Published QuarterlySALUDOS!fromBAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSIONVol. 28, Number1PERSONAL GLIMPSESM/M BiU HoffApdo. 3166San Pedro SulaHonduras, Central America504-56-3796Corporate OfficeP.O. Box 61013Las Vegas, NV89160-2013Spring 1997Hoffs 27th AnniversaryLast Sunday our familyhad the biggest surprisethat we have ever experienced. About 3 p.m. aconstruction work team that Tom Schneller had organized, arrived from Indianapolis. They all came by ourhouse on their way to the hotel. We had met most ofthemfrom previous trips, but didn't expect to see themthat soon. I was sitting in the livingroomtalking tosomefriends whenthistall, thinguywalkedinandsaid, "Hi Mom." 1looked at him and didn't recognizehim. Everyone was looking at me and waiting for myreaction. Finally, Tom said, "That is your son, Margy."1flewacross the room and grabbed Mark and huggedand kissed him. Joy stood by his side and received thesame welcome. Rebecca was standing at the door andwhen she saw Mark, she said, "No way, noway, noway" as Mark walkedby her to greet me. Bill said that he recognized Joy butnot Mark ashe walkedby him.The work team had two people cancel; one because of illness and the other because of a death in the family.The tickets were non-refundable. Rob, thegroup's leader, hadstayed in our house two years ago: sowhen he wasunable to find a replacement from his church, he thought about our son. Mark was leading a hike at a camp in southernIndiana with his youth group. The camp staff located him to tell him about anurgent phone call. That was less than24 hours before departure. He said that he probably made ten phone calls before he knewwhy he was being contacted.Joy was at Johnson Bible College and started for Indiana only 13 hours before the plane left. So neither one of themhad much notice, but resolved to keep their arrival a surprise to us. Joy Rowan is Mark's fiancee. She is fromIndianaand her family attends the Hazelwood Christian Church in Clayton, Indiana. She is a third year student at Johnson BibleCollege studying elementary education. Our familyfirst met Joywhenshe camewithawork teamtoHondurastwoyearsago. Since that timeshe andMark have became acquainted. We enjoyed her company during the festivitiesof Mark's graduation lastMay. On New Year's Eve Mark gave her an engagement ring and the wedding is set for July 26th. We feelveryblessed that she will become part of our family.LastChristmas was thefirst time that Markwas unable tospend the holidays withus. We weresaddened, but felt content that he could share it withJoy's family. But the Lord blessed all of us by givingMark and Joy these free tickets to come and spend aweek. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Godis good.Mark andJoyADREAM REALIZEDRichard Gring and son, Daniel, install screens.Students preparing mealSeven students, two barbers.After four years of prayer and preparation, classesbegan at the Instituto Biblico Cristiano with five students present. The first teacher, Dick Gring, arrivedwithhisson,Daniel, on January11th. Dick and hisfamily were the missionaries that Billand Margy wenttovisitin 1969 in Santa Tecla, El Salvador. They werepart of a mission group that spent two weeks with theGring family. Little did they know, that after spendingthese weeks together, they wouldwedninemonthslater. So Dick is along time friend and the one theHoffs "blame" for their marriage.Dickwasanexcellent first teacherfor thestudents. He taughtNew Testament survey, but moreimportantly, taught the students to search theScriptures for their answers. If one of the students made astatement, Dick would ask themwhere Itwas found intheBible. It wasduringhis staythat thestudentsdecided to "fast" one day a week. It was alsoduringthe first month that the students began holding Biblestudies in nearby homes. The sixth student arrived aweekafterclassesbegan, andtwoweekslater theseventh student came.Daniel spentmost ofhis time doingcarpentrywork. He built windowframes, and made shelving andclosets. Hiswork was greatly appreciated. During thisfirst month Bill was very busy running. He ran lookingfor a cook, he ran to buy food for the institute, he ranto buy materials for Daniel, he ran for the many thingsthat were needed to begin aBible institute.Dick and Daniel spent the weekends withthe Hofffamily. Bill broughtthemhome each Fridayafternoonand then they retumed with Bill on Monday mornings.Al Young teaching.The students also returned home to help Intheir churches on theweekends.The second teacher, A1 Young, arrived in Honduras two daysbefore the Grings left. Sunday afternoon, February 