Summer 2015

Jennifer with 3 of her students, 1997

  Serving with WGO since 1997!

1997-Jennifer came to teach at Centro de Vida with WGO

2000- Robert moves to Tegucigalpa, where we met and fell in love

2001- We married and Robert taught WGO older youth

2002- We moved to Rancho Ebenezer to teach together

2003-05- Moved back to the US temporarily to be closer to family        

2005- Moved back to Honduras and began mentoring WGO young

          adults at the Bridge House, where we lived for 6 ½ years

2006- Rodolfo moved into our home, becoming part of our family

2011- Robert was asked to be WGO’s Chief Operating Officer,

          overseeing our children’s home, young adults, and serve teams

Rodolfo at age 6, living at Rancho Ebenezer

Jennifer with WGO kids at Centro de Vida, 1997

WGO Mission House staff, part of our Honduran "family"

As we began building a relationship with a local Honduran friend, she asked about how the Bridge House and way we were building responsibility into the lives of the young adults there. She then shared about her own story.

   

 She was a single, 65 year old woman, with no retirement in site, and busting her tail, working to sheer exhaustion. She had 11 family members living in her house, with 7 adults all at home, none working, and kids dropping out of school.  She was desperately needing advice, trying to find a way to get the adults in her home busy working and financially helping instead of being a drain on her. After talking with us, she went home, gave an ultimatum to her adult children, got the kids and grandkids focused on being successful in school instead of dropping out, and was thrilled to report to us the renewed hope she had and the relief she felt as her family became more productive and helpful in her home.   

Jennifer's brother and his boys came to visit in 2008

One of the main things we have missed while living in Honduras is our family.  We see each member of our family for only a few days every year while we are in the U.S.  3 of our nieces and nephews were babies when we first moved to Honduras and 2 more were born while we’ve been away.  Most of our grandparents have passed away now, and our parents are getting older. Even with modern communi-cation, we still miss them greatly and are sad at the time we have missed together.

     But God has been faithful with giving us “family” in Honduras that has made up for some of our felt loss.  He has provided some solid friendships in other missionaries, in local church family, and with Honduran friends, allowing these relationships to become like family to us as well. 

6 of the Bridge House youth that lived with us, 2005-2011

   We had friends give us Dave Ramsey’s financial program to teach to the youth at WGO’s Bridge House.  Several youth still say, years later, that the financial teaching they received at the Bridge House has helped them immensely in their adult lives. 

     We have continued teaching Dave Ramsey’s program to adult Bible study groups, as well as our church’s adult Sunday School class.  It has been a blessing in the lives of many missionaries too, encouraging us to be wiser with our money.

Our marriage in 2001

Missionary Essentials

  Teachable   Flexible Humble

   Quick to Listen  Adventurous

  Sensitive  Seeking God & Growing

 aCommunity-building  Patient

  Encouraging   Positive-thinking

 aCulturally  Teachable    Flexible

We praise God for His Faithfulness in our lives as He’s allowed us to serve in Honduras with World Gospel Outreach

Spring 2015

     The beginning of 2015 has been very full for the Butts family.  Rudy has been busy with school activities, even managing some occasional study time.  He’s a pretty social guy so he is always on the lookout for a chance to hang out with his friends.  Jennifer has spent a lot of time this year creating an art history class from scratch, in order to meet some changing school requirements by the Honduran Ministry of Education. (She’s teaching high school art at the school Rudy attends.)  That has kept her busier than she really needs to be, but it’s also been interesting to dive into a subject she’s passionate about.  I (Robert) have been managing a busy season of ministry Serve Teams at our mission house, as well as, working through changes to our children’s educational model at Rancho Ebenezer.  In the midst of busy schedules, it is always important to remind ourselves that work is part of our expression of worship to God, especially on those days when work feels more like work and less like worship. 

     This time of year is always very enjoyable.  Each Semana Santa (Holy Week), we take some vacation time in Nicaragua and spend a few days at a retreat with other missionaries who serve throughout Central America.  It is always a refreshing and fun time to visit with friends we really only see once a year.  Palm Sunday is a wonderful time of worship together with these friends, and we’ll be back in Tegucigalpa to celebrate Resurrection Sunday with our local church here.  We are very fortunate to live and work in a country that really recognizes the significance of this time each year.   

