I give thanks to my God always, remembering you in my prayers, as I hear of the love and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones, so that your partnership in the faith may become effective in recognizing every good there is in us that leads to Christ.  Philemon 1.4-6

To the Saints of God,

   Tina and I have been asked to develop a Ministry Training School for the Diocese of Honduras in the city of La Ceiba by Bishop Lloyd Allen.  This school will involve both the clergy and lay members of the Diocese and many of you. 

   When I retire from the parochial ministry on July 1 of this year, Tina and I will become missionaries with the South American Missionary Society (SAMS).  The ministry that we have shared with the people at Holy Spirit, the Diocese, and others has formed many deep relationships and we will miss being with them.  However, we believe that because of these relationships, the ministry that the Lord has called us to will be a blessing for them as well.

  This is a bitter sweet time for us as we transition to not only leaving the parochial ministry but moving to live in Sumter, SC as well.  Our youngest daughter, Abney, has 3 years of high school left and so until she graduates, we will make 3 to 4 extended trips (4 to 6 weeks)  a year to La Ceiba to do the Ministry Training School.

  We plan to move to Sumter in July in time to settle in and get Abney ready for the school we have enrolled her in that meets her needs at this time in her precious life.  So come September, Tina and I will be able to commit full time to developing the Ministry Training School.

   We would like to invite you to join us in this ministry.  There are several ways in which you can be a part of our team; prayer and/or financially.     Please pray to see which team you believe the Lord is leading you to be on and then let us know.       

Blessings to all,                     

Fr. Joe & Tina          Easter 2008

Prayer Request

Transition from parochial ministry to missions.

The sale of our house and our move to Sumter

Establishment of our Prayer and Financial Teams

Development of the Ministry Training School

Language School

  Link to Joe and Tina's
SAMS Page

  Sunset at La Ceiba

La Ceiba Honduras is the third largest city in Honduras, and is probably the country's most vibrant. A relatively young city, it got its name from a huge Ceiba tree that was next to the beach and provided shade to the workers at the dock and locals during the afternoon. It is the capital of the department of Atlantida, one of the 18 departments of Honduras. La Ceiba has long been the operation hub of the Standard Fruit Company, producers of bananas, pineapples, grapefruits and many other agricultural goods that Honduras exports. Although La Ceiba is not their port for major shipping activities, it is their administrative hub. The main port for their exports is Puerto Castilla, opposite of Trujillo in the beautiful Bay of Trujillo, 100 miles east of La Ceiba.

http://www.honduras.com/hondurastips/english/laceiba.htm