2012 Update from Instituto El Rey

As you may know, members of Ivy Chapel proudly support Instituto El Rey, a school in Honduras, in a number of ways. We recently received this update from Earl and Sharon Washburn, the administrators of the school:

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

2012 has only been a small ripple in time, a miniscule drop in eternity!  And yet it has been extremely significant in the on-going plan of God to reclaim His creation from the hand of the enemy.  The Bible says in Mathew 6: 10,   “…..May His kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Thus the powers of darkness shudder as the light comes crashing into La Cuenca del Congrejal, rending the darkness and sending it reeling, for the darkness cannot stand in the presence of the Light of God.  Light and darkness cannot co exist together. Always darkness has to flee when Light comes!

And so it is that the battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil are in mortal conflict in the spiritual realm over this area!  The forces of evil are being challenged and forced back, and Instituto El Rey is being used powerfully by God to reclaim His rightful place in the Cuenca del Congrejal  of Honduras, which itself is but a small, and rather unimportant nation among all the nations of the world.

As I sit here listening to Christmas carols, and I love Christmas carols! – I am reminded that Jesus, The Messiah, The Savior, was born in a manger in a place of humble surroundings – just as La Cuenca del Congrejal is a humble place.

Can it really be that anything of significance can be happening here?  Yes!

It is because of you – you who pray, you who give so faithfully, you who come to visit and to work.  Yes, it is because of YOU that IER can be God’s instrument to bring His light to shine and light the way so that young people can see the road to walk!  Thank you so much!

The last day of classes was 28 Oct – we began the year with 174 students  and finished with 170.

There are a number of reasons why IER has been so successful, and one of those reasons has to do with attendance.  This year over 70% of our students achieved perfect attendance!  Students like to be here in a good, safe environment.

Another reason is that fifty students, or 29%, achieved an A average for the 4^thquarter.  For the entire year, about 1/3 or 33% achieved an A average.

There were many significant events during the year—let me just share one with you! In October there was a writing context that was open to participants from all the high schools in La Ceiba.  Isaac, who was in the 9^th grade, represented IER!  At the time of the awards, Isaac was asked to stand in front with two others – I thought, “Is it possible that Isaac will get 1^st place!”  And sure enough, he won the 1^st place award!  We praise and thank God for what He is doing in the lives of our students.

We have 10 Honduran teachers that are paid a salary.  Ester, our Directora  or Principal, and Cesar, who teaches Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Science, have both been teaching at IER since the first day of classes on 19 Feb, 2001; Liliana teaches 9^th grade math and is responsible for keeping the files on students and teachers, and putting together the multitude of reports that are required by the department of education;  Damaris teaches 7^th and 8^th grade math, accounting and business administration;  Nely teaches practical activities, art and music;  Milvia teaches Social Studies and Civics; Samuel teaches Spanish;  Daysi teaches 10^th and 11^th grade math and 9^th grade science;  and Joseph and Dennis teach the computer classes.  All of our Honduran teachers have been teaching at IER for 5 years or more!  Cindy and Wendy and Sharon, all  volunteers, taught  English and other classes.  We are so grateful to God for all of our teachers!  They are all excellent!On December 30 we were leaving the parking lot of the church in La Ceiba when a member of the church made a great effort to stop us and make a commentary.  This man is a prominent businessman that we have known for  years, and he has visited Instituto El Rey.  Jorge commented how impressed he is with IER and with the work that God is doing up there in the valley. He said it is a school of excellence!

Let me end with this very, very significant and meaningful series of events.  On the 23^rd of December, Sharon and I and Melvin, one of our 6^th year medical students who was visiting, were having a party for Paula – one of our 8^th grade students, and two of her brothers, Adan and Carlos.  Afterwards, as I was driving the car down to give them a ride back to their home, the car crashed into a huge rock!  I am not going to try to explain how that happened!!!  But here is the point of this story –as I was standing there looking at the damage, somewhat in shock, Paula came up and quietly touched me on my arm, then her brother, Carlos, did the same thing as if to say, “we are sorry, we feel for you.  It’s ok, God is here!”  They did not have say a word, a gentle touch of their hands spoke more than words.  From tragedy to triumph!  What an awesome Christmas present!

May God bless you abundantly during the New Year.

And now,  To gain for the Lamb the reward of His sacrifice.

Earl and Sharon Washburn

Administrators IER