9th, Bill, Dick,and A1 spent exchanging information about the Bible institute. A1was preparedwhen his time cametoteach. HeknewsomeSpanish but was not capable of teaching In thelanguage, so Billhad to act as Interpreter. Al taught thebook ofHebrewsand aspecial seminar on tongue speaking from 1Corinthians during hisBve weeks at the institute.Itwas during this busy time of running and interpreting that Billand Margybegan looking forhelpin their mission work. Aftermuch prayer, a young lady named Blanca was hired to help in thepurchasing for the institute and to work in the office. Margy workswith Blanca in the mornings at the Christianschool. Blanca studiesat the university in the evenings, but her afternoons were free. Shewas quite happy to earn a little extra money. She speaks Englishand is able to write letters with a little help. Blanca has spent muchof her time, thus far, translating English material into Spanish forthe teachers at the Institute.Whenever, a teacher is not available, Bill fills in. He spent oneweek in March teaching the book of 1Peter. He vyill be doing mostof the teaching during the month of April. Two moreteachers havevolunteered their time for the month of May.Please pray for the Bible institute. Pray that the Lord willsendmore students, more teachers, and an academic dean.A PREMATGREANNOUNCEMENTOn rare occasions these articles are written slightly In advancebecause of the lag between writing and distribution. This time the Blancapractice trapped Bill. He wrote the "Electrification" article in thelast newsletter, trusting that the contractor, who installed the transformer, would install the three remaining poles and stretchthe wire that week. But in the "third world" sometimes things don't work that wayI In fact, the contractor's boom truck brokedown and the parts had to come from theUnited States. (At the time of this writing they still haven't arrived.)Seeing that the installation was being delayed. Billborrowed a flat bed truck and transported the poles. The poles arereinforced concrete, thirty-five feet long, and weigh 2300 pounds each. Having them on site didn't help much, because hehad nothing with which toplace them in their holes. Finally, Billlocated a backhoe that could lift them. After he put up allthree, the contractor informed him that he had mistakenly placed one in a hole dug for a guy wire anchor. Bill then had tolocate another tractor and move the pole, but the operator was not as skilled as the first, and he broke the pole at groundlevel. With the students' help, and two block and tackles, Billpulled the pole into position, and then mixed and poured cementaround the base. This cement was extended up three feet intoa collar to reinforce the pole. (One does not throw away atwo hundred dollar pole.) During thistime the institute used the lightplant in the evenings. After the concrete hardened,the contractor hung the wire and the electrical company approved the installation. Now, the institute really does have power!fee.Where has the water gone?A cow broke the pipe!THE PARSONAGE IS OCCOPIEDIn previous "Saludos" the Hoffs have mentioned the construction of the church parsonage which sits beside the largetent under which the congregation meets. The property was purchased in January of 1996 and construction on the buildinghas taken place as funds have permitted.in March, a group of men from theChapel Rock Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, and from thePlum CreekChristian Church in Butler, Kentucky came to help finish the building that they had started a year ago. The building they wereworking on was designed to have a second story. The church members had put up the steel beams to support the inter-floor,but the expensive and hard part of the v/ork fell to the work team. Theyplaced the sheet metal that would hold up the concrete, they wove thereinforcing bar, and they mixed and poured concrete. Following that,a couple of men worked on electrical installation, while others installedplumbing, and still others laid concrete floor tile on the downstairs floor.As the floor progressed, three men began to weld up the steel staircasethat provides access to the upstairs.Basically, they transformed a shellof abuilding into a house for the minister in one week. Working untilthree A.M. the moming oftheir departure, some ofthe men installed thedoors. Julio Corea, the pastor, movedin onSunday afternoon.Billobserved that because of the increasing price of wood, the Miller arcwelderthat Margy'snephewgavehimhasbeeninvaluableintheconstruction of both the Bible institute and church buildings. It has alsohelped