Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV
Dear Family and Friends,
We’ve now been in Honduras for one full year! In our last newsletter (early June), we shared that we were excited and ready for a busy summer of Serve Teams. We can now say with much gratitude to God that we could not have asked for a better first “busy season” of ministry. We had several teams who have been to the Ranch many times and others who were serving with the ministry for the first time. Being new on the field, we learned a lot from each and every group! And we saw God move in some really big ways, bringing a lot of joy and energy to the Ranch community.
There are way more highlights of the summer than we can possibly share in this newsletter! For the kids, one of the best parts was making new friends. The Olson family from Houston came on a family mission trip and our boys had the best time playing and serving with their three kids. Our new friends are already planning to return in 2024 and we cannot wait to see them again!
For Steve and me, the best part was seeing God at work in the formation of many relationships. Many of our team members were very intentional about having meaningful conversations, sharing their own walk with Jesus, and providing encouragement to the Ranch kids. Additionally, we were able to be part of the first ever Freedom Camp at the Ranch (a camp for children who have experienced trauma to help them find their freedom in Christ), partner with a local church to pour concrete floors for two widows and distribute food in the community, and participate in ministry staff events, including trauma-informed care training and a spiritual retreat.
We are continuing our Youth Group on Wednesdays with the Ranch teens, and we are now leading a monthly “Freedom Forever” activity with the children 12 and under. Freedom Forever is a follow-up to Freedom Camp, designed to reinforce the gospel truths and support each child’s ongoing healing process. Other highlights of the summer included Missionary Kids Camp (Bryeten attended as a camper and Steve as a servant) and getting to see some church friends from Florida who were serving on a mission trip in another part of Honduras.
On a personal note, since our last newsletter we celebrated two birthdays - mine and Steve’s. Since mine was a milestone birthday, Steve had some big surprises in store. Months prior he had reached out to many of our friends and family asking for letters and rhymes (a tribute to my Granddaddy, Doc Skelton, who was famous for his rhymes) so he could gather them in a book. Somehow he managed to keep this a surprise from me! He also put together a video with photos which he showed during that week’s Youth Group, helped two of the Ranch girls plan a little surprise party/dinner for me, and he and the boys made me a special breakfast. It was a very full and memorable day! Luckily for me, Steve is two years younger, so I have two years to try to figure out how to make his 40th even half as special as he made mine.
Now that the busiest time of the year for us has ended, we’ll be working on some other things at the Ranch. Steve is continuing to lead the WGO Kid Art program and will be helping out by teaching some P.E. classes at the Ranch school this year. He will also continue helping with maintenance and light construction projects around the Ranch. Kris has taken on a greater role with the Vocational Education program and is working with other Ranch staff to enhance that program to provide for more life-skills training for the teens. And of course, we are already planning for future teams. We have eight teams, totaling over 140 people, already on the 2024 schedule, with room for more! Teams can come anytime of year, not just summer. If you are interested in organizing a team to come and serve with us, or coming as a family or small group just to check things out, please contact us anytime!
And finally, we saved the best for last… It’s time to come home to visit! We will have our yearly home assignment from Oct. 28-Dec. 9. Our tentative schedule is as follows:
- Oct. 29-Nov. 2 - Pittsburgh
- Nov. 3-10 - North Georgia area
- Nov. 11-17 - Lynn Haven/Panama City, Florida area
- Nov. 18-Dec. 1 - Pace/Pensacola, Florida area
- Dec. 2 - Dec. 8 - Daytona Beach, Florida area
We hope to be able to see as many of our friends, family and supporters as possible! We will share more information in our next newsletter or you can text or email us to coordinate a time to get together!
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for our family, for the Ranch kids and for our visiting teams over the last couple of months! We are so thankful to be serving here in Honduras, and for the prayers and financial support that has made it possible. We love you all!
Steve, Kris, Bryeten, Chance and Mac
Steve.Nelson@wgomission.org
Kris.Nelson@wgomission.org
Want to partner with our family in Honduras?
Financial contributions can be sent to: World Gospel Outreach, Preference Nelson Family, PMB 250, 6068 US Highway 98, Suite 1, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 or online at wgoreach.org/nelson.
To receive e-mail newsletters, email Kris.Nelson@wgomission.org.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership!
Photos from top to bottom: Enjoying a little family time at Lake Yojoa, one of the most beautiful spots in Honduras; Bryeten and Mac with friend, Davis, who came to serve at the Ranch with his parents and sister; One of our summer teams hard at work serving in the local community; Enjoying dinner with friends from Lynn Haven Methodist; Steve and Bryeten at Missionary Kids Camp; Kris and the kids reading all the sweet letters to Kris in her birthday book; Steve receiving a surprise birthday cake from Ranch managers; Steve and the boys building new bunk beds in team housing.
