A semester of hard work!

My first semester in Northwest Arkansas is over and even though the semester was not easy at all, I enjoyed every challenge and every hour that I spent there.  This last semester I was able to see the hand of our Lord moving in my life.  He provided for every need.  He helped me through every circumstance.  Prayer and hard work paid off as I was able to see it in my grades.   I got to make new friends in the classrooms and all over campus….so much fun!!!  He also gave me the opportunity to share about His Gospel with friends and even teachers!

He got me out of trouble when I needed Him to and when I did not want to listen, He made me listen.  Our God never lets go of us and even when we don’t deserve His forgiveness, love, salvation, etc. His love for us makes things new and we can keep on moving!

Car blessing!

This last semester God not only used people to provide for school and a place to live but He also provided a car for me.  This last blessing from the Lord is one that I wasn’t expecting!!  I was speechless, I couldn’t believe it but He did it!  He surprised me and gave me just what I needed.

 In some parts of United States, public transportation is not available though I have been blessed with a bus that will take me to school every day.  The problem is that once I am out of school or I want to go somewhere else, things get a little bit complicated.  This being the case, God knew my need before I had even asked.  He used Kari Stockton from Tulsa, OK to bless me with a 1996 Toyota Camry!  I was amazed!!  I couldn’t understand how someone could just give you a car, but only God can touch the heart of man in this case Kari (Thanks Kari!).

But after getting the car, the dilemma turned to getting a license because to get one I needed to practice and learn signs, rules, laws, etc.  The mission started and God used several people to teach me how to drive in the United States and to get my license.  To those who helped me:  THANK YOU SO MUCH!  I am now driving and I love it!

Still on the road

The next thing to come is another semester with four more classes so that I can apply for the nursing program.  To do this, I still need your financial support, though I know this is not the only giant that I have to face.  God has always proven Himself faithful and this last semester you were an instrument of that.

To go to school this next semester I am going to need $ 4,000 to cover all school and personal needs.  Of course this is a very large amount and I will not be able to make it on my own.  So that is why I come to you one more time to ask you for your support.  I know that I have already overcome many obstacles and I am so close to getting into the nursing program….I cannot give up now!  So, would you pray and consider supporting me for this next semester?

On the Road

Hola Famila
My season in Honduras is coming to an end, But my journey is not. God in many ways has been teaching me many things. As Mom Ruth would say “I’ve been surprised by the journey” The experiences that God has allowed me to go through have been like a sharpener; a sharpener that has been at work in many areas of my life. I am very grateful for His mercy toward me and also for the people that have been supporting me emotionally, spiritually and financially.
As I said before the journey is not over yet and I must keep walking in the direction I feel led. As many as you might know I spent two years in The United States pursuing nursing school. But the obstacle of a test and God’s will made me came back, changing the course of my direction for a while.
When I came back to Honduras, I prayed to know if it was God’s will for me to stop pursuing nursing. Instead the desire to be a nurse grew stronger. I got involved with a nurse here in my hometown. Donna is an American nurse that is using her nursing degree here in Honduras. She and her husband Denny work around the city helping many people. Many times they took me with them as their translator. The more I saw Donna using her nursing degree, the more I wanted to become a nurse. Through Donna God showed me the many ways of how I could serve as a nurse, not only in my country but around the globe. She is one of many nurses who help people without expecting anything in return.
What’s going on today?
As soon as I knew that nursing was still what I wanted to do. I went and talked to Henry and Cindy about it. The three of us prayed and decided that it would be good for me to go back to the United States to try again. So, I started looking for Community colleges to apply again. At the end we decided that North West Arkansas Community College was the best option.
Last week I sent my application papers and On July 26th I received an email saying that I got accepted, which makes me very happy!! I am one step closer. But God not only opened doors in the school but also He has given me a place to stay during my time in Arkansas. I will be with the Flynn family. This family has offered their help in so many ways! This brings praises from my heart to God and thanks to this family for their support.
What’s next?
The next step is to apply for a Student Visa at the Embassy of United States. In this matter I really appreciate your prayers! To be honest I feel like David on the battlefield getting ready to face Goliath! I know I won’t be able to face this Giant if God is not with me.
But this is not the only Giant that I am facing or I am going to face. There is also the giant of Financial Support. To go to school the cost is going to be $7,265.00 per semester to cover all my living, school and personal needs. Of course this is a very high amount and I on my own will not be able to make it. But this should be no reason for me to give up my dreams. I know that I have already overcome many obstacles. I feel like I cannot give up now!
How can you help?
1. Pray for Embassy appointment
2. Pray that I can get my Pre-requisites out of the way and pass my English equivalency courses.
3. Prayerfully consider being part of my financial support team. As I said earlier, $7, 265 is allot of money. I am praying and asking for approximately forty people helping me with $200 per semester to cover all my living, school and personal needs. $200 per semester is a small amount when you consider the potential impact this degree can have in Africa or anywhere in the world.
4. Consider how you can encourage others to share this opportunity to find some other ways to support me.
Thanks again for all the ways you have already shown your support to me. I am so excited to see what God is going to do in me through your support.
In Him and through Him,
Belky Osorio
For financial support:
Parkway Church
4802 John Stockbauer
Victoria, Texas
77904
Tell: (361) 572-8340
Mission support for Belky Osorio

