Juan and Carol Santamaria Elaine and Tricia

Honduras

Juan is the first Baxter graduate that Maple Hill has supported. He graduated from Baxter Institute in 1998. His wife’s name is Carol. They are the proud parents of two daughters named Elaine and Tricia. Juan is serving the Lord in Siguatepeque, Honduras, which is located 2 hours northwest of the capital, Tegucigalpa.

Email Juan & Carol Santamaria at carsantamaria

October/November 2010

Dear Joe:

May peace and love of Almighty will always accompany.

This is a brief report of activities for the month of October and November.
God’s work is extensive and there are many areas in which takes time, and especially wishes to do the best for God.
My work in evangelism, visitation and teaching have been done in the congregation of Calanterique and Comayagua, and I have focused primarily on the education of leaders for to continued work of the church even when there is no full-time minister.
This plan has its difficulties as each member has family responsibilities, work and little time may have for the church. But I have faith in God to accomplish part of this plan.

Now I want to talk to Joel, he is 18 year old who was deported from the United States earlier this year. His mother and sisters are active members of the congregation. Joel almost always attend youth meetings, and I visited his house to have evangelistic studies. And it was for October 16th  that he took the most important decision of his life. In that weekend a congregation near Calanterique was Evangelistic campaign, and I consider taking our young people to support this activity and that Joel was baptized there along with four other young people more. It was very nice experience.

Because of work, Joel lately meets only on weekends, but his family is very grateful to God because before that he was being influenced by bad friends.

Between my work in the congregation of Comayagua is to collaborate with some congregations of the villas. Los Empates is a village 25 kilometers from Comayagua, the youth of this congregation organized a vigil last Saturday 20th  The meeting began at 7:00 pm and ended up the next day.          I was in charge of teaching . And I prepared a presentation on Temptation, based on Matthew chapel 4.     I thought that is important to explain to young people the tools and cunning of the devil to get them are away from God. And as always, the projector was an excellent tool for that presentation.

I know all these things were achieved because God is good and allows His church walks victory to victory.
In Jesus,
Juan Santamaria

In a special way I thank God that so far has been with me, and even though I do not see a solution to my difficulty I have is that my life and my destiny are their hands and my family too. Thanks to each one of you also because your prayers have strengthened me greatly.

The work of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is very wide and covers many areas in which each Christian is able to work his talent. Under this theme I have been teaching the church, home schooling and the men’s group meetings on Tuesdays. I want to awaken interest in the brothers to be active Christians who do the will of God not as an obligation but as a unique and enviable blessing.

As a result of last evangelistic campaign, there are a couple with two children who are faithfully attending meetings on Sundays and weekdays. Pablo and Ana have given us the confidence to study the Bible often at home. They and many are the result of religious confusion that reigns in the world. But thank God they have so much time as all interest in knowing what the Bible says on many questions you have. Have not yet been baptizes, but are thinking seriously about the decision and the desire to be in a river.

With them live Marina she is Pablo´s niece who is a 16 years. She also participated in Bible studies and like his uncle wants to be baptized, but her case is special because his parents are Catholic and very strict with her. So we have been asked to go to the place where his parents live and talk with them so they know the decision of  Marina. We have not made such a trip because his father travels a lot but will be within two weeks.

I want to talk also about my activities in the church of Comayagua. And especially the Roger´s baptism, he is young 14-year-old. Who from his childhood his mother took him to church and now understanding the benefits of living a youth under the will of God took that important decision.

I want to apologize and ask for your understanding and do not send pictures of these events because those pictures taken I had them in the memory of my cell phone which the other belongings lost in the theft in Talanga .

