Friday: Encouragement through Prayer

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Isaiah 43:2a

Before our trip to the mighty waters of the waterfall at Pulhpanzak, we briefly met with everyone and the Hillcrest Bible Church team. JC read from Psalm 29 and Isaiah 43. These verses were appropriate as the waterfall and hiking behind them and into a tiny cave behind them, there is a healthy amount of “fear-for-your-life” that we could only hold onto each other and the promises of God. A very invigorating experience to say the least.

Several rode the zip lines which zig-zagged across the river and ended with several rides across the falls. Dinner at Henry's was a relaxing and enjoyable time. The food was fantastic. I asked Henry if he ate like this every night. He responded, “No, otherwise he would be fat.” 

Matt ended the evening with a devotional about Jesus washing the disciple’s feet from John 13 as it relates to the theme of encouraging one another through service. 

Because of lack of time this morning, I did not get to share the last morning devotional: encouragement through prayer. And fatigue has hit us all, I challenged us to continue to pray for the believers here, the children of La Providencia, and the entire country. A great way to end a fulfilling and exhausting week. May we continue to encourage others as we have this week.

Thursday: Encouragement through Service

“Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John13:5

We began the day with a visit to the mercado. Despite the fact we were only there for less than an hour, it appeared that plenty of goods were purchased and the Honduran economy will continue well after we leave.

All hands were needed for today's art camp from both teams. Over forty children attended. The big activity was “junk art”. Joel Anderson would have been proud not only of the amount of trash but the finished pieces.

We threw all of the “basra” in the center of the comedor where Matt and his team divided the many pieces into groups of ten for the ten stations we set up. I spoke to the children and reminded them that this project was a picture of what God has done: He takes discarded, rejected, ugly things and makes them regarded, accepted, and beautiful. 

Our group made a rather creative parrot that the children agreed to name, “Sanderson Jr.”

The finished chicken coop. Unfortunately, the same smell remains.

Our team at the cross.

One of my favorite activities each year is to play soccer with everyone. It was a great evening, even in the rain. The night ended a bit short when Tori forgot that she should stop before hitting the wall rather than letting the wall stop her. A trip the ER and several stitches later and she is okay. After ten mission teams to Honduras, this is the first visit to the hospital.

A good cut on the chin but still a smile on her face.

As we were beginning our evening worship/devotional, several young Hondurans surrounded the tent we were under. We being only twelve thought it made sense to continue in one of our rooms so they could use the large tent. Instead they invited us to continue to worship through song with them. (We did find out that they were a group from World Vision.)

I was greatly encouraged to see some many young Hondurans, especially men, passionately singing to their Savior. What a blessing for us to join them.

Wednesday: Encouragement through Fellowship

“that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1John1:3

There is something expressly unique that despite language and cultural barriers Christian enjoy together in fellowship. We have experienced that this week in coming alongside the believers here. It is a “common and deeper bond", as Matt shared tonight in his devotional, greater than any other one we have with other, more secular ones.

Probably the sweetest moment today came after a visit to Mario and Beatrice’s house. During our visit, Mica almost passed out to sickness. (These are the moments when I am ever thankful we have a doctor with us.) As we were leaving the home of these precious and faithful house parents, Mario offered to pray for Micah who was curled in a ball in her father’s arms.

While I didn't understand all of his prayer, that which I did was amazing. Most of us were in tears as Mario and Beatrice both prayed passionately for her healing. In less than an hour, Micah felt fully restored and was able to eat with us at Mizael’s. This was unexplainable, medically speaking, by J.C. Thank you Lord for displaying yourself in such a beautiful way.

These ladies worked hard digging but especially so when the music was blasting and they danced and sang along.

A prayer by two of the children before art camp.

...a very messy art camp!

Karaoke at Mizael's included both English and Spanish versions of Don’t Stop Believing!

Tuesday: Encouragement through Character

Barnabas was a the son of encouragement. He was “for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” One way he encouraged the believers of his time was simply by the way he lived. Such was what were challenged with during this mornig's devotion, to be of such godly character that it would encourage others. (This was still shared by me despite the demonic attack of a gnat flying in my mouth!)

Ditch digging by the school.

Half the team headed to medical and the other half to the bodega to gather ditch digging supplies. Trying to break through the hard clay. So we were grateful when the medical team arrived to relieve us at 11 am since they finished the morning exams early.

Obed, the young Honduran man (our “jefe” for this morning) asked if I planned on playing futbol at lunch once again. I said (in Spanish), “Of course, it's the main reason I come down to Honduras each year!” (which is only partially true).

