Today we returned to the United States. Even though we are all glad to see our families, our pets, and our own private bathrooms, the team is quieter and in deep introspection about the week.
Home has a different cadence than Honduras. Cell phones coming alive with text messages, voicemails, emails, etc. Driving is sedate compared to the pace of Tegucigalpa. Airport lines and paperwork: everything seems so urgent and mandatory. I am experiencing what the apostle Paul shared in in 2 Corinthians 5:17 about being Christ’s ambassadors, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
I believe each one of our team has become that new creature.
Our trip came to completion today, but our mission and ministry will continue on. I will ask for continued prayers for the beautiful people of Ciudad Espana and Honduras: that they may sustain and prosper from the work we all did together while there.
If you have been touched by the stories this week and desire to help children attend the school, consider sponsoring a student. Information for the sponsorship program can be found here:
http://www.cor.org/fileadmin/users/missions/Beyond_KC_Documents/Communications/Juan_Wesley_School_Scholarship.pdf
Your donations will help change the lives of kids like Christian and Magdelena and all of the other students supported by this ministry.
As I close today, I thank you all for your kind prayers and words this week. I ask God to bless all who read this that they may understand more of their brothers and sisters around the world.
Together in service, Joel
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Team Member Spotlight
Our song leader and improvisational dancer this week is Wendy. You may recognize her as a member of the Rezonate choir who performs during the 5:00 PM service at the main Leawood sanctuary. During the close of the trip she shared that the true hospitality of the Honduras host team was spectacular. “With Sandy and Mario (coordinators) escorting us around , I felt protected and well guided. I had no need to worry about anything. I could just be in the moment. We had an amazing mission team.”
To represent the 17-38 year old demographic, we have K-State pre-med student Luke, son of Todd. Luke is the most popular with the children of Ciudad thanks to his soccer skills. Luke is planning to go into pediatrics because of his love for children. “ The kids here don’t have much material wealth, but they find beauty and peace and happiness in so much more than we do. We could learn something from this. Let the little things go, don’t be so wrapped up in your personal life, being with the community is much more important.”