You can also give by:

• Credit card go to the Christian Life Cathedral website at www.christianlifecathedral.com, click on the “online giving option” and when prompted, select “other” on the options menu. Then include a note that the gift is for Belky Osorio-Mercy International. You can also give a regular, reoccurring gift in this manner.
• Join the facebook group “Help Belky on her way to Africa” and give.

Life

Dear Family,
Honduras which means “depths” is a beautiful country and I am not saying this just because is my country it just is! Honduras is a nation with gorgeous beaches, exotic jungles, breathtaking mountains, rivers, fascinating ancient ruins, and incredible people. You can see God’s touch everywhere you go.
It is hard not to fall in love with Honduras, it’s not just the unusualness of this country what traps your heart but also every divine appointment that God has prepared for you since before creation.
Honduras as many you might know has been through a lot, but all this uncomfortable situations haven’t taken the beauty of it and its people. Many people have had the opportunity to come to my nation and anytime they go back home, a piece of their heart is left behind.
As a missionary, God has giving me the opportunity to visit many places in my country. Every place has blown me away with the things that have to offer. There have been many times, when I am amazed by the beauty of the moment, but there also have been times when I have been crushed by the situation that many citizens are going through.
I love to do many things, but right now my two favorite things are the girls and traveling into the mountains. Every mountain trip is a completely different experience. Every Team that comes down has something to give and receive. An April, I had the opportunity to get to know two teams, one from Cincinnati, Ohio and the other from Victoria, Texas both teams were a blessing from Above. Each team had a mission in mind, even when their location wasn’t going to be the same; the purpose to serve and spread the Gospel was it. Both teams met and spend two nights together but later on the Cincinnati team took off to their final destination, Agua Caliente, a small village that was expecting this team with eagerness. Meanwhile, Parkway team stood in Monte Verde with the purpose of finishing a church. Eight men from Victoria, Texas plus six Honduran (I’m including Henry Lowman as one of us! Haha), spend five days in Monte Verde; for the Texas team was their first time on Honduras’ territory. The whole experience was totally new, the water and food’s taste were different. Sleeping on the floor and taking cold showers wasn’t that fun at all. Mosquito’s bites, sunburns, and poison ivy were part of the combo as well, not to say that the construction part was easy at all.
However, God gave enough strength for each day. We were able to see the reward of our job when many people came to Christ in least than three days. One of the nights that really touched my life was the night when all the guys from the team gathered around Bayron and prayed for him. For those of you whom don’t know about Bayron, he struggles with alcohol and drugs problems, but Bayron was in the right place at the right time. Every single guy gave him words of encouragement, Words of life. Somehow, every guy in our team understood Bayron’s life. They knew what to say, they knew how to speak into Bayron’s heart. It’s incredible to see how the Holy Spirit works!
One of the challenges for me was to cook for the team. As some might know I am not that great at cooking but God does miracles… haha and this wasn’t the exception. Praises to the Lord, not body got sick!
The week was about getting out of the boat… and many of us did it that week!
I want to say thank you to all of you. Thank you for every present that I have been receiving. Anytime I get something it feels like Christmas! You guys are awesome. God keeps showing me His love throughout you guys. Love you all!

