Above: Twenty Ebenezer Academy students and eight

adults spent Spiritual Emphasis week on a retreat.

Trust and teamwork on ropes course. Katie instructs students on prayer. Abdias pours out his prayers.

Day after day, the adults at Rancho Ebenezer

work hard to teach our kids about the love of

Christ. But sometimes it takes something diff erent from

the normal routine to really make a strong impact. God

gave us such an opportunity during Ebenezer Academy’s

Spiritual Emphasis Week.

For the elementary

students, a guest came to

the ranch to talk with the

kids about prayer and how

we can hear from God all the

time. Each morning started

with a devotional called Time

with Abba (TWA). A section

of scripture was read and

then the kids would wait and

listen to what God wanted

them to hear that day. They

would then write or draw in

their TWA journals what God

showed them. There were

many activities throughout

the week that showed the

kids diff erent styles of prayer. They went on a prayer walk

around the campus, made prayer posters for diff erent

needs around the world, and prayed for unborn children

and new children who will come to the ranch one day.

The most powerful part of the week for the teachers was

when the kids prayed for them and thanked God for them.

As a result of the week, our kids are excited to be a part of

change in the world and they know it can start with them.

They know that prayer is powerful and no matter what

happens they will always have that tool and no one can

take it away from them.

The spiritual retreat

for our high school

students was incredible.

Once plans were in place

for the primary students,

we began to plan the

high school retreat. The

hardest part was coming

up with the funds to

actually send our kids.

Well, that was not so

diffi cult for the great God

we serve. We sent out a

request to have people

sponsor our students

to attend the retreat. In

three days, God provided

through the love and generosity of donors. We were

able to pile the kids and adults into two vans and start a

journey that would become unforgettable.

For two and a half days, the students from E b e n e z e r

A c a d e m y experienced unity –CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

May/june 2009

building unity, changing hearts

Robert and Jennifer Butts with Bridge House residents.

The Bridge House works hard to prepare the older

youth of WGO for a successful launch into an

independent, Christ-honoring life. The main way we work

toward independence in the Bridge House is by having

each of the youth make short-term and long-term goals

for themselves. Each person’s goals touch on similar points

but are very individualized based on their personal hopes

and dreams. We start with asking questions such as the

following: What do you want to do when you grow up?

What type of education is needed to reach that goal? What

obstacles might interfere with reaching that goal and what

can you do personally to avoid or conquer those obstacles?

Each resident’s goals include things like building specifi c

skills that would be needed in order to be successful at

reaching a larger goal and where to learn those skills. Each

resident also sets spiritual and fi nancial goals based upon

where they are in life.

When each resident has set their goals, they keep a

copy of their written goals so they can be reminded of

where they are headed. They have all stepped up to these

new challenges as they really start thinking of what they

want out of life and what they personally need to do in

order to be prepared. They are pushing themselves harder

than ever and seem to be enjoying life more.

The goals have been good for all of us in the house.

Setting personal goals reminds each of us that it is our

own personal responsibility to be prepared the best we

can for whatever God brings our way. Please pray with us

as the youth continue to grow and mature. May God open

each person’s eyes to what He has in store for them and

help them prepare well for their future.

Join us in celebrating 25 years of ministry.

The late Allen Danforth (on the left),

founder of WGO, spent some time in

a local community serving the poor

of Tegucigalpa. Allen’s vision for

Honduras came to life as he sat with

his wife, Dona, at their kitchen table.

WGO began as a feeding program

and has grown into what we now

know as Medical/Evangelism Brigades,

Rancho Ebenezer and the Bridge House.

By robert and jennifer butts

Dear WGO Friends and Supporters,The Lord has been doing a mighty work at Ebenezer Academy. Now, He is giving us an opportunity

to exercise our faith through intercessory prayer. We are in critical need of at least one more middle school/high school teacher. We know that the Lord is able to provide this person, but we have a responsibility as believers to call on the name of the Lord in prayer and supplication. We are asking you to join us in our plea to the Lord by praying with us for a solution to this need. We believe in the power of prayer, and trust that the Lord will provide. If you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you to possibly fi ll that need, contact Pete Raineri at praineri@wgo-hn.org.

Joyfully serving Christ – Jennifer Mayes, Principal of Ebenezer Academy, Honduras

setting goals for the future

Top: The roof is close to completion.

Bottom: Inside view of the second fl oor.

Since the last update,

signifi cant progress has

been made. We now have a roof!

