Seeds And Love Together, Inc.

UPDATE ON HONDURAS:
Moose and Will continue their work by meeting with the village of Sirsirtara this past Sunday to check on the bean seed planting. They went there after church and were able to meet with a number of the people and the leaders. The results are excellent as you can see from the pictures. The beans are growing very well and we must give God for what has unfolded so far, considering the seeds had to be planted nearly a month late. Moose and Will shared my health issues with the people and they are now praying for me as well.

More to come soon!

UPDATE ON HONDURAS SERVICE TRIP:
Our two team members - Jason "Moose" Johnson and Will Biser - have arrived in Puerto Lempira and have begun their work at Mama Tara's Miskito Orphanage. They completed their first task of creating separate electric circiuts for a refrigerator and freezer that have been donated to the orphanage. They will be working on the next project planned for them starting today.

Mama Tara's Miskito Orphanage is a non-profit organization with whom we are working on developing a working relationship. They currently have 38 children from ages of 6 months to 18 in a facility built for 30. This organization also ministers to many other local children and their families in numerous God-centered programs to strengthen families in the Puerto Lempira. The need for assistance in building projects is important and that's what this trip is about.

Please continue to pray for Moose and Will as they work on some of these projects and visit with the village of Sirsirtara where we are engaged in agriculture and recently provided nearly 14,000 pounds of bean seeds for planting. More information to come!

UPDATE ON SIRSIRTARA, HONDURAS:
It has been challenging to get the beans to Sirsirtara but it has happened and the people of the village are planting them. We encountered problems getting the Western Union money transferred into cash. In fact, one of our assistants in Puerto Lempira had to fly to La Ceiba to pick up the cash. In addition, the cost of the beans had risen nearly 50% in hat time because of demand. Then, the beans had to be shipped by boat - remember there's only two ways into Puerto Lempira, which is by air or by boat because there are no roads - which took multiple days to arrive in Puerto Lempira from La Ceiba.

From there the beans had to be taken by truck to Sirsirtara, where the leaders did everything as we had agreed upon in responsible micro-financing. That means that for every pound of beans given to someone to plant, we expect to be repaid the exact amount from the harvest. This allows us to have a reserve for the next year if needed.

The following are some pictures from the distribution in Sirsirtara. In spite of all the challenges, God still provided the way to get this project done. We give Him thanks, honor and glory for His faithfulness and providence.

The medical journey continues and I received a pacemaker two weeks ago today. Though I expected immediate results, they are not yet forthcoming and I have my first checkup with the cardiology department in the morning. When I had two hours of testing just before the surgery, it was found that the damage to the electrical connections in the bottom of the heart - the lower chambers - had basically stopped working. Therefore, the pacemaker and the heart are learning to work together. I'm still fatigued and take naps, but, again, I am confident in the One who knows me and cares about me. His healing touch has been throughout, for which I am eternally grateful.

In March, after six months, we'll finally come to the final step of the journey when I meet with the pulmonology doctor to discuss the need for biopsies of the enlarged lymph nodes and lesions in my abdomen and lungs. There is no fear or worry as He tells us to give all our worries, fears, concerns, problems, etc. to Him and He will take care of them.

Thanks for all your prayers, past, present and future. They mean more than you know. But, my situation is far less than so many people I know whose medical situations are far greater in their intensity, pain and uncertainty and we want to keep those in our prayers first and foremost. God bless you all!

UPDATE ON MEL AND HONDURAS:

First, I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas. Though we only celebrate this event one day per year, it is a living truth that serves as a reminder every day that we are alive in Christ. The birth of Jesus in the manger in the cave in Bethlehem was indeed the greatest change in the world for all eternity for which I am eternally grateful. The picture attached is the traditional site of he birth found in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Second, I want to share that the past few weeks of recovery has been reasonably good, I'm simply fatigued and exhausted most of the time due to the very poor, low pulse rate. This will be addressed on January 12 and I'm looking forward to the promised results. I do want to give glory to the Father for all He has done for me in passing through the dark side of this journey. He is ever present and ever faithful.

