Praising God in the New Year

What better way to ring in the New Year than to praise God for all He has done in the previous year, and to live in excited expectation for what He is going to do. I just want to take some time to share with you some of the ways we've seen Him move, even in just the last 2 months when we were in the States.

Usually we have some friends that donate sky miles so that we can fly back and forth to the States. They've done this every year since we left for Costa Rica, but this year (technically last year) they apologized and said they wouldn't be able to do that this year. It was slightly stressful thinking that we were going to need to spend money that we hadn't really planned on spending, but God was good, and not only did we find tickets for a good price, but we were able to get first class tickets because somehow they were cheaper than regular tickets. Now with first class tickets come 2 FREE checked bags at 70 pounds apiece! When you're traveling after Christmas and you know you're going to have a lot of presents (especially for the little guy) needless to say we were elated and praising God for His provision!

Then we realized that the airline wouldn't allow Lucy to travel first class from Honduras to the States. When I called the airline they told me that not only would we have to pay to down grade one of our tickets, we would also need to pay the regular fees for the suitcases that went with that ticket. And those suitcases could only be 50 pounds.
I was slightly upset. Fortunately my parents came down with our church's mission team and so we made plans to send Lucy back with them so we could avoid any issues with extra traveling fees etc. And she would only be in the States a week before we got there.

Sometimes you can see God in the little things, if you look. For example, whenever we go back to the States my dad lets us drive his little Honda Civic. It's a great car and we're very thankful! We were planning to drive down to visit my little sister and her husband in Mississippi, but the Civic was making some funny noises and the heat wasn't acting right. Dad took it to a mechanic and he told dad that the car couldn't make the trip to MS. So we had to get a rental. Jeff looked and found a good deal for a car that was a little bigger than a cracker box, but at least it would fit the car seat! But when he went to pick up the rental there was a sweet sweet lady working the counter and after she heard that we were traveling with a little one she decided to upgrade us and picked out a mini van for us to travel in. I've always said I would never drive a mini van, but it was nice! And we were able to pack everything we wanted in it and not feel cramped at all. She even allowed Jeff to add me as a second driver, even though I couldn't be there in person. I think she might've been an angel......

On the way down to visit with my sister, we had a meeting with one of our biggest sponsors. We were concerned that they might be considering removing their support. We prayed and gave the meeting to God and had a peace about it. We ended up meeting with the church's head pastor and leadership team and the meeting went so much better than we had expected. They prayed over us before we parted ways, and we left praising God for continuing to provide for our family.

Then I called my old dentist's office to try to get us our yearly cleaning appointments, but they had gone up in price again. It was going to be a ridiculous amount for just Jeff and I to get a simple cleaning without dental insurance. So I started looking into the possibility of getting our teeth cleaned here in Honduras (even though the germaphobe in me was not happy with the thought of it).
While we were visiting my sister in MS, she "randomly" got a phone call from her dentist's office. She had been on the wait list and they just so happened to have an opening that week, and would she like to come in for a cleaning? During her appointment she spoke with her hygienist about us, that we were missionaries in for a visit and that we really would like to have a cleaning, but we didn't have any dental insurance. After speaking with the dentist, her hygienist asked if we could come in early on her day off and she would come in and do the cleanings and even if we needed x-rays they wouldn't charge us more than $50 a person.
It sounded good to us and we were so appreciative that she was willing to come in on her day off! Jeff, Elliot and I all went to the dentist's office and checked in with the front desk. My sister's hygienist came and took us back to the exam room. Jeff and I both got x-rays done and our teeth cleaned. Elliot even got his teeth cleaned for the first time and did amazing! The dentist and the hygienist were wonderful! They wanted to know all about our ministry in Honduras and told us about mission trips they had been on. They were great with Elliot and imparted a lot of good dental hygiene information. Once we finished and thanked them so much for everything, we walked to the front desk to pay and check out. The sweet dental hygienist walked us to the door and said "don't worry about it."
What a sweet blessing they were to our family! We could not thank them enough! And to the God who orchestrated it all, praise His name!