Belky’s update

Back to the altar

Sitting in the dining room of what I call my new home, located in a small neighborhood in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where the sound of Latin music comes out of every house. A neighborhood where dogs bark from morning to night, where cars run as late as possible, and where you form part of every neighbor’s conversation (not because you want it, but because the houses are so close to each others that you can hear it all!). This is my Childhood neighborhood, a small domicile located in the surroundings of the city. It is here where I spent 25 years of my life. My earlier memories come from this place. Some of these memories I had already forgotten, some others still remain in me.  My first “firsts” took place here.  My first time on a bike which by the way I broke (it was my friend’s bike lol! it wasn’t funny at the time). It was here where I lost my fear of heights, when I finally made the decision to climb to the top of a tree. It was here where I had my first crush on a boy. It was here where I learned that life sometimes can play dirty and dreams can be possible if you just believe. This place saw me give my first steps as a believer in Christ. Colonia Viera, is its name. Viera saw me grow. In this little place God spoke to me too many times. It’s here where I learned to love my Creator; it was also here that God prepared me for the next to come. I of course did not know it at the time, but He had and has His ultimate plan.

So, for some reason that I don’t yet understand I am back here, wondering what God is going to teach me in this new season of my life. Somehow, I truly feel like Abraham! Anytime God was going to tell him something or renew his vision, He took him back to the altar, right where He spoke the first time as well as the last. So, now I find myself thinking of the things that God has called me to do and the things that I am doing right now; I think of His amazing grace, incessant blessings, and abandoned love toward me.

Sisterhood!

My new house is filled with laughs, silly screams, fights for the bathroom, the sounds of cell phones’ keys, books, make-up, cute tops, etc. Five girls and I are now living together in where I call our Honduras sorority.  I have to be honest, I never thought of being in charge of five girls but once again, His plans toward my life are so unpredictable. Paola, Claudia, Fermina, Rosmery and Miriam are five incredible girls that are pursuing one of their dreams, the dream to fulfill a College degree. All of them came from Yamaranguila, Intibucá a little town with a population of two thousand people to a City of one million habitants. Leaving everything behind they decided to jump into the river of the unknown. They are determined to trust the One who can see the whole picture.

Our lives’ and backgrounds are different but at the end, we all are here because, He has a wonderful plan for our lives. While the world says, you can’t do it! God’s Word says “You can do all things through Me” (Philippians 4:13) and we all have believed that.

My job here is to encourage the girls to seek God even when time is not enough, to keep going even when life gets tough, to believe in themselves even when nobody else does, among others things. I sometimes am the mom, the big sister, the friend, translator, peacemaker, cook, and more, I try to help them keep the house rules. We enjoy studying the Bible every Thursday. The girls and I have a meal schedule in which everybody has the responsibility to cook and help to clean the kitchen two days a week. When they are not studying we gather in the living room to watch “SmallVille” which by the way we totally love! We are learning how to share things and little by little we learn to live together.  

Who would have guessed that I was going to be doing the same things people did for me back in the United States? To those of you who helped me while I was in the States. Thank you. You guys taught me so much. The things that I learned with you all, I am putting in practice with my girls anytime I can. Because of the example of service that you have shown me, I now want to serve. Your actions spoke louder than your words. 

What’s ahead?

Weeks before I came back to Honduras, Mama Ruth (my Texas Mom) taught me about the parking spots. I remember her saying that in life some particular seasons were temporary. She said “when a car goes there (parking spot) it  doesn’t stay too long just the amount of time needed”. Therefore, I do not know for how long I am going to be here with the girls. Even when I enjoy every minute that I spend with them, deep in my heart I know that God keeps calling me to serve Him on the mission field in Africa. When? I don’t know! How is this going to happen? Not a clue! Meanwhile, I keep serving my country. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to serve Him wherever I go!

