Karen Stephenson, Guntersville,Alabama
This October, our team traveled to Honduras with Pray PlanMissions, and what unfolded was a week of long days, laughter, sickness, storms, and above all, God’s unmistakable presence.
We left Birmingham at 2 a.m. on October 4, meeting up with the rest of our team from Ohio, in Houston before flying into Tegucigalpa. From there, we drove to Chaguitillos, where Casa de Charlie became our home for the week. That first night, after Sandra’s wonderful cooking and Ed’s reminder of PPM’s vision, we settled into the dorms—grateful for the new air-conditioning units.
Each day followed a rhythm: traveling to schools, performing our skit of Jesus calming the storm, celebrating birthdays, leading origami crafts, and feeding the children at each of the six schools. The meals—funded by our team—were a highlight, as the children ate joyfully, often going back for seconds and thirds. At all of the schools, children raised their hands to accept Christ, a moment that reminded us why we had come. We also fed a whole community a wonderful meal of pork, rice, pasta salad, and bread. No one went home hungry. We also provided burn barrels for each of the six schools so that they can dispose of their trash.
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The roads were rough, rocky, and often muddy, and one river crossing in particular tested our nerves 4 different times. Yet every time we made it safely across, I thanked Jesus for His protection. Along the way, there were moments of humor too—like the boy wearing a bucket as a motorcycle helmet, or the Honduran women fascinated by my blond hair, running their fingers through it with curiosity and delight.
Illness swept through our team, with many of us battling intestinal issues. Yet even in weakness, God sustained us. Rick’s prayer over Joe carried him through a difficult day, and we pressed on, determined not to let sickness stop the mission. Mary’s compassion for animals was a constant reminder of God’s care for all creation, as she fed hungry cows and befriended stray dogs.
We also encountered deep needs in the villages. We prayed with a woman needing glasses, another whose child suffered from a rash, and with Julio, a grieving father who had fallen into drinking and depression after losing his child. Tom prayed with him, urging him to return to church and to his faith. At a small store, we met a young girl selling bracelets to save money to attend the university—the only one to accept Jimmy’s challenge to make crafts for income. I bought one to support her and as a reminder of her determination and the needs of the Honduran people.
Nearly every night brought rainstorms, some so fierce that lightning struck the transformer and left us without power. The generator carried us for a while, but when it failed, we adapted with a smaller backup just to keep the refrigerator running. With little water pressure, showers and toilets became difficult to use, yet the ministry team’s resilience shone as they found ways to make things work.
Water, in fact, was a constant theme. A broken pipe had left five villages without running water for three weeks, creating tension as Chaguitillos relied on Casa de Charlie’s well. Rick wants to begin preparing a proposal for rainwater collection systems at the schools. Joe and I were grateful to commit to providing purification kits for five widows who struggled to access clean water. Meeting this physical need may open the door to share with the widows about the “LivingWater” of Christ.
Evenings often ended with debriefs, where we shared what God was teaching us. One night, my devotion from that morning, reminded me that I too am spiritually poor and in need of Christ’s good news—a humbling realization. Another night, I reflected on Matthew 6 and the call to feed the hungry and serve “the least of these.” Watching the youth-led worship service, with children trained through PPM’s Music Academy leading on guitar, keyboard, and drums, was a powerful glimpse of God’s kingdom being built in Honduras.
Throughout this trip, the Lord continually reminded me to live with an eternal perspective rather than a self-centered one. 2Corinthians 5:15 spoke deeply to me: we are not called to live for ourselves, but for Christ who died and rose again. This truth reframed the question, “Why did you go to Honduras?” The answer was clear: not to build my own kingdom, but to join in building His.
Even in discomfort, I reminded myself, “It’s okay to be uncomfortable—it’s not about you.” It’s about serving the least, feeding the hungry, bringing water to the thirsty, praying with the sick and brokenhearted, and sharing theGood News of Jesus’ love. Matthew 25:35–40 came alive in every act of service, reminding me that when we care for the least of these, we are demonstrating love for Christ Himself.
Lord, teach me to live with an eternal perspective.
Karen Stephenson
On Mission with the Wild Goose!