     At WGO, our children’s program at Rancho Ebenezer has begun to grow.  In 2014, we were able to add 9 new children, and we are planning to add an additional 10 children in 2015.  The program has also recently been recognized by the governmental agency that oversees children’s programs in Honduras to be their preferred center for placing children in need.  God has really blessed the work over the years and continues to provide human and financial resources to meet the needs for the children at Rancho Ebenezer.  It is also gratifying to know that we’ve found favor with these agencies with whom we partner.  I have recently felt burdened to regularly pray for the leaders of this government agency who have the responsibility to place these children in need.  I believe they truly have the most difficult job in Honduras, and they need God’s strength each day.

     We’ve been encouraged with the progress that is happening in the new ministry project in Belize.  It seems like there’s not a week that goes by without some significant advancement in preparing the property tobegin ministering there.  Each week I’m able to share about the progress with our teams, and each week there is something new and exciting to report.  Just last week, we just made a provisional electricity connection.  As I write this now, we are drilling a well.  Pray that we find water.  We treasure water, and no one understands that better than you Californians reading this.

     I (Robert) will be traveling to the U.S. in April for a meeting.  Since this is such a busy year, I won’t be able to schedule regular furlough time, so I’ve extended this trip to include 2 weeks in California from April 6^th to April 21^st.  I hope to be able to see as many as possible during this short trip.  Thank you all so much for your continual prayers and support for Jennifer, Rudy, and I.  We are blessed to serve in Honduras.  May the Lord bless you also as you serve Him.  

                                                                                                              Robert, Jennifer, and Rudy Butts           

Fall 2014

Rodolfo and Robert in front of Mission House

        As I write this update, Jennifer, Rodolfo, and I are at our mission house hosting the last WGO serve team of 2014.  As we hear news of cold snowy weather in the U.S., it is a pleasant 65-70 degrees here in Tegucigalpa (visitors are welcome, by the way).  This is the time of year when things slow down a bit.  Most of our staff will soon be on vacation, the office will be quiet so I can make some progress on projects, and I might even take a few vacation days myself. 

     

WGO missionaries enjoying Thanksgiving together 

    

    
  





As I grow older, reflection has become an important part of my life.  Maybe, I just have more to reflect upon.  A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of sharing with a group of missionaries the story of how I came to be in Honduras.  I frequently get to speak in front of groups, but not often about my personal stories or of the work God has done in my life.  I never would have imagined that I’d live in another country, and actually consider that country home.  I really never thought I’d live this far from the beach and be happy about it. 

    

Jennifer & her mom (Carol) enjoying time with WGO kids, 1997

      Jennifer first moved to Honduras in 1997, and I moved here in 2000.  Over the years, we’ve had many unique experiences.  There’s nothing like living in a third-world country to enhance your story collection.  One day, we may write a book about it.  But ours is a story of God’s rich blessing in our lives.  Jennifer and I are witness to sacrifice and generosity on a regular basis.  As I think of the many missionaries we work with, every single one has given up much to be part of our ministry team.  They have left jobs, careers, lifestyles, family, and friends to share God’s love to people they don’t even know.  I have heard it said that managing missionaries is like herding cats.  While that is actually true, this is a very special group of cats.  We also get to see generosity displayed on a regular basis.  As a ministry leader, I see the amazing ways that God uses people to further His purposes.  Personally, we are also recipients of generosity from many of you who give financially and make our participation in this work possible.

Some of our key missionary staff at the Mission House

    

   In this calendar year, WGO celebrated 30 years of ministry in Honduras.  Jennifer and I have been blessed to be part of about half of that.  Many changes have taken place over the years, and we are sure that many more will happen in the future, like Belize.  Last month, we were able to visit our new ministry property in Belize.  It only took 30 years to expand to another country, and it is exciting to think of the good work that will be done there.  Each of you are a part of this work.  You have been there to hear our stories, pray for us, and help us feel remembered when we visit you.  We love you all, and pray the same rich blessing on your lives that God has graced us with. 