Finally, I solicit your prayers as two of our SALT team members will be leaving on January 30 for Puerto Lempira, Honduras. The plans we had made are quickly dissolving into nothingness as He presents a new one that is unfolding day by day. Please pray for all the logistics involved and our complete submission to His will that we will accomplish His desires and not ours. The picture attached is one of Mama Tara's Miskito Orphanage from were our team will base.

Thanks for your patience with my slow responses to everything. Cathy and I love you all and are so appreciative for you past, present and future prayers. God bless you all!

UPDATE ON HONDURAS:
Though the work is sometimes slow and tedious, God is still at work. Today begins the canoe journey of 67 100 # bags of planting beans from La Ceiba to Puerto Lempira, from where the seed will be loaded onto trucks and be delivered to the Miskito people of Sirsirtara. December is the bean planting month and these 6,700 pounds will go a long way to helping stabilize the food situation in the village. Please pray for safe travel of the seed as it has to come from La Ceiba by multiple canoes traveling into the Caribbean to Puerto Lempira, which can be a hazardous journey. Please pray the seed will arrive dry or they will mold and not be able to be used. Please pray for our new working companions in Puerto Lempira - Maxs and Jeramias - who are committed men of service and managing this task for us.

Plans are still unfolding for taking a well drilling kit to Wampusirpi where they have agreed to partner with us to construct wells in the community. The tentative plans are to go in February and train the men of the village on how to drill the wells. Please pray this will unfold, especially getting the material and supplies to this remote village as they can only come by canoe, which takes two days to get there.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. The work goes on!

Up front, I want to apologize for so many birthdays that I missed since October 26 and continue to miss. On the evening of October 26 my physician called me to tell me he was immediately admitting me to the hospital as I had multiple health problems that were slowly pointing me to going home to be with Jesus.

My problems included kidney stones, extremely high calcium in my blood and body, blood clots in my left leg and lungs, enlarged lymph nodes and lesions in my abdomen and lungs, some damage to my lungs and electrical part of my heart, which will result in a pacemaker in a few months. I also had to begin taking blood thinner. Biopsies also await.

I want to give Him all the glory as He delivered me from the situation and was able to return home with numerous medical limitations. But, within days, all the symptoms returned and I found myself in the ambulance heading back to the hospital where emergency surgery would unfold. I returned home on Tuesday, again with new limitations.

It has been the whirlwind but He has been in the the whirlwind and remains there faithfully. With all that remains, it will take at least 6 months to return to normalcy. I know He heals and I feel His healing touch. And, travel to Central America is now on hold for at least a year but others are already working to take over my roles, which is an incredible blessing.

My request is to solicit your prayers as things unfold but, at the same time, please give Him all the glory. And for those to whose birthdays I have been unable to respond to, thanks for understanding. Know you are loved and valued.

God bless!

UPDATE FROM MIKE JONES IN NICARAGUA
Fri, Oct 13
Had a good day yesterday. Here is a picture of Chesman meeting with some leaders about planting cacao plants on Romon’s land. The first thing we had to do is to check with the village Sindigo, which is like doing a title search. Chesman went to the land that Romon has and he said that the land would be good to plant but it would need some ditches to allow water to run off. But we also found out that Romon has other problems with the land ownership so we will not use this land at this time. Ramon will have to get the proper paperwork completed. Today we will check on another site in Kisalaya. Also 25 have said the Ten Commandments. Each day we go to the pastor’s house and wait for the ones that are ready. It has been such a blessing to hear them say the Ten Commandments in their language. Here are the commandments in their language.
La ten ba.
1. Yang man dawan kam sna, dawan wala bripa ra.
2. Aidul nani bri para.
3. Dawan nina ban ra mak pa ra
4. Sabbat de ka ba holy bri bas
5. Aisikam bara yaptikam kulks
6. Upla ik pa ra
7. Marit laka sauhpa ra
8. Implik pa ra
9. Kunin aisa pa ra
10. Tumi ka pa ra
Please continue to pray for these wonderful people. Here are just a few of them..God Bless..Mike