Remember Lucy? Well, a few weeks before it was time to travel back to Honduras, Jeff called the airline to reserve Lucy's spot and to try to figure everything out. He spent about an hour or so on the phone, but by the time he got done talking with the airline, we were all in first class for the flight from Knoxville to Atlanta. Then Atlanta to Tegucigalpa, Jeff had downgraded his seat (at no charge), but managed to keep his 2 suitcases at 70 pounds each for free! Amazing!

As I think back to write this I continue to be amazed at His goodness and provision. Elliot loves to read books. He's 2, but he will sit still for 20 minutes or more just to read. We visited a library that we had never been to before, and Elliot was excited because there were so many books! I'm sure he was thinking "what could be better than a place full of books?" Then he discovered the library also had a train table with trains he could play with. I'm pretty sure he thought it was the best library in the whole world!

Not only does God take amazing care of us everyday, He took the time to lead us to something that would be so special for our little one too. I can't wait to see what He'll do this year! Let's watch for Him together! 

Changing Roles and Miracles

Life has definitely gotten busier with baby on board, and much sweeter! He brings such joy to our lives!

There have also been a lot of changes of our roles within the ministry. We started off teaching English classes at our elementary school on the farm and being the missionaries who worked directly with the boys living in House 1 (the house next to the mission house).

Now our children are older and we didn't have enough younger kids to keep our elementary school open this year, so we are now sending them to a nearby World Vision school. They are getting a great education while surrounded by a Christian atmosphere! We are very thankful for this school, and they are still getting great English classes.

Our House 1 boys have all been moved around since they first moved out to the farm and we are no longer working directly with any particular house at the farm.

Jeff's role has changed from English teacher and principal of our elementary school, to working more in the office doing budgeting and finances, buying the food for the ministry, updating the website, all the while still finding time to go out with teams on food ministry from time to time, and still doing family visits every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month with the boys at the farm.

Leslie's role has changed from English teacher to stay at home mom with a newborn, to being the unofficial photographer of FCM, going with teams to visit Casa David and the Social Security hospital they work with, going on food ministry visits with teams, and spending time with our girls every Tuesday and Thursday evening during their Bible study time, and of course, doing family visits with our boys at the farm, all while raising our 20 month old son. Jeff also watches Elliot so that Leslie can go to Casa David with the teams and the girls' Bible study in the evenings.
Life is crazy busy but wonderful!

On to the miracles! But first, I feel like we need to thank all of our prayer warriors who are lifting us in prayer every day! These miracles are a result of your prayers, no doubt!

A couple of weeks ago, Elliot and I (Leslie) were meeting the team in the Valley of the Angels for lunch and a little souvenir shopping. We got there ahead of the team and went for a ride in one of the little red motor taxis that are everywhere there. Elliot loves all things that have wheels and go and they're cheap, so I thought "why not?". We went for a ride and when it was over, we saw that the team had arrived. I reached into my pocket for my phone and discovered that it missing and must've fallen out into the taxi!!

Now if you've ever lost your phone (especially in a 3rd world country), the odds of finding it again are pretty much zero. Desperately I (and Rigo, one of our translators) went to the nearby check point for the motor taxis, hoping to see the taxi I rode in and praying that the driver would be honest and give my phone back......providing he found it before the next person got in his taxi. Meanwhile, Jeff and Miguel were constantly calling my cell, hoping someone would answer.

We waited and waited (Stan, Bryan and Susan watched Elliot during all this), finally a lady answered my phone, who just happened to be a school teacher, at the school that just happened to be right behind where we were standing, and she had been trying to figure out who the phone belonged to. She told Jeff where she was, Jeff called Rigo and we quickly went to collect my phone. I was so thankful to have my phone back, as it has so many many pictures of Elliot on it! It would have been so sad to lose all of those. Getting my phone back is nothing short of a miracle!

We witness miracles here everyday. Some big, some we might miss if we aren't paying attention. Every time we get in the car, we see miracles happen as people do things that should DEFINITELY cause an accident, and everything miraculously turns out fine.

We see the prodigal son, Osmin, who we thought was lost, wandering the streets of Tegucigalpa, return. We teach and watch as our boys and girls learn about Christ, and give praise to the Lord when they accept Him as their Savior, as Yoni recently did. And take great joy in discipling those who have already chosen to follow Him.