Nursing School

God once opened the door for me to go to the United States to become a nurse. Then, He closed those doors and gave me the privilege to come back to my country to serve my family, friends, and people. Here He is showing me and challenging me to keep pursuing my dreams. Since I came back from Texas, God has been placing me in situations where the care of a nurse has been required. Not too long ago God gave me the opportunity to translate for a Doctor and a nurse in a medical brigade and I had a blast! Doctor Curt and Nurse Marjorie taught me how to measure people’s Blood Pressure among other thing’s, I truly enjoyed it! When I see the impact that a career has in the mission field it makes me want it even more than before. Why? Because “faith without deeds is dead”. A nursing degree is one way to go and serve people in Africa, but not only there, everywhere. I am not saying that this is the only way to do it, but I believe that it is a great tool and it’s one of the dreams that God has put in my heart. I have been asking God to open doors again and provide a way to go back to the United States and reach this dream.  Would you guys join me in praying for this?

Contact:

Email       Belkyjesus@yahoo.com

Facebook    belkyjesus@hotmail.com

Skipe       beljeo

Cell        +50498749153 (Honduras)

Blog        http://whereyourstorybegins.wordpress.com/

Support:

Parkway Church

4802 John Stockbauer

Victoria, Texas

77904

Tell: (361) 572-8340

Mission support for Belky Osorio

Christmas and New Years!

Christmas and New Years were crazy! I think it does not matter in which part of the globe if you are celebrating these seasons both are going to be a little bit overwhelming. On the streets of Honduras you could see people scattered, going from one place to other. One day I went down to the “Parque Central” (Central Park) of the city. While I was running some errands, I got to see, worry on some people’s faces maybe because of the lack of money to pay bills or buy some traditional food for the occasion like Tamales or Torrejas which are in almost every Honduran’s house (Tamales most of you have heard of it and Torrejas is a especial kind of bread that we buy and then we dip it in a really sweet sugar, we love it here) Gifts for their kids or families. I also saw smiles, families and friends walking around together getting what we called “Estrenos” which is new cloths. The stores where full of people and the lines in the banks were long, for a moment I thought about the crises that the country has been going through, we had a coup, protesting and demonstrations, as well as elections among others struggles. I was glad that everything looked “normal” and that people have lots of expectation for the New Year to come.

The Christmas Eve night, I went to church, I sang some traditional hymns, saw plays, and of course a sermon according to the occasion. Then, after church I went to my sister’s house and celebrated Christmas together. It felt different from the last two years, because I missed my family in Texas, but at the same time I was content that I was with my sister, my brother –in-law, my nephews and niece! We had so much fun together. We ate and then went outside to burn some fireworks (with a lot of precaution of course). We didn’t make it to bed until two in the morning. We laughed and remembered old childhood times! It was such a sweet moment.  

For New Years in some churches it’s a tradition to receive it in prayer.  Therefore, in my church down here in Honduras we gathered and asked for favor and grace for this next year. I was so glad we did it; I wanted to thank Him in prayer for everything He has done in my life this past year. God has, is and will be so faithful to me.

 Mountains Muddy Mountains!

After the holydays I came back to the Mercy International farm. To receive The Lowmans and a team of 11 people; I was so glad when I saw the Lowmans and all the staff that have been living here as well.

The next day, we left to the Opalacas Mountains; we made it all the way to San Pedrito, we did some construction, played with the kids and spend the night there.  Early in the morning we left to Santa Maria. It rained during the night so there was mud everywhere. As we walked up the hill our shoes probably weighted 5 pounds, my legs were killing me because of the mud. The heavy breeze and the mud made the road so slippery. As we were going up the mountain it was hard to breathe (at least for me!). Therefore, when everybody was going downhill almost every person in the team fell, we totally enjoyed this part of the trip, even when later that night we all were sore and tired. When we got to Santa Maria, the people were already waiting for us with big smiles and full of expectations.

The whole week there was amazing. Moments like the one when I almost got stung by a scorpion which by the way was big and ugly and it’s images is still in my head. The memories of smiley faces, muddy little feet, and gorgeous mountains are recorded in my mind. The feeling of a gentle touch from a kid’s little hand, the encouraging words from brothers and sisters, the precious time spent in His Word, the time we prayed for people’s needs, are not going anywhere.

There are so many reasons why I want to worship God, many reasons to say thank you Lord! Today, I want to thank Him for my failures. Failure I heard Pastor Mike Hurt say, in one of his sermons, “it’s a season not a person.” I remember feeling like a looser many times, but when I heard that, something changed. It’s not like I won’t feel like that sometimes, but there is a new hope, which helps me to fight against those thoughts! Jesus has turned my failures into triumphs. He has giving me victory. He won the battle dying on the cross for me. He has and is orchestrating every encounter. He is moving every piece from the puzzle and little by little He is showing me where to go or what to do! Not everything is clear, yet every step I gave every step I am giving and every step I will give is getting me closer to Him.

