Honduras, Day 4

The dilemma, how do you run a children’s program with only one team member who can speak Spanish well? No amount of prayer before the trip or leading up to today could answer that. Nothing other than the still small voice that seemed to be saying, “Forget about it, it is going to be ok.” We had done our part, diligently planning and preparing. Now was the time to allow God to bring the increase. 

 

Until this day I thought I had a “pretty good” prayer life. I am not sure that I was even looking in a dim mirror. To start off the church service the congregation all got on their knees on the ROUGH concrete floor and began praying. They were all at once, all out loud, passionately pouring out their hearts to God. It went on, and on, and on. For forty-five minutes praising God, confessing sin, praying for safety and protection, and praying for the salvation of those around them. THIS IS PASSION. Passion to follow Christ with all they have. These people had NOTHING. Some did not know if they would be eating that day. Others didn’t know if they would be killed in the night. Yet, that did not stop them from pouring out their hearts to God. Today was a major eye opening for me. I resolve to never look at prayer the same way. But to unashamedly pour my heart out to God at all times.

During the singing I recognized and was able to sing along in Spanish a few of the songs that we had already sung as a team. There were also a few tunes that I could pick out and sing along in English. After singing they introduced our team and Mr. Duggar shared a short sermon. As a result of his sermon a lady who had come to church for the first time this morning accepted Christ. 

 Midway through the morning service we split the adults from the children. Most of the team stayed in the larger room with the kids while the parents moved to a smaller room to watch the first opening sessions of the IBLP Basic Seminar. We started out with over 100 kids who could not speak a word of English. But through the loving smiles and limited Spanish phrases we were able to develop friendships with many. We started with a few Spanish songs we had practiced as a team and then shared a Bible story in skit form. Paul did an amazing job translating for me as I narrated the skits. After a few songs and a skit we would break into teams of 10-20 kids for a craft. Each of the craft leaders did a great job explaining the craft to the kids having only their smiles and motions. Over the course of the morning and into the afternoon I think the kids were able to learn more than we gave them credit for because of the language barrier. The crafts were a big hit for them to have something of their own to take home. Some of the most precious moments were watching kids color for the first time. We are very grateful for all the Spanish curriculum provided by the Ken Pharris family from IBLP Mexico.

In the later afternoon all of the kids went with us through the local village sharing food with some of the residents and inviting them to the Christmas party at the church and gifts just before dinner. By 4:30 the entire “auditorium” was packed out with young people, fathers, mothers, and grandparents. Alex share the gospel with them and helped to arrange everyone into groups for the gifts. As team members handed out gifts to the kids and adults others blessed each person there with a gospel of John. We were able to get 1500 copies of the Gospel of John from the American Bible Society. 

The rest of the evening was spent just investing in the locals through time as they explored their new gifts. After cleaning up everything we ate dinner and gathered for team devotions. Team devotions were one of my highlights each day. It was so encouraging to be able to share what God had done that day and hear the other encouraging reports from the other team members. 

John Duggar and I usually seemed to always end up with our beds next to each other. I think it was accidentally on purpose. Because of that we would stay up much later after getting in bed just talking about our time down there and life in general. Since Josh got married we have gotten to know each other better. What an encouragement John is to me of a man who is totally focused on the Lord. John is a man of integrity who’s name reminds me of honor and devotion. There is much I can learn from his quite responses. He always knows when it is time to be outgoing and jovial but at the same time recognizes when to melt into the background and just listen. Just listen and serve. 

Honduras, Day 3

Having spent the night being serenaded all night by the talented roosters from the house next to the church it was exhilarating to see the sky beginning to lighten. As the sun began to tease at the horizon I got up and prepared for the day. It was quiet, save for the sound of a few of the ladies from the church preparing their fires for breakfast and the quite chatter of the construction workers arriving and preparing for a day of work on the church. 

Handmade to EXACTING standards.... And yummy too! :)

Half the guys.