Mon, Oct 16 at 9:24 AM
Well as of now we will not be planting cacao plants in Kisalaya. The first piece of land that we looked at, which was Ramon’s, did not have the proper paperwork completed. The second piece of land would have worked but the owner did not want to work under the leadership of Chesman. He wanted me just to give him the money and he would plant the cacao himself. Fat chance with that. My plan has been given to the leaders of Kisalaya and in six months I will return and try again. Had a good day Sunday worshiping in church. Here are just some of the people that learned the ten commandments. Guess what we had for supper last night? God bless you for your prayers…Mike

UPDATE FROM MIKE JONES IN NICARAGUA:
October 6, 2023
Today we made a trip to the cacao fields and the plants are growing well. Chesman said that about half have been planted. It looks like it will take another year to finish. This is a long-term project, but many people are working. It was a very hot day but work goes on. Life is hard here and I always wonder why we were born in the states and not here. Please be thankful for all you have, and continue to pray for these wonderful people. God Bless…Mike

October 10, 2023
Well one week is now gone and all is well. Here is a picture of Elvis, the pastor of the church I am working with on this trip. He has a bad leg but he still will walk to church for worship. Pray for him and the little church. As of now there have been seven members to learn the Ten Commandments. Cleves, who is Elvis’ authentic son, is one of them. I have made a video of him and one day may post it one I return home. It is great. The rest of this week we will go to Elvis’ house for more members to say the scriptures they are learning. Thanks for your prayers. Mike…

UPDATE FROM MIKE JONES IN NICARAGUA:
THURSDAY: Well, I am now in Waspam. It was a long trip but all is well. Thanks for your prayers. This morning I will meet with Franklin and Joiner both to talk about our plans. We will also meet with Chesman and see how the growing of the Cacao plants are doing. God is good to us at all times. Mike

THURSDAY: This message came from Tony Llorente of Tuburus who is managing the seed distribution there. This is a very remote village along the Rio Coco. As you can see, they have done an outstanding job of self-management, which is our goal.
Hello brother Mike,
Please say hi to everybody on behalf of our board of members and program members. Our people are sending heartfelt words of gratitude for all your support. We’re very thankful with our Lord Jesus for your generous assistance.

It was very nice to be able to talk to you over the phone today. I’ve been watching closely the great work you’re doing in Honduras and how God is moving to change lives there. It is a reason to praise Him every time we look back at how far we have walked since the very beginning.

So, here’s a little update of what we have done during the last couple of months. We bought more rice seed and expanded to 51 new families from two neighboring (smaller) communities.
We were able to test our existing seed and the newly acquired seed. As I had mentioned earlier, we had enough seed from last year to expand but the germination effectivity of the seed poised a lower productivity.

However, thankfully - with the help of our Lord- not all the crop was lost. Many of our members were able to collect at least 60% of rice expected compared to last year (where rice production was better). It was not the best year for many but not bad either.

The families who were benefited from the newly acquired seed had a better harvest. This represents a great blessing to all of them.
I’ve been away from home for the last couple of weeks and my dad has been working closely with other board members to follow up with our members by visiting their fields and helping out with other tasks. And we’ve been in conversation of the needs and concerns and the successes as well.

We’re grateful for all this result we’ve achieved thanks to your generosity and assistance in times of need.

Climate change and weather patterns changes are constantly constituting threats to our crops but our prayers and hard work and commitment have helped us to arise despite the hardships.
As we constantly find new ways to test new strategies to face climate change and adapt learned lessons, we also come across with other challenges that are not easily solved - yet. Since couple of years ago we have started to work in collaboration with everyone in the community including those that are not yet part of our program so our learnings can be shared with them too. But as we expand to other families and villages, other needs show up too.

This year we had a relatively good harvest, not as expected, but enough for our people to pay back and keep food for their families for at least almost a year. Nonetheless, some logistical needs still exist. Our members are starting to collect rice beginning next week - this delay is because we have learned to start preparing soil for sowing later than usual due to climate conditions. You’ve generously helped this program since its foundation and that has been of great help for our village to have food almost all year round. The safe keeping of seeds and edible grains is crucial.

