Our group of 8 met at Resurrection West mission center this morning at 3:30am to start our journey to Honduras. Not many of us had slept much, anticipating our trip and wondering if we had packed all we would need: the right shoes and the right clothing, wondering what God has in store for us in Honduras and if we are ready to step up to the call. Each of us is contributing to the success of this trip, has prepared and anticipated their role as part of the team.
Michelle Anspaugh will be leading a 5-day Live Well depression and domestic violence training seminar. Crista Green and Rosemary Plum have produced 5 presentations on U.S. culture for the children and staff at the Juan Wesley School. Steve Ward & Ray Makalous are standing ready to re-assemble the dozen or so computers we carried with us in large suitcases – these will bless the students in the Juan Wesley computer lab, and have packed their work boots in anticipation of several light construction projects at the school. Sharon Ward and I have 90 yards of fabric and 19 sewing boxes prepared for the Women’s Sewing ministry project that we will lead at the end of the week. Pastor Chris Holliday is the Magnifico leader we all need him to be, cool and calm and always there when we need him.
This is Pastor Chris’ third trip to Honduras in the past three years, and the second time as trip leader. What keeps coming to his mind today, our first day here, is “In Christ the old becomes new”. Even though Pastor Chris has been here and seen the same things a few times (the Basillica, the Christ statue, the community, the people) today has been full of those things experienced as new because of the beauty of God’s love shining through. The sunlight was, without a doubt, particularly brilliant this afternoon as it came through the Basillica’s stained-glass windows and the doorways were wide-open to the July breeze. Never have we seen the Basillica quite so beautiful. And the park grounds surrounding the Christ statue were full of activity – babies in strollers, children running down the paths, families gathering for picnics and enjoying music. A group of teenagers were performing in the park, doing an artistic & interpretive dance on the stone patios, their families and friends applauding. So many people gathering together to enjoy life and finding sustenance through relationships, despite being in the midst of poverty, as Pastor Chris remarks. The Lord has made this day, indeed.
This is Steve’s first trip to Honduras and he also observed this same joy and happiness at the park. He’s fascinated with the culture and said he’s reminded that we shouldn’t “address their needs as Americans, but as Christians. Our wants and needs are not the same. It’s very difficult to understand”. And yet, he points out… we are so much the same, no matter where we live, as evidenced by the teenagers we saw with selfie sticks in the park.
Ray is experiencing Honduras for the first time. He says he “didn’t come into this with any expectations. It’s still early, we haven’t done any real work yet, but it couldn’t have been a better day as far as getting to know each other.” The trip to the Christ statue and seeing the families having fun prompted him to share “I felt I was taken back 35-40 years, when you didn’t depend on programming but just had fun on a Sunday afternoon.” The Honduran families having fun together, babies of 6 months to grandparents of 85 interacting, was simply a joyous thing.
It’s remarkable how God has each of us using our hands in a different way, serving a different purpose. After a long flight (and an even longer time waiting to get through Immigration) we were greeted and welcomed by Sandy and Karen, our mission house hosts and leaders. It was very apparent to Rosemary and Sharon, meeting them for the first time, that this staff who serves us, so we can serve in Honduras, are here because they truly want to be and feel called to be here. “Their servant’s hearts are showing,” says Rosemary. And Sharon was impressed by what a happy family everyone here seems to be, so friendly and welcoming. “It was a nice, enjoyable day. We simply don’t need a lot of material things to make us happy.” Both of these ladies are looking forward to experiencing the kids and the school tomorrow, certain the day will be just as joyous and God-filled as today. After a good-night’s sleep, of course.
As Crista was driving to the mission center very early this morning, she heard a Mathew West song on the radio and the lyrics stuck in her head, particularly meaningful for her trip today. “…Just do something” is what God commanded her through that song. “That’s what I’m here for – to just do something”. Her arrival in Honduras was full of amazing observations – the mountains, the valley, the beautiful temperatures, the home of the Honduran President and the protesters outside of it, the uniformed guards and the traffic and crazy driving (thank you Karen for transporting us safely today!). There is such joy all around us, especially from Sandy who has so many happy stories and insists being here is her blessing. “It made me smile to be part of this in even just a little bitty way” confides Crista.
Michelle is still working diligently on her presentation for tomorrow morning, despite the late night hour and her tired eyes. She’s invested her heart into this ministry and these people and wants to do her very best for them. She shared, through a few tears, “ I experienced a great peace when I got here. When we left last year, we left a piece of our hearts here and it feels like it’s back in place.” A year can be a very short amount of time when things fall back in place so quickly.
May God bless us and keep us in the path of His work.