FISHERMEN'S CO-OP

Or....maybe we should have titled this: WHERE'S THE BOAT? Scott has been asked to assist a large number of local fishermen in starting a co-op. They need a larger boat to tow all the small boats out to better fishing grounds. The cost will be about $3000.00 and Scott and the fishermen will build the boat. The Village of Porvenir has donated a motor and all the fishermen are excited about a way for them to make more money and have a fair share of the fishing. If you would be interested in helping, please send your contributions to MVI, PO Box 593550, Orlando, Florida 32859-3550. Please put: ATTENTION: FOR SCOTT LEDFORD/HONDURAS BOAT FUND on the check. Many thanks for your help and prayers.

YUMMY OATMEAL RECIPE

Ok. Here it is...the oatmeal casserole everyone keeps asking for.

2/3 cup oil
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
mix together and add:
4 cups oatmeal uncooked (not minute kind)
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. cinnamon
add: mixed fruit or raisins, nuts, cut up apples

bake at 350 for about 30 to 45 minutes.

Update on Scott & Susan............ ................... and School Project for 2010

After spending 2 months in the States having surgery on Susan's eyes and on a hernia, she is recovering well and she and Scott returned home the first part of November...It has been a long year as far as Susan's health. Lots of attacks on her physically with dengue fever, flu, then the hernia and cataracts in her eyes. But, we are hoping that 2010 will be a year of good reports for both of us as well as y'all. Have a New Year filled with joy, peace, good health, and, maybe, a visit to us here in Honduras. There are always projects going on that you can participate in with either your presence here or your financial support.

ON ANOTHER TOPIC:
We are sending Jonathan, Josue, Daniella, and Salome to private bilingual school this upcoming year. Our school year here starts in February. Total cost for the year per child is approximately $800.00. This amount will cover everything they need for the year: clothing, shoes, supplies, tuition, and a couple of activities that are school related. If you would like to be a part of their ongoing education, please send money to Susan and Scott Ledford for children's projects c/o MVI, PO Box 593550, Orlando, Florida 328-59-3550, or contact the office to set up a team trip by calling 407-859-7322 in Orlando, Florida. ShaRi Tarpley will be available to make arrangements for your group to schedule a trip to Honduras.

The photos are of Jonathan, Josue, their aunt and their, mom, Aleyda; and Daniella and Salome. All the children will be attending the same school here in the area.

ZOOM- ZOOM

We had the most amazing visit from one of the CMA teams this month. Rick Steffy brought a group from all over the US. They gave away motorcycles, preached, prayed, and blessed about 35 bikes during a fiesta we held at the mission house. They had a special service for a lady who lost her husband in a motorcycle accident in October. They presented her with a generous offering. CMA are the initials of Christian Motorcycle Association and they have branches all over the U.S.
We are so thankful for their efforts and the generous support they provide for Missionary Ventures to be able to give away hundreds...maybe thousands....of motorcycles all over the world each year to help pastors with transportation. God Bless CMA!

Pictured in the photo: Alfred Brown, our translator, Jim Street, Rick Steffy, Nahun Salgado, who received a motorcycle, and Scott.

Eye Surgery

Right eye operated on successfully yesterday! I look like some freaky gigantic bug with these 2 big plastic things over my eyes to protect me from infection...and Scott laughs at me when he looks at me...every single time...so, more prayer is needed for his bedside manner. Otherwise, I will be resting today and preparing for the endoscopy tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. God bless y'all...thanks for your continued prayers and faithfulness.

Scott can be a mean nurse, but he's sooo cute to look at when I am in the bed suffering... ok... maybe NOT suffering, but a little blurry....