in many repairjobs during the past years. So Billsends a specialthanks to J.R. Pelham of Ashfork, Arizona.PRAYER PRAISEPraise for:the people that made it possible for Mark and Joy tosurprise Bill, Margy, andRebecca and spend aweek vknth them.the group fromIndiana and Kentucky that came to work on the churchparsonage. The pastor has moved into the building and no longer has to payrent. Another great advantage is that the chairs don't have to be transportedeach Sunday and the church bus can be parked on the property without fearof vandalism.the visit with Tom Schneller, the Hoffs' former co-worker. He stayed with them for nine days. Eventhough Tom was very busy, the Hoffs enjoyed the time of fellowship with him.the seven students at the BibleInstitute. Also for the firsttwo teachers, Dick Gring and A1 Young,that have giventhe students a solid foundation In The Word. Also for Daniel Gring whohelpedin many ways during his time in Honduras.Bill and Margy's 27th annivereaiy which was celebrated with both their children. (March21)Pray for:the Bible Institute. Pray that the Lord willsend more students, more teachers, and an academic dean.Mark and Joy as they prepare for their wedding onJuly 26th.Rebeccaasshefinishesher senior yearhere(especiallyherclassIn calculus) andpreparestocontinue her education at Johnson Bible College.Bill and Margy's health, especially for Margy as she has tohave constant dental work,the country of Honduras. The crime continues toIncrease: bank robberies are daily occurrences.Parsonage at San Pedro church.Basic office - computer with E-mailAnewblessing foroffice and institute.The hospitals areoverflowing with machete and gunshot victims. Thirteen percent of the population is HIV positive.Published bytheRossville Christian Church411Spruce POB107Rossville, KS 66533FORWARD AND RETURNPOSTAGEGUARANTEEDADDRESS CORRECTIONREQUESTEDMON-PROFITORQ.U.S. POSTAaEPAIDROSSVILLE, KSPERMIT NO. 6UNrTB>srA'n5SALUDOS!M/M Bill HoffApdo. 3166San Pedro SulaHonduras, Central America504-56-3796Corporate OfficeP.O. Box 61013Las Vegas, NV89160-2013MEXICO/ %SOUTHAMERICAfromBAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSIONPublished Quarterly Vol. 28, Number 2 Fall 1997THETWOSHALLBECOMEONEMark &JoySchnellers and the Hoffs. The Fields are missionaries wholive about an hour from San Pedro Sula.All of Bill's immediate family; his parents, histwo brothers and their wives, his sister and herhusband, as well as a cousin and his wife came for thewedding. Manyphotos weretakenofthe fifteenHoffs that day. Mark andJoy visited Niagara Fallsontheirhoneymoon. TheynowresideatJohnsonBible College where Joy is continuing her studies inthe elementary education program and Mark worksas an electricianin Knoxville.May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hoff! This climaxed theweddingceremonyof Markand JoyonJuly26 at theHazelwoodChristian Church in Clayton, Indiana.Thebride was beautiful. Thechurchwas full. Family and friendswere bountiful. The minister had performeda very personal andtouchingweddingceremony. The local people were tremendous hosts to BillandMargy. It truly was a blessed day from the Lord.Bill and Margy planned theirsummer triparoundthisimportantevent. There were over two hundred people in attendance on this veryhot, humid day in Indiana. Friends attended that the Hoffs hadn't seeninten years. Mark's best man's parents were former missionaries in Mexicowholived onlya fewblocks fromBill andMargy. Thus, MarkandNathan, who was only three months older than Mark, grewup as bestfriends. The familynow livesin Minnesota. Dick Brook was Mark'sschoolteacherin eighth grade. He left Mexico and returned to Michiganwhere hemarriedand nowhas two children. What a surprise it wasforthe Hoff family to greet himandhisfamily! The Dungan family, formerco-workers oftheHoffsandlong-time friends who nowreside atJohnsonBibleCollege, came for the important event. The Schnellers, who wereco-workersofBillandMargy both inMexicoandthen in Honduras, camefromKentuckyalong withtheFields whoare mutual friends of theA hunch ofHoffsTHELOSS OF A FRIENDI never considered Howard Trout my father-in-law. He wasto me afriend. In part, perhaps, it was because Margy had already been out on herown for a few years beforeI knew her. I remember driving to PhoenixtoaskhispermissiontomarryMargy.Heconsented,but hemust havehadhisdoubts about mebecause I amyounger thanMargy.As the years went by, I developed a special appreciation for Howard.He was a devout Christian whowould drive two score miles every Lord'sday to be in worship. He was also a devoted and loving husband. His