Thanks brothers for help and pray that God continue to bless the church in Honduras, and my family too. May God continue to manifest in your lives.
In Jesus love,

Juan Santamaria

July

Singing is an important part in the worship of God, congregations usually involved here is not much to improve the quality of intonation. Thus arose the plan of having a singing speech in the congregation of Calanterique. 
For this activity, I invited Mario Rivera  he is director of the  Baxter’s singing. This meeting took place on Saturday and Sunday (9th and 10th) and some brothers from other congregations were also present. The talk consists: Better intonation, singing with several voices and tips for worship leaders. The church was greatly joy, and want to repeat at the end of the year.
                                                     Travel to Salvador:
I was making a trip with my daughter Elaine to visit my mother’s 19th week, thank God she is ok, and I also had the opportunity to preach in the church she attends. Since some time ago I know Mario Hernandez is an attorney and family friend, and  always when  he know that I am there he visit me. We have always spoken the message of the Bible, and was on this occasion he decided to obey God and be baptized for the remission of sins.
At the same time we left in search of a river near the city, accompanied by his father, my mom and Elaine. Now he’s bringing in the same congregation visit my
                                               Evangelistic Campaign:
As you know the evangelistic campaigns is the mass medium of preaching the good news where the congregation goes from house to house to invite the neighbors.
This activity is not to for some time. So that is scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday (29, 30 and 31)
 Most members with Bible in the hands and pamphlets came to tour the area where is located the building of the church, to invite and if there was room to have an evangelistic study.
During the meetings had an attendance of 60 people despite the rainy weather.

As a result of this  activity was the conversion Jenny Mejia 15 years old and  the reconciliation of Pedro Tabora who had retired of the church.
I could see another result is that for some members was the first time they took to the streets and talking in public about the gospel.
I Hope to share the joy for those results, because God is good.
I appreciate all your love, support and understanding to me. God continues to bless you.

In Jesus,
 Juan C. Santamaria

June 2010 part 2

Dear Joe:

Was great to have spoken that time, and know that God loves us and encourages us to work in His kingdom.

As I explain you about my transfer to Comayagua, (20 minutes from Siguatepeque) to live there and work on a new congregation that until now meet at the home of members, and my collaboration with the congregation of Calanterique every Thursday for Bible study.
I trust that the brothers of Calanterique are prepared for this new experience. Deacons feel ready for this responsibility, however I will be from Comayagua always attentive to every need and desire to collaborate as much as possible.

I also share the joy the church because of two people obeyed God’s message and were baptized for the remission of sins.

On June 6th  Mr. Rosendo Euceda 68-year-old was baptized during the Sunday worship, the Bible was studied on two occasions at home and he understood that his life has been empty without Jesus. Although his health is no good, he is always happy and willing to praise God.
He is father in law of Juancito Guerra, who is in school learning to read, because his greatest desire in life is to read the Bible and preach.

The last Sunday of June was another convert, in this case is a 15 year old girl named Gisele Sandoval, who said he wants to devote her youth to obey God. She is the daughter of the sister Dorys. This baptism was in the afternoon, and attended some brothers who after baptism we are dedicated to cut the backyard of the church building.

On the other hand, I have been invited to preach on youth meeting in Choluteca at July 15th  It will be great to see to some brethren again.      

As you can see God continues to demonstrate his love and power to his church.
Thank you for your understanding to the new plans regarding my ministry. God continue to bless your lives.

                               In Christ,

                                             Juan C. Santamaria

May 2010

Dear Joe:

Once again expressed the love and power of our God and Father in the congregation of Calanterique.
In addition to bless each one of the families and members in particular, God is magnified in the life of every Christian. Some of our young people have had to moved in big cities because of college and despite the change of life are every weekend back and in the church. That makes us happy because sometimes the youth life in the big cities, means that young people often neglect their spirituality.

I want to remind the congregation that works with three ministries, and each one leads various activities provided in the work of the congregation. For example, some sisters out in the afternoon to visit the older sisters, sometimes I accompany them to carry in the car and one in biblical studies.
With the group of men usually go out at night, and we focused more on visiting families and have evangelistic studies.
And with young people, the main activity is to look younger among the relatives and friends of those already converted.

Thank God these brothers are working with enthusiasm, knowing that the reward is received from the heavens.

Wants to talk about the conversion of Merly Ramos, she is the daughter of our sister Maria. Merly for some time to visit a Pentecostal church;  but never spoke of the importance of being born of water and the Spirit. And it was especially the subject that some weekends with her study group who decided to be baptized.
We realize that baptism during the youth meeting on Saturday 15th . It was another young man who baptized her. Everything was very pleasant and participatory, and now some young people do not even baptized, are thinking more seriously about the date of his baptism.

As I said at the beginning, God always manifests His blessings in great ways in the lives of their children. Thanks to you, because we are all a team to win souls for the Lord.

