Roatan Alive Mission

  July 30 -  Roatán is a little slice of paradise. But away from the glitz and glam of the tourist spots, some live under some very challenging conditions. During the COVID years when it was not possible for the mission to visit the island, the Roatan Alive Mission with the help of Pastor Rupert started a food distribution program to meet the dire needs of families struggling especially due to the lack of work due to tourism in the island. This has continued since under the supervision of Pastor Rupert. Earlier in the week, the team packed about 100 10lb bags filled with staples like rice, flour, toilet paper, salt, sugar etc. The team distributed these along with clothing and toys to two areas, one where the residents have no running water or electricity. The recipients were extremely appreciative for the support.

Tuesday July 28 - During our time of devotion this morning, Pastor Darrell shared a message about the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 men. Reminding us that as followers of Jesus that there are things that he asks us to do but then others that only God can in His power. He also highlighted that while the disciples were receiving thanks from the  multitudes while they distributed the food that they would have been mindful to give praise to the Lord who had miraculously provided it. Little did we know how meaningful this message would be later that evening. The Men’s Gathering has become a very popular event over the past number of years especially for men who rarely attend church events other than weddings and funerals. This year men turned out in record numbers, 115, locals from various parts of the island, as well as , 15 men from the Roatan Alive team. The event started with a welcome by Tio Charles then  worship music lead by Erick and Dan. This was followed by the shar...

  Monday July 27 - After a blessed day of camp, we had a Young Adults event in the evening.  Pastor Joel preached about being made a new creation through Jesus. And how our past - no matter how broken, doesn't prevent us from serving God in the future.  These young adults participated in a "Shark Tank" style event. Where they came up with ideas for ministries in their communities. Ideas spanned from a youth community centre, to support for single moms, increasing access to potable water and garbage disposal systems, to a women's life group, and to evangelizing and supporting the elderly through home visits.  As the groups shared, there was a mighty move of the Holy Spirit. One of the Roatán young adults, Holly, testified that the life group she started, was born from meeting a group of ladies at her table at last year's 2025 Roatán Alive event! And a friend at her table, shared how God had answered prayer for community through that life group.  Then another sist...

  Monday July 27 - Today was kids camp day 1! It was a little stressful to coordinate last minute details - like fixing the schedule (thank you Simone for pointing out the errors), printing out all the registration sheets, and praying fervently that God would provide counselors.  God answered all the prayers! A powerful testimony of God's provision as we started with 4 counselors around 11:30 am and ended up with around 12 counselors by the time camp started at 1:30 pm. And ended up with approximately 20 counselors as the camp ended.  Darcie was spot on with her prediction of us having 200 campers join us for camp day 1. The teams of campers cycled through stations of snacks, games, Bible memory verses, crafts and a Bible lesson.  As the siren (Erick's voice) rang, it was time to switch to the next station and the whole team left the class. But then the sweetest moment - one little boy came back from the team and ran back in and gave Brianna a hug :) We also praise G...

  Sunday July 26 - In the morning, we went to Esbir to set up for the youth conference but as we began preparing, we found out that the night before, someone had broken in and cut the sound system extension cord. A few people gathered and began praying. Despite the opposition, we found a solution and were able to lead the planned time of worship with the youth. At the start of the youth conference, when we gathered for worship, I noticed a lot of youth that were more shy. As I was standing at the front speaking, I was able to see the way they got more comfortable, singing, jumping, dancing on stage, and praising God together. I loved being able to witness that, the love they had and the fire and excitement behind their praise.  During the message, I noticed how the points really stuck with the youth and how they were excited to participate or share what they had learned. One of the youth had even shared how he had decided to give his life to Christ.  I was privileged to s...

  Saturday July 25 - The Women's Conference at Roatan Alive Mission always draws a large number of women from the community. On this small island, where society is still largely shaped by a patriarchal culture, many women are often overlooked and treated unfairly. Through the stories of women in the Bible, Sister Tara encouraged every woman to recognize her true worth and to see herself as a beloved daughter of God. Her prayer was that they would discover the value God has given them, be willing to grow and change, and have the courage to step forward and make a difference in their families and communities. The conference also offered a variety of workshops that addressed the different challenges women face throughout life. Topics ranged from self-worth and building healthy friendships to parenting and even caring for our health during menopause. These practical sessions equipped the women with encouragement and wisdom for every stage of life. During worship, as I looked around and...