And as always, we feel the prayers of the many who continue to go to our Lord and Savior and lift us up in Jesus's name. Thank you!

A Time of Thanksgiving

We know it's been a while since our last blog post....truth be told, it's been rather busy around here! But with that comes reminders of all we have to be thankful for! Starting in July when we prayerfully made the decision to send Leslie and the baby back to the States away from the ever spreading Zika virus, while Jeff remained in Honduras to continue English classes at the school at the farm. Once in the States, testing confirmed that neither Leslie nor the baby had been exposed to the Zika virus! Praise the Lord!

While in Honduras, Jeff continued the work of teaching English classes and walking through life day by day with our FCM kiddos. Our fellow missionaries did a wonderful job checking on him and making sure he didn't starve! We are blessed with a great team and friends!

10 weeks later, Jeff joined Leslie and Baby V in the U.S. and one and a half weeks later on September 27th, little Elliot William Vanvactor was born weighing 5 lbs 14 oz and very healthy for coming one month early. Thank you to those of you who have been praying and continue to pray for us and especially little Elliot. We truly believe that we have been and continue to watch your prayers being answered every day as we watch our little one continue to grow and do extremely well despite being a preemie.

 We are excited to return to Honduras in early December and hope to spend our remaining time in the States with family and friends/supporters/churches, raising more support and spending time together getting to better know our newest little family member.

We are so thankful for you, your friendship, your prayers and financial support. You are truly a blessing to our little family!

"Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Little Baby V is a......

BOY!!!

The boys were so thrilled to learn that the baby is a boy and kept telling everyone that they had "won". Some of the girls still tell me that they hope it's a girl and whichever boy is with me at the time that the girls say this (usually Joel) will emphatically tell them that it's a boy and then look at me to make sure I still agree.
Soon after we told the boys that we were going to have a baby some of them came to me with little Joel and said that Joel had told them that he was going to fight the baby when he came. So we spent a few minutes talking about how little the baby was going to be and that we had to take care of him. Carlos Daniel said "this is what you do with babies" and he started swinging his arms back and forth as if he were holding a baby and then started talking Spanish baby talk into his arms. We all giggled.
Please be praying for Joel, my other baby, as he is going to have to learn how to share my attention.

Earlier this week one of our translators started teasing Carlos Daniel telling him the baby was actually a girl.....he started to get a little worked up about it and I just shook my head.....finally the translator said its twins! One boy and one girl! The girls won too!
Carlos Daniel really did start to get upset with that and he looked at me. I was laughing and finally I shook my head and said there's just one baby and he's a boy.
Then at lunch yesterday some of the boys were chanting in a sing song voice....."we're getting a new little brother, we're getting a brother." Then Carlos Daniel added "and I'm going to take very good care of him!"

Thank you, everyone that has been praying for us and especially for Leslie and the baby. She is starting to feel a lot better as the nausea is finally going away. She is 19 weeks and baby is healthy and getting bigger every day!

We've been asked if we're going to have the baby here or go back to the States. The plan is to head back to the States to have the baby this fall. We haven't been back to the States in about a year and a half and are excited about the opportunity to go back and see all our family and friends! We would love to use this as a time to visit with everyone and share with churches and sponsors (baby permitting!). Please send us an email at jeffandlesliev@gmail.com or a message via facebook so we can get with you and figure out a good time to get together.

The Marvelous Month of May!

We can't believe it's already May! We know it's been a little while since our last update, and we just want to say how very thankful we are for each and everyone of you who are praying for us and supporting us!  It is a great comfort to us to know that we have prayer warriors like you continually approaching the throne of God on our behalf! And the truth of the matter is that without financial support we would not be here, so thank you for helping keep us here. Your obedience to pray and give is just as important as our obedience to say yes to God and go. Because of your partnership with us, the kiddos in our ministry are learning English and what the love of God looks like lived out everyday!

Let us catch you up on what else has been going on since the last time.  Our biggest and most exciting news is that we are expecting our first baby!

