When the Nitty Gritty Hits Close to Home

While it is always a treat to talk with Trish for a blog post call, today’s topic was anything but treat-worthy. So let’s skip the small talk and get right to the nitty gritty.

Some of you may know that Ben is currently living about three to four hours from Gracias. For those who like to picture things geographically, he’s in the city of Comayagua. Recently, Ben shared some difficult and alarming news with the Sowers family.

Ben shared that he was on his way home from work when he was mugged by someone wielding a machete. The young man many of us still think of as “Bucket Boy”— fondly remembered for his childhood talent of posing for photos while sitting in a five-gallon bucket — was left with serious injuries. The miraculous news is that God protected Ben from death, and his injuries are not life-threatening. He did sustain a deep slash to his neck, which a doctor confirmed missed a major artery by the tiniest margin.

At present, the most pressing medical concern is a fracture to Ben’s left elbow, which will require surgery — possibly as soon as today, Wednesday, January 21. At this point, the family doesn’t know exactly what the surgery will involve. Complicating matters further, they are unable to drop everything and make the long trip to Comayagua at this time.

While there are still many unknowns, here is what is known:

• Ben reports that his pain is manageable, thanks to medication, as long as he does not move his left arm.
  
  

• He is being treated in a public hospital, which theoretically means free medical care. Because the hospital is located in a larger city, it is likely reasonably well-equipped. That said, patients are often responsible for certain costs, including paying for a blood donation if no friend or family member is able to donate.
  
  

• While Trish is unsure what the surgery will ultimately require, she believes it will not involve pins or other hardware. In the past, when such supplies were needed for a child in the sponsorship program, Sowers4Pastors has often been asked to purchase and deliver them to the hospital — something that has not happened yet in this case.
  
  

• Ben is currently on antibiotics, which is very reassuring given the nature of his injuries.
  
  

• Honduran hospitals rely heavily on patients’ families and friends to provide everyday necessities we might normally take for granted—items like socks, pillows, or even sheets. Ben’s girlfriend has been faithfully caring for him, including bringing him a phone so he can communicate with Allen and Trish.
  
  

• The family has also been in contact with a pastor friend in Comayagua, with the hope that he will be able to act as a go-between for them, in meeting Ben's needs. As of yesterday, however, the pastor had not been granted access to visit Ben, because he's not family.

Meanwhile, life and ministry continue at a full sprint. Trish is scheduled to leave on Friday for an extended visit to the States. The ministry is currently hosting the first of three back-to-back teams. Secia — who would normally handle many of the organizational details for these visits — is still recovering from gall bladder surgery. Add in ongoing vehicle repairs, and it’s clear this is a particularly full and demanding season.

Please pray for all of these moving pieces — but most especially, pray for Ben. Pray for a successful surgery, complete healing, peace, and protection. And pray that God would be glorified through this entire ordeal, even in the midst of circumstances no one would have chosen. - posted by Christi

Starting 2026 with Prayer, Purpose, and Plenty to Do

Depending on where you live, you may have welcomed 2026 with a plate of “lucky” foods—black-eyed peas, spinach, and cornbread. While that tradition certainly doesn’t hurt (especially the cornbread), we know the very best way to begin a new year is by bathing it in prayer. So, let’s kick off the first Sowers4Pastors blog post of 2026 by sharing a fresh round of prayer requests.

Brandy would like to remind everyone that the beginning of the year is an especially busy season for Sowers4Pastors. Shipping containers are being unpacked and sorted as preparations begin for backpack distribution. With the Honduran school year starting in February, there is a great deal to accomplish in a very short window of time.

The backpack distribution team from Lighthouse Church will arrive in just 11 days, followed closely by two additional teams arriving back-to-back. This means focused preparation, long days, and a lot of coordination. Please pray for the S4P staff to remain grounded in the ministry’s vision and for both staff and visiting teams to have the endurance and unity needed to complete all that lies ahead.

The third round of coffee harvesting is also beginning today. The second harvest exceeded expectations, and coffee is still drying, with enough remaining for both a third and even a fourth harvest. Coffee pickers are arriving this morning, and the harvest needs to be completed by next week. Please pray for an adequate number of workers and for a smooth, timely harvest.

