The famous words of Missouri Synod Lutherans is, of course, "We've never done it that way before." Well, what happened on March 13, 2007, will change the course of history for our LCMS World Mission Department forever! The new vision of our LCMS World Mission is "Let's try to be flexible and make things work"....even if we have never done it that way before! 

This history-making event began in February of 2007. Missionary Gary Thies received a call at the offices of Mission Central, located in the middle of a cornfield in the hills of western Iowa. The voice on the end of the phone said, "Gary, you spoke at our church down here at Auburn, Nebraska, and I was wondering...do you remember me?" It took Gary by surprise and he said, "Well, Eric, I meet lots of folks as I travel, can you help me to remember?"   The voice continued, "I'm Eric Bohling, and I'm a farmer down here by Auburn and don't you remember, I am married to the lady from Honduras?"  Then it all came back, and it all came clear!  "Yes, I remember now, Eric. How can I help you?"  

Then Eric began to explain how he and his family had traveled to his wife’s family down in Honduras several times and there was such a concern in their hearts for the fact that so many, many, many of the people and their family members didn't know our Lord Jesus!  Eric asked if there were missionaries from our LCMS down there in Honduras, and Gary told him that we didn't have any work from our mission department in that country and that it was a country that we had not be able to enter. The next words took Gary by complete surprise, when Eric said, "I've been talking with some of the area farmers down here and I think we could put together $25,000.00 to $35,000.00 if we could send some missionaries to Honduras to tell them about God's love and grace through our Savior Jesus!" 

Immediately, Gary went to work and informed this special family that he would contact the Latin American Area Director for all LCMS Mission activity in Latin America and South America, Rev. Dr. Jorge Groh, who lives in Panama. When Gary contacted Rev. Groh, he asked him, "Rev. Groh, do we have any missionaries in Honduras?" and the reply from Rev. Groh was amazing. "No, we don't have any missionaries there, but I have been praying about this, as the country is so open for the Gospel and there are so many wonderful opportunities there, but we have no money in our budget for opening new work in Honduras!" When he found out that God had "raised up" some farmers that were willing to help with this effort, he was very, very touched. He immediately said, "I am going to be in the area in March. Could we meet in St. Louis?"  Gary told him that it would be wonderful if he could fly to Omaha and then one of Mission Central's volunteers from Omaha would drive him to Mission Central and meet face to face with these special farmers who wanted to plant Gospel seeds!  Rev. Groh agreed and the date for this meeting was set for March 13, 2007.

Word soon begin to spread and on the date of the meeting there were more than 20 farmers from Nebraska and Iowa that wanted to be part of this special meeting that began at 10:00 AM. At noon a wonderful "farmer meal" was served by the volunteer farm ladies to all of the people present, and the cooks provided roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and beans, salad and a special desert! Rev. Groh was amazed at the interest and mission vision and knowledge of the people! He presented a detailed presentation of the mission work in Latin America and the key partnerships that have been developed. A new partnership was about to be born in the Hog House at Mission Central. The Honduras Mission Partnership was made up of just ordinary kind of people who want to help share the Message of our Lord Jesus with people who don't know God's love, goodness, and grace!  It was agreed unanimously by every single person there that Rev. Groh should form an Exploratory Team to go to Honduras this year and begin to map out a plan for sending the first missionary to this country. Rev. Groh promised to return in January of 2008 with the full findings of this trip and also perhaps have a missionary with him who would be the first to go into this new country, if it were found that there was good contact, opportunity, and that the country was open to the Gospel!  There was a special feeling in the room that Historic Day!  A feeling of joy and hope, a feeling of a group of people "all pulling together," a feeling of the Holy Spirit really being present, but more than anything a feeling of great happiness of being able to have the privilege of bringing that Good News of Jesus to a new land where we have never worked before with our mission outreach of the LCMS World Mission. 

When Mrs. Bohling spoke of her family in Honduras and how much they needed a Savior, everyone could see that God was using her to help relay the URGENCY of the situation!  Several of the people in attendance had been to Honduras on short term mission trips and they attested to the URGENCY of going to this country. What a blessing that God can use all kinds of people to get His work done! The decision to open this country was not made in a big city, but in a humble setting with special people that God had called at "just the right time."  It had never been done this way before, but this time something very, very special happened and all praise, honor, and glory go to our Heavenly Father for his direction, power, and wisdom to open a new country for the Lord Jesus!  The people pictured don't want their names mentioned because it isn't about them, it's all about the Lord Jesus!  If you want more details or if you want to be a part of this group....give Gary a call.