The Honduran weather continues to be absolutely glorious for us. The sun shines brightly as we depart Comayagua and drive to Ciudad Espana. Excitement runs high with the team as we anticipate connecting with the people of Juan Wesley School and Christ of the Resurrection Church.
What a reception we experience upon our arrival at the school! Eight of our team has been privileged to be here at least once and so there are hug
e smiles, big hugs, and words of greeting to those we remember from past visits. Introductions of new friends begins and the circle expands. It is a warm welcome to say the very least.
Here is team leader, Anne, reuniting with students she has met on previous mission trips here.
The team jumps into action and unloads the mountain of suitcases filled with teaching supplies and equipment, soccer balls and basketballs, and other items to help make this trip as successful as possible. It’s a team effort. Within a few minutes, the scores of children awaiting our arrival in anticipation of the morning soccer camp are assembled and given instructions for the morning sports camp.
They love the bright orange Mega Mission shirts. Their excitement rises with each passing moment. Soon, they are on the field testing their skills and learning new ones. While we expected about 80 children for the soccer 
camp, over 100 show up! Dennis, our team member leading the soccer camp, and his team of helpers roll with the increase and everything goes very smoothly.
At the same time, the ELL (Adult English Language training) team is gearing up for a day of teaching English to teachers and parents of students. They quickly set up their equipment and welcome over 35 students to class. These students are genuinely interested in learning English and it is a high priority of the school for this to be a reality. It’s always easier teaching students who are motivated and eager to learn. Our team members use songs, Scripture, and proven teaching methods as they laugh and smile through the teaching process. Yes, learning can be fun!
These sessions continue through the morning. We sit down to a Honduran lunch prepared by the school kitchen crew and it is delightful. Most importantly, we enjoy the fellowship over lunch with the teachers, parents, and sports camp helpers. At times, the language barrier makes it awkward but we struggle with the Spanish and 
our Honduran friends struggle with the English and it is all good!
In the afternoon, the ELL team continues on from their morning agenda by breaking into smaller groups and providing more individualized training. They even reverse the tables by asking the students to teach the teachers some Spanish songs including, “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Yes, our team wants to learn Spanish as much as we want to pass along English to them. It’s so exciting to establish a partnership in learning with our Honduran friends!
For the boys and girls
, the afternoon is basketball camp! While soccer is widely known and played i n Honduras, basketball is not. This is a new sport with new skills to learn. Most of the children are learning a brand new sport. The instructors are patient as they learn this new activity and the children love every minute of it. Soon, they are actually playing basketball and going up and down the court.
One of the volunteers working with our team is the Assistant Coach of the National Women’s Basketball team. He is extremely knowledgeable and explains the game slowly and carefully. At the end of the session, he sits the boys down 
and gives them an inspiration talk about the privilege of being involved in athletics and encourages them to take full advantage of this opportunity. They listen intently to everything he says.
Our day in Ciudad Espana comes to a close and we drive the 45 minutes to the Mission House where we enjoy a wonderful home-cooked meal, devotions as a group, and settle in for the night.
We reflect on our day. This is what we came to Honduras to do…to partner with our Honduran friends and to share God with them. While that happens, we find that they share God with us just as much or more than us sharing with them. This is how the Kingdom of God works!
Here are some photographs of us sharing the day with these beautiful people.