Sowers4Pastors is also in need of new staff members. They are currently seeking both American and Honduran team members to fill open positions. Please pray that the right people will step forward — individuals who are not only qualified, but also called to serve in this ministry.

Another important prayer request involves Secia, who has been experiencing health challenges for nearly a year. Despite numerous visits, doctors were unable to identify the issue. While vacationing with family in Tegucigalpa over Christmas, Alejandro and Secia were finally able to receive an accurate diagnosis. Secia is scheduled to have surgery this morning. Although the procedure itself is considered routine, we know how personal and weighty these moments can be. Please pray for a successful surgery, a smooth recovery, and peace for her family. While S4P will miss her presence during the upcoming team visits, everyone is grateful that she is finally receiving the care she needs.

Like many organizations at the start of a new year, Sowers4Pastors has spent time reflecting on goals and opportunities for growth. Just two days ago, staff members met to establish a renewed set of expectations and ministry goals. They are excited about what lies ahead in 2026, and Brandy has hinted that a special ministry announcement will be coming later this year.

Thank you for continuing to cover Sowers4Pastors in prayer as the new year begins. Your faithfulness makes a difference — today, this month, and all year long.

 - posted by Christi

Balancing Acts and Big Plans: A Glimpse into Life with Sowers4Pastors

When Rachel and Brandy first decided to move to Gracias, the plan was simple: Rachel would work part-time in the ministry while juggling the demands of motherhood. At the time, Michael was still a baby, and Nathan was a lively four-year-old, so it seemed like a reasonable plan. But, as often happens, God had other plans. Brandy’s move took longer than expected and there were unexpected staff changes in the ministry, so by the time Brandy arrived to start working at S4P, Rachel had already transitioned to working full-time with Sowers4Pastors.

Nathan and Michael hanging out
when it was just the two of them

Since then, their family has grown, with Levi and baby Charlotte now part of the mix. Thankfully, Rachel loves her work. While she sometimes wishes she could be present for every moment with her little ones, she knows she’d also miss the ministry if she stepped back. So, she carefully crafts each day to maximize her time as Mommy while also homeschooling Nathan—a role that demands its own significant time commitment.

Rachel and Brandy's yahoos (August 2024), from left to right:
Charlotte, Levi, Michael, Nathan

Nathan takes his schooling seriously
(at least in this photo)

Currently, Sowers4Pastors is navigating another round of staff changes. Esdras recently made the decision to leave S4P for a different ministry opportunity, and while Allen and Trish are still integral to the ministry, they’re moving toward retirement. Mary Faith is working on transitioning to Honduras, but she will be attending language school before she starts working with the ministry full time. S4P is hoping to hire one or two additional team members by the end of the year.

One of Rachel and Brandy's many challenges:
Levi loves heights and has no fear!

Charlotte doing the best she can to help 
with office work

As Rachel explains, S4P is a medium-sized ministry, which means no one wears just one hat. Each team member needs to be versatile, ready to fill multiple roles. S4P is on the lookout for someone who can handle tasks like writing emails, managing social media, and also working directly in the communities they serve. It’s a tall order, but it’s what the ministry needs.

Then there’s the question of whether to bring on a Honduran or a North American. Each option comes with its own set of pros and cons. Honduran staff members bring a deep understanding of the culture and language, while a North American missionary might need time to learn the ropes, from mastering the language to handling basic tasks like shopping and going to the bank. On the flip side, North American staff often find it easier to deal with Stateside paperwork and to communicate effectively with supporters in the States. Both are invaluable!

Michael is one cool dude

So, how can you help? Glad you asked! First and foremost, please pray that all staffing needs will be met. Next, consider donating to Mary Faith’s support fund. The sooner she can move to Honduras, the sooner the administrative staff will have someone to help lighten their very full load. Please pray that God will soon send the next staff member he has planned for the ministry, whoever that might be. And finally, think about your own call to missions. Whether it’s with Sowers4Pastors or another ministry, if you feel that nudge, don’t let it go to voicemail—answer it!

'"So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.'" (Matthew 9:38, NLT)

Rachel and Brandy and all their yahoos!
Photo taken August 2024

- posted by Christi

"How's it Going, Now that You're Back in Honduras?" An update on Allen and Trish

Trish and Allen are home! Oh, sure, that’s not exactly news since they’ve been home for a couple of weeks now. But it feels like news because Trish was the one sharing today’s blog update. So let’s celebrate anyway by dropping some imaginary confetti. 

