Georgia SharpeFrom: Bill Hoff [[email protected]]Sent:
Saturday. January 03. 2009 6:48 PMTo:
Undisclosed-Recipient:;Subject: News FromBill andMargy Hoff in
HondurasDear Family and Friends,It is a beautiful day here in San
Pedro Sula. We returnedfrom the States on January 1st after having
been therefor two and a half weeks.We were glad to leave the cold
weather of Indianaand Chicago.We had anice time in the States. We
were there two and a half weeks and were able to see our two
children andtheir familiesincluding Joy's parents who are always
very kind to us. Zach is a real sweet boy and he had awonderful
Christmas. Bill and I helped Beka make pies, cookies, and fudge. We
enjoyed Mexican style tamalesthat Beka and Alfredo made on
Christmas Eve. The church services were very nice: we witnessed a
live mangerscene on Christmas Eve.We also visitedfriends who were
once members ofthe church here. Roy and Maxine Fisher were in a
seriouscar accident the middle ofDecember. They live in the
southern part of Tennessee and there was a lot of fogwhen the car
went over an embankment. Maxine was jammed into the car which
landed in a creek. The roof ofthe car had to be cut off in order to
get her out. Prmse the Lord she had no broken bones. Right now she
is intherapy for her swollenneck and shoulder.Please pray for
her.During our stay in theStates I was able to talk to my sister on
a daily basis. Tom, who has leukemia, had gooddays and bad days.
Today Dianne said that he would be going home a week from Monday.
He will have been inthe hospital for three months. Please continue
to pray for him and Dianne.The latest prayer request is for Lynnell
Fields, our good friend who has been a missionary in Honduras
formany years. She is currently in London, Kentucky. She found out
that she had cancer in November.She isreceiving chemo in a
Cincinnati hospital. She currently has a rash on her body and will
be getting a port put inher chest on Monday. On Friday she is
supposedto get her secondround of chemo. She has already had
adouble masectomy. Please pray for Lynnell.We are happy to be home
and in the Lord's work again. We pray that you will have avery
happy new year andthat you will remain faithful in the Lord's
service wherever you are. Thank you for praying for our safety
andwork here.We love you, Margy and BillGeorgia SharpeFrom: Bill
and Hoff [[email protected]: Thursd^Febmary 2009
9:29 AMTo: UndlsclosQd^Re^ipi^t:;Subject: Rainy HondurasHello
Family and Friends,I am writing from the office on the second floor
ofour house. It is raining. I had to take the clothes which I
hadjust hung up offthe line again. It has rained almost every day
for several months. The roads in Honduras aredestroyed by the
constant rain. Pot holes grow like mushrooms, causing traffic to go
very slowly. We mustallow more time to goanywhere, especially to
theBible institute.The great news ofthe week is that there are four
young men studying at the Bible institute. They came alongwith two
wives and four children. Mark, Bill, and Joy got them settled
inyeterday and had an orientation timetogether. The wives are very
humble people and have cooked only tortillas, beans and rice over
afire at home.Joy said that one ofthe ladies didn't even know how
to open the refrigerator. Three ofthe young men have beenChristians
for only 6months, so the level ofteaching will have tobe dropped
somewhat. It will be anewexperience for all ofus but we are
grateful for a new year ofstudents studying there.The latter part
ofJanuary, Bill, Mark, and I flew to Las Vegas to see Bill's mother
and take care ofsome ofherthings. Most ofthe time she seemed alert
in the special memory-loss home where she is living. We
enjoyedfellowship with Bill's brother, David, and his family. We
then drove toPhoenix where we visited my stepmother, Dianne and Tom
(who was inthe hospital). Bill's brother, Carl and his wife, and
Jim and Doris Long,friends for many years. The trip was mentally
exhausting but we were glad that we had gone.Three weeks ago
Rebecca and Zach came for aweek's visit. We all had alot offun,
especially atthe waterparkand ocean. We had todelay the water
activities for several days because ofthe rain. Zach enjoyed the
new mallacross the street where he rodethe ferris wheel, train,
bumper cars, etc. Wewereinvited a couple of timesto eatwith
families ofthe church. So it was a very enjoyable, fun-packed
week.On March 11th, I (Margy) will be flying to Lexington where I
will have some dental work done-a crown madeand sinus lift surgery
inpreparation for an implant. Some friends will betransporting me
to and fromappointments. Rebecca wUl be coming from Knoxville on
the weekend and take me there for aweek betweendental visits. Ilook
forward to the visits with family and friends but not the work done
on my teeth!!Praise the Lord we have freedom ofworship in this
country. We have been blessed to serve in the ministry tothe
English speaking community of San Pedro Sula. It is such adifferent
ministry from that ofthe Bibleinstitute. Occasionally, it can be
very time-consuming but we are greatful for all those who
participate mmaking this outreach possible.God bless, Margy and
Bill HoffUNITEDn-ATESSALUDOS!Bill and Margy Hoff2227 N.W79th Ave.