Spring 2014

              The Butts family has been as busy as ever these last many months with some pretty exciting new things.  Right before Christmas, we were able to complete, or almost complete, the process for Rodolfo’s adoption with the U.S. government.  The Honduran adoption process completed last spring, but we’ve been waiting for the U.S. to recognize the adoption.  They have now done that.  In December, we were able to travel to the U.S. so that Rodolfo could be physically present on U.S. soil.  With that, he was given a permanent visa and the only remaining step appears to be giving an oath of allegiance that will grant him U.S. citizenship.  We hope that will take place this summer. 

Jennifer's students creating fun artwork

                Jennifer has been teaching art at the bilingual school that Rodolfo attends.  This has been a good experience for her as it gives her the artistic outlet she needs while helping out a little with the family finances.  She has been able to build some neat relationships with the other teachers and administrators at the school.  In addition to this work, she is still active at World Gospel Outreach, helping out by managing our corporate communications plan, assisting in our Mission House store, and providing support to our other staff.

Some of WGO's missionary staff and kids

While WGO has ministered to Hondurans for now over 30 years, the impact has extended well beyond these borders to other countries by people who had their first experience in foreign missions with WGO and are now serving in other corners of the world.   We have always known that God would one day expand the physical ministry of WGO also beyond the borders of Honduras.  In recent months, Robert has spent time travelling to Belize with the other WGO leadership to fulfill a charge given by the board of directors to see if Belize is that next place of ministry for WGO.  It has been an exciting time and we are humbled to be part of what could be such an important moment in WGO's history. Please be in prayer for the WGO Board of Directors that God would give them the discernment to know where He would lead this ministry next.  Pray for Robert as an expansion of ministry would mean additional workload as well. 

We consider ourselves more than blessed by God and each one of you who care for us, pray for us, and support the work God is doing through us at World Gospel Outreach.  God has been so faithful!

Fall 2013

        The last few months have certainly been busy and exciting for the Butts family.  While spending the entire summer in Honduras was not part of our initial plan, being here gave us many opportunities for good things.  Rodolfo had the opportunity to work the whole summer as a translator with the WGO Serve Teams.  Rodolfo did a great job and received many high compliments for both his translating abilities and his heart to serve the Honduran people and the missionary team members. 

     Being in Honduras gave Robert the chance to meet many of the short-term missionaries who come in the summer months while we are usually away.  One of WGO’s most important areas of ministry is actually to the North American team members who come and serve with us.  It is great to watch them as their eyes are opened (often for the first time) to begin understanding issues of poverty that we deal with each day and learn to see Hondurans not only as those less fortunate, but as people created in God’s image and heirs to God’s Kingdom. 

     The summer was full of work projects.  I was able to become intimately involved and educated in the workings of a septic system as we had to respond to a crisis that involved rebuilding septic fields and all sorts of other horrible things.  It was quite an experience, and I’m pleased that everything is now working better than ever. 

     At Rancho Ebenezer, we undertook a major communications project bringing internet access to the ranch.  For more than a decade, internet communication at the ranch has been a challenge, if not impossible.  We were able to contract with a local company to bring a consistent internet connection that is now providing opportunities to enhance education at Ebenezer Academy, improve communication with other parts of the organization, and make it possible for ranch families to connect with friends and family. 

     Jennifer's college roommate met one of our ranch missionaries (Ron Langejans) a few years ago and just got married to him this summer.  Jennifer got to be a part of the wedding and will soon enjoy having Christy and her son living much closer to us.  The photo is of Jennifer and Christy back in college...

     Our adoption process is in the final stages.  The Honduran side of the adoption is complete, and we are now waiting to complete the U.S. side of things.  All of our paperwork has been finalized, and the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador now has it all to review.  We hope to learn very soon that all has been approved so that Rodolfo can receive his visa, followed by U.S. citizenship.

     Thank you all for your prayers in these things.  We consider ourselves very blessed to be living in Honduras and witness to God’s work here.  Thank you for being a part of this work through your prayers and gifts.  We couldn’t be here with this support from you.   

