Honduras Part 2

The purpose of this missions trip is to be Jesus' hands and feet. We get to partner with churches and pastors to distribute clothes, hygiene products, toys, and food to those in the village who need it. We aren't ending world hunger in a day... but to those who receive the food, it does take some of the stress away. They villages we visit are so far away from the city. They don't necessarily have the opportunity of purchasing food. We are able to give that box of food to some of the most grateful people.

I am always amazed at the joy that the Hondurans feel when we are able to hand them something. They are so thankful and so receptive.

3. Monday...
What a day! We got to visit two villages, and they were 2 that I had visited the first time I went. I remembered some of the faces I had seen 4 years ago! That was really cool. I did struggle a lot this day. I was in pain from travel, and I had taken some pain medicine, so I was a little foggy and out of it, but it was a good day! At the first church, I got to bond with one of our translators, Adriel. He is the brother of another translator who actually lives here in the United States and goes to our church. I am very thankful for the time that we got to share. He and I passed out toys together and  the time we got to spend really bonded us for the rest of the week. I also got to witness my beautiful Honduran friends, Andrea and Nataly lead our team. They were the two youngest translators the first time I went, and this year they were our lead translators. It was so great to see how much they have grown. I was so blessed by the way that they lead this week.
I didn't necessarily have a "God moment" at the first church, and that was okay. We all got to pray over the people in that village. I really enjoyed that. And when we were done praying, we got to give a lot of hugs. A LOT. And as we were hugging people this week, they were in return, praying for us. It was beautiful.
In the second village, I prayed over two women in specific. I was just very drawn to them. The one had two little boys with her. As I began to pray for her, she began to weep. I didn't understand her language, and she didn't understand mine. I couldn't ask what she wanted prayer for, so I kinda just went for it. I found myself praying for her family, that God would provide for her needs, that he would open her eyes so she could see him, and his heart so she could feel him, and I prayed for protection. These were the typical things that I would pray for, unless I really felt the Holy Spirit leading me in a different direction. When I was done praying with her, another mother caught my eye. I went over and prayed with her and she too started crying. This time, I hugged her. When we finished praying I hugged her again and she just held me and cried and cried and cried. So I held her and continued to pray for her. When she let go, I asked a translator if she could ask the woman what I could specifically be praying for and the woman said she wanted prayer for her home. And again, I was able to pray for her.
It is humbling. I was overcoming several times watching the passion that the Honduran people have for the Lord. The faith that these people have for the Lord is mind blowing. We don't go down and try to teach them how to be a Christian. I think that I personally realize what it means to be a Christian by watching the people of Honduras.
I cried on Monday.

4. Tuesday
Are you still with me? Tuesday was fun! We went to a village that didn't have a church building. We were in a big clearing next to a soccer field. I really liked this village. There were a lot of kids, and they were just absolutely fun! I got to play the snapping game with several boys. There was this little girl named Franny who just really touched all of our team members hearts. She was so giving and she was serving right along beside us. The village was just a lot of fun. It was really hot, and I think that many of us on the trip had to take small breaks to get out of the  heat and rest. This village was not expecting rain for several months. No rain means no food, so when our leader in Honduras was praying for them, he was praying that God would provide for them. When we hugged the people in the village, it was neat again to have them praying over us. We couldn't understand each other, but God understands us both and that connects us.
Tuesday evening got a little crazy! We were invited by the mayor to come to his town. The town has natural hot springs that we got to swim in. We were at this little resort area. There were two hot spring pools and then another big swimming pool. I got totally stuck in the swimming pool and had to have my dear cousin Kara, and new friend Olivia push me out of the pool which was pretty hilarious. But the funniness didn't stop there. OH NO! There was a news crew that was recording our time at the little resort, and they interviewed the mayor and our team leader. It was pretty great. However, some of us weren't necessarily mindful of where the cameras were at. After swimming, I slipped back into my shorts and a tshirt. After a few minutes, I was like HEY! I forgot to put some deodorant on. So I grabbed two of the girls on my team and I asked them to make a wall for me so I could put some on. I like did it under my shirt and as I was finishing my second armpit, I look up and standing in the corner is the camera man and he has his camera pointing right at me......... SOOOOOOOOOOO some town in Honduras got to watch a loco gringo putting on deodorant while being recorded for the news....

Tuesday night, was major for me. I have felt the call to be a missionary for many, many years. The last few years, my heart has felt very restless. I feel anxious a lot, and I am always searching for something, but I never know what. And Tuesday night, I was just so overcome with a sense of peace. I felt s sense of being Home. For so long, I have felt like I am not where I should be. And Tuesday night it was made clearer to me...