As you know, we collect back seed in return as a payment of seed delivered to each family. With the collected seed, if we are able to sell some (which is generally in the case of beans) we usually try to supply some bags or plastic cloths (used to collect crops - and avoiding that collected grains do not get wet) to our members but every year the number of people we are helping is growing - especially this year!

For this year, we, as the program, will try to buy at least part of the bags we need but that won’t be enough. We’re working with 112 families now! That is almost as twice as much as we had last year. Of course - the new 51 members did not get the same amount of seed but they were able to become part of the program and they had a very decent chance to work their own rice-fields.

We also have worked on corn, but it is a little bit different. The safekeeping is easier if we store the corn without removing the husks - that helps to keep the corn safe for at least 4-6 months. That is a way we have reduced our dependency on bags when it comes to corn.

But as mentioned before, we have more people that are happily working with us. We told them that due to the high cost of getting them storing bags and plastics they need to keep their food and seed safe; we will only help them with what’s possible. Although they will pay back, the program will afford to give them less than half of what they need. We will need as a minimum of 5,000 bags of 100 pounds.

Our program board of members are testing the germination effectiveness of the beans seed stored for next year - some of those that won’t be that effective will be sold to cover that need. But even so, we will still need around 2500 bags. Like I mentioned, this is the minimum amount we need. So, I ask you on behalf of our people and board of members to agree with us in prayers for that need. And if you could let SALT know about the need and our brothers and sisters can help with the need, that would be greatly appreciated (as we’re already very thankful with you for doing so much for us).

We know that it might seem as we are constantly coming back to ask for more, and that is saddening too, but looking back at the numbers, we started with 10 members, testing rice only and TODAY - we’re not only helping 112 families, but we’re also testing corn and beans. You have truly helped us to alleviate the hunger of so many.

As part of our next steps is to keep working with the same number or members and wait for a couple of years until all of them and including the program becomes more sustainable and capable to allow the integration of new members.
Also, we want to focus more on producing beans starting next year (without reducing our focus on rice and corn). Beans is starting to gain a very good market on the Honduran side and this might be very good to sell our beans at a good price.

Please let us know if there will be any possibility you can help us with the need we have this year. Thank you, brother.

And I really hope that you or someone from SALT could visit us in the future and become witness of what we’re doing for our people, walking the path you helped us to clean, helping our people to have food for their children. You’re very welcome to visit us anytime. I hope to see you very soon.
God bless you!
Tony

UPDATE ON NICARAGUA:
I received this message from Mike Jones yesterday as he is returning to Nicaragua. We are unable to take teams but can go individually at this time. Please keep him in prayer.

Well it’s time to return to Kisalaya. I will be leaving today and will be there for two weeks. I will be checking on the Cacao plants and the workers that have been working. Please pray for these wonderful people that have work. I will also be working with the churches of Kisalaya. Psalms 119:11 says “Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Last time I was there we challenged the members to learn the Ten Commandments. There is a list of names that took the challenge. Pray that each member has hidden the commandments in their heart. There will be a test. God Bless you all and thanks so much for your prayers. Mike

HONDURAS UPDATE (Sunday and Monday):
Starting Saturday night and extending into Monday, we have been experiencing heavy rainstorms with high winds, mostly in late evening and extending into the early morning. Here the weather moves from east to west, unlike North America where it moves from west to east. This means the storms are coming in from the Caribbean Sea and directly across the 25-mile lagoon upon which Puerto Lempira sets on the west side. Therefore, these storms are always a direct hit. The sound of the wind flowing freely through the open design of the hotel compresses the wind into ferocious sounds, making one think that, if we lived in tornado country, the “train” was nearing the shore ready to swarm through the building, taking it apart piece by piece. The good news is that I’m still here and the storms from earlier tonight seem to have dissipated.