After lunch (and, of course, soccer with los trabajadores), we worked with 34 children. One special moment occurred after helping one of the Providence children who has some special needs. For roughly four or five years, every time I tried talking with this particular boy in the past, he would either try to hit me or just yell, “No!” But today, after spending time working with him on his art and encouraging him, he expressed his thanks with a kiss on my cheek.

Tori took some of the kids to the chicken coop to paint on a cinder block wall. I love that a bland, sterile block wall has been brought to life by these young artists. The final touch was their hand prints.

We concluded another great day with the family staff night. Over 100 children, parents and teams ate, played, and sang together. Each of the team leaders were presented with a Spanish bible signed by the staff. I thanked them all and said that while many in the States may be rich in “things”, they were rich in Christ.

Monday: Encouragement through the Word

The first official workday of the weeks in Honduras seem to always be a mix of excitement to actually begin serving and the opportunity to reunite with my Honduran “family” along with fatigue in getting our bodies used to the sun of Central America and playing soccer with the workers after lunch.

The morning devotional with the staff and other teams here from Dallas and Wisconsin was encouraging. I love to watch the Hondurans passionately sing worship music that is uniquely Honduran, not an American Christian song merely translated into Spanish. Douglas challenged us from the book of John to share this great news of the gospel with the world.

The tour of the site was longer than previous trips partially because of the size of two groups and the additional parts of La Providecia which include the fields of coffee, the new talapia tanks, and the new home that was just completed. To finally see the third home finished and meet the family was a blessing.

The new talapia farm under construction.

At the foot of the cross.

Twenty six children attended art camp. After introductions, we divided the children by grade with two or three of us at each table. The first project was officially called “zentangles” but it was just creative doodling to me. Some quickly jumped at the idea. Others, like Kenneth were less than enthusiastic about it. Next was portraits. I taught the older children how to draw a face using basic shapes. (We used a blown up photo of Katharine as our “model”.) Some seemed bored while others, like Kenneth, followed each step carefully and we're excited to show their parents their masterpiece.

The of the girls display their portrait of Katharine

The medical team was able to exam 28 children.

Dinner on Douglas' front lawn during a pleasant sunset was a relaxing and enjoyable way to finish the day.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I the 30 or 40 minutes we spent digging was pretty exhausting. What happened to m. I used to be able to make it through an entire day of manual labor.

Encouraging One Another through the Gospel

Seeing the lush green mountains and massive cumulus clouds of Honduras never gets old. The twelve of us arrived safely yesterday and were greeted with the friendly and precious faces of Marco and Katharine.

Last night, after a night of worship through song and a devotion, we prepared for today's visit to the nursing home be making small care packages for the twenty or so residents by writing encouraging verses and decorating each bag.

The theme for this year's trip has been “mutual encouragement” from Romans 1:12. That was especially evident in our morning service at Punta de Gracia. This Sunday was unique in that my dear friend and pastor, Mizael, spoke about his sister, Onix, who just passed away from a rare disease similar to muscular dystrophy. Mizael recounted how he never (“nunca, nunca”) saw her sad or discouraged even though she had, by the world's standards, every right to be. He shared that each time he would visit her in Chicago that it was she was who always encouraged him.

This was an emotional service since her passing was so recent but a great encouragement to all of us as we saw the love of Christ in Mizael who passionately relate her story especially as it related to Ephesians 6:10–13. May we always be compelled to speak of the peace and love of Christ, no matter the circumstances and faithfully take up the armor of God as well as Onix did.

Marco translating for J.C. and me

This afternoon we made our annual visit to the local nursing home we have visited the past six years. It is still quite a blessing to see the faces of the residents light up when we play balloons with them. They instantly become like giddy children. We san together, laughed together, loved on them, and handed out the small care bags. I loved seeing how some of them cared for one another. Many have been here since our first visit in 2010.

A truly beautiful day with those who seem to have little but have much.

Day 7

Today's activities brought back wonderful memories of the earlier trip from 2005-08.

First, we ventured 90 minutes away to Pulhapanzak, a beautiful, 90 foot waterfall. Just about everyone took part in the zip line. This 30 minute journey zig zags across the river and ends with a dynamic run over the falls. Look closely to see Gabrielle to give a perspective of the size of these cascading waters.

But the highlight is still the hike that includes going under the falls. The best analogy of this breathtaking excursion is to climb on moss covered rocks while being sprayed with a fire hose...from every angle.

We even ate at "El Resturante," the first restaurant we ate at in 2005 where Eric Patton unknowingly ate beef tongue.

After a few hours rest, we the played football (soccer) at the same courts we played at ten years ago. The entire staff from La Providencia joined us. 

During the devotion, we needed the evening by praying by name for those we met who impacted us.

All in all, a fantastic day and evening to a fantastic week.