The most important thing Trish would like to share is that while they had to be away from Honduras for so long the ministry continued to thrive. Trish said, “As the founders of the ministry, we don’t want it to flounder in our absence. And it didn’t. Even though Rachel had a baby and Brandy had appendicitis during our time away, things still continued on very smoothly. That is really, really encouraging. We’ve had great reports from the visiting teams concerning how our staff is handling things. We’re so grateful that God brought these people to join Sowers4Pastors.” 

Allen and Malia at
Lighthouse Church

As for the actual trip back to Honduras… Allen and Trish left the home where they had been staying in Florida in early July. They visited with family and then flew to Maryland. While there, they were able to visit three sister churches. Trish drove to Ohio to visit Life Community church. While she was there, Allen visited Lighthouse Church in Maryland, and they both paid a visit to Fredericktowne Baptist Church. 

They were able to pick up the plumbing fixtures for Rachel and Brandy’s new home construction and pack them in their suitcases. They were prepared to pay import taxes upon arrival in Honduras, but when they went through the airport it was so late that customs was shut down and they were waved through. 

Allen and Trish spent the night at a hotel near the airport and Kirstin arrived the following morning to drive them home. The trip was extra long due to construction work on the main road. Trish said, “It wasn’t bad in terms of traffic or the roughness of the road, but the road was shut down to just one lane, multiple times. We probably sat for a total of two to three hours just waiting for the lane to open for the cars going in our direction. We did make the trip in one day, though. We knew the hardest part of the whole trip would be the drive from where the paved road ends to our house. It's a rough, unpaved road for about two miles. Because we're in the middle of the rainy season, the road is especially bad right now.” 

You might think that Allen spent the following day resting up from the trip, but you might think wrong! The next morning, Allen got up early and drove himself into Gracias to have breakfast with a visiting team. (Trish mentioned that it’s easier to be the driver than the passenger on rocky roads.) If he’s going out, he usually wants to do it early in the morning. But one day last week, he made a total of three drives out – one to meet a team for breakfast, one to go with Rachel to purchase supplies for the home construction, and one to join the team at the hot springs. 

Trish explained, “We weren’t sure how he was going to manage being back, but he's definitely not stuck at home. When we were driving in the US before his surgery, just the small bump experienced when changing from highway to bridge, then back to highway was very painful for him. He has made great strides! He still experiences sudden pangs of pain. He still has arthritis and bone spurs, plus he’s still healing - the surgery was only three months ago! But, at least for now, we are finding it do-able to live in Honduras, which is a huge praise!"

Charlotte and Michael!!!

They have enjoyed lots of time with their grandchildren living in Honduras, including the newest model! And Trish said it was lovely to come home and see projects that were completed in their absence. She’s especially delighted by the beautiful new fence/railing in her backyard. 

Please continue to pray for Allen’s recovery and for both Allen and Trish as they reacclimate to life at home.

 - posted by Christi

Allen's Progress Report

 In case you missed the blog posts that gave updates on how Allen was progressing after his back surgery in April, there’s a fairly good reason for that. It seems that we kinda sorta inadvertently neglected to write them. Oops! We thought we had. We meant to. Posts went out by email and were posted on Facebook. But, well, it seems that those “updates” that were just private conversations between Trish and I that were never written up and posted on the blog. Today we’re changing that. 

Heading home!!!

Allen did really well with his post surgical recovery. He was up and walking the following day. The actual healing of all of the work done on his lower spine is a much longer process. That’s what was going on during the months of May and June. 

The best thing to come from all of this is that Allen is in a lot less pain than he was before he had the surgery. He is learning how to move and sleep differently and that has caused his neck pain to move down the pain scale from “YOWZA, THAT HURTS!!!” to “Ouch, that is uncomfortable.” Or for people who use a more traditional pain scale, it has gone from intense to mild. The improvement was so dramatic that the decision was made to not go forward with the second surgery for repairs to his neck. On top of that, the surgery has helped resolve the issue of some of the nerves in his legs getting crushed. 