On Sunday, we spent the morning with the congregation of Iglesia de Dios del Puerto Lempira. Dolly Ruiz, the worship leader and wife of Pastor Bertin Ruiz, led another beautiful morning of worship songs to draw us closer to Him in order to prepare us for the message to follow by Pastor Bertin, which followed. After church we had a few moments to speak and Kolby, Linda and I will be with the for lunch tomorrow (Tuesday).

After that, it was time to play “catch up” with completing notes from current happenings and what we as SALT needs to work on. The last task of the day was to prep for our visit to Sirsirtara in the morning where we will attempt to renew our relationship with them and to see where we go from here.

This morning the rain persisted as we left at 8 AM to head to Sirsirtara and followed us all the way to this remote village of no electricity, no cell signal and, currently, no medical care. After I needed to apologize for not being able to leave last time with things in place, we explored what we didn’t do, what we need to do, and how we can find better ways to be able to communicate with this community in the future. We also discussed some seed needs, for which I will need to pass along to our Agriculture Director – Mike Jones – to see what we can do. All-in-all, the meeting was as successful as our meeting with the people of Wampusirpi. There is no question God has been working through all of this and it’s amazing to be able to stop for a moment and see His hand in action.

I don’t have pictures to send for two reasons. First, tonight’s internet has been spotty due to the rains that have rolled through this evening and, two, I’m always hesitant to just blatantly take photos to bring them back so they might be unintentionally be seen as some kind of trophy for the work we have done and are doing. I wouldn’t want them to be with me in my city taking blatant pictures us without permission. I feel it’s a subtle invasion of their privacy and I want us to have the strongest relationship that we can have to fulfill God’s plans for these villages. Thanks for understanding. More tomorrow night.

HONDURAS UPDATE:
Yesterday was an amazing day with Linda Collins, Director of Mama Tara’s Miskito Orphanage. It was about walking with her through the orphanage proper as well as the entire property as she shared her long-term vision of the possibilities that could be done to not just provide the orphanage, but a host of other community services to the school next door and a possible clinic for the community and even a counseling outreach to the area people. It was awesome and exciting to hear what God has laid upon her heart while facing the reality of what it might take to make it happen.

This is where SALT might come in. There are a myriad of maintenance needs there that need to be addressed. There is no way the small staff can ever address anything beyond some very simple basics. This is not, nor will it ever be, like some “mission” opportunities in which we know of the exterior of one church was painted seven times in one year to give “mission” groups a short-term mission experience. These are legitimate concerns that are going to require the willingness of more groups than SALT to fulfill, but we can be a starting point.

We are looking for people who would be willing to share in caring for the children and staff at Mama Tara’s Miskito Orphanage. The work, which will be done side-by-side with locals will be channeled toward your abilities – what you bring to the table – as best as we can arrange. It will be hot and humid and uncomfortable, but being surrounded by these children who will want to love on you and with whom you can love on them, will be an unbelievable life-changing experience. We are hoping to have a team ready to go in February 2024 for two weeks. Please pray about this and, if you feel called by God to embark on this journey with Him into the lives of the children and staff, please private message me through Facebook with your name, phone number and email address.

For all of us, let us all join in prayer that God answers our prayers and His team for us will come forth. Thanks in advance for all your prayers.

HONDURAS UPDATE:
Having left on Tuesday, it’s been a dead run and the first time I’m able to post an update. It’s a shame as to how much we take things like internet for granted! Arriving in San Pedro Sula on Tuesday afternoon, the next step in getting me into La Mosquitia was a four-hour taxi ride to La Ceiba. Overnighting there, I was able to catch my plane around 11 AM to get to our staging point of Puerto Lempira. Immediately upon arrival, Kolby Palmer and I had to get tickets for the flight on Thursday to Wampusirpi, knowing that return flights were always suspect. Having tickets in hand, we arrived at the airport at 7 PM as required, even though the thirty-minute flight didn’t leave until nearly 11 AM.