Summer 2013

Hi everyone,

       We would like to briefly update you on our lives. We are sad to say that we will NOT be able to travel to the U.S. this summer.  As we have recently adopted Rodolfo, he has a new last name and he now needs a new U.S. visa to travel.  We have been working for months on U.S. Embassy requirements to get him the new visa but it does not look like it will be happening any time soon.  It is taking a lot longer than we hoped, and we are bummed about not being able to travel and see you all.  We were looking forward to again being in Arkansas and California to see family and friends, and it’s taken some time to get used to the fact that it does not look like it’s going to happen this summer.

        As our plans have changed, we needed to adjust our hearts and minds for a summer in Honduras.  It has been a nice treat to enjoy the cooler weather that the rainy season brings.  It’s also been nice to continue going to church this summer with our friends in Honduras, and staying involved there.  Being in Honduras has given Rodolfo a chance to work with WGO weekly summer teams, learning about work and earning some money.   Robert has continued to work at the office and travel to the ranch.  Being in Honduras this summer has giving Robert a chance to spend focused time on how to provide the Mission House and Ranch with better internet and phone options, linking the two ministry sites better.  Jennifer continues to make candles and chocolate-covered coffee beans for WGO to sell to teams.  She also continues with paperwork for the U.S. Embassy for Rodolfo’s travel visa, allowing him the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen. 

       Please know that we really miss getting to spend time with each of you.  It is something we look forward to each year and it will make next summer’s trip even sweeter.  As we are not able to travel, we are also unable to speak with people in person about what God is doing through WGO and in our lives.  We also won’t have the opportunity to share about our financial needs.  Please don’t forget about us in your prayers and in your giving.  We appreciate all of you and love having you as part of our team. 

Robert and Jennifer Butts

Spring 2013

    Our first and most exciting news is that we have now officially adopted Rodolfo after having him live in our home for almost 7 years. Adoption in Honduras has been virtually closed for many years due to child trafficking issues, but recently they decided to reopen the option to adopt, so we began the process of getting paperwork ready, picking a lawyer to work with us, and preparing ourselves for the opportunity to have Rodolfo legally as our son.

    The day we signed off on the adoption papers, Robert continued our discussion with Rodolfo now in more detail of how earthly adoption, Rodolfo’s specifically, is a beautiful image of how God spiritually adopted each of us as His children. God handpicked each of us in our sin and nakedness and without hope. He chose to adopt us  into  His  family,  to  change  our  name, our identity, our hope, and our future. It is natural to be amazed and excited about the new identity that Rodolfo has received through adoption into our family. Unfortunately, time often dulls the image that we have of our own adoption into the Father's family. We love getting to look at Rodolfo's situation as a beautiful physical image of the spiritual transformation God has done for us. We rejoice in the good news of Rodolfo's adoption, and we rejoice in your and our adoption as well.

     God's faithfulness has been shown to us in ministry as well. World Gospel Outreach celebrated a very significant year as we finished 2012. Our medical and evangelism Serve Teams saw more patients and shared the Gospel of Christ with over 100,000 Hondurans last year. God brought us the personnel, resources, and protection needed to continue this work. The Pastoral Discipleship program is also catching its stride. Pastors in the churches where we serve are meeting weekly to study and grow, and they are anxious to do even more this year. The Bridge House youth are doing well balancing full-time work with university studies and showing continued growth in maturity and preparedness. The children's program at Rancho Ebenezer is progressing well through the transition to an improved model that began last year. We are positioned well to add more children into the program. There is so much need in this area, and God has been faithful to make a way to serve these children in need.

    Thank you all for your continued prayers and financial support for the work we do at World Gospel Outreach. We thank God for each of you. It is a joy to have an opportunity to be hands and feet as God furthers His Kingdom in Honduras.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Robert and Jennifer Butts

Christmas 2012

         Well it's almost Christmas time again and I am always amazed when I stop and think of what Mary and Joseph went through at the beginning of Jesus’ birth. I was just recently studying Elizabeth George’s Loving God with All Your Mind and she brought me to the topic just at the right time, and it makes me wonder...