Even though the surgery was a success, Allen is facing the sorts of limitations that were to be expected. He doesn’t have the mobility that he used to have and he has to walk differently. The curve in his lower back doesn’t curve as much as it did prior to surgery and that causes him to kind of lean forward. When he focuses on standing straight, he is bending his knees and there is added pressure on his hips. His doctor has pointed out that the other parts of his body are going to be taking on additional stress and this could create other problems in the future. There’s a chance that a cane or walking stick may be in his future. 

Allen still deals with occasional flashes of intense pain. These are generally related to shifting movements, like getting into position in bed, or shifting in his chair while sitting in church, and they are sudden, surprising, and shout-out-loud painful! We'd appreciate your prayers about this, as we are hoping this is just a normal part of the healing process that will ease with time and additional healing, and not a problem that will grow and have to be addressed.

Allen is learning how to deal with his new normal. The bone spurs and arthritis that were the underlying issues behind his back pain were “cleaned up” in surgery. Of course, those things weren’t cured by the surgery. Few people come out of a back surgery feeling like everything has been healed. Allen is not one of those few people. 

Both Allen and Trish want to make it abundantly clear that they do view this as a success story. Trish said, “We did what we came to do. We are praising God that we were able to get through the crazy process with the healthcare system. We are thankful that we can move forward without Allen being in pain all the time.”

They are now packing to go home to Honduras in what they are thinking of as a test run. Trish asked and answered the question that is on many minds, “Can we live in Honduras? We’re going to go back and see how it goes. We’ll see if God has that in store for us or something else.”

Charlotte smiles just thinking about
meeting Nana and Grandpa!

Allen and Trish will be flying to Maryland this week. On July 14th, they will visit a supporting church there. Then on the following Sunday, they will visit a church in Ohio. Their flight to Honduras is on July 23rd. They are ready to go home and see some of their grandkids, including one they haven’t even officially met yet. 

While this has not been an easy process, there have been some good things to come from it. Having Allen and Trish in the States for so long was a good opportunity for others at Sowers4Pastors to successfully run everything. Trish shared, “In general, it’s a hard thing to hand off something you’ve built and watch others run it. We are going back as supporting players, as part of a team that has functioned well in our absence. That has been a goal for quite a few years.”

Allen and Trish want to thank everyone who has been praying for them and the ministry. Thank you to those who contributed to their unexpected expenses. They appreciate your ongoing prayers that they will be able to go back and work with the ministry on the ground. Please also continue to pray that Allen’s pain level and mobility will continue to improve. While they didn’t specifically mention this, pray for Trish as she packs up everything to move back to Honduras about eight months earlier than previously expected! 

 - posted by Christi

Prayers and Praises!

Today’s blog post was supposed to involve talking with Alejandro and Secia about a Bible school program that Sowers4Pastors is involved with. Alas, it is not. You can blame that on a power outage that left Alejandro and Secia without electricity for a bit. We’ll have to take a raincheck on the Bible school info. In the meantime, Rachel came to the rescue and took the opportunity to share a list of ministry and staff prayer requests, as well as some praises!

Allen and Trish

• Pray for Allen and Trish as they try to figure out their housing situation in the US for the next 6-9 months. They are accepting that they will likely be able to commit to being in one place for that long and they want to be wise when it comes to making a housing decision. They want to remain open to whatever God’s best is for them and not jump into a lease agreement based on fear and uncertainty. 

• Praise God, the cardiologist cleared Allen for surgery! Allen’s first surgery is now scheduled for April 29th. Pray for Allen & the medical team and that the surgery will be an unequivocal success. Please be praying for Allen's pain in the meantime.

• Pray for Trish’s health and stamina. She’s doing fine but please pray that continues. You probably know that she has asthma that rears its head. As the person with the sole responsibility for caring for Allen at home throughout his medical journey, she needs to be in tip-top shape.

Allen and grandson Steven hanging out

Rachel and Brandy

• At the time of this writing, Rachel is 32 weeks into her pregnancy. During her pregnancy with Levi, she went on bedrest at 30 weeks. And with Michael, she made it to week 33 or 34 before being put on bedrest. Naturally, they are hoping that she doesn’t have to go on bedrest with this pregnancy. However, they will not be surprised if that happens at some point.