62,000 mile check-up - Susan Gets Some Readjustments

For all of you who keep up on us, Scott and Susan arrived in the US on Tuesday to see why Susan is so sick. She saw a primary on Wednesday, a gastro guy on Thursday, had left eye catarac surgery on Friday, go back on Tuesday for right eye surgery, then Thursday to have esphogus stretched during an endoscopy where they will look at the hernia (not affectionately known as Henry) and determine which surgery will be necessary to repair her stomach. So, poor Scott is playing driver, nursemaid, personal assistant, comforter, and (right this minute) mean old bossy husband telling me to get off the computer and stop stressing my eye. Oh, pooh!
So, as you can see, we both need lots of prayer....for Susan: healing, no pain, and submissive and obedient spirit... For Scott: patience, tenderness, kindness, long-suffering, tolerance, a gift of giving lavish gifts, a talent for back rubs, and the discovery of a new talent: reading Susan's mind and anticipating all her needs.

Old Friends and Celebrations

Pastor Bob Shelley was my spiritual leader when I was first saved.

Kelly and Donna West took Adrienne and I into their home and taught us so much about being "Jesus like" in our attitudes and hearts.

Betty and Tal Owen, shown here with Carol Schiro, another faithful supporter and friend, have been my spiritual parents since 1976. What a blessed life I have had in the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh, the list goes on and on with folks who have touched my life since June 5, 1975, when I got saved (born again). Praise the Lord!

Motorcycles

Get your motor running....
Get down on the highway..
Looking for adventure....
with whatever God sends our way....

Finally, some uplifting and exciting news! CMA, Christian Motorcycle Association, gives about a bajillion dollars to MVI each year to provide new motorcycles as transportation to pastors who also are supervisors and need to travel a lot. Scott, Jim Street, and some of the local pastors went to La Ceiba yesterday to pick up 8 new Hondas that will be given to pastors from all over Honduras.....then, rumor has it that CMA is coming in November and bringing money for several more to give away while they are here. We are planning a "blessing of the bikes" during their stay and we expect it to look a little like Bike Week at Daytona Beach minus the naked chicks and beer bottles...this one will be full of the naked truth of God's Word and blessings being soaked up by Christian brothers and sisters from Honduras and the US. Pretty cool, ey? (I did the "ey" thing for our Canadian Teams.)

Health Update

This is an update on Susan. Yesterday morning, I went to hear the final diagnosis on what is happening in my life. They had been concerned that it might be Tuberculosis or Lupus Disease....I was, frankly, planning my funeral...and, it would have been fun for those attending...HOWEVER, and that is a HUGE HOWEVER, they discovered that I have a hiatal hernia. It has gotten so large that it has caused my stomach to push into my lungs and seriously hinder my ability to breath. (Initially, they thought I had bronchitis and have been treating me for 5 weeks for that while doing extensive testing, labwork, xrays, ultrasounds and more.) I need to go to the US and have surgery...we will be flying out on Tuesday morning. Have to have rental car, coordinate with a doctor..have to HAVE a doctor. Please pray for painless healing, great doctor, good tasting medicine, and a quick recovery. LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED! Hey, maybe I can get them to sew my stomach up a bit so I can lose weight once more before I am totally decrepit. Thanks for your prayers and concern. When you pray, please be specific...I have named the Hernia, Henry...so pray that Henry leaves quietly and quickly without complications. (I hate long and drawn out goodbyes.)

Jason and Sarah Furrow

We have been given the blessing of friendship with Jason and Sarah. They are building an orphanage up at Urraco on beyond Rio Viejo. They are just the awesomest people! We are taking a Canada Youth Team up there to build a new playground in February. Anne-Marie Vosburgh and her team of teens build a "Jacobs' Place" playground for someone in Honduras every year...this time it will be built for: Give Hope 2 Kids. You can read lots about them on their website: www.givehope2kids.org. A little sidenote: they received their first orphan last week.

Her name is Chitlin' and I fell in love with her...all their other orphans will be of the human variety, but this one has captured my heart. Frequent visits up the mountain are in order here.

