May, 2012

Hi All!  Here is our May of 2012 update, blessed to be doing the Lord’s work in Honduras.  You are receiving this email since you have supported us over this last year, thanks!

Highlights here, details below:

• Our furlough (fund raising trip) has been scheduled for July 12 to August 14^th.
• Bikes, if anyone has some gently used bikes that will fit Nick and Lily, please let us know. 
• Please join us in praising God for his provisions, still hear and funded completely where God wants us.
• Pete’s HR role has been extremely busy.  The Lord has blessed WGO with fifteen new missionaries in fund raising plus four more couples being interviewed for house parents and another for the social worker position.
• Medical brigades: We are enjoying a year of blessing, so far 48 medical brigades close to 1000 team members.
• Our patients in medical brigades are growing as well.  We will see close to 100,000 patients and evangelize to them.
• Mission house staff devotions are done each Wednesday morning at 8am.  If you happen to be in prayer during this time please lift us up. 

Details:

Bible reading:  Since September Pete has been reading through the Bible.  He did skip the first few books and started in Exodus.  He is now in 2 Chronicles.  Many of the bible stories have been used as staff devotions at the mission house.  Here one recent old testament reading:  2 Kings 6:15-17,  When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.  “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet (Elisha) answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.   

Elisha had seen Elijah carried up into heaven on chariots of fire, so Elisha knew the power of his protection and wanted his servant to see what Elisha knew and God allowed his “sight” to become able to see what surrounded them and the army of 10,000 around them.  We and the other missionaries here live in a relatively dangerous city, but have been protected each day.  We are blessed to live and work in a country that does not persecute Christians, yet danger still abounds.  But fear not!  As Isaiah has said in chapter 41 verses 9 and 10 -- I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  No, Pete has not prayed for God to open his eyes so that he can see the angels that protect his family, the ministry, and fellow missionaries.  However, God truly has protected us and guided us.  We believe that His protection is daily.  Through answered prayer and His protection and provision we are still here.

Our market basket for the month:  Just some sample prices that we pay for well-known items.  Bulk pack of napkins, the 100 pack of napkins is 56 cents and to buy the exact same in a five pack is $1.55 more.  Gas price has now reached $5.19 per gallon.  When Nick fractured his wrist last month, the X-Ray was $19, the Dr. who put the cast on was $50, and the materials and room fee to put the cast on was $48.  We realize that the medical bills are nothing compared to the states; however when you think about a typical Honduran who only makes $342 a month and if one of his children breaks their arm, how do they pay for it?

We will be heading south and west to visit supporters before heading into the Chicago land area.  Pete, wearing his Human Resource hat, also needs to stop and meet several new fundraising missionaries in other areas of the country.  Please let us know if you live west of the Chicago area and are willing to see us for a day or two.

We will be driving through Little Rock at the end of our furlough and can take bikes with us to be loaded on a container.  Due to the conditions here these bikes must be very sturdy.

If you add our time in fundraising to our four years in Honduras you have been with us for close to five years.  In the four years that we have relied on support we have come up short only one month -- praise God!  In our latest report over the first four months of 2012 we have been blessed with 64% of our minimum monthly budget.  We pray that the summer will bring in some extra support and hope to have several meetings in the Chicago land area.  If your bible study, small group or home group would like to meet with us to help us raise funds, please let us know.

Regarding the new missionaries, WGO currently has 39 missionaries.  Now some are leaving at the end of school but 15 new missionaries is a blessing.  At this point, not including the interview time, Pete needs to get out ten documents to each person; some need to be signed and some need to be filled out.  God is blessing the ministry and I pray that I do not drop the ball and forget something.  Each morning Pete prays that God helps him remember what needs to be remembered.

We will host 48 medical brigades this year, most summer weeks have double teams and our current count of brigade members coming from the states is up to 975.  This is up from 787 last year and 729 in 2010.  As you can see the growth is occurring as God has promised through prayers of the mission house staff and others.

Medical brigade patients: Over the last three years we have seen 76,000, 66,000 and 60,000 patients, but this year, due to many blessings and prayer inspired management decisions, we will cross the 100,000 patient plateau in 2012, barring any unforeseen political stuff.

Nick and Lily still continue to do well in school.  Their 8^th grade retreat is coming up this weekend, so we ask that you lift them and all involved in prayer.  Nick and Lily will be 14 this August, and are now being invited to Quinceañeras regularly.  A Quinceanera is a girl’s 15^th birthday and is a very big deal in Latin American cultures.

Recently, Pete had the blessing to be contacted by a friend on facebook on a Wednesday afternoon.  The friend stated that God had laid Pete’s name on his heart earlier in that day to pray for him.  It was that Wednesday that Pete was leading the staff devotion.  The devotion was on throwing rocks and insults and the power of gossip to destroy ministries.  The devotion was based on David’s fight with Goliath. 