• It’s hot in Honduras right now. And, as mentioned in the previous bullet point, Rachel is 32 weeks pregnant. That’s not the ideal situation to deal with temperatures in the high 90s and a house that feels like an oven. Pray for some relief from the heat!

Got to find ways to beat the heat!
(But Rachel is getting too pregnant for swimming)

Mary Faith

• Pray for Mary Faith’s fundraising efforts so that she will be able to move to Honduras sooner rather than later. Having her there will do a lot to reduce some of Trish’s workload so that Trish can focus on other things.

Ministry Programs

• Ministry staff is continuing the process of distributing backpacks. They are registering new kids and checking on the children that didn’t show up for the initial registration. Pray that there will be no issues.

• S4P is finalizing decisions about this year’s applications to receive a motorcycle through the motorcycle ministry. Pray that they will select the right applicants and for funding for this ministry.

• Requests for church roofs are pouring in, as well. Pray for Brandy as he sorts through the stack of requests and makes some difficult decisions.

Praise and a Follow-up Prayer Request

• Praise! S4P staff registered more than 60 children at a new school in the Lighthouse program - Lighthouse Church has been hoping to expand their program for a while now. This school is smaller than Lighthouse had initially been hoping for, but they made the decision based on the motivation of the pastor working in that area. Here's a video from of this activity: https://fb.watch/rnI_wKtJ7z/

• Prayer request! After registering the students at the new school, Secia had an observation. One of the questions the kids were asked was, “Who do you live with?” Many, if not most, of the children said they only live with their mother or that they only live with their grandparents. Some of the kids seemed visibly upset that they don’t have a father in the home. When asked what church they attend, many said they do not attend church. Please pray for that community and that God will open up hearts. Pray for the pastor as he continues the work God has set before him.

- posted by Christi

EXCITING NEWS Re: Allen's Back Surgery

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, blog readers of all ages… it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! (Or at least we have a date for the moment we’ve all been waiting for.) Allen officially has a date for surgery number one. It happens to be on April 1st, but this is no April Fool’s joke. Let the rejoicing commence! 

Allen's having to spend a lot of 
time in a recliner, but the occasional
visits from family help alleviate 
the boredom.

After a six month process to get insurance squared away, find a doctor, and jump through various unexpected hoops, Allen and Trish are abundantly grateful to God to finally see some real forward motion toward relieving Allen's pain. Insurance has approved the first surgery and things are feeling hopeful.

Apart from Allen’s surgery and recovery, the biggest concern is Allen and Trish’s temporary housing situation. They believe they will have their current house until the end of April. 

So far, they have been "loaned" the use of houses, and they hope that another such situation might be available for them, especially now that the folks who own homes in Florida that they only use during the winter might be returning north for the summer. Perhaps Allen and Trish can "house-sit" for someone.

Regarding other housing options (if a "loaned" house isn't available), Trish said, “We have talked about… well, it gets complicated. We don’t want to rent a place because we hope we don't need a home for a year, so we prefer not to sign a lease. We don’t own furniture in the US and don’t want the expense of buying furniture, and then needing to get rid of it later (assuming we return to Honduras). For now, aside from my harp, I can pretty much move all of our belongings in a car. We’d like to keep it that way. Of course, if God provides us with housing, we'll be thrilled. If not, we assume our next-best option will be to set up in an Airbnb. While that seems more expensive at first glance, since it includes furniture, utilities, trash, Wi-Fi, etc., it probably works out to be a better use of funds, for our situation."

Please pray that they will find housing that meets all of their needs. If you know of possible housing for them in the Orlando area, please let them know. Since Allen’s surgery will be in Orlando, they are thinking it is likely that his future surgeries will also be there. For obvious reasons, they would like to find a place near their medical hub. 

Allen and Trish are always quick to point out their current praises and how God has provided for them up to this point. They are trusting that they will continue to see God’s hand moving in all aspects of this unanticipated saga. 

Pray that Allen’s surgery will be a success. This is not a minimally invasive surgery. Allen stated, “The surgery will involve removing four discs, fusing together all five lumbar vertebrae. I’ve already been told that I could lose my ability to walk without this surgery. Please pray that the surgeon takes his time, and that the surgery will be successful.”

