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Nelson Mejía and
Kara Thompson Mejía
and Stephen
Talanga Honduras
email: nelsonkara@123.hn
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Kara Thompson was a SAMS Canada
Missionary in Honduras for four years. Before the end of her term
she met Nelson Mejía. They were married in January 2002, and
Stephen was born in October. They have  responsibility
for 2 churches north of Tegucigalpa. In Talanga the church has moved
from their home to a room at the back of the hardware store. And 1/2 hour drive north at
Guaimaca, a lovely church
building is located. They also pastor the boys at the Episcopal
Church's 'El Hogar Farm School' just outside Talanga
Nelson and Kara are pictured here with their vehicle which also
serves as a bus for church members and, when needed, a hearse.
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SAMS News
(Winter 2003)
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Many things have
happened since the last issue. First of all we would like to give God and
all of you thanks for all your prayers regarding our ministry here in
Talanga. As you all know, our main concern was to find a piece of land to
build our church, and for such a reason we asked for your prayers.
As you may know, a local businessman, Don Argelio, has
lent us a room at the back of his hardware store to hold our Sunday
services, as our house was becoming too small. Now, this place has become
too small as well, which is why a piece of land is necessary to be able to
build our church. Fortunately this same man has donated 800 square meters
in a new colony that he will be starting, so with the approval of the
Bishop we will buy three more pieces at only $1500 Can each. What an
answer to our prayers.
We have now finished the year at the agricultural school
and had the graduation ceremony in early November, which the Bishop
attended. It was a good day, especially for the seven youngsters who
graduated. We are now finished there until February, when the school year
begins once again.
Immediately following the graduation ceremony, we went
with the Bishop to visit the church in Guiamaca. Many of the church
members were there to meet and greet him. He seemed to be pleased with
what is happening in Guiamaca. Then, he went to visit the land in Talanga
where the church is going to be, and quite liked it.
This past Sunday we held our second Friends day, which
proved to be a great success. The first time we held it, 13 showed up, of
which six have stayed. This time, we had an attendance of 25 friends,
almost double. The members were really excited to see the church full and
needing all of the pews. The following Wednesday, Kara visited the homes
of all 25 who had attended, asking how they had felt on Sunday and if they
have plans for returning. Except for a couple who weren't too sure yet,
they all were pleased with the service and intended to return. Let us pray
that God will continue working in their hearts.
We had the normal Eucharistic service, but with an
evangelistic sermon, inviting them to make a personal commitment to the
Lord, inviting Him into their lives. One of the ladies who arrived for the
first time shared with us afterwards that during the prayer to receive
Christ, she felt a beautiful sensation within her and sensed that Christ
lives in her life. Praise God for all that he has done in our lives and in
those of the church members.
Nelson and I are grateful to the Lord, and to all of
you, for the opportunity to serve God in these two communities. There are
so many needs, and the people are so hungry and need more of God in their
lives. These people need full-time attention, which is only possible with
your help.
We have been quite low financially. so much so that this
month only $360 US was deposited in our
account, less than half of what it costs us to live.
The rent of our house costs us $200 Can, not including
the telephone and the lights. Since we live in Talanga, connecting to the
internet requires a long distance call, apart from all the calls that we
have to make into the city of Tegucigalpa. The price of gas keeps rising,
and we often lack the money to put gas into the car. Life is difficult for
a family of three, with a young baby, especially living away from the
city.
Thank you once again for helping us minister to the
needs in these two communities of Talanga and Guiamaca. We truly
appreciate your support and your prayers.
Nelson and Kara
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4 November 2003
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We are busy running two churches, and in the midst of the graduation time
for the agricultural school which is Friday.
Here in Talanga, we are meeting in a room at the back of the hardware store
waiting to find money to buy the piece of land to begin building our church.