July 2010

My best wishes to you, your family and the church from Maple Hill.

As always, I thank God for brothers generous and committed to the Kingdom of Jesus.
During the month of July were developed important activities in which the objective achieved, and above all to the glory of God was proclaimed.
Then describe each of the activities in order of date:

Singing Speech:
Singing is an important part in the worship of God, congregations usually involved here is not much to improve the quality of intonation. Thus arose the plan of having a singing speech in the congregation of Calanterique.For this activity, I invited Mario Rivera  he is director of the  Baxter’s singing. This meeting took place on Saturday and Sunday (9th and 10th) and some brothers from other congregations were also present. The talk consists: Better intonation, singing with several voices and tips for worship leaders. The church was greatly joy, and want to repeat at the end of the year.

Travel to Salvador:
I was making a trip with my daughter Elaine to visit my mother’s 19th week, thank God she is ok, and I also had the opportunity to preach in the church she attends. Since some time ago I know Mario Hernandez is an attorney and family friend, and  always when  he know that I am there he visit me. We have always spoken the message of the Bible, and was on this occasion he decided to obey God and be baptized for the remission of sins.
At the same time we left in search of a river near the city, accompanied by his father, my mom and Elaine. Now he’s bringing in the same congregatio                                               Evangelistic Campaign:
As you know the evangelistic campaigns is the mass medium of preaching the good news where the congregation goes from house to house to invite the neighbors.
This activity is not to for some time. So that is scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday (29, 30 and 31)
 Most members with Bible in the hands and pamphlets came to tour the area where is located the building of the church, to invite and if there was room to have an evangelistic study.
During the meetings had an attendance of 60 people despite the rainy weather.

As a result of this  activity was the conversion Jenny Mejia 15 years old and  the reconciliation of Pedro Tabora who had retired of the church.
I could see another result is that for some members was the first time they took to the streets and talking in public about the gospel.

I Hope to share the joy for those results, because God is good.
I appreciate all your love, support and understanding to me. God continues to bless you.

In Jesus,
 Juan C. Santamaria

NOVEMBER REPORT 2,009

Dear Joe:
 We hope your stay in Honduras has been satisfied, and that your homecoming have found peace and happiness.

Carol and I are very happy to have seen you and share some moments together. We feel very blessed to have you as a friend and brother in the Lord. Thanks for the presents you and Elaine are very special indeed!

Now I want to describe the most important events during the month of November

CONVERSIONS

We know that the decision of the sinner against God’s word is accept it or reject it. Thank God, two men whose lives had been walking every day misfortune, took the best decision of their lives, being born again through water and the Spirit.

Jaime Ventura and Juan Ramos were baptized for the remission of their sins. Now they are our brothers. These conversions occurred during the last two weeks of the month, at meetings of the Thursday Bible study, and although attendance at these meetings is low, for Sunday they were formally introduced to the congregation.

We also know that the Lord’s command to baptize and teach them what that new life. So, with the help of some brothers we have held meetings in the homes of new converts.

HELP FOR VICTIMS

As you know, El Salvador was severely affected by Hurricane Ida. There were many people and families who lost all their things, especially in the district of San Vicente. In this place some brothers were affected, for what we in Siguatepeque conducted a campaign to collect clothes, food and medicine to take up the place. Thank God other congregations in other cities also helped this project.
          

The congregation in Guanacaste, Tegucigalpa also helped, they  sent  to Ricardo  to collaborate us on the journey of seven hours. And despite some difficulties with the pick up and  customhouse transaction, thank God, the goal was achieved, the aid was given to the brothers of St. Vicente.

 
 YOUTH MEETING

On Saturday 14th  we realized a special youth meeting Siguatepeque congregations. The congregation hosted was Calanterique with the direction of Fernando who is the minister of youth. For this meeting is to rent space outside Siguatepeque, with a forest environment, where we will take different sets of entertainment.
We also had a visit from two students at Baxter, where each of them had involvement in the program. The attendance was 70 youth

                                            
We want to share these achieve because you are working with us too. Thanks for your prayers, support and love the Church. Have a good Christmas season. We love you.

In Jesus Love,
                       Juan & Carol Santamaria

October Report

Receive fraternal greetings. And  the best wishes to you,  for God to bless your lives.