Don’t forget to pray for Trish during all of this. Allen’s care throughout the recovery period will all be on her. She will be trying to manage life and likely move them to a new home in the middle of his recovery. She'll continue her online work for the ministry, and is hoping to make progress with writing her book, while also practicing her harp. 

In the background, Allen piped up by sharing, “Plus, I’m just a downright difficult patient. I work so hard to not be grumpy, but I'm not a patient patient!” 

Other prayer requests not previously mentioned include:

• As a redhead, Allen is difficult to anesthetize. The doctor has assured him that he won’t wake up during the surgery. However, when he had his heart stents put in, they had difficulty putting him to sleep and keeping him asleep. Yeah. Pray that he’s out like a light for surgery!

• Finances are a concern. This first surgery is expected to cost Allen and Trish somewhere between five and ten thousand dollars. In the grand scheme of medical care, that’s not a fortune but it's certainly not something that they've budgeted for! There will be at least one more surgery to come, too. Please pray that the needed funds will be available! If you'd like to help with the expenses, you can donate through the Sowers4Pastors website donation page. (Use the donation category "Allen and Trish Sowers Support")

• Pray that recovery goes well. The tentative plan is to have a second surgery - on Allen's neck this time - about four months after the first.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support as Allen slowly morphs into the 6 Million Dollar Missionary with a bionic back!

 - posted by Christi

An Allen Update: Hurry Up and Wait

Allen and Trish are glad to have progressed 
to the point where they are seeing actual
neurosurgeons! Yay!

It has been about a month since our last big Allen medical update. At that time, he’d seen one neurosurgeon for a consultation and had an appointment to get a second opinion. A lot of progress can be made in a month. Sometimes. And sometimes a month can feel a little bit like being stuck on a hamster wheel. As far as Allen’s back goes, the past thirty-ish days were more like the hamster wheel variety. 

Allen and Trish did see a PA at the second neurosurgeon’s office. After consulting with the doctor, the PA shared their analysis of Allen’s condition. The PA and the doctor were in agreement that there is one area of Allen’s back where the nerves are so badly pinched that, if left untreated, he would possibly lose his ability to walk. That’s the sort of news that gets your attention and takes returning to Honduras without treatment completely off the table. 

The second neurosurgeon says that Allen should have the two surgeries previously discussed. The first surgery would be on the lower back, since that is the more pressing issue. Allen and Trish were told they could make an appointment to meet with the surgeon and then book the first surgery. That should have been about a six-week process. Except . . . 

Insurance isn’t going to approve surgery until Allen goes through rounds of treatment with a pain management specialist. The pain specialist disagreed with the second neurosurgeon’s opinion. The second neurosurgeon’s opinion had been different from that of the first neurosurgeon. Ultimately, none of that really matters at this point since it all comes down to what insurance is willing to do at this moment. 

So Allen went in for his first injection in his lower back. However, things didn’t go as planned because the pieces of bone were so tightly pinched that it was impossible to insert the needle at the chosen location. Instead injections were given between the vertebrae above and below that spot. The injections are being used as a diagnostic tool to see how the pain changes. Before injections, it is necessary for Allen to cut way back on his pain meds for two weeks. After the injections, it’s a two-week waiting period before seeing the pain specialist again. Then it’s another couple of weeks before getting more injections. 

Trish said, “This could drag on and on. You don’t even know what to hope for! I’m just hoping to get things going and stop spending so much time waiting!”

A major concern is the fact that Allen’s back is continuing to worsen. While Allen does think the physical therapy may be helping him to decline less rapidly, the overall deterioration is still happening faster than they are getting help. If the delays continue, the concern is that they will affect the final outcome. 

As of this writing, a telehealth appointment is scheduled with the second neurosurgeon for today (February 28th). Allen and Trish have heard that it may be possible to ask the insurance agency to reconsider the previous request for surgery. All of this will be discussed with the surgeon. 

The surgeries suggested are both pretty major – involving a bunch of fusions.  Allen and Trish are having to think about what all of this means for their future. Even if something changes and the first surgery is approved quickly, it will not be a speedy process. There will be a two or three month recovery time from the first surgery. Then Allen would likely need to undergo the pain management procedures again (in his neck this time) before insurance would give the go-ahead for the second surgery. Naturally, that would require more recovery time before thinking about going back to Honduras. It’s a lot to deal with. 

