CO-MISSt,ON5I>chrisiianjmissdnLeadership TrainingIn an effort
to see a greater percentage of students complete the course,wehave
been focusing on condensing thematerial to a one-year study.Aswe
rework the curriculum, wehave also been teaching a group ofabout12
students at a church in Cofradia. They recently completed thelast
lesson and will soonbe taking a comprehensive exam. A number
ofmissionaries in other Spanish-speaking countries have asked to
use thecurriculum, so we havehopesit willbe put to good use. We
will alsobe open to their input as we continue to improve each
lesson.Bill andMargy'sRetirementAfter 42 years of missionary
service (21 yearsin Mexico and 21 yearsinHonduras), Bill andMargy
arebeginning a new chapter in their lives. Theyare retiring the end
of August andmoving to Knoxville, Tennessee, wherethey have a home
across thestreet from their daughter and her family. Thisis a very
significant move as theyrelocate in a "foreign place" and
seekIGod's leading for their retirement years. Bill is currently in
Honduras inorder to sell their houseand wrap up final details in
this transition.Mark and Joy will also experience many changes in
Bill andMargy's absence. We haveenjoyed a great partnership over
the last 13 years.Godhas uniquely gifted eachof us and
ourgiftscompliment oneanother. Mark and Joy are seeking God's
guidance as they redefine anddevelop their
ministry.HealthIssuesAllof theHoffs traveled to the States on
April23rd of this year. Within a few days of arriving inIndiana,
Margy suffered a stroke causing left side paralysis. While we were
relieved that thisoccurred in theStates, we were still shaken by
this health crisis. Margy spent one night in thehospitalin Indiana.
She and Billthen made the tripto Tennessee torest and enjoy the
help of theirdaughter, Rebecca, who is a nurse. Margy walked with
theassistance of a walker for about a monthandreceived physical
therapy during that time. We praise God that she hasregained her
strengthand complete mobility. While she tires easilyand still
feelsa tingling on her left side, she is able toactively
participate with the family and be a part of a nearby church in
Tennessee. Praise theLord!SummerintheU.S.We enjoyed a very busy14
weeks in theStates this summer. We traveled to18 churches
inIllinois, Indiana, Ohio,Tennessee, Florida, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, New Mexico, andArizona. It was a pleasure to
spendtime with friends and family across the United States.
Weappreciate all those who were able to host us and take time out
their schedules to visit with us.We were encouraged.Belowis a note
"from" Katrina (age 2) about her 3 monthvisit to the States:I got
to sleep in an inflatable swimming pool all summer so that I
wouldhave the same bed everywhere we went.Atfirst I was alittle
scared ofswings and tall slides, but I soonlearned thatthey are
alot offun. Mommy and Daddy lookedfor parks everywhere wewent. I
couldn't wait to get onthe next slide and swing. We don't have
parkslike that in Honduras, so Mommy and Daddy got me a swing for
our yard.(It's not the same, though.)/ love zoos!!I Grandma and
Grandpa got passesto the zoo in Indianapolis and we went to the
oneinWashington D.C. I got to feed the giraffes twiceand I still
talk about all the animals we saw!/ made alot ofnewfriends but
didn't get to stay with any ofthemverylong. After leaving my
newfriends, I would keep asking whenIcould see themagain. I still
thank Godfor them in my prayers. Ilove my newfriends.I had a lot
offun with all my grandparents, aunts,uncles, and cousins! Some
days I ask Mommy and Daddy if we can get on a big ^airplane and
goup,up,up to see them.While we were in the States, I missed
myfriends in Honduras too. I missed myRussian grandparents, Baba
and Dieda, and my Filipino Aunt and Uncle, Titaand Tito. I also
missed my Haitianfriend and his Honduran wife, Damas andLourdes.
