Welcome, Mary Faith!

 Please read the following in your best rap artist voice: Yo, yo, yo. Mary Faith is in the house! Okay, that was fun, right? Now that we’ve had our moment, let’s take this opportunity to officially welcome Mary Faith to Gracias and to Sowers4Pastors!

While it’s true that Mary Faith is currently in a house in Gracias, she’s not yet in her own house. She’s staying in Brandy and Rachel’s guest room while they work on finding her a home in a safe and suitable area. However, with S4P just wrapping up the second coffee harvest and just finished hosting a team from Edgewater Alliance Church (not to mention being in the thick of team season in general), house-hunting time has been limited.

Mary Faith with family

As you can imagine, moving to a new country comes with its fair share of challenges. Brandy put it this way: “She left her culture, her family, her language — everything — to serve the Lord. We are grateful for her and excited to work with her for as many years as she stays.”

Some of the challenges of moving internationally aren’t the ones you’d immediately think of — like figuring out where to buy nail clippers! Rachel explained, “That’s a simple thing, but if you don’t know the word, it’s hard to find them. In Gracias, I would probably go to the pharmacy rather than the grocery store. But in the U.S., it can be one and the same, with a pharmacy inside a grocery store.” It’s these little adjustments that make for a unique transition.

So far, Rachel and Brandy have only had one day to help Mary Faith house hunt, and even that was a learning experience. For example, she was surprised to find that in Honduras, it’s not uncommon for homes to lack kitchen cabinets. Rachel shared, “Half of the houses I’ve lived in didn’t have cabinets. A lot of homes just have a counter, and you put a curtain underneath it to store things.”

Rachel also pointed out that adjusting to a new culture is challenging enough for a young person who is used to relying on others. But for Mary Faith — an empty nester who is accustomed to having the answers — it’s a different kind of challenge.

Initially, S4P wanted to make sure Mary Faith had time to rest before jumping into work. But by day three of “resting,” she announced that she was bored and was quickly put to work! Since then, she’s been staying busy, going out with the EAC team, and helping with office tasks like updating children’s profiles in the system.

The days ahead will continue to be full of activity. In addition to finding a home, she’ll need to open a bank account and take care of all the logistical details that come with an international move. She is also continuing to raise funds, as she stepped out on faith and moved before reaching 100% of her financial support. (If you'd like to financially support Mary Faith as she works with Sowers4Pastors, click here, and chose "Mary Faith Yoder support" as the purpose of the donation.)

Please pray for Mary Faith as she adjusts to life in Honduras and her role in the ministry. Pray for the perfect house that will meet all of her needs. And stay tuned — Mary Faith will be sharing more about her experiences in the near future!

 - posted by Christi

Coffee, Trucks, and Mud: A Week in the Life of Sowers4Pastors

“I don’t know where to start,” Brandy admitted.

Yes, those were his first words after the greetings were out of the way during our call to discuss this week’s blog post. As every good cop show has taught us, the best place to start is the beginning. But in this case, the beginning is a bit muddy. And while we will get around to talking about actual mud, let’s start with something more universally appealing: coffee.

Coffee

At the end of 2024, Brandy was already thinking ahead, wondering how he would juggle coffee harvest season while hosting mission teams. The harvest has been good this year, which is obviously a major praise, but it still comes with its own set of challenges. In particular, the Lighthouse team—whose sponsorship program is the largest—was set to arrive, and there was some concern about whether the coffee would demand attention at the same time. Coffee is harvested in batches, collecting what is ripe and leaving what is not ready yet. The final harvest was likely to happen the same time as the team.

As it turns out, coffee operates on its own schedule.

“It wasn’t in our hands because it all depends on the coffee,” Brandy explained. “But the coffee allowed us to wait a week. It was ripe that week, but not so ripe that we couldn’t delay the harvest.”

That delay was a blessing, not just because of staffing logistics but because of one crucial resource: trucks.

Trucks

Speaking of which… not everything the last couple of weeks has run as smoothly as a well-brewed cup of Honduran coffee. A couple of trucks are currently out of commission, and on the Thursday of Lighthouse’s visit, one of the largest trucks decided to take an unscheduled break. It ran fine all day, was parked for the nightly devotional, and then promptly refused to start afterward.

Thankfully, the Lighthouse team was able to finish their work without any transportation hiccups. A mechanic has already revived one of the trucks, but the other two are still awaiting repairs.

Mud

And now, we’ve arrived at the mud.