During the month of October the presence of our God has appeared once again to bless the congregation Calanterique well attended during the morning worship. As  congregation we are making arrangements to buy more chairs because sometimes not enough. In the afternoon the attendance is low, the rate of the rainy season is in Siguatepeque.

October was the month of closing many schools and colleges. Many of our young people managed to meet one more year of studies. But the most outstanding was the brother of Juancito Guerra, who as you know at his age he is studying because he wants to read the Bible and to preach. Truly he has been a motivation for many brothers, because he does not look like the old barriers and poverty, he wants to serve and praise the Lord better.
As you know many times the families moved to live in other cities for work. I want to talk about Sara Mejia: she is a single mother who has fought one of his two children. She is from the north coast of Honduras, and for work (harvesting of coffee) moved to live in Siguatepeque. Since they began to visit the church we have helped with food and clothing.  God wanted give her a chance but to her life since she met Melvin young widower with three children in his care. He knows that God has brought together because both like and she have children and need each other. Since then, both are attending the meetings.

 
I want to talk about an achievement over the congregation, the street outside the building was paved, and although this has to do with material things, nevertheless brings benefits to the congregation, now the area where this building is already located within the center of the city.
Praise the Lord for all the things that he does for the good of his church. Thanks for your help. God continue to bless their lives.
In Christ,

Juan & Carol Santamaria

September 2009

Receive you many greetings and the best blessings for you, the church and your family.

 As you know the present situation in Honduras is a little critical, and somehow has affected the normal development of the programs of the congregations; especially when there is state of siege (nobody leave house) by certain hours of the day; doing this that sometimes we are not meetings in the building. However, when this happen the meetings we made by zones; the deacons are in charge of two groups of brothers that live in deferent zones. Until the moment the meetings of Sunday have been in the building. Our prayers are so that God takes the hearts of the protagonists of the difficulty in the country.

  But the work of the God always advances; the meeting of preachers or movable school have continued; with the purpose of  teach and prepares to brothers of the countryside for the preaching of the gospel.  For the first week of September I traveled to the community of La Vega (100 km from Siguatepeque) in this place I was teaching about the book of Revelations, and all the questions that arise when this book is read. And once again the projector was a great tool for the presentation of the class.

 I want to also mention about the brother Noe, the oldest in the congregation, that in this month was his birthday 85. He was mayor of Siguatepeque many years ago, and is of the first members of the congregation of Calanterique. And in spite of his age it enchants to him to preach, so from time to time he preach to the congregation.

 Also I want to mention that in this month we were celebrating the children’s day; and as congregation we realized a special meeting for our children. We think that these activities help to that they identify themselves with the congregation and in the future they are the deacons, elders and preachers.

 We know that your prayers are for our well-being, thanks for your love.

In Christ,

Juan & Carol Santamaria

August report

That peace of the Creator covering your lives and yours.

During the month of August we have seen the manifestation of God to the congregation of Calanterique. Despite the difficulties facing the country, God’s work progresses.

 
Ladies Meeting
For financial reasons and others, these meetings had been held, the nature of these is to gather all the sisters of the congregations of Siguatepeque. The time had already spent several months and no congregation took up the challenge. But for the last Saturday of the month, Calanterique sisters took the challenge and made the meeting. Carol my wife received much cooperation from the sisters to perform this.

Youth Meeting
As was usual, the second week of September was made the ” Young meeting Baxter” this was to bring together young people from many countries of  America Central and teaching issues of youth. But for health reasons (flu H1N1) and security problems in Honduras this year will not realize.
Our young people were saddened by the news, but the congregation is supporting his brother Fernando, minister of youth has made youth a local meeting in Siguatepeque. Still  we are looking for the place, because  we want our young people feel comfortable and willing to participate throughout the program.

Meetings in Homes
On Wednesday night in each home of members of the congregation will study evangelistic meetings. Thank God provided at each session we receive two or more non-Christians to preach them.

Improvements to the building church
Since last year the project began to pave streets, as a city program to improve Siguatepeque. In this street stands the church building, and this has been to help our congregation this more accessible and central at the time.

Brothers Thank you for your friendship and support for the work in Siguatepeque. God continue to reap many benefits through your lives.

In Christ,

Juan and Carol Santamaria