firstwife, Irene, died after 28 years of marriage. He remarried shortly beforeMargy and I met. He and Lila also celebrated 28 years together before hisdeath. Together they were always seeking to help our ministry and theministry of other missionaries and ministers.Howard was physically a big man, but his heart was even bigger. Hewasgentleandpatient. Hedrovestreetcars andtrolley-buses inPittsburghand Cleveland many years ago. Because of Irene's health, he moved thefamily to Arizona in 1955, even though he didn't have a job. There heworkedfor GoodyearAerospaceuntil he retired. Afterretirementhedroveschool buses part-time (talk about patience) for a while.About four months ago Howard'shealth began to deteriorate. Thedoctors gave him a clean bill of health, but still he was losing weight andappetite. Lila took himto many doctors, but theycould not determinetheproblem. Jackie, the middle daughter, camewithher family from Oregonlast May for a visit.Wehadplanned on flyingtoArizona following thewedding, but then , , , r ,Dianne,theyoungestsister, calledonJuly6thsayingthat theirdadhadpre-, , yearsfor a Saguaro Cactus tosproutitsJirst arm.leuKemia.Margy andI modified ourschedule toseehimbefore thewedding. Bythattime hewasunder careof some verycompassionateand capable doctors from Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. They told us that there wasnothing they could do forhim. That was quiteablowforeveryone, even though wehadallread about thatprobability ontheinternet. Wewere blessed tospend threedays with himbefore going east forthewedding. Thedayafterthewedding, hepartook of theLord'sSupper brought tohimby hisminister, andlaterthat night, slipped out of this lifeinto a better one. Wemade all possible haste to return to Wickenburg andhelp Lila. Is notthe Lord good allowing us a few extra days with a lovedone? We can only praise Him!AMOTHER'S EMOTIONS: PERSONAL GLIMPSESOnly a mother would knowhowanother feels when herlast child leaves home. I had no idea how my mother sufferedwhen her three daughters all left home the same year. I wasworkingin the accountingdepartment of the telephonecompany and my sister, Jackie, was practicing as a beautician,when Dianne, the youngest sister, graduated fromhighschool.It seemed a good year for us giris to leave home and go tocollege.MysisterandI wereabletosavesomemoneyandwedecided to go to Pacific Christian College, located at that timein Long Beach, California. Dianne chose to go to the University of NorthernArizona in Flagstaff, Arizona.Pacific Christian was four hundred miles from Goodyear,Arizona, where myparents lived. Mymother was so lonesomethat she had my Dad drive to the college almost every otherweekend. They came with a picnic basket and anyone whowas at the college got a free meal on Saturdays. (Two previousstudents mentioned these picnics whenthey sent condolencesto me followingmy father's death.)Now it is my turn to have my two children gone. The bigdifference is thattheyaren't justfour hundredmilesfromhome, but a continent away. It takes a full day to fly and makethe necessary connections from San Pedro Sula to Knoxville,Tennessee. Theyareonlya phonecall away,of course, (ifmoney permits), but more importantly, they are only an e-mailaway. Nothing brings me greater joythan checking e-mail andhaving a letter from Mark or Rebecca.Am I being sentimental right now? Maybe I am, since Inot only"lost"my twochildren onthis trip; Mark toamarriage and Rebecca to a college, but also my father. Oh! Irejoice that theyareall doing well. Myfather especiallywellhe is with the Lord. That same Lord is with me also. Heis giving me strength during the times that I feel a little downwithmylosses. Asthehymngoes, "Count your blessings,name themoneby one" andI am doing that.MargyPLUSESANDMINUSES - UPSANDDOWNSThe Institute Biblico Cristiano has been in existence foreight months. During that time the students have studied abouthalfofthe Old Testament and a third ofthe New. The need fora preacher training school is even more pronounced now thanwhen Bill and Margy arrived in Honduras fouryears ago. Theuse of inadequately trained men in the pulpit has the potentialto permanently damage theflituregrowth of the RestorationMovement in Central America. Where do untrained individuals turn to find theirtheology? Do theylearn from the radio(where there is a vast array ofstrange doctrines)? Do they seekit inbooks bydiverseauthors (withdistinctiveteachingsabout the Word ofGod)? Do they revert to the only trainingthey have known (many come from churches that distort theWord of God)? Or even worse, dothey seekhelp fromneighboringchurches, fromself