Most of the block walls are in

place and the metal stud walls

have been started in preparation

for sheetrock. Most of the

concrete fl oors are in place. In

the last newsletter we asked for

help in the area of the electrical

and plumbing installation. We

have a major praise: as of this

writing we now have both a

master electrician and a master

plumber on the project to give

overall leadership and continuity

to the installation. We will still

need more help in both areas. If

you or someone you know can

come down and join this team

for a week, that would be a great

blessing. Also, as the walls go up,

we will have sheetrock to hang

and fi nish.

What’s next? The windows will

be arriving sometime in June and

we will start installing them. The

electrical and plumbing systems

should see great progress

over the next several weeks.

The fi rst supply container

has been shipped and will be

arriving the fi rst week of June,

full of materials that have

been donated for the project

as well as provisions for new

missionaries arriving.

There is still a need for

some of the electrical wire,

the PVC pipe for the water

system, faucets, lavatories and

toilet fi xtures, water heaters,

storage tanks and pumps. Our

current projected move-in

date is Saturday, October 10th!

If you would like a detailed

needs list please email Fred

Steinbach at fsteinbach@

wgo-hn.org. Also, contact

Fred if you are interested in

coming on a construction

team to work on the new

mission house. Thanks to you

who have already been so

dedicated to helping us get

to where we are today.

Do you feel God calling you to full-time mission work? If so, please contact Rick Habegger, Director of Human

Resources and Staffi ng, to discuss WGO’s opportunities to serve that may match your calling and your skills. Contact

Rick at hr@wgoreach.org or 919-367-9040. Visit www.wgoreach.org for the most current openings. Currently, we

are excited to present a very unique opportunity for the right group of people. See below!

Are you interested in forming a small group to travel to Honduras to spiritually and physically

minister to needy Hondurans and help with their living conditions? We have two open weeks, August

22-29 and September 12-19, for a small group of 5-10 people. We will assess your gifts and place you

among those families that we have met and you will have the opportunity to minister to their needs.

We welcome you to stay at our Mission House where all meals are included. Is your bible study group

available for this journey? Are you being lead in this direction? Please contat Pete Raineri by e-mail,

praineri@wgo-hn.org, for more information.

great progress on the mission house

UNIQUE opportunities to serve

by Mike Ferguson, wgo president

Nilsy serving with a WGO Brigade. Some of our girls over 10 years ago. Miriam graduates from high school.

As we have mentioned in previous newsletters, we are always seeking ways to communicate

with you about events in the ministry in an effi cient, cost-eff ective way. One way you

could help us is to shift to our electronic newsletter service. If you would be interested

in receiving the WGO newsletter by e-mail, please inform Fred Steinbach by e-mail:

fsteinbach@wgo-hn.org. Be sure to include your full name with the e-mail. Also,

we are now on a cycle of sending newsletters every other month except at year-

end. Thank you in advance for your understanding of these actions and your

willingness to help us.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1– in a whole new way. Jason May, the Ebenezer Academy Bible teacher, presented excellent teaching on respect and

love, gender issues, and trust and integrity. WGO’s Brett Swihart led awesome times of worship. The teenagers enjoyed

the worship so much, they requested an additional session. To emphasize the need for unity and team building, the

students and teachers worked in teams on a high ropes course, and other team-building/problem-solving activities.

At the end of their time together, the students expressed how much they enjoyed the retreat. Small group

discussions in the cabins at night encouraged believers in their walk of faith, while allowing an opening for skeptics

to safely have their questions answered. The teachers involved were encouraged by the positive response from the

teenagers. Overall, the spirit of God was felt throughout the entire trip. – by Jennifer Mayes and Abby Waterbury

See the impact that our Lord made over the years:

“Living in a Christian environment and attending a

school with Bible classes everyday, I am learning to focus

on how to grow spiritually and give a Christian testimony.

I now feel more confi dent in my faith. I try to live like Christ

and be a good example to others who are watching.”

- Nilsy Ordonez“If it weren’t for WGO, I wouldn’t have known that God

even existed. I don’t even know if I would be alive right now.

God has taught me that everything is possible through

Him. I never thought I would ever be able to read or write

and defi nitely not to know a second language. Now I am

fully bilingual and getting ready to start college.”

- Miriam Chavez “WGO has opened my eyes to seek Jesus in a deeper

way. Without Him in my life, I wouldn’t have any purpose

or any meaning. Each day that passes by gives me a hope

and a comfort that God will always be in control.”

- Cintia Bonilla

from the mouths of WGO youth