Little Baby V will be making his or her apparence later this year in the fall. We are very excited with this little blessing that God is giving us.

And even though it may mean that Lucy will have to share her toys, we think she'll be excited to be a big sister. Please pray that Leslie will start to feel better and the morning sickness will begin to subside. Also pray that God will continue to protect her and the baby from the very famous zika virus that is prevelant here in Central America.

We also have car news. Our one and only faithful car that we bought when we first arrived has been in the shop for the past 2 weeks. We discovered that it was a problem with the motor and it looks like the car may still be in the shop for at least another week or two. However, we work with some pretty amazing people who have been willing to let us borrow their cars or give us rides where we needed to go. Finally we decided to bite the bullet and get a second car, and with as busy as we've been getting with added responsibilities, we've really been needing to do this for a while.

Along with the responsibility of teaching English to our elementary school kiddos, we are in charge of overseeing all of the ministry's kids' education. Jeff has been working side by side with one of our Honduran workers and an FCM board member to see to it that our kids are making the most of their opportunity for an education and that we are doing everything we can to help them. We are also working on ways to make sure that all of the kids in the ministry are learning English and looking for opportunities for them to practice what they are learning.

We are still very involved with working with our elementary school on the farm. The school year started in early February, and last month we had our first field trip to a local water park called Villamar. The kids loved it!

Jonathan with his new water goggles. 

Pati (I'm pretty sure this was her first time ever at a waterpark). 

Duglas jumping in the pool.

The pools at the waterpark were a welcome relief from the heat at the farm!

Two weeks ago we celebrated Mother's Day with the kiddos in the elementary school at the farm.  

 The women workers on the farm who care for the boys everyday were invited to this presentation and everyone had fun!

 The kids sang songs, 2 of the boys quoted poems, we played games, and the girls did a creative movement piece to the song "Let it Go" from Frozen.

 Solanyi

Dany and Joel caught goofing off!

This week we kick off our summer schedule of mission teams and it is a full summer! Please remember to pray for us and the other missionaries as things get busier throughout the summer!  At the end of this month we get to find out if Baby V is a boy or girl!  We'll post here and on Facebook once we get the big news!

Winter 2015 Update

Merry Christmas!  Well, almost.  Our first year of full-time ministry is going by so quickly.  Thank you all for the prayers as we continue the work God has called us to here!  We have a newsletter to update y'all on what's been going on.  If you think your church or Sunday school class would enjoy seeing it, we'd love for you to print it out and let them know about what's going on down here.  Just follow the link below.  We hope you enjoy it!

Winter Newsletter

Fall is Falling...

As I get on Facebook lately I've noticed more and more posts about fall weather, getting out the jeans and boots, grabbing a pumpkin spiced latte at Starbucks, the cool chill in the breeze.....Here we are coming to the end of rainy season, but it's mostly blue skies and sunny days all year long!

And we're ok with that! (ok so maybe there are a few clouds here and there....). Fall also means that we have reached the end of offical team season. We did have a short mens team here last week, and the month of October is full of teams, and then there's the Christmas team at the beginning of December, but that's it until next year!

We had a wonderful time this summer getting to make a lot of new friends on teams (and seeing old familiar ones!), meeting different kids' sponsors and getting to help deepen that relationship through letters in English that the kiddos had written for their sponsors, pics we put together for them to give to their sponsors, and helping translate conversations. It's awesome to watch sponsors love on their kiddos (and all the other kids too), not just with bringing them things they want or need, but spending time with them, eating meals together, communicating in all sorts of ways, giving "parental looks" and lots and lots of hugs!

We are currently still teaching English classes at school. The school year here goes from February to November, so we've almost made it through our first full year of teaching English! We've been very encouraged to hear from team members that the kids are speaking more English to them and not being shy about trying to talk in English. We're very proud of the progress they're making!

Also we feel that our relationships with the boys are continuing to grow (along with our comprehension and speaking Spanish). We were talking about nicknames one day at lunch and Carlos Daniel asked if we had any. Jeff's was Bubba (thanks Aunt Belinda!) and mine was Augie (thanks brother! lol). Then he told us his nickname was Chote. I thought I'd pretend like I misheard him and said "Chayote"? (which is the Spanish word for squash). He started laughing and to this day he calls me Augie and I call him Chayote. Then little Joel started calling him Chayote and he (Carlos Daniel) told me it was all my fault. 

