Growing a Heart for GOD!

 Esperanza de Honduras is a home for boys and girls who are less fortunate than others. Maybe they have families maybe they don't. However, our goal is not only to meet their physical needs with food and shelter but help them grow spiritual as well. We currently have six children living in the home with us. All of them have been living here now for more than a month and Angie is going on three months. Each day we pray and talk about how God has blessed our home and everyone in it. We recently concluded our missions conference here in Honduras. We are (the church and the home) a product of people who have chosen to give to missions. We as a home and church do not want the buck to stop with us but we want to keep it alive and see others reached in others areas of the world. We are writing to ask that you pray and help the children here. We want the children that enter into this home to grow and have a heart for GOD. Out of the 6 children living here 5 of them have made a committment to want to give to missions. Each of the older ones placed their committment cards in the offering plate on faith. They do not have jobs, their families can not help them earn the money that they want to give but they still chose to make a committment. The amounts range from 50 lempira to 5 lempira a month. That is from $0.30- $2.50 a month.We have told the children that we will find a job for them to do around the home to earn the money that they have pledged to the Lord. The Bible says that we are to give 10% as our tithe and then we are commanded to give an offering however, in the New Testament the Lord give us some good principles on what we should do with our money.

* Giving is a Privilege (2 Corinthians 8:4) Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.)
*Jesus set an excellent example of giving (2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that. though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
*Give generously, and you will reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
*You are free to decide how much to give (2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
*Cheerful giver "    "
*Trust God to Supply your needs (2 Corinthians 9:10:11 ) Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and muliply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgivings unto God.

This is where we need YOUR help; please pray for these kids who have a desire to see souls saved and reached for Christ.  I am going to tell you that while it does'nt look like alot of funds above....it is for the people here and especially a child who is giving on faith. They all know that they have to work for it and they are good about asking for a job. We want them to continue to have a heart for God and serve HIM. We know that HE will provide the funds to make this happen.
We want to challenge you all and your families to give to missions. The children here have seen the need for giving and they know that they are living proof of that giving with a new home and opportunity. It is so important for all to understand the importance of giving and giving sacrificially just like in the story of the widow's mites.
On another note it is one of the sweetest things to see that even David a 6 year old wants to make a pledge to missions. Thank you for those who pray for us and the kids....we can see a change in their lives and we pray that God will continue to grow in their hearts and lives.

Meet Our Family

We have been asked for the names and birthdays of the children of Esperanza. We have also included our family as well. Thank you all who wish to send packages and cards to our family and the kids here in Honduras.



David /age 6 /Birthday May 9th

Carolina/age 9/Birthday January 25th

Angie/age 13/ Birthday January 6th

Belkis Johana/age 13/ Birthday March 13th

Elvin/age 9/Birthday December 6th

Junior/age 11/Birthday October 11th

The Coats Family

Taylor/age 16/Birthday March 17th
Hunter/age 13/Birthday June 16th
Josiah/age 4/Birthday April 7th
Micah/age 11 mon./Birthday May 12th
Mark/ September 26th
Amy/December 27th
(anniversary April 7th 1995)



A New Addition

  Today we have placed our 6th child in Esperanza. Elvin is a very sweet 9 year old boy. He has been attending our church for many years now. Please pray for him as he will be adjusting to a new home, new rules and without his brother here. As long as I have known Elvin...he is always wearing this beautiful smile!

Weeding and Watering.....

  Whew! I always wanted to know what it was like to have a huge family....now I know. It takes lots of work, lots of preperation and tons of patients. Having four kids oursleves we know alittle about parenting, however, trying to raise someone elses children is a little more challenging. Thank goodness for God's Word....and Biblical principles!  Raising children is like tending to a garden. First, you must plant the seeds and wait. While you wait you pray for good weather and sun to shine down on it while you add the water.  Children are the same way. You start out when they are small introducing "do's and don'ts". However, when you have kids that have already grown through those toddler and preschool years with someone else...there is alot of weeding to do. They have to be retrained. It can be done.....but those weeds...bad habits are sometimes hard to get rid of.

I must say that I am very proud of how quickly the children have adpated to using; "yes ma'am and No Sir etc."  They have learned to ask for permission before they grab something or go somewhere. There are many things that they are just not use to doing....using table manners.....not interupting adults when they are talking....but slowly we are making progress. The kids are also growing spiritually. It is so sweet to hear their prayer requests each night. They pray for their families, they pray for their parents to get saved and attend church. They also pray for more support for our ministry as well as things that they would like: bicycles, cheese, chicken, ice cream, basketball shorts.

Well, today was an awesome day....The family of 4 has now been living with us for a month and a day today. Since the children have entered into the home their father has attended every church service but one. (We changed the Easter service to 8am and he thought we were going to have a normal service). Today, we received a call from Pastor Matt that he had a visit with their father today and that he had trusted Christ as his Savior and that he was going to be baptized on Sunday. What exciting news to share with the children.....that their prayers had been answered. They were all overjoyed!

Happy Easter To All

Sorry, that it has been awhile but life with 9 kiddos is pretty busy. I can not imagine having a family the size of the Duggers, lol.  We have had some pretty fun, crazy, and even sad times here. We have been talking with many who know of a need or a parent has contacted them about our home here. With that said we are hoping to place a 9 year old boy this week. On a sad/frustrating note; as of today we are illegal in the country. We go in the morning to plead our case for renewing our passports since our residency is still in progress. We know that God is in control and everything will work out it is just frustrating at times. Well, I want to share some funny things with you about life here in Esperanza so here goes:

 Carolina: What is that Hermana Amy?
Me: Corn
Carolina: No that is not corn.
Me: Yes, it is corn it is just out of a can.

Me: David did you take a bath?
David: Yes
Me: Did you use soap?
David: I have to use it each time?
Me: YES Crazy!

Mark: Jr. Did you use your deodorant?
Jr. Yes Sir?
Mark: Let me see? (Mark checks the container) Jr. did you wash your armpits because the top of your deodorant is brown?

Me: David are you wearing underwear?
David: ummm No.
Me: Why not?
David: Why do I need them?

Belkis: Dear Lord please bless the garden.
Belkis:(the next week) Please stop the cucumbers from growing we eat them everyday.

Angie: My head itches, Mrs. Amy.
Me: Let me check.
Angie: NO....I don't want to wear that bag on my head again.

Jr. I lost a tooth.
Me: Are you going to put it under your pillow for the tooth fairy.
Jr. No, I don't believe in that.
Me: Okay, well you will never know.
Jr. (the next morning) excited I do believe...then whispers...but I think the tooth fairy is Mrs. Amy....hehehe.

These are just some of the funny things that we hear everyday. It is a joy to be able to have fun and teach these children.

We also had a family day at church on Saturday. It was a day of fun activities for families. We all dressed in our Tar Heel BEST! It was so cool to see all 12 of us....even Micah in a Tar Heel something. We had a great time and won the kick-ball game. It was so much fun to see them play a game that none of them had ever played before.

Today, we were able to celebrate that our Lord was crucified and RISEN from the grave. I was also able to lead a 15 year old girl to the Lord today. Nothing better to dd to the Lord's day than seeing someone Know, that they KNOW they have eternal life.