To end on a happier note, Allen and Trish are glad to be plugged into a local church. They are enjoying the services and are starting to get to know people. Also, they have spoken to the owner of the home where they are staying. He has assured them that they will be able to stay there through March and possibly through April. He promised to give them thirty days notice before they need to move. That’s a comfort! 

As always, your prayers are appreciated. 

 - posted by Christi

Help is On the Way!!!

Office work!!!!

Grab a handful of confetti and toss it in the air because help is on the way! A new North

Mary Faith

American missionary, Mary Faith Yoder, is going to be moving to Honduras to join the Sowers4Pastors team. S4P could not be happier about it. This is particularly good news for Trish.

Throughout the early years of the ministry, Trish was focused on running a household and being a homeschooling mom. Her plate was full but she also did things like writing the newsletters and teaching Sunday school lessons. She describes herself as a minor player in the ministry during that time. The fact that so many of her children are now involved in full-time mission work would indicate she wasn’t really a minor player at all, but you get her point. She wasn’t involved in much of the day-to-day operations of Sowers4Pastors back then. 

Just at the point when she wasn’t homeschooling a whole passel of kids, the sponsorship program came into being. When it first started, Trish really, really didn’t want to be the person in charge of maintaining all of the record-keeping. She had hoped to move into a more creative aspect of the ministry. Alas, Trish ended up being the person to step into the role of chief runner of the website. It was not her dream job but she has done it faithfully since 2018. 

Trish pointed out that during these years she has learned “how to do a lot of things that you only learn through trial and error.” She became an expert at contacting customer support for the website. She learned how to do surprisingly tricky mundane tasks such as changing a donor’s email address on the website. (There are more steps to this than you might imagine!) She can manipulate the site to make it run specific reports - also surprisingly tricky! She became the go-to person on staff for that sort of thing. 

Trish's not-ready-for-Instagram
workspace in Florida

Trish said, “People come to you because you’re the person who has already spent the time figuring out how to do things. That’s fine, since it saves time for everyone. But what happens if someday I can’t do it anymore? It’s not that I’m retiring. I’m not out of the picture! But we want to know that if something should happen to me there will be someone else who knows how to complete all of those tasks. Mary Faith is the person coming in to learn how to do this.”

Finding people who are dedicated to being behind-the-scenes support staff isn’t an easy task. As Trish said, “Office work doesn’t make for great selfies on Instagram.”

Mary Faith came down to Honduras last year for a month to see if this was something she felt called to pursue. During that time, she learned a lot about using the system. Everyone believes she will get up to speed quickly. She’s coming for another short-term visit soon - and at a perfect time, as it’s the season when all of the sponsorship kids’ profiles are updated. This is the time of year when it becomes impossible for Trish to keep up with all of the updates and her regular work. There are tight deadlines for the profile updates because churches in the States set up sponsorship Sundays to encourage new sponsors to sign up, and all of that church's children need to be updated by that set date. It’s a big load of work on a tight schedule. 

Sowers4Pastors website donation page
(click photo for better viewing)

Unlike the Honduran staff who work on salary, the goal is for North American missionaries to raise their own support. (If you're curious about why we handle things this way, click here for a blog post about that!) Raising support is what Mary Faith is working on now, so that she can move to Honduras and work with Sowers4Pastors full time! Please consider helping her, through prayers and financial support. In the past some of the potential North American staff members didn’t work out. Sometimes people would visit with a team and expect that daily tasks during non-team times would still involve fun things like playing games with small children all the time. Mary Faith is well aware that the bulk of her responsibilities will be more like customer service tasks with a smattering of accounting thrown in for good measure. She is up for the job! Helping to support Mary Faith through prayers and donations is one very tangible way to support the ongoing work of Sowers4Pastors. (Mary Faith has been added to the list of donation categories on the website, to make it easy to donate toward her support).

- posted by Christi

Battling Discouragement (and a sing-along)

 It’s time for a sing-along in honor of Allen and Trish!

“Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam 

Where the deer and the antelope play,

Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all day.”

