Please pray that the two factions are able to find consensus before the elections next month.
- In our neighborhood. As crime and drugs continue to sweep through our barrio, please pray for both our safety and that of our neighbors. Also, please pray that the people in our barrio will turn to Christ for hope and enjoyment instead of drugs and violence.
- In our home. Raising ten teenagers can be intense! Please pray for peace between the guys as well as patience and love from our staff.

*Michael Miller
- As the director, Michael deals with many of Micah's administrative details while also serving as its primary caregiver. Additionally, he frequently takes extra work upon himself to ensure that his staff is properly rested. Please pray that he is able to find enough time in order to relax and recharge. Also, please pray that we, the staff, are able to find ways to help lighten Michael's workload.

And now, PRAISES:
- For Jenna's health. After almost two weeks away from Micah with a bad case of Dengue Fever, Jenna is once again back at Micah! We are very happy to see her here again!
- For our visitors. Bob and Jo Bewley had a wonderful, although brief, visit (see Jo Bewely with the Micah Moms sewing group in the photo on the right)! Also, praise God that Melody Dunne had a safe trip down and is currently enjoying her week-long visit.
- For another week to enjoy the mercy and love of our God!

I simply cannot thank you, our supporters, enough for the opportunity that you provide us in being able to take part of this amazing ministry! Also, many thanks for your love for us and concern about the details of our lives. We hope to keep walking this road with you for many more years!

Peace,
David Hawthorne

Street Kid Spotlight: Rosa Yanet

In addition to the weekly prayer requests, another new feature we will be adding to our blog is the street kid spotlight.  Although a huge part of our ministry is focused on the guys we have living in the Micah Project, our heart and our prayers still go out to the ones who continue living on the streets.  A variety of factors have driven these children and teenagers from their homes to the rough life of the streets.  And more often than not, the addiction that they develop to inhaling industrial shoe glue keeps them there.  We hope that as you come to know their faces and their stories, you will lift them up faithfully in prayer before our Heavenly Father who loves them.

Our first spotlight falls blazingly on an incredible young lady named Rosa Yanet.  Rosa’s mom died when she was very young and Rosa never had the chance to know her.  She was raised by her father, though he did not take very good care of her.  Rosa is 15 years old, and has been living on the streets for many years now.  She dropped out of school after the second grade, and she doesn’t know how to read or write.

As one of very few girls living on the streets, one can only imagine the sort of life she has suffered.  She keeps her hair short and wears baggy clothes to fit in with the street boys that she hangs out with, and she has easily been mistaken for just another one of the boys.  Thankfully, many of the street boys have taken to protecting her and doing what they can to keep her safe.  Rosa comes on a weekly basis to street kid soccer, though she never plays because she worries that the boys play too rough and she would get hurt.  But she will happily sit on the bleachers and color pictures while the boys have their fun on the field.

Recently, Rosa joined the Micah Project on a couple of Saturday outings to local parks.  It was nice to see her not high on glue.  In fact, on Friday night when I invited her to come the next morning she motioned to her bottle of glue and said, “But I won’t bring this with me.  It’s rude to bring this if someone invites you somewhere.”  She was very pleasant and had fun riding bikes, playing in the swimming pool and kicking the soccer ball around.  It was wonderful to see her enjoying the simple fact of being a child… something she never really got to celebrate growing up.

At 15, Rosa is too old for many of the centers in Tegucigalpa, and since the Micah Project is a home for boys, there’s not much we can offer her either.  Our prayer for Rosa is that she would find a safe place to call home and that she would come to know the love of her Father in heaven, and live in the understanding that she is a beautiful princess in His eyes.  Please join with us in prayer for Rosa Yanet!

 

Thanks!

Jenna Miller