Flights, Heights, and Sights
It has been a long and fulfilling day! We woke up in the US and laid our heads down for sleep in Honduras! After landing in Comayagua we journeyed to Chaguitillos and the Casa de Charlie. No rest for the weary though… we hit the ground running by packing bags for the food distribution for the widows, ran through our skit for the story of Queen Esther for the schools several times, and enjoyed our first glimpses of the “million dollar view” we heard Jimmy Usher talk about so often.
Two Villages and Full Hearts
After fueling up with a wonderful breakfast of Baleadas, fried plantains, and fresh fruit we visited two villages today: Chaguitillos and Colmenas. Distributing the bags of food we had packed and meeting some of the widows was wonderful. The kids seemed to enjoy our skit and the craft… they really loved the piñatas to celebrate Day of the Child. There’s nothing like a group of children swinging with all their might to release the candy in a piñata! Our prayer is that we bring the same sort of enthusiasm for building the kingdom as that! We met Pastor Mario in the evening and made plans for the worship service on Sunday.
The Blind Have Clear Vision
Our Silencio time in the Daniel Room this morning was very special to us. We visited widows today in two villages: La Joya and Las Huertas. We met the pastor in Las Huertas and saw her beautiful church. One of the widows in particular whom we visited left an indelible impression on all of us. She was blind but her spiritual insight was keen! We visited and shared with her and she sang a song to us based on Psalm 23. Her heart is full of joy and we were so blessed by her! What an example for all of us! We see that God is at work in and through our team.
Churches, challenges, and changes
Sunday we visted two churches along with some challenges. Our pastor came down with a bug last night and was sick all day so he was unable to participate… and he was supposed to preach in Chaguitillos in the evening! Morning began in Las Huertas where we performed our skit for the congregation and in the evening, Pastor Mario welcomed us in Chaguitillos! One of our team sang a song (in Spanish) and three shared testimonies. It was a powerful time for us! Because our pastor was unable to preach, Jimmy Pinell stepped in and preached on Matthew 6:33, Seek first the kingdom of God. Though they hadn’t discussed the message, that is the same text our pastor was going to use. Honduras is changing us!
Misty mountains, a powerful prayer, clean water
The million dollar view was covered in a beautiful mist that made smoky-looking mountains. God’s creative flair! We performed our drama at the school in La Joya and witnessed GREAT jubilation about the piñata! While visiting a widow, she prayed a powerful prayer for our team that left us glorifying God! A stop in the city of El Rosario for lunch and then on to El Tamboral where we gathered to sing worship songs with a group of widows. We also brought two water filtration systems that provide clean water. Jesus turned water into wine and we witnessed Jimmy Pinell turn muddy water into clean water!
Final day and floodgates!
Today was our final full day ministering in the villages. We performed our skit in two villages: La Campa and El Junco… we finally “perfected” our performance! To see the joy on the faces of the children was a blessing! Laughter, candy, juice, and cookies… we take these things for granted at home and here, they brought great joy! In the evening, the rains came down hard! We were able to get some trees planted before the deluge but our final trip to visit a church in Colmenas was in a great downpour. Our truck quit working due to the moisture and a home in the village offered their porch to us as we waited. We had a late dinner and then turned in for the night, satisfied with the way the Lord used us and also ministered to us.
Travel, Chocolate, and the B&B!
We hit the road in the morning headed to San Pedro Sula. The roads were difficult due to the heavy rains the night before; crossing the “bridge” was quite the ordeal but the Lord carried us through! We stopped at a Cacao plantation on the way. After a wonderful meal we toured the plantation, enjoyed freshly made chocolate cocoa and coffee, and then hit the road again where we ended up at the most wonderful bed and breakfast operated by Jimmy and Sondra (with a stop at Power Chicken along the way). It was a restful night of sleep for each of us.
Homeward Bound!
Morning brought one last time of sharing together, this time in the sitting area of the porch at the B&B. Wonderful time of sharing! We stopped by a market to fill our baggage with last minute souvenirs and then on to the airport. A mostly uneventful trip with a layover in Miami (that’s right, “Buster”) and then we hit the ground in Columbus. Home!
Our trip summed up…
Roosters crowing...
Calls your grace to my mind
Donkeys braying...
I recall you reaching the spiritually blind
Birds chattering...
You see them, you care for ones like me
Mountains and valleys...
Your creative flair in all I see
Hands preparing a meal...
Service is the language of love
Children and widows...
Highly favored by the Lord above!
Memories being made
Hearts being filled
Your glory incredibly displayed
Holy Spirit, you move me still
My soul has been overwhelmed here in Honduras