The weather in and around Gracias has been unpredictable the last couple of weeks. The mornings have been drizzly, but by 10:00 AM, the sun is back in full force. As you might guess, drizzle plus dirt roads equals mud. And muddy roads mean slippery, slow travel.

On Sunday of the Life Community Church team's trip, it took Brandy and Rachel an extra 45 minutes to get to church due to the road conditions. Thankfully, the afternoon sun has helped dry things out—at least until the next round of rain.

When asked if the mud made it easier to install a playground during LCC's visit, Brandy just laughed.

“No,” he said. “But we’re went to play in the mud anyway!”

Prayer Requests

As always, we appreciate your prayers. Please pray for:

• Continued safety for the teams and staff.
• Quick repairs for all vehicles.
• Safe travels despite the mud.
• A smooth coffee harvest.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us—whether through prayer, sponsorship, or simply following along. Your support means more than you know!

- posted by Christi.

The Ripple Effect of Giving

Whenever a staff member at Sowers4Pastors hands off a phone to someone from a visiting team for blog post fodder, it’s a delightful surprise! It feels a bit like when a heralding trumpet player steps forward to play a dramatic “Do-do-do-dooooo!” before a royal proclamation — or in a 1980s Imperial margarine commercial. So, without further ado… Hear ye! Hear ye! We had an interview with Corbin from the Lighthouse team of last week. Do-do-do-dooooo!

The sixteen-member Lighthouse team arrived in Gracias late on a Saturday night, eager to spend a week distributing backpacks. Corbin and his wife, Emily, are no strangers to the backpack program. When their friends, the Johnsons, announced they were moving to South Carolina, they left behind an opportunity that Corbin and Emily had been praying about — a way to increase their ministry involvement by stepping into the Johnsons’ former role leading the Lighthouse for Lempira program.

Since taking on this role, Corbin and Emily have led Lighthouse’s team trips to Gracias under the guidance of the church’s outreach coordinator, Marjorie Dean. This marks their fourth trip, and the thrill of the experience hasn’t faded. Corbin shared, “We are more confident than ever before that we are doing more than just delivering backpacks and shoes to the kids. We are truly providing the opportunity for the kids to meet God.”

On Tuesday of their week distributing backpacks, Corbin was blessed to witness about fifteen children sitting down to read the Bibles they had just received. Moments like these, as well as seeing parents pray for the team during school visits, have moved the group deeply.

“This program is so much bigger than backpacks. It’s so much bigger than what any one team could give,” Corbin reflected. “We are praying that whenever we give out a backpack and a pair of shoes, we are really giving a piece of Jesus.” He likens the experience to the miracle of the loaves and fishes. “God just wants our five loaves, and He will multiply what we give.”

When asked to share the most memorable moments of this trip, Corbin struggled to pick just one but narrowed it down to two:

Moment #1
The first unforgettable moment happened during a home visit on Tuesday. As the team was preparing to leave, the demeanor of Corbin and Emily’s sponsored child shifted from joy to tears. The girl ran briefly out of the room and returned holding a small Christmas tree craft she had made. She handed it to Corbin and Emily as a gift. Corbin realized then that these trips aren’t only about blessing the kids and their parents. “God wants to pour out blessings to the team from the kids and parents. They blessed me far more during our time than we did them,” he said.

Moment #2
The second memorable moment occurred at the team’s last location. Lighthouse recently added a new school to their program. The church purchased white boards and a bookshelf for the new school and, as they presented the items to the school, the teachers and students audibly gasped. “It was clear that these gifts were so much more than physical gifts, but they had an opportunity to display Jesus’ love and care for this community. We were so grateful to witness that,” Corbin said.

When asked what he most wants people to know, Corbin said, “This is something I think is important in life in general, not just in the context of missions. People end up living where they’re comfortable. I encourage people to prioritize being uncomfortable. That’s where you rely on God and where God will do more. In the context of mission trips, pray and see if this is something God would have you do. You will see His Kingdom’s work in a way that we don’t really get to see in our comfort zones."

- posted by Christi

Ministry Metamorphosis: Growth, Change, and God's Guidance

Over the years, we’ve shared multiple blog posts about transitions and changes within Sowers4Pastors. But let’s be honest—the word "transition" sometimes makes people worry there’s a problem, as if the ministry is trying to pivot with all the grace of Chandler, Rachel, and Ross attempting to carry a sofa upstairs in that episode of Friends. Instead of transitions, let’s talk about a ministry metamorphosis today.