It's beenfun to get to see them again and all my toys and books
thatwere still at my house. (I hadforgotten about them!)I had a fun
summer with many new experiences and newfriendships. I'm gladto be
home, but miss people there too. I had to say way too many
bye-byes.ig* '^4 \ %Among ourtravels we wereable co visit with
familyin Nevada and Arizona. Mark andBill drove out andjoy flew
with Kacrina, Mark's sister, and her twochildren.The main purpose
forthis tripwas tovisitBill's 90 yearold mother whohas been in a
nursinghomewith dementia. Wehad a very special visittogether
Webelieve Godmade this trippossible asless thana monthlater she
went on to be with theLord. WethankGod forthis last, and
preciousvisit.-y-.-M "We are ecstatic to announcethat Godis
blessing us withanother miracle gift tobebornin
February.Katrinaisgoing tobe a big sister!HOW TOREACHUSOur Mailing
Address:Mark andJoy HoffApdo.3166San Pedro Sula. HondurasOur e-mail
address is;hilhndmargYhnff^fi)f;mail.comOur Website
is:bajiochristian.orgOur phone number is:Oil(504) 2551-5617Any
monetary gifts forBill andMargy or Mark and joy should bewritten
to:Bajio Christian Mission4886 E. County Rd.400 S.Plainfield, IN
46168...Ona Personal NoteWe Praise God For: thework God is doing
through the camp andseminar students. the faithfulstudents at the
church in Cofradia our encouraging time in the States God's
provisions while we were in theStates andupon our return Margy's
recovery from herrecent strokeWe Pray For: theseminar students -
that they willhave strength and motivationto finish the course and
lead their churches well more groups of students who have a desire
to complete theleadership training course Mark and Bill as they
condense the seminar material to make it aone-year course the
national church leadership to remain strong thru some
currenthardships theministers and their wives - that theywillbe
encouraged andsustained the upcoming annual missionary conference
(end of September) theupcoming Honduran men's retreat (October)
transition into Bill and Margy's retirementGmail - The latest news
from Bill and Margy Page 1 of 2GmilThe latest news fromBill
andMargy1 messageGeorgia Sharpe Bill & MargyHoff Tue, Aug5,
2014 at 10:29 AMTo: Schimansky Richard, Romero Casey ,"Shank D." ,
SheltonDavid, Shrader Laretta, ReedLarry and Arlene , Steffer Billy
&Patty, SmithBetty, ReedKirby .Sharp Georgia , ReedDoug and
Carol , SmithSid andVicki, RedlingAli, RiveraDenis,
SchmiegM/MThomas , Rivera Charlotte, RunyonRon&Twila, Smith
Randy, Scott Stacy , Schneller Tom,SmileyLarry , Rozell Anna ,
RowanRick, Rollison Joanne , SimpsonRon&Jean, SimonsLaura,
Seevers Matt, Rowe Jeanette , Smith Andy, Seago Troy, Soldan Steve
/Dianna, Shold Steve & Millie , Simons Andrew, Spratt
John&Madonna, Skonberg Susan, RoseberryBob , Rebaza
Margie,Riley Jim, "Sichting JohnM." , Rios Brian
Dear friends andbrethreninChrist,Weregret that we havenot been
able tocommunicate withyou sooner.Since ourmailinglist is onthe
computer we had toleavein Honduras, we were unable to send
outanupdate for thelast severalmonths. Asaresult, we didn't manage
toinformyou of theeventsinourlife.We really shouldhave made more
effort tocontact you because we have desperatelyneeded your
prayers. Our ongoing transition toKnoxvillehas been very
stressfulcompoundedby illness as we were packing our belongings in
Honduras. We boarded theplane on April 23rd tocomplete our planned
church visits. Thenext day, we got word thata dear friend and
former coworker in Mexico hadpassed on to be withtheLord. On
April28*^ Margy, Mark, Jim Chamberlain and Idrove from Indiana to
Louisville, Kentucky, forareception.After visitingwith the family,
we went todinner at aMexicanrestaurant withsome former missionaries
toMexico. When weran to the car in therain after the meal,Margy
suffered astroke. Her entire left side was paralyzed. It was late
so we delayeduntil the next day to get her to the hospital(not
realizing the gravity her condition). After24hours in thehospital
she wasreleased.We drove toKnoxville - our new
home.https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=8bl8544cl7&view=pt&search=inbox&th=147a...
8/5/2014Gmail - The latest news from Bill and Margy Page 2 of 21am
grateful toreport that Margy has largely recovered; she walks
nearly amile everyday and is driving. She does suffer fromnumbness
and tinglingonher left side, but wehave hope that through your
prayers and God's mercy she will be completely restored.The whole
family is overflowingwith gratitude that Margy has not been left
incapacitatedby this event. I know that those of youwho have not
heard about the need wouldhavealso interceded on her behalf if we
had been able to communicate.Mark, Joy, andI went ona whirlwind
tour of churches that have supported Bajio ChristianMission.
(Margyis not yet up to traveling.) The motive was tointroduce Mark
as the newfield director of the ministry and toconfirmmy
retirement. We accumulated 12,000highway miles over the course of
our church visits. We were warmly received andencouraged byBCM
supporters.I am currently in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to
accomplish several goals. I plan to workonrevisions of the seminar
materials and complete the last two seminar sessions in achurch to
the west of us. I also intend to make the house more presentable
topotentialbuyers in hopes to sellit soon. I need to sell our S10
Blazer, and Mark andI have severalmechanical projects to attend to
on our vehicles. When 1return to the USA, I will take thiscomputer
and acouple of trunks filled with personal belongings. I do not
have areturnticket yet as I am unwilling to speculate ona date for
that. Margy is well cared for by ourdaughter and son-in-law in
Knoxville, so I have no concern for her well-being.Please remember
the ministry and ourselves in your prayers.Love,Bill
andMargyhttps://mail.google.com/niail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=8bl8544cl7&view=pt&search=inbox&th=147a...
8/5/2014