Yes, we have a piece of land of 800 square metres for our church building
here in Talanga. This is so exciting. We just need the money now. In
Guaimaca we are also busy with Bible Studies, and evangelism methods for
church growth such as a Friend Day, which we are holding this Sunday. The
new Cursillistas are really excited and are helping a lot to help for the
church growth in both areas. We have 5 in both Talanga and Guaimaca. Nelson
along with another pastor in Talanga, gives a weekly devotional to the
police that has proven to be successful. They even bring the inmates to hear
them, and this past Wednesday there were two thieves that heard about Christ
and afterwards accepted Him to enter into their lives. Glory be to God.
Kara is also busy with the youth. She is part of the diocesan youth
committee and they have various plans such as an upcoming diocesan youth
convention. The committee are also talking about putting her as the
president but is praying about it as this involves a lot of work. What is
tying us down right now is the lack of funds. We have a suburban, which eats
up a lot of gas and with our commitments in both Guaimaca, and meetings in
Tegucigalpa it proves difficult. This has not stopped us from meeting our
obligations by the Grace of God. Stephen is now a year old and is at the
moment learning how to walk so is starting to be quite a handful but he is a
joy to watch. Thanks for all your support.
Yours in Christ,
Kara, Nelson and Stephen
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From
SAMS NEWS
Fall 2003
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Report
in from Honduras
Since our return in May, we have been working hard at
building relationships and implementing different strategies so that the
parishes will grow.
In Guaimaca we recently held what we called
"Friends Day", when each member invited a friend to church.
Beforehand, a month had been spent preparing for this event. The first
week they had to think of who they would invite. The second week they
brought the invitation to that person. During the third, they visited the
person, and on the last week, they prayed each day that God would prepare
their hearts. On the day itself, they brought their friend to church and
sat next to them, serving them in every way. We had 13 new adults in
church that day, not including the children, and a total of 70 people in
all.
This will be repeated in two months when these new
members will invite a friend of their own, in the same manner. This
strategy proved effective because it allowed the members to feel useful.
Seeing their friends in church made them feel proud that they had had a
part of bringing those individuals. The following week, Nelson and I
visited each of the newcomers, and each has indicated an interest in
returning. From July 24-27, we had a women's Cursillo which three
women attended from Guiamaca and four from Talanga. Each commented on how
they had thought they had known Jesus, but realized that they didn't. Some
were freed from problems that had held them captive for years. One lady
from Talanga testified how she had held an extreme hatred towards the man
who had killed her brother, and that the Lord had delivered her from this
during the weekend. She now feels the love of Christ in her life, and
promised to share this same freedom with her mother and sister who are
suffering from the same problem. These women returned changed, and excited
about Christ. They on their own are going out visiting others, inviting
them to church, when just a few weeks before they believed that this was
our job alone, as the ministers. I am regularly meeting with them each
week, encouraging them to keep the fire burning within them. The men's
Cursillo will be from October 2-5, so we are praying that God will work in
their hearts as well.
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From
SAMS NEWS
Spring 2003
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Support Sought for Nelson, Kara Mejía in New
Venture in Honduras
Kara Thompson de Mejia, her husband Nelson Mejia, and their infant son
Stephen recently arrived in Canada for three months deputation to raise
support for their ministry in the Honduran communities of Talanga and
Guaimaca. The young family will be visiting Canada until late May. Nelson,
who is studying for ordination, and Kara, who has played a key role in
developing youth leadership in the Diocese of Honduras, have been given
responsibility for two important new church plants in the communities
named above. The couple will report directly to the Bishop of Honduras,
the Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen. They hope to raise commitments of $28,000
Canadian per year to underwrite their ministry.
SAMS Canada has formalized an agreement with Bishop Allen and Nelson
and Kara, whereby SAMS works with the Mejias on a project basis, for three
years. SAMS is delighted to continue its association with Kara, who
previously served as a SAMS mission partner one year in Paraguay, and four
years in Honduras. The agreement also reflects SAMS Canada’s ongoing
desire to work directly with national pastors as a means of helping
national churches develop their own internal resources.
Kara and Nelson are seeking opportunities to present
their ministry to Canadian groups and organizations during the next few
months, particularly in New Brunswick and the Atlantic region. Parishes or
individuals wishing to contact Kara and Nelson, can do so through Kara’s
parents, the Reverend Gordon and Belle Thompson, at 506-693-9636.
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