Like the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, metamorphosis isn’t always fun or easy — but it’s definitely worth it in the end!

Mary Faith

The plan is for Mary Faith to arrive in Honduras (to stay!) at the end of the month. She previously spent time at a language school in another part of the country and will at some point return for more Spanish, but in the meantime, she can start settling into life in Gracias. During the holidays, Mary Faith has been in the States finishing up her support-raising efforts and finishing packing up. Leaving her close-knit family behind will undoubtedly be challenging, but she is ready to complete her metamorphosis into a full-time missionary.

Esdras

Esdras has embarked on a new chapter. He’s moved to Florida, gotten married, and is no longer on staff with Sowers4Pastors. As Trish aptly put it, “We won’t be able to replace Esdras because he is a special person. But we will need to find someone who can take on his workload!” His absence is deeply felt, but we’re excited for what’s ahead for him.

Kirstin

Kirstin, who has lived in Honduras for much of her life, recently spent a couple of months at the same language school Mary Faith attended. January is one of her busiest seasons as she works on closing the books for 2024, while helping out with the teams and keeping up on other administrative tasks. 

Rachel & Brandy

When Rachel and Brandy first joined Sowers4Pastors, they had one child in school and a baby. Today, they’re navigating life with one homeschooled child, a very active toddler, and two bonafide babies! Rachel recently made the decision to stop working in the ministry so she can focus on her family, and her responsibilities are being divvied up amongst the staff. Brandy has taken on specific roles, such as overseeing the coffee farm, and may step into additional duties. As always, the ministry aims to balance what’s best for the staff and the organization.

Allen

Allen’s metamorphosis involves adjusting to what he can physically do while acknowledging his limitations. This ongoing challenge requires grace and patience as he adapts to changes in his capabilities.

Trish

Trish’s metamorphosis is happening on multiple fronts. Her book project is moving forward, and she’s currently in the States for a whirlwind of events: attending a writer’s conference, meeting two new granddaughters (one in Virginia and one in Florida), and celebrating her father’s 90th birthday. She’s also discovered the joys of finding affordable beachfront Airbnbs in the off-season! While winter weather has thrown some curveballs into her travel plans, no snowstorm will stop her from meeting her newest granddaughter, who is aptly named Winter.

Russell & Iris

Though Russell isn’t on staff with S4P, his family’s metamorphosis deserves mention. Iris and the kids have finally received visa approval to move to the States! Upon arrival, the children will become US citizens through Trish’s citizenship status, while Iris will begin the process of becoming a citizen. This transition also marks a major shift for Allen and Trish, who will now have more grandchildren living in the US than in Honduras.

Prayer Requests

Please join us in praying for all these metamorphoses and any others that may arise. While these changes are exciting and filled with God’s blessings, they’re not always easy. Pray for strength, guidance, and endurance as we navigate these seasons of growth.

Transformation may be challenging, but it brings us closer to what God intends for us — and that’s always worth it.

- posted by Christi

Before the Backpacks

Sowers4Pastors officially started backpack distribution, but so much work goes into prepping for this important event, we should talk about it to give some recognition to the S4P staff for all the hard work they do prepping for teams.

Alejandro shared, “It’s a new year, and our hearts are full to be able to bring a seed of hope to all the children. This fills us with joy because we know God is helping us to share the Gospel with them. As we’ve mentioned before, the children are the future of our country. But not just our country—they are the future of the Gospel.”

The Weeks Leading Up

Behind the scenes at Sowers4Pastors, the staff had to work tirelessly to prepare for the arrival of the backpack distribution teams. Everyone has a role to play:

• Secia worked on the logistics—finalizing lists of children, preparing letters, communicating with teachers, and ensuring that there would be enough supplies such as registration sheets, clipboards, pens, gospel tracts, and everything else a large project like this might need.

• Nicki was focused on the backpacks themselves, ensuring they were ready to go and organizing shoes for distribution.

• Rene was helping Nicki while juggling errand running and trying to finish up the 2024 ledgers.

• Brandy, Kirstin, and Alejandro spent time coordinating with teachers and schools while tackling anything else that needs attention, such as writing schedules, talking to hotels, talking to teachers, talking to team leaders. They also had to prep for projects that some of the teams would be doing on the ground, such as playground construction or repair projects. Finally, they also had to order and pickup Bibles for distribution - every third year the kids in the sponsorship program get Bibles as a gift, and this is the year!!