Arriving in Wampusirpi, we were able to connect with Pastor Carlos for a late afternoon meeting with leaders and others at his church. His church, however, is under total reconstruction and the services are being held under his house (remember, their houses are on stilts). They brought out some of the pews from under the house and formed them into an oval, making it so easy to have eye contact with everyone. We discussed the unresolved issues remaining from our last meeting in January and were able to discuss their current needs. The one we could address would be the need for clean water wells. They agreed to our micro-financing of the village providing free labor in exchange for a well drilling kit and the materials to make each well. They will begin to get all the information together as to cost, including shipping – which means a two-day trip down the Patuca River – for the materials.

In addition, we discussed our work at creating a collaboration with two other churches – The Refinery and The Bridge – both in Wilmington, who can bring numerous additional possibilities to this community. We will work together to coordinate all of our trips with Kolby and Jacob Rose – a full-time missionary in Honduras with special projects in Los Mosquitia – so we are working as the Lord leads without duplicating services and doing projects inadvertently on top of each other. We are very excited about this possibility of the three organizations – The Refinery, The Bridge and SALT – being able to do incredible things for the Lord in the region.

Finally, I offered to do pastoral training that does not revolve around theology. Rather, it focuses on various passages of Scripture to which we provide the historical context and meaning to expand the full meaning of the passage. After giving them an example, Pastor Carlos decided he would like me to do that with the pastors there and this was affirmed by everyone. The bottom line of this meeting was that it was an incredible experience seeing God at work. His hand was certainly on every aspect of the evening gathering.

Having gone late into the darkness and using flashlights to get home (there are no streetlights and the village only has electricity from 6 PM until 9 PM) it’s really pitch dark to the point you can’t see your hand in front of your face. This morning we prepared for the plane trip back but it was delayed for many hours before we were notified it was on the way.

Back “home” in Puerto Lempira, in the morning we’ll meet with Linda Collins, Director of Mama Tara’s Miskito Orphanage, to discuss some work for teams in February that can be done for the orphanage.

Thanks for all your prayers and thanks in advance for your prayers yet to be presented to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. (Tried to attach pictures but the internet wouldn't handle it. Sorry!)

HONDURAS UPDATE:
Tomorrow begins the next steps in our journey to work in Honduras. As you've seen before in our updates it takes two days to get in to where we base and two days to get home. This means our time in country is limited but very full of conversations, relationship building and exploring possibilities of working together with the Miskito people.

Our focus this trip in on meeting with the Miskito leaders of two villages in which we have already done some work - Sirsirtara (accessible only by truck about 1.5 to two hours away on the only road in the state) and Wampusirpi (accessible only by plane, which takes about 30 minutes, or by canoe, which takes two days). It's about discovering the possibilities as to how we can serve both villages to help them become everything God intends for them to be, just as we did with Kisalaya and Kururia in Nicaragua.

Please keep us in prayer for safe travel, good health, open hearts and minds on both sides and God's wisdom to Guide us. Whatever success will look like will only happen as we trust in Him and as we truly allow Him to lead. Thanks in advance for all your prayers because we know that prayer is the foundation of every Christian endeavor.

UPDATE ON SALT:
Cathy and I were invited by the Covenant Brethren Church denomination to have a booth at their Annual Conference to share about SALT as they have started some support for the organization. We (SALT) were recognized on the Annual Conference floor and we had the privilege of making many new contacts to share about the ministry SALT has in Nicaragua and now Honduras. It was also great to see old friends, some of whom we had not seen in 40 years. The conference was held at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV.

From there we went to western Maryland and visited with many of our supporters, donors and participating churches in that area. It was so great to connect again this year, our third in a row, and be able to share the ministry SALT is unfolding in Honduras. We try to do this every year as face-to-face contact is such a blessing. Mel had the privilege of sharing about SALT during the message time at Divine Hope Church and around a church-wide campfire with the people of Faith Church. God is so good and faithful and we were blessed beyond any expectations we might have had.

Our next time in Honduras will be in early to mid September where we'll be firming up our relationships with at least two of the villages and exploring what God may have in store. God is moving the "pieces of the puzzle" as we prepare to build on His plan for us and the villages we believe He is calling us to serve.

Thanks to everyone who is, has been or will be a part of SALT. We are thankful to our heavenly Father for every one of you and the difference together we are making in our small part of the world. God bless you all!