 

 

         What's the correct response when God calls us to do something really big, a turning point for our lives? And what is MY response when He asks ME to do something really big, life changing? Imagine when God came to Mary and told her she was chosen to carry the Savior baby and to raise Him as her son. Image what Joseph must have been thinking, if the whole pregnancy thing was actually going to happen as the angel said, and how it would affect their future. Talk about needing to go against the flow, being shunned by society for doing the right thing that others couldn't even begin to believe or understand...

 

 

        Mary's response to the angel's announcement that would quickly turn her world upside-down was, "Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." A maidservant was one “whose will was not her own but who rather was committed to another…obligated to perform her master’s will without question or delay” She would sit silently waiting for signals from her master, trained to obey his/her every command.  “Her one purpose in life was to obey her Master’s will…quickly, quietly, and without hesitation.” (taken from Loving God with All Your Mind)

 

 

 And so I wonder, Lord, am I ready and willing to obey You…quickly, quietly, and without hesitation?  Help me to be more like that as Your maidservant, waiting and ready to serve You.

Fall 2012






      It's been a great year so far for us and we’re excited as we move toward the final part of 2012. The Mission House has had more medical/evangelical teams than ever before, allowing more North Americans to have an opportunity to serve and gain a more international ministry experience while helping so many of our poorer communities in Tegucigalpa. Teams have had even more opportunity to share the Gospel with local Hondurans while meeting some basic needs of the people.

       The ranch has always been known to provide an excellent bilingual education for the kids. Staff residing at the ranch spends quality time with the children, enhancing their growth and development. And now Robert is working hard with other leadership of WGO to see how to best care for the children at Rancho Ebenezer, moving in a slightly different direction and looking for mentors to live with the children and help care for and instruct them alongside other Honduran and North American staff already living at the ranch.

     The Bridge House is doing well with new faces and more preparation at life as young adults. Several of our young ladies are working in secretarial work for ministries throughout the city of Tegucigalpa. One of our young ladies is taking a variety of artisan classes; another took some graphic art classes, while still others continue to pursue their desired college studies.

     We personally had a great time in the States this summer, getting a chance to see family again as well as friends and supporters. It's always such a fun and encouraging time for us to get another chance to see so many of you while we are there. Thank you all for your financial and prayer support for us while in Honduras. We appreciate it all and love to see God work through you all as He provides for and moves in us. Thank you again. 

          

          

April-June 2012

             The last few months have been very busy, but also very rewarding.  On many fronts, World Gospel Outreach has been having a great year.   There are more evangelism medical team members coming to Honduras to serve with us this year than ever before.  This means that more and more Hondurans will hear the Gospel of Christ.  It is exciting to see how God is working in the lives of Honduran people from those who come to the brigade sites to the pastors who continue to minister when we leave to the staff of WGO who continue to grow in faith and their commitment to serve.

I am privileged to be a part of some great innovations to the children’s program at Rancho Ebenezer.  For years, we’ve had a desire to bring more children into the ranch program.  The need is so great in Honduras due to the social problems that exist here.  There are other children’s programs in the country, both government and private centers.  However, so many of them provide substandard care for children.  At Rancho Ebenezer, we have always provided excellent care for children, but we’ve not been successful at growing the program in a sustainable way.  The important changes we are making will allow us to care for more children, perhaps double and triple the current level, as well as, continue to provide a safe, nurturing environment where healthy mentoring can take place.  It is vital that we take these steps.  For every child that we are unable to bring into the program to provide a high level of care, that child will remain in either a government or other private center where the care is much lower.

           It is our prayer that the children’s program will set a standard for how to care for children in need and do it in a sustainable way.  This is an opportunity for us to improve on the best aspects of our program and exhibit good stewardship at the same time.

   

           Jennifer, Rodolfo, and I will be traveling to the U.S.  We will be in Arkansas from June 14-July 4.  We will then be in California from July 4-July 26.  We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible, and are excited to be able to share what God is doing here in Honduras through World Gospel Outreach.    Our email address is robjenbutts@gmail.com and our U.S. cell phone number is (559) 410-2576 while we are in the States. Please feel free to call or email us if you have time to get together. We always love seeing as many of you as we can.