Carlos Daniel aka Chayote

baby Joel and his chocolate milk

Prayer requests:

- we are still in process for our residency here in Honduras

- continued growth in our relationships with the boys

- that our Spanish would continue to improve

- continued safety driving in this country

- for the boys who don't know Christ to come to know Him, and for those that do to be an example for the others

- that in the busyness of doing missions we would not neglect our own relationship with the Father

Thank ya'll for your continual prayers! We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email at jeffandlesliev@gmail.com or send us a message on Facebook!

Today as Joel was happily sitting in my lap chattering away about something in Spanish, I thought back to when we first arrived here in Honduras......4 months ago! I can't believe it's been 4 months!
When we first arrived Joel was shy.

Then he saw us playing tag with some of the other boys and decided he wanted to join in, but really he just wanted someone running after him. To be pursued.

Isn't that what we all want? What our hearts desire? To be pursued by the One who loves us as we are.

He would run and squeal as I chased him.

Once I caught him, I'd pick him up, swing him around and tickle him. Or some combination of that. But being caught wasn't what caused those delightful squeals. It was being pursued. I would put him down and so the game would begin anew.

And now? Now he comes up to me with his arms outstretched. Wanting to be held. Held where he is safe and loved. Sometimes he comes up and puts his little hand in mine and just walks beside me. Not caring where we're going and usually rattling off 4 year old sentences in Spanish that are adorable and sometimes incomphrensible. I just smile as we walk.

Sometimes we just want Him to hold us. Hold us where we know we are safe and loved. Sometimes we have a lot to say and He just smiles and holds our hand as we walk with Him. Not caring where we're going, as long as it's with Him. Where we are safe and loved.

Sometimes he comes running, if the older boys are picking on him. He runs up, wraps his tiny arms around my legs and buries his face. As if they can't see him when he can't see them.

When trouble comes, we know where to go. And we go. Running. If I sit and he is nearby, you can know that he will crawl into my lap to sit. Happy and content. Safe and loved. And he knows it.

The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
 Jeremiah 31:3

He pursues us with an everlasting love and draws us to Himself. So that we may walk with Him for the rest of our days. He is our safehaven. Our place of rest. Our refuge. This love. His everlasting love. Is the love that we must show the world.

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

Printable Update from Honduras

Many of you who read our blog and keep up with our adventures here in Honduras have asked for something printable to share with your churches.  Below is our first printable newsletter!  Just click the link below to open a pdf that has recent news about what God is doing in our lives here as we begin ministering to the children with Forgotten Children Ministries, as well as prayer requests and praises as we go forward.  We'll send these out periodically to those on our email list, and also post them here on the website.  If you'd like to be added to our email list, please send us an email at JeffandLeslieV@gmail.com.  Blessings from Honduras!

Newsletter link:  May 2015 Printable Update

Jeff and Leslie

"I don't understand. It makes no sense."

"I don't understand. It makes no sense."
This is a phrase we find ourselves repeating multiple times a day!! As we adjust to a new culture, a new way of living, we often find ourselves shaking our heads and repeating this phrase.

When we're out driving and someone is stopped, blocking a whole lane, laying under their car (obvious car problems.....no need to pull off to the side of the road) with their legs sticking into the only remaining lane.....I don't understand. It makes no sense.

When we realize that our normal size shower curtain liner (from the US) isn't long enough to fit our normal looking shower......I don't understand. It makes no sense.

When a bus stops to pick up or let off pasengers and blocks a whole lane of traffic and there is an empty pull-off just 20 yards ahead put there just for them.....I don't understand. It makes no sense.

When people decide to cross a busy street carry babies or running with small children and there is a pedestrian bridge just a few feet away that would take them safely over the road.....I don't understand. It makes no sense.