News Flash

Caloi and baby C.C. weighing in and Susan admiring God's handiwork

Hi! We have exciting news! Last night, August 28, at around 9:35 p.m., Dunia had her baby boy at home. They live in "Cassita Orquidia", the little house here on MVI property known as Mision del Mar. Caloi helped her to get the baby delivered, then Scott tied and cut the umbilical cord. Ginnie Street, one of our new missionaries here, cleaned the baby up and helped Dunia get him dressed properly. Susan manned the camera and got every exciting detail she could. Here are a few photos from the event! About 3 days ago, the Lord spoke to Susan and told her the baby would be born here at the house. Ginnie has this phrase she quotes often...."I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies." I think it's from Gone With the Wind...anyway, Susan told her she better stop saying that....and, sure enough, there she was right in the middle of "birthin' babies"...And Ginnie was great at it! You will note that Susan is in mask and gloves. She has been very sick since January...3 months of dengue fever and then some low level flu and assorted bugs. A month ago, she got what was diagnosed as bronchitis and has been being treated by a pulmonary doctor since the 2nd week of the illness. After 4 weeks and still no improvement , she went to yet another specialist. After many, many tests, xrays, ultrasounds and examinations, the doctors announced their fears that she had something way more serious. This is Susan talking now, " I am NOT even speaking out what they said...I am believing what God said and that I am healed, cleansed, whole, and serving the Lord with gladness! That loser, satan, can't stand the thought that I am being called back into counseling, exhortation, and deliverance ministry and have been equipped with a faithful friend, assistant, co-worker in Christ, and TRANSLATOR in Ginnie Street. The two of us are preparing spiritually to storm the kingdom and do some "Street sweeping"...Clean up some people dressed in filthy rags of sin, illness, and demonic activity, and lift up the name of Jesus...The enemy just thinks he can keep me down, sick, and unable to serve. NOT!!! Let God arise and his enemies be scattered! Scott has effectively ministered here in Honduras for the last 4 1/2 years. The boat building ministry, feeding centers, motorcycle giveaways, movie nights in the villages without electricity, discipling fishermen, making this place look like a million dollars, keeping everything running, being a true ambassador of the Lord Jesus, this has been wonderful to be part of. I am excited to be jumping in with both feet and being a "Mary" for awhile...I have been a " Martha" for the past 4 1/2 years. Being a helpmate to Scott, preparing things for the teams to make their trip more comfortable, and trying to come up with yummy meals has been a blessing to me...But I am excited about what God has planned that is making the enemy sooooo mad...He has certainly tried to bring me down... So, thanks for your prayers and Praise God for Jim and Ginnie!

GINNIE AND DUNIA CLEANING UP BABY C.C.

DANIELLA, SALOME, C.C. AND DUNIA DOING THAT BONDING THING

The little girls were there helping and watching the whole thing.
It was so cool! We praise the Lord that we got to be part of the exciting arrival of
CARLOS JOSIAS CASTRO ANTUNEZ aka C.C. (pronounced Say Say)
Thank you Father God in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ for the miracle of birth and for allowing all of us to be part of it.

Earthquakes shake Honduras

The Military grabs the President, Mel Zelaya, in his nightclothes and delivers him out of the country. Roadblocks, threats of blood bathes, airports closed, landing strips lined with cars and equipment to keep the ousted President from landing on Honduras soil, threats to shoot down the plane if he didn't get out of Honduran airspace, strikes, failed attempts at peace talks, U.S. military asked to leave Honduras, Chavez of Venezula offering his Communist Regime to assist Zelaya, schools closed, curfews placed on everyone....
these are some of the happenings here the past few months. Check out reports and updates by typing in Honduras Political News online and pray, please.
We need YOUR PRAYERS & PETITIONS BEFORE THE LORD, AND WE ASK GOD TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE HERE IN HONDURAS.

MEANWHILE, WE REMAIN SAFE HERE AT THE MISSION HOUSE.
WE TRUST IN THE PROMISES OF GOD AND SEEK HIS WILL EVERYDAY.
WE FEEL THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO STAND FAST.
And, while we stand fast, we continue to do the work set before us......

Construction team

From this........