 As I sat reading from my Bible in the cool crisp morning I was contemplating the simplicity of life here in Honduras. In the States we over simplify things with mountains of technology, schedules crammed with activities that only the newest smart phone can keep up with, and social networking that has destroyed relationships. Here you could sit on a stump and just talk and invest in someone’s life without worrying about a bazillion things to accomplish still. 

Heidi used my stump as well. :)

Mike is from Florida. Current temperature = mid to low 60's. Enough said. :)

Some of the guys that kept an eye on us in Honduras.

Our first of many Honduran meals was amazing. The dear ladies from the church went above and beyond to ensure that we were well energized for the task ahead of us. After breakfast we loaded our gear and boarded the bus once again. This time we were headed back in the general direction of the Guatemala border. After passing within feet of a drop a hundred feet below and evading a sink hole the size of our small bus and at least 10 feet deep we arrived at the trail head. Trail, a word used in America for a well worn path. Trail, as it is used here equals path, :) path straight up the side of this ridge and over the next. The going was tough for some and because of that I ended up with the 5 gallon water jug that was in a multi day backpack and my pack with camera equipment, first aid supplies, and 2 additional gallons of water. :) We stopped just short of the border, marked by a break in the tree's and a concrete marker, for lunch. Instead of eating I took a few minutes to snap some pictures of fellow team members and hand out water to the weary. I was so proud of the way in which all of us soft American's (marshmallows as Luke would call us) persevered up the mountain to the village. this village had never seen a motor driven vehicle. We later learned upon arrival that history was made that day with the first vehicle arriving there just a few hours before us. 

Jim, senior sound engineer, and others making their way up the trail.

Scott, Director of photography, having second thoughts about his lunch.

A local kitchen.

Lemons the size of a grape fruit.

Paul discovered that no matter the size a lemon is still a lemon. :)

We proceeded through the village inviting the locals to the town center for a "Grand Fiesta" and gifts. While talking with one young mother and son about the Fiesta in her humble home she made the following comment, "Now you see me in my poverty". As I contemplated her words I thought of the stark contrast to the poverty of her soul. What a greater poverty that we had the opportunity to enrich with the love of Christ.

After traversing the paths of the village we gathered and sang a few Christmas songs in English as a team as well as several songs in Spanish with the locals joining with us. Mr. Duggar shared the Christmas story from Luke 2 through Alex while many of the team acted it out in drama. Following the drama and more energetic singing led by Antonio, the pastor of the local church, we divided the boys from the girls and handed out gifts. Gifts that would be the only thing they received for Christmas, gifts that would be fun but also useful. 

Antonio, pastor of La Esperanza in Honduras.

Jana (Mary) and a baby being used as the newborn Jesus in the drama.

Dave, 28 trip veteran to Central America and one of the most humble servant leaders you have ever met.

We then spent the remaining hours playing jump rope, kicking a soccer ball; face painting, fingernail painting, and just loving on the sweet little ones and their parents. While I could not connect vocally with the kids with much proficiency I was able to communicate the love of Christ through a smile and occasional tussle of their hair. 

 After spending several hours in the village we began the hike back down to the waiting vehicles. God was gracious and held off the major rain that had been threatening us most of the day and allowed everyone to make it safely back home. 

Straddling the Honduras/Guatemala border.

Teodoro's son - more on him coming in the following days.

Back in La Esperanza we planned for the Children's program the following day. The major hurdle we faced was the fact we only had one proficient Spanish speaker amongst us. However, through the blessings of God with the talents He had brought together for the trip we formulated a plan with much prayer. The rest of the evening was spent refining drama presentations, fellowshipping, worshipping in song as a team, and sharing from the day’s events. Most nights and some mornings we would gather and sing, share from the day, share from our devotions, and make an occasional plan for the day. What a sweet time of growth and binding together of the team this was. 

Team Devotions

Jason approves of the dinner.

My Take away from the day: Never, EVER underestimate the impact of a loving smile. It communicates across language barriers and cultures.