You may be asking, what happened to Team 3????  Well that was our Rez Life team and they take staying away from electronics even more seriously than we do (and we’re pretty serious about it)!  Once they are settled back in (returning today), we will post a few updates from them. But… in the meantime, team 4, a team made up of a few campuses AND a Resurrection partner church from California, has arrived together in San Pedro Sula.

This is a picture of the team ready to depart KCI super early this morning.  It’s a little blurry because everyone was still trying to wake up for their grand adventure today!  In Houston they met up with Kathleen for the final leg to Honduras.  This is our first team flying into San Pedro Sula, and heading straight to Copan to visit the Mayan Ruins located there (besides an initial small assessment team).  It’s a long day of travel as they have a 3 hour drive to Copan upon arrival, but they are currently eating lunch and looking forward to seeing what NW Honduras looks like as they travel to Copan.  If they can get internet access tonight, they’ll send a photo that includes Kathleen as well as an update.  Until then, they will appreciate prayers for safe travel!

UPDATE from the team:

Our team has had a long day of travel. It started with 3 AM car rides to the airport, fights to Houston, then continuing to San Pedro Sula where we loaded into a van to travel another three hours to Copan, Honduras. Being heavy with travel, the day did not lead to much community interaction, but we learned much as spectators. Between the speed bumps and military check points, it’s become a real adventure.

As with any trip to a country where you become a foreigner, there is a continuous surreal feeling that something is not the same. Culture shock. San Pedro Sula is like any other modern American city with its share of Coke and Pepsi advertisements, Nike and Tommy Hilfiger, a fondness for Pizza Hut and Wendy’s. But then you see this amazing chain restaurant:

And the food is chicken, ribs, black beans and fried yuca (a potato like root from the cassava plant .) The food was delicious!

Other items that struck me as odd were the living space of people in this community. Some families live in brightly colored houses with ornate exotic flowers cascading over fences, other people live in corrugated metal shacks near the highway with holes large enough for anyone to glance through as their car rumbles past. Some are intricately crafted buildings made of mud over woven sticks. Still others are simple huts with the occasional satellite dish peaking over the top.

I did find a heartwarming familiarity while watching the children we passed playing in the most recognizable ways. Kids running through yards, a girl soaked head to foot with a garden hose, boys mimicking their favorite futbol idol, the sweet make-believe princess in her gown and tiara. These kids are happy, and I guess that surprises me some.

What I have learned is that ultimately we have so much in common; we are just different, and that’s okay. When we compare our lives to the lives of others we need not point out the differences without acknowledging that we have much in common. Paul knew this when he wrote in Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I ask that you pray for the people of San Pedro Sula and Copan that they be strengthened by our team through the love of Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow, we continue our cultural study of Honduras by visiting an ancient Mayan ruin. I can’t wait to share!

Together in service,  Joel
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Matthew 5: 14-16
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

The ENTIRE team!!!