When they tell us our stove will be in by a certain day and a week after that date, it isn't (so we go to the store only to learn that the one they were going to deliver to us has a dent in it and thus, they can't send it to us.). And when there seems to only exist 1 stove of that model in the whole country......I don't understand. It makes no sense.

Why our neighbors' friends like to park infront of our driveway when they have a party (even though we've had a car for over 2 weeks, and there is room to park where there are no driveways)......I don't understand. It makes no sense.

Why they feel the need to burn the hillsides in the middle of dry season......I don't understand. It makes no sense.

When electrical outlets in the house are upside down or sideways.....I don't understand. It makes no sense.

Sometimes the police feel the need to direct traffic (even though the traffic light is working fine) and seem to make the traffic worse......I don't understand. It makes no sense.

They sell gas grills in every store but there is only one place in the whole city where you can get your propane tank filled.......I don't understand. It makes no sense.

Notice most of our examples have to do with traffic! We spend a lot of time laughing....
But as we were driving today a song came on the radio. Here are the words to that song.

To know You gave the world

Your only son for us

To know Your name

To live within the Saviors love

And He took my place

Knowing He'd be crucified

And You loved, You loved

A people undeserving

"A people undeserving"......it makes no sense. 

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25

We Made It!!!

These past 3 (almost 4 weeks) have just flown by! We still can't believe we're here! It has been a whirlwind of shopping for a house to rent, a car and house stuff and then starting to teach English class at our school on the farm! Every day we come home from the farm completely exhausted, but happy to finally be here.

God has blessed us tremendously throughout this whole process. We were able to find a house in the same safe neighborhood as our fellow missionaries. We finally found and bought a car just last week. We had a mechanic check it out and the car salesman actually gave us a pretty good deal on it. (Please pray for us as we are now driving, and the rules of the road are totally different here.....as in, there are NO RULES!!) I like to call it "Honduran Geometry", they see a tiny space between two cars and think "yep, my car will fit in there" and then they just go for it!

We got to experience what the Hondurans mean when they say "mañana" (tomorrow) when it came to waiting on our appliances to arrive. We've also gotten to practice a ton of Spanish. We've been so blessed by our fellow missionaries' willingness to drive us wherever (to look at houses, cars, appliances, etc) and letting us stay with them while we were waiting on things to arrive.

Yesterday we completed our 1st full week of school and have taught English class three times. The first day we did review to find out what they know and where to begin. Then we started with a few of the basics (days of the week, months of the year, etc). We're so excited that they have this opportunity to learn English (and to be teaching them) and they are excited about it too.

We are thoroughly enjoying our time helping out at the school in whatever way is needed, and this next week we are looking forward to meeting with the shelter boys and beginning some discipleship.
Thank you all so much for your prayers, support and encouraging words! We look forward to sharing with you all that God is doing here in Honduras!

Time to walk....

We've been back in the States for a little over 7 weeks now and the longer we're here the easier it is to get settled back into living the way we did before. Sometimes it makes me wonder....are we crazy?

Crazy for leaving our nice house 

and selling off our cars

and leaving good paying jobs (and friends) behind?

I know there are many people who would probably agree with this sentiment and will tell you we are crazy.
When I start to wonder this, I think back to my very first trip to Honduras in 2003, and remember when God whispered to my soul "this place, these people, this is where I have called you to share my love."

I look at pictures from previous trips.

God has called us to care for the widows and orphans.

I'm reminded of the story of Peter walking on water. If you're like me, you've read/heard the story a million times! We are no longer impressed, Peter walked on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and then he started to sink yada yada. That story was a BIG deal to Peter, because he lived it!
Peter saw Jesus walking on the water. And Peter said if it's You, tell me to come to you. So Jesus said "come". Peter left the boat. The safe, secure comfortable boat. Stepped onto the water. And began to walk. Peter walked on the water. Why? Because Jesus called him.

Jesus called to us and said I want you to leave your safe boat and move to a dangerous country to share My love. He has called us to leave the security of knowing you're getting a consistent pay check, trusting Him to provide. He is calling us to leave the comfort of our home. He is calling us to trust Him. Crazy trust. Like walking on water.

"How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” Romans 10:15

Here we go....
What is He calling you to??