Resurrection

by Leanne Talen Geisterfer and Caspar Geisterfer ~ April 2012

Dear Friends: Greetings from Honduras!

Stories of Resurrection: It is a few weeks past Easter, and I (Caspar) would like to share with you some of the stories that I have heard in the past few months. These stories are witness to the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Marta Rodriguez was the pastor of Radiant Light CRC in San Pedro Sula. Last year some of the church members proclaimed themselves “prophets” and decided they didn’t want to be Reformed anymore. They asked Marta to leave the church. She was extremely upset and suffered several months of depression and questioning God. Last fall, with the encouragement of other CRC pastors and the permission of her husband and daughters, Marta began a church in the garage of their home. With a bit of cleaning supplies and paint, the garage became “Christ the King CRC”. Marta went door-to-door in her neighborhood to invite her neighbors to come and worship and fellowship in her garage. This past Sunday more than 100 people gathered in her garage! A church resurrected.

Apolinario Estrada is the pastor of the Laure Abajo CRC in southern Honduras. He is a quiet man who loves God and whose heart cries out for the young people of his community who struggle with unemployment, alcohol, and drugs. Apolinario agreed to training for his congregation’s young people that is designed to reach at-risk youth. The training is provided by a partner agency, the Association for a More Just society (ASJ). The church’s youth were trained to mentor at-risk youth, walking with them as they returned to being valued members of the community. In January of this year, Apolinario opened a furniture workshop in the church so that some of the youth could earn a living. In February, Apolinario called me. He said he had a problem: 23 young people had accepted Jesus as Savior, and he did not have any Bibles for them. Could I please help him? 23 young people resurrected.

Francisco and Suyapa Martinez live with their six children in Bonito Oriental, on the north coast of Honduras. They are the rock on which a church is built (actually two). Three years ago Francisco took me to the small mountain community of Manchones and informed me that he wanted to start a church there. I said sure (with some doubt). Francisco is a farmer and does not read or write. He milks cows, grows corn and beans, and wants to grow coffee. What does he know about building a church? The week before Easter, I had the honor to preach in Manchones, where more than 40 adults and a multitude of children were in attendance. Two local men provided wonderful guitar music, and four young ladies sang solos. A man who attends the services donated land for a church building, and it is right on the main road. A village resurrected.

Cornelio Baquedano, president of the south classis, works in public health in Choluteca. Last year the classis put a pastor under discipline. The pastor refused to reconcile, so the church in Monjarras was vacant. As Cornelio worked with the members to find a new pastor, he thought of Carlos Moran who had studied at the local CRC seminary but didn’t have a church. He connected Carlos with the church and today Carlos serves as pastor and they have just completed a building project. Another church resurrected.

Personal Update. I’m also living post-resurrection. I have travelled many miles since January and am very pleased that my back is responding well to the travel.

With great joy Leanne and I can share that Reuben is now employed as a home builder in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Please join us in prayer.
Praise!
• For several CRCs in southern Honduras that are working with at-risk youth.
• For the Sunday school teacher training. More than 40 teachers from 18 churches have been attending training events.
• For the visit of good friends from Calgary, Alberta.
• 139 families living in tents in front of the joint CRC office in Port-au-Prince were able to find rental housing. Their landlords received payment of one year’s rent from CRWRC, and within 48 hours each family packed up and moved into something more decent. Many thanks were expressed for this new beginning.
• For the opportunity to attend a spiritual retreat in Nicaragua with other CRCNA missionaries. It was a time to connect with colleagues and be refreshed with the Word.
• For donations to our work during the last two months.

Concerns:
• For Rosalinda, a thirteen year-old girl who was abused, homeless, and found wandering the streets of our community. Pray that a loving and supportive environment can be found for her.

Thank you for your continued support!

Shalom from the Geisterfers,
Leanne & Caspar

About Leanne Talen Geisterfer

Leanne is CRWRC's Latin America Team Leader. She is based in Honduras, where she has lived since January 2009. Her academic training includes a BA in Spanish, with certification in elementary and bilingual education, along with an MA from Michigan State University in educational administration and literacy. Leanne’s passion is adult literacy and learning, so her focus as a program consultant was on literacy and the training aspects of partner agency programs. 

Leanne’s first extended experience outside of North America was a year of study at the University of Madrid. While there, she was “hooked” on cross-cultural living and not much later met Caspar, who had just returned from a summer in Kenya. The mutual love of exploring God’s vast world was an attraction. They began working with CRWRC in 1982 and have served in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Caspar recently finished an MA in Missions from Calvin Theological Seminary and now works for Christian Reformed World Missions in church development.  Their adult son, Reuben, is living and working in Canada.

Email:  lgeisterfer@crwrc.org