proclaimedprophetsandapostles: whomJudedescribes "These men are...shepherdswho feed only themselves?"The fact is, that the men who stand inthe pulpit are in needofresources so that they can preach effectively. Ifthe churchcannot provideintellectual and doctrinal foundations, theywillseekthemfromthe"wolvesin sheep's clothing"whowrite books, teach false doctrines, and lead people intospiritual errors. The reason for a Bible Institute is to providefoundations.One of the continuing needs of theBible Instituteis torecruit new students andprofessors. For example, after thesummer breakonlysixstudents of theeightthat hadbeenattending, returned. So, Bill needsto recruit additionalstudents. At the same time, in order to efficiently run the school,Billalsodesperatelyneedsthehelpof afull timedeanofstudents andtheassistance of several visiting professors. Itgoes without saying that he is so occupied with teaching thathe does not have time to do the needed recruitment well.Please pray for more help for the institute.REBECCAANDLONG-TIMEFRIENDROOMTOGETHER/Rebecca's GraduationRebecca graduated from the "Escuela International Sampedrana" on June6th. The ceremony took place at 9a.m. in the newly-constructedair-conditionedCafetorium (Cafeteria-Auditorium) complex. That evening the graduates andtheir guests attended a dinner-dance at the ArabClub. The graduates were allbeautifullydressed inlong-white formal gowns. Thus, thirteen years ofRebecca's educationin foreign countries came to an end.Rebeccais now a student at JohnsonBible College in Knoxville, Tennessee. OnJune11th sheflew tothestateswhereshehelpedMarksetupanapartment that later Joy and Mark would occupy. Rebecca worked at the collegeduring the summer: the majority of the time in housekeeping.Long-time friend, Lizzie Metz, is Rebecca's roommate at the college. BillandMargyareveryhappywiththisdecision. The MetzfamilyattendtheSeymour HeightsChristian Churchnearthecollege.The Hoffs werepart of this congregationfor thetwo differentyears thatBill wasonthefacultyatJohnson. Pleasepray for Rebeccaand Lizzieas theyshare their livesand increase theirknowledge oftheBible throughJohnson BibleCollege. Proudparents and graduate.MIRACLES STILLHAPPENMonday evening, August 25th, the Hoffs invited twooftheirfriendsfor supper. Both of themwere "bachelors"because their wives were in the States. The first fnend whoarrived was rather upset. He told Bill that he hadjust left hishand-held radio in the taxi. It was worth about $500. WhenBill heardthis he was reallyupset. He tried to call on hisradio but therewas noresponse. Thefriendwas ratherresigned to the fact ofhis loss. But Bill was far from contentwith the situation.The other guest arrived and was told about the problem.Aminute or two later Bill said that he was going outside andtowalkdownthestreet andlookfor the taxi. Thetwogentlemen immediately followed. Less than a minute laterthey returnedand told Margythat they had the radio. Sheasked what had happened.The taxi driver, notknowing exactly which house hispassenger had entered, because he had dropped him off atthe comerabout ablockaway, was searchingfor him.Whenhesawthe HofTsguest, hereturned the radio. Arewardwas givenhimfor his honesty. Thesecond guestcould not believe what had happened. That kind ofhonestyis unusual in Honduras. What a testimony of God's powerfor a man who is beginning to walk with the Lord.9'ONs'M 'aniAssoyaivdaovisods-nO^OXIdOid-NONPRAYER'N' PRAISEPray for:*Margy's stepmother, Lila, as she adjuststolivingwithouther husband.* More students and helpersfor the Bible Institute* the First Christian Church in Yuma, Arizona. They havejust suffered the suddenloss of theirminister, PaulKuder, toleukemia. Pray for his wife and four children and their families.* thecompletehealingof Bill'sleft arm. Hesufferedasevere machete wound.* safety as we travel. New laws require that all parties ofanaccident with injuries be jailed.Praise for:* Mark and Joy's beautiful wedding. They are both doingwell. Joy is continuing her studies in elementary education atJohnson Bible College. Mark is working as an electrician in thecity of Knoxville.* Rebecca as she is content studying at J.B.C.*safetythat MargyandBill hadwhiletravelinginthestates. Also for the ease with which necessary changesin theirschedule were made due to Margy's father's sickness and death.* theshort termhelpat theBible Institute which includedAmable Rivera, a national evangelist, and then Tom Fife fromMaryland.a3iS3nd3n noudshuod ss3)jaay033INVyvnD SDVlSOdNUni3ii QNVaHVAiHOJeS99 '311IASS0>IZ.81aod sonids Ii{0jnq3uci)S(jq3 smAsso^3i|j /?q paqstiqnj