Thank you all for your prayers, support, calls, cares, towards me. Without God’s and your help I wouldn’t be able to do all this.

God, you and me the best team!

Love you all,

Belky

Camp Alabanza “Copan, Honduras”
Looking into the depth of their eyes, I have found hope, trust, an amazing ability to love, and a desire to be loved. It is in this moment, when words are not necessary. Only here with a simple glance the words of the soul speak louder than any voice. At “Camp Alabanza” (“Praise” in English) God gave me the opportunity to hear this voice. Is in this place where children can be children, where social status doesn’t exist, where race carries no meaning in their minds, where imagination has no limit, and a child’s worship flows like a river through the streams of the heart.
In Luke 18:16 Jesus said, “Don’t stop them” referring to the children. That’s what I saw on my two week in Camp Alabanza. Children from different areas of Copan were coming to the camp to have FUN! Pretty soon the place was full of laughs, screams, running legs, hugging arms, giggling faces and lots of love. This is what “Camp Alabanza” was about, having fun, worshipping the Only One who can bring peace, joy, love and life to our hearts.
Every moment, minute and second at “Camp Alabanza” was priceless. Somehow even when I thought I was giving something to them, I wasn’t. On the contrary, those Children brought so much to my heart.
Time is passing so quick!!! Oh boy!
My time at the farm has been great! God has given me four girls to share with, Miriam, Paola, Dunia and Flor. They have been with me this whole time. And I just want to say that I love them! Through them God is teaching me more about how to be patience, how to be quite it when I need it, how to love selflessly and much more. They bring Joy!
This month two of the girls from Hope and a Future program will go to Tegucigalpa to register for college and God is giving me the privilege to be part of this season of their life. They will be in Tegucigalpa on the 22nd. So, please be praying for them. I am going to be like there Mama or should I say big sister! Hahaha… Anyways, they are so excited about it, I am too!
The holydays are so close, and this year I will spend Christmas with my sister! Yeahhh! I will also spend some time in my new church. I know is going to be different than the last two years. There are so many people that I’m going to miss from my dear Texas but God is in control.
So please friends and family keep me in your prayers there are so much to do here in Honduras! Children, youth, adults, everybody needs to hear about Jesus! They need to hear that God is SO SO SO real, and SO ready to love and care for them.
In this Christmas let God’s joy, peace, and love reign in your hearts. Let’s do not forget the real meaning of Christmas… JESUS! Our savior, the one who came to save us, to give us life, to give us Eternity!
Love you all, Belky

what a day!

Hola!
Well today has been a long day, shopping all over La Esperanza was quite an expierience! We Left this afternoon around 12:00p.m. To take my Pastor’s wife to the bus station, she was going back to Tegucigalpa after being with us for four days, with their help we prepared the last Youth Group meeting of this year. Which by the way was awesome! we danced, yelled, laughed, just had a good time enjoying ourselves.
Anyways, as I said we went to La Esperanza, to get some gift for our graduating students. We(Melissa, Flor,) look for shoes for Miriam and Melida we went everywhere, not being able to find anything, finally after an intensive search we found what we were looking for. Praise the LORD!!! Then, The girls left us and we kept looking for gifts, as some of you know anytime you go to a graduation you need to take a gift haha, well so we looked and looked everywhere till the Lord took us to the right place and to the right prices. We were in La Esperanza for six hours crazy! I know
What I learned about this whole situation were a lot of things but I am going to mention a couple of them, first …man! is hard to be a mom haha going shopping with girls is insane! phrase like ”I don’t like this! this won’t fit me, were my best friends haha it was hilarious! I really enjoyed being with them… I guess somehow I was the same ,at that age! Second I got to know more Dean and Melissa Lowman, they were walking with us the whole time, I am so glad God led them to my country, they are touching to many life including mine! At the same time I spend a great time with my sister Flor together we’re crazy!
Life can be crazy here, but I know that God is here I still don’t know why but I am learning while I am waiting for him to reveal His will.
Love you Jesus!
Thank you guys for all your prayers I love you all