“There are many things to do, and everything requires extra effort from the entire staff,” Alejandro explained. “We want to give our best to our brothers and sisters from the States and to each child and teacher. When we are handing out backpacks, it doesn’t matter how tired we are at the end of the day. Seeing the children happy and smiling because they’re starting school, and seeing the parents relieved because these backpacks make it possible for their kids to attend—it makes it all worth it.”

A Special Connection

Backpack season is more than just distributing school supplies. It’s an opportunity for the staff to connect with the pastors and Sunday school teachers involved in the program. These pastors don’t only preach in their churches; they also deliver the Gospel message to kids in the schools. It’s a chance to celebrate the partnerships that make this work possible and renew the shared mission of showing Christ’s love to every child.

How You Can Help

Please join us in praying for the staff, the teams, and the children, parents, teachers, and pastors. Prayers for safety are always appreciated, for everyone. Prayers for the vehicles are also appreciated, as this season of ministry tends to take one or two of them out of commission! Finally, and most importantly, please pray that the efforts of S4P staff, the teams, the teachers, and the church leaders will serve to advance God's kingdom. Or, as Alejandro put it, “Pray that we can show the love of Christ to each of the villages and schools.”

-posted by Christi

After much prayer, Rachel has made the difficult decision to take time off from working in ministry to focus on being a full-time mommy. With the rapid addition of Levi and Charlotte in 2023 and 2024, Rachel and Brandy’s family went from having two kids to having four. This has made it difficult for Rachel to work full time. Perhaps when the children are older God will call Rachel back, but for now her primary focus will be the four beautiful blessings God has given their family.

Brandy and Kay will be taking on the majority of Rachel's responsibilities with some responsibilities being assigned to other staff members, such as Mary Faith, who will be joining us on the ground in Gracias on February 1. Please pray for us as we adjust to our new normal. While the sudden addition of Charlotte has presented some challenges to our family, she has already brought us so much joy and blessing!!

Happy Busy New Year from Sowers4Pastors!

As we ring in 2025, there’s a good chance you’re still shaking off a holiday cheese coma, but the Sowers4Pastors team has wasted no time diving headfirst into the new year. Let’s catch you up on all the excitement happening in Honduras!

Backpacks

The elves at S4P (otherwise known as the hardworking staff) are in full swing organizing more than 2,000 backpacks for distribution. Each bag is being meticulously checked to ensure it’s filled with school essentials—like notebooks, pencils, and erasers—and then topped off with toothpaste (added on-site thanks to customs regulations). It’s a massive operation, but the team’s pace could rival Santa’s workshop during peak season!

It's not the North Pole, but our elves are feeling the need to bundle up!

Trucks

Keeping things rolling—literally—is a top priority. Brandy’s trusted mechanic friend is arriving from Tegucigalpa to ensure every S4P truck is in tip-top shape for the heavy-duty work ahead. With parts already on order, the team is determined to keep these vehicles running smoothly for the busy season.

Coffee

The coffee harvest this year is nothing short of monumental. In the words of Rachel, “We are drowning in coffee!”

After a few years of bouncing back from the coffee blight (and the fire), the S4P farm is experiencing a harvest of epic proportions. What normally takes two weeks has stretched into weeks of continuous work, compounded by the holiday interruptions of Christmas and New Year.

Last week alone, about 80 pickers filled five large Ford trucks with coffee in a single day—on what would normally be a three-truck day! The drying patios are maxed out, and the team has even had to purchase additional tarps to handle the overflow.

It’s a blessing of abundance, but it’s also keeping everyone on their toes!

Teams

The first visiting team of the year, from Lighthouse Church, is set to arrive in about ten days. With the coffee harvest still in full swing, their timing is perfect to dive into the action.

Rachel & Brandy’s New Home

Progress on Rachel and Brandy’s new home has slowed down amidst the holiday hustle and the coffee chaos. Rachel laughed as she shared, “One more month. Maybe. Every month, we keep saying, ‘one more month!’” The finishing touches will have to wait until the whirlwind settles down.

Prayer Request

As the team juggles coffee, backpacks, vehicles, and visiting groups, your prayers mean the world. Brandy shared, “We are happy and not complaining, but we need endurance! The first team arrives in ten days, and it’s a lot. We’re so excited to have our teams coming, but we ask for prayers that God gives us endurance and health. God is sending us a lot of blessings to bless other people.”

So, as 2025 gets underway, please keep the S4P team in your prayers. It’s a year brimming with blessings, and they’re ready to tackle it all with faith, hard work, and maybe just a little extra coffee!

 - posted by Christi