Angie recently attended a Ladies Retreat Weekend hosted by Women of Purpose.  She has become a primary team member for this twice a year retreat by running all of the multi-media necessary.  At church, she continues to help in the multi-media area as well as volunteering in the nursery.  She attends her Ladies Bible Study every Tuesday morning, and as a couple we continue to host a Bible Study in our home every Thursday evening.  Angie’s gift of organization has continued to save money for the ministry of WGO.  She enjoys time spent in the Pharmacy helping to manage the large inventory of medicines and supplies that come in with the weekly brigade teams.  She is seeking the Lord to see if she should further her studies in a Medical-based profession.

Thank you again for your prayers and your support we are blessed to be here with you.

Love

As February comes to a close, Angie is reminded of all the Daily Verses she posted on Facebook this month, most of them dealing with Love.  What is Love?  Well, the bible says in 1 Corinthians 13, starting at verse 4, Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


How are we supposed to show love?  According to Matthew 22, starting in verse 37, it says that Jesus replied:  "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  and the second is like it:  'Love your neighbor as yourself.'


On February 22nd, Angie got to see Love in action.  She had the opportunity to spend the day with 7 north american team members who are part of a non-profit organization in the states called Carelink (www.carelinkfoundation.org).  Carelink's activities in Honduras include participating with WGO's Medical/Evangelism Brigades, as well as beginning some microfinance initiaties.  Last year Carelink helped two Honduran women (Margoth and Sonya) get started with Tortilla Making Businesses.  On the 22nd, we visited these ladies and received updates on how they were doing.  We also got to visit with 3 more potential candidates.  Marta is one who would like to sell bulk products from her home; rice, beans, sugar, coffee, etc.  Another lady, also named Marta, wants to sell dairy products from her home.  Not only did we visit with all these families, we prayed with them, played with their children, and shared some small gifts of love.  With Margoth we brought some school supplies for her three older children and they were super excited.  One of Carelink's members brought down some new makeup bags filled with personal items for the ladies.  What a special treat to get something that they normally would not spend their own money on.  (See pics on the Pictures tab of the home page).


During this same week, WGO hosted two different teams for a total of 63 brigade team members at the Mission house at one time.  They visited 4 different churches, installed 9 concrete floors, and ministered to just under 5,000 Honduras.  If that is not love, I don't know what is!  Nick had the opportunity to help install one of the concrete floors on Friday when he had a day off school.  Lily helped Angie count pills for several hours on her day off.


We continually see prayers answered and God's hand in our life.  We hope you do too.


With Love!!!

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24


This has been the week that the Lord has made.  It started a week ago Saturday when we welcomed a Medical/Evangelism Team of 55 people from the western suburbs of Chicago.  They served at 4 different churches, installed 8 concrete floors, and served 4,800 Hondurans.  Wow, now that's a week!


Yesterday, as we said goodbye to that team of 55, we welcomed another team of 13 from Georgia.  I'm positive our Lord will do just as much through this team of 13 as he did with the team of 55.


The weather in Honduras is perfect!  I wish it was like this all year round.  It can get hot in the city, but the mountain where we live is awesome; low 80s during the day with bright blue skies.  The kids continue to do well in school, and report cards are due out in about a week.  In February, Nick is participating in the ABSH (Association of Bilingual Schools of Honduras) Knowledge Bowl.  Academia los Pianres, the school the kids attend, is hosting the Knowledge Bowl this year.  Both Pete & Angie will be volunteering to be readers and moderators at this event.  We ask that you keep Nick and all involved in this activity in your prayers.


This week also included two different game nights.  On Friday, we hosted some friends over for a game of Settler's of Catan and Dutch Blitz.  Yesterday, Nick hosted about 13 friends and teachers over for several games on XBox.  One of the teacher's commented to Pete that he looks at it as a ministry to the 8th grade boys.  Pretty cool stuff.


I thank my God every time I remember you.  Philippians 1:3


We do thank God for each and every one of you.  We pray for you regularly and we ask that you do the same for us.  We love being your Missionary Family in Honduras!  We love being your hands and feet in Honduras!


Have a great week!

WELCOME BACK MISSIONARIES


Tonight we had an impromptu chili dinner at the Mission House.  All the Mission House missionaries have returned from vacation and furlough except for one.  However, we did have a new addition, our 78 year old intern, Shirley.  She will be helping out with our teams for the next six weeks.  She is a joy to be around and I can only hope and pray that I have her willingness and stamina when I'm 78 years old.


The first Medical/Evangelism Team of 2012 will arrive on Saturday the 7th.  Everyone is in full swing to make sure everything is ready for their arrival.  We will then go full steam ahead to welcome the rest of the teams of 2012.  It is going to be a busy year, but one that God will bless.


We ask that you not only keep us in prayer, but all of WGO, all the team members that come and serve, and all the Honduran people that will be served.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


As 2011 comes to a close, we thank God and You for all the prayers answered.  We look to 2012 as a year of opportunity.  It will be a year where we, The Raineri Family, continue to be Your hands and feet in Honduras.  It is our goal to update this blog regularly to keep you, our Prayer and Financial Supporters, informed of what we are doing in Honduras and how your prayers and finances are making a difference.  We know that if it wasn't for you we would not be here.  


This is the start of a New Year and a New Blog.  Please follow us regularly and comment away.  We would love to see what you have to say about what we are doing.


May your year be blessed beyond any of your expectations!