That is a lovely thought. It’s not a completely accurate representation of life for Allen and Trish at the moment–though the internet does confirm that the state of Florida is home to both deer and antelope. The weather is pretty good, too. It’s that part about seldom hearing a discouraging word that doesn’t ring true. They have had to hear far too many discouraging words while trying to stay positive themselves. In case you don’t always keep up with their news via Facebook, let’s get you up to speed. 

In the last major blog update on their situation, Allen and Trish knew they were going to need to leave their cozy donated cottage in Georgia but they didn’t know where they would land. In early December they put out the word that they were in search of new housing. They were hoping the new place would be both budget-friendly and near Allen’s medical facilities. As it turned out, a friend of theirs, who also happens to be a Sowers4Pastors boardmember, lives in Orlando and knew of someone in the area with a house they weren’t using. It’s an older house set on a lake in a beautiful neighborhood. Because the house doesn’t fit in with the neighborhood and was neglected for some years, the new owners purchased it with the intention of razing it and building a new home. But that hasn't happened yet.

Gorgeous Lake Maitland - Allen and Trish feel so spoiled having this view!

In the meantime, the house was just sitting there, so the owners have chosen to make it available to individuals with temporary housing needs. Trish wants to be clear that they are not living in some ramshackle abode. It more than meets their current needs. It’s a large one-story house with gigantic windows and views of the water. Trish said, “Don’t think that we are making-do here. We are feeling very blessed.”

However, it is a temporary solution since the house will eventually be torn down. Trish and Allen do not know the timeframe but they believe that they will be able to stay there until at least the end of February. Please be praying about their housing situation for the future. 

And Allen’s health? That’s where the discouraging words come in. Allen and Trish have been in Honduras for long enough that the US healthcare system is causing them to have a bit of culture shock. They have been amazed at how long it takes to get an appointment, receive test results, etc. 

Allen did finally get in to see a spine specialist this past week. It wasn’t what could be called a positive experience. Apparently the doctor was having a bad day because he was preoccupied when he walked into the exam room, and hadn’t even looked at Allen’s MRI results before the appointment. Overall, nothing the doctor said made Allen feel confident that he was in the right hands. What they do know is that Allen’s back pain - and thus any solution to the problem - is complicated by the fact that the damage is in multiple places, and the pain may be caused by a variety of different problems. 

The good news is that Allen was able to get an appointment for a second opinion this coming Friday, with a doctor located only ten minutes from the house where they are staying. Allen and Trish are hoping and praying this will be a better experience. They are REALLY hoping for an answer that can allow them to make some plans and move forward in a positive direction.

Trish said, “I’m not going to say that we are discouraged, but we are fighting it all the time. This is obviously not a situation we would have chosen and it is out of our control. This is very much a prayer request. Pray that we can keep our focus on whatever God brings us. We are aware that sometimes what He’s trying to do isn’t quite what we were hoping for! Be praying for a solution that will allow Allen to get back into life again. Right now he is feeling sidelined. We’re hoping that God will give us a solution that can change that. If not, we pray that we will figure out what our lives will look like. If we will be staying in the US, we need to figure out finances. If we go back to Honduras, where we own a home, it would be better for us financially, but Allen might have to just deal with ongoing pain and disability. There are a lot of things to figure out.”

People are curious about their financial situation. Currently, they are managing to make it work because of the donated housing. However, they are going through money they wish they weren’t, in order to pay for the medical care and other expenses up to this point. Since the housing situation will be changing and they could be facing one or more big surgeries, finances are an ongoing major prayer concern.

Trish shared about the recent scare of their car making a horrible noise as she was backing out of the driveway. Fortunately, a “free” brake inspection that cost them $11 helped put their minds at ease (apparently the car just makes a noise when the weather has been very wet). But, as Trish said, “Anything can pop up and we are not in a situation, financially, to deal with anything popping up!”

To leave things on an encouraging positive note, Trish and Allen were able to have a very fun mini family reunion when Christopher and his wife, Audrey came from Sarasota for a visit, at the same time that Bethany (Boo) came down from Virginia with her one year old son, Steven. 

Thank you in advance for continuing to support Allen & Trish and the ministry through your prayers. If you feel led to help Allen and Trish with their up-in-the-air financial situation, donations can be made through the donation page on the Sowers4Pastors website. Thanks so much!

 - posted by Christi