Box P2025Doral, FL 33122-1615Phone (Honduras):
011-504-566-2440e-mail: [email protected]:
bajiochristian.orgBajio Christian MissionAttn: Lyn Mclntj're34428
YucaipaBlvd. E-192Yucaipa, CA 92399Phone:909-797-4628MEXICO/ %
VSOimi AMERICAfromBAJIO CHRISTIAN MISSIONMissionaries Since 1972
Vol. 40, Number 1Five New Students. . .Classes are well underway at
the Bible institute. They began onFebruary24 with four students,
but an addidonal student hasjoined since. Two of the students were
sent by a graduate whopreaches in the mountains south ofSan Pedro.
They are from avery poor coffee producing region and have limited
schooling.They are new Christians, in fact, they had never even
heard thestory ofNoahand the Great flood. Teaching them requires
thatall termsbe defined andall mention of Bible events and
references be amplified. The teacher can not just say, "likeJesus
says inJohn 3:16," because they may not know the verse.Their
families have been joining them at the institute. One has afour
yearold girl and a baby boy; the other has two girls ages
twoandfive. They can only afford to gohome every other week, sothey
alternate spending the weekends. Their wives are preparingthe
meals. Because ofthe extreme povert)' of their region, theyhave
never learned to cook beyondthe mostessential items. Unlike former
students who clamored for spices and Worcestershiresauce, they use
only salt andhave developed a tastefor Tabascosauce. Meals are
heavy onrice, beans, tortillas, and a few eggs. Inorder to keep
costs down, there is limited meat on the menu.Two other young
menare from lower class homesin the outskirtsof San Pedro. They
have been sponsored by their churches whichare both affiliated with
Lifeline Christian mission. These menlivein neigliborhoods rife
with gang violence and troubles. They bothhave a public school
background and one of them is a computeruser. The student who began
late is unlike any that we have hadbefore. He comes from a small
village outside of San Pedro. Heis a painting contractor and sells
paints. He drives in just for theJoy teaching ladiesAntonio
teachingBill teachingMark and Bill with studentsSpring 2009classes
andthen leaves to work. He attendsasmall Pentecostalgroup in his
town, but he really wants to learn about the Lordand to preach the
word. The students' curriculum this semester includes: the Gospels,
Pentateuch, Christian Education, andChristian Evidences. Bill
teaches the first two classes and preachers from San Pedro the
second two.Joy and Mark do all the purchasing for the school. Joy
has gottentoknow the students' wives. One of the women is
illiterate; inspite ofthat, Joy is trying to teach them basic Bible
stories andhelp prepare them to teach children in their churches.
She workshard at this and the resultsshow.Mark continues to work
with the students in maintaining the campus. Because there is no
tuition fee, the students are required towork two hours a dayon the
campus. During the rainy season, thegrass needs to be cut weekly.
The brush on the back 11/2 acresmustbe kept under control and
fences have to be maintainedtoavoid invasions. Mark and Bill are
not landscapers, but there isan area set aside for gardening.Just
recently the students planted-some-banana plants; ifdiey survive
the dry season they will bearfruit in 18 months.The Institute is in
a state of constant improvement. The library,computer lab, and
office buildingare being finished as funds allow. Mark
overseestheconstruction and does much ofthe work.Currentiy doors
and windows are being installed. The next stepwill be the
installation of foam insulation and coveringit withsheet rock. Then
an insulated drop ceilingwill be installed. Insulation is necessary
because the building must be air conditioned inorder to reduce the
deterioration of the books and computers.A couple of years ago the
diesel light plant at the institute threw arod. Just the parts to
repair it were estimatedat 1500-1800 dollars.But a similar used
plant has been located and moved to the shop.Hopefully combining
parrs will bring the cost of providing aux-iliar\' power downto
onethird of the other estimate. A backuppower source is necessary
due to outagesin the local system.Someday it would be desirable to
install a windmill onthe well.This would save significant
electricit}- and provide water for a fishpond.Many Changes in
Church . ..The English speaking church has undergone many changes
in thepast two years. Attendance has been downa litde andthe
makeupofthe group has changed. (Many ofthe members who were
thefaithful core grouphad to leave Honduras and many of the
newoneshave notdesiredto join in carrying the load).
Althoughseveral families are taking their part, it takes many to
work in avoluntary congregation.Mark and Joy continue as youth
pastors and have done a great jobin guiding them. Theyhave had a
large turnover with the youthalso. Along with their bi-weekly youth
meetings, they have gone Tuesday night Bible study-bowling, scuba
diving, have ridden on the bumper cars at a new mall, and have had
various parties in their home. Jov is in chargeof the music and
finding teachers for the children in first through sixth grade.
Mark is in charge ofthe sound system. Mark and Joyhave been
preparing for a 7 week trip to the States so are currend)' l