........To This in 1 week!!
Hot off the drawing board!! Scott and a 6 person team from Canada, 3 local helpers, and a little more than $2000 built this home in one week. The first photo is the tin heap they were living in. 5 people on one mattress in an area that is flooded lots of the time. Their mattress on the floor was soaked with water and mud frequently. Now, they are up off the ground, and are getting brand new beds, mattresses for each person, and their own sleeping areas. Elsie and her 4 children are so happy. We still need to build a septic tank and prepare an outdoor kitchen area, that will be done all in good time. Once again, because of the efforts of people like you, a family has seen the hand of God moving on their behalf. Isn't it exciting to be a Christian!!!!! Many thanks to Heather, Nikki, Sheena, Sue, Joseph, and Mark.
They worked so hard and all the while managed to laugh and have fun. God is so good. Oh, yeah. I wanted to add...The panels of white in the house are actually vinyl. We were sent a huge shipment of donated rolls of vinyl and have been trying to use it up on projects...with a small budget, Scott came up with this idea to use in place of wood. My mother always says: "USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT, MAKE IT DO, OR DO WITHOUT". We did just that, Mom, and this has given us a new and inexpensive way to get people out of hovels and into a cute little home with plenty of light, air, and beauty.

Emily Nicole

Remember this kid??? This is our Emily Nicole...She is 3 on September 16th. and the cutest child who was ever born in Honduras...don't you agree? Just as a reminder, her mother was considering an abortion and we prayed together and she kept the baby. Can you imagine what a gloomy place this would be without that smile?


That's her mom, Victoria and her dad, Tito, holding Miss Millie on his lap. We get to spend the day together once in awhile. Emily calls me Abuelita Shusan. I am in love....

Pastor Training School

We have started a Pastor's Training School. Actually it is an accredited program from a University in the States. The people who finish the program can end up with an Associates', Bachelors', or Masters' Degree. Two men from the U.S. who have been involved here for years and years, will be teaching the curriculum. We have about 45 students. This, along with English classes, sewing classes, Bible Classes, and Christian activities, are keeping the new building well used and we are so grateful. That's Steve Harrellson, the Director of the School, teaching these "student pastors ".

They're Here!

After 3 years of preparation time, a short trip to Africa, a year in language school in Costa Rica, 6 months serving in Peru, FINALLY-they arrived the end of July. We have split the apartment in the mission house into 2 small apartments (small being a relative term) and Ginnie is nesting, Jim is doing a million projects along with Scott and we are getting to know one another rapidly...when on the mission field, you gotta jump in with both feet and start moving! And, that is exactly what's happening! We are excited, busy, planning, and seeking the Lord together with regard to what He has for the 4 of us to accomplish. Since Salma and Elvis left, Caloi, the guard, and his family have moved into the guard house here on the property. All of us will work together and serve the Lord with gladness and faithfulness here...We are all one big family growing together here at Mision' del Mar.

Caloi's Family

Caloi, Dunia, Daniella, and Salome are part of this family, along with that lump Dunia is presently wearing, that will become Carlos Josiah Castro Antune in a day or two...He is due to arrive at any moment! I already told them that this is way too much name for the baby and I am gonna call him C.C. (which is pronounced "say say" in Spanish....or maybe Jo Jo (pronounced Ho Ho, which is short for Josiah.) You know me.. always changing things up a bit...nothing normal, ever..march to the tune of a different drummer...you get the picture.
Daniella was in school when we took this photo...Surprise!! There are actually classes once in awhile here...today was one of them...they are few and far between.
Anyway, there is a photo of her and Salome further down in this newsletter. They are looking out of the window of "Meadowlark" our old Land Cruiser. Dunia is overdue right now, so please pray for her and we will update with baby photos once he arrives.

By the way, Caloi is the first person Scott met and built a boat for. At the time, he told Scott he had been contemplating riding his bicycle out in front of a car and killing himself. Since then, he has gotten a boat, started working for us as a guard, got saved!!!! Got baptised (there is a photo of that somewhere in this newsletter) and has been learning English. He is Scott's right hand man and Scott thinks the world of him...besides all that, the two of them LOVE to go fishing together. So, it's a win-win situation.