Welcome To Honduras

Hello Friends!

We had a "Welcome to Honduras" moment when we tried to post to this blog last night and this morning and didn't have any internet connection! So first off, let me tell you that we are all safe and sound. You all should be so proud of those you've sent to work this week in Honduras. Today was our first full day and let me tell you they already have hearts fully invested in the people they've met today.

We arrived yesterday on time, but not all of our luggage made it- and again "Welcome to Honduras!" Thankfully most of us packed our clothes in our carry-ons and for those who didn't, it's ok because their luggage arrived and we'll pick it up in the morning. Went across the street after we got here- just crossing the street in Honduras can be an adventure- and went to see Jen's kids from the Casa de Esperanza children's home. Hugged them and then went back across the street to get on the bus and head up the mountain to the mission house. Orientation was with Mark Connell, a delightful man of God who has been leading TORCH teams to Honduras for years. He brought us up to speed on what to do and what not to do while we're here. Had dinner, met for devo, and moved some suitcases around before we headed to bed, tuckered out from our travels.

This morning we were up early, had breakfast and devo and loaded the bus to go to church at Los Pinos, which is a mountainside community that opened our eyes to an entirely different way of living. Many in our group witnessed for the first time what life looks like in a third world country and they were overwhelmed to say the least. Next we were blessed with the privilege of praising God with the church meeting at Los Pinos. Their hearts were evident in their faces as they worshipped and as they shook all of our hands when the service was over. What a joy to worship alongside the brothers and sisters of that community. It was a lovely lesson in the unity we find in Christ.

We had a little extra time before the Good Shepherd's childrens' home was expecting us so we called another childrens' home, Jovenes en Camino, "Children In the Way," and asked if we could stop in for 45 minutes. They said ok! So we visited there and were able to love on some of those kiddos and remind them God loves them.

Then it was time for Good Shepherd. This is one of my absolute favorites, and became a favorite for a lot of our team today. This place is run by a couple who heard God's call years and years ago to come and do a childrens' home in Honduras. They said yes and now years later, after expanding over and over, they are now parents to 223 chilren. I say the word parents intentionally, because they are. They know all of the children by name and love each of them as if they had them themselves. Our entire team was greeted at the bus and each had 4 or 5 children with them most of our visit. We colored, jumped rope, made jewelry, played soccer, and gave away little toys to the kids we were with. It was beautiful to see the hearts of our team connect to the hearts of the children so quickly. We do not know all of the stories of the children that we encountered, but we know that many of them had rough, awful lives before God rescued them and they found a place to be cared for physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They are always reminded that they are loved and that God loves them. They are being raised to be followers of the Way and we were blessed to be among them today. After quite a few tearful good-byes, we were on the bus and headed back to the mission house.

We had dinner and the power went out "Welcome to Honduras!" - but it came back on after 5 or 10 minutes and all was well! We had devo and remembered that we wouldn't be here representing Jesus if it weren't for those of you who have prayed, financially supported, and are continuing to pray us through. We come are here representing Jesus above all else, but we also come representing you. And let me tell you, friends, the group made you look good today:) You truly would be so proud.

Tomorrow we will be building 2 houses in a community that we're told is the poorest of the poor. Please continue to lift us in prayer. The work is physically taxing, but our hearts also pay quite the toll. But let me guarantee you this, our team is here to work and they are delighted to serve and love even when it's hard and it hurts. Jesus shines in them and it is beautiful to witness the love of Christ being poured out on the Hondurans through this team.

We have been blessed that we may be a blessing. Please continue to lift us in prayer. Our God is so faithful.

Here are a few words from your loved ones!


June 10 – Blog Notes

Hi Mom, Dad, Ris, And Jenna,
We arrived safe. Having a wonderful time so far. I will have lots of stories and pictures to show you. I love you all and miss you.
Miranda


Hey “Madre”
I love you and wish you where here today with me so you could see the smiles on these kids faces and the love and trust in these kids hearts and the fact that they can trust you immediately with no previous relationship. It’s a phenomenal feeling inside it’s where I’m coming when I graduate neways love u lots call you when I get back. Wish you where here.
Luke Webster


Hola Familia,
Well I am here in Honduras and the airport in Houston Texas has failed to put on some of our luggage and it happened to be one of my suitcases which is the one that had all my personal stuff in. So yea I have no clothes except for what I had in my carry on until tomorrow hopefully. This place is amazing and reaching out to these kids and showing God’s Love is so humbling and it’s awesome. Tomorrow we are building houses for one of the poorest towns around here. I am so blessed to be here. Well I will blog another time we don’t have much time to blog so I will blog tomorrow or another day God Bless familia and see you soon.
God Bless,
Me llamo Daniel`
MILLER FAMILY AND ALLTEL FRIENDS,
Hey guys!! We made it to Honduras, all in one piece!! Just so everyone knows, I cried a little before the first flight, but was fine from there on. Words can not express the amazing experience I am having, and it is only the end of day one. I have cried, and laughed, and seen Jesus in SO many places. I have been humbled and reminded over and over how amazing God is. I will no doubt, come back to you all a different person. And honestly, I think I will have a hard time leaving this beautiful place. I have fallen in love with this place, and Mom WE are coming back next year. Actually, I think the whole family should come, because I will never be able to communicate in words what this is like. I can not wait to come home and show you all pictures and tell you all the amazing stories that I will have. I love you guys so much and I appreciate the fact that you are continually praying for me. I know you are because all the things I feared are nothing to worry about. If I can I will write again, if not see you when I get home!!!Love, Abby



Hola Clark Family (Peter and Rachael) and Haugh Family,
We made it!! It is an amazing place, difficult to describe in an email and put into words. We are having a great time – we visited two children’s homes today and fell in love with several kids. Sorry Rach – no little ones coming home in a suitcase – but we’ve got lots of pictures! Our church experience was amazing this morning – worshipping with our Honduran brothers and sisters will be a highlight of this trip. Tomorrow we build our first houses in “the poorest of the poor” areas. Should be heart-wrenching, but wonderful. We love you all and miss you bunches. Keep praying for our team.
Love, Mom and Hannah. This is from Hannah- It is sooo amazing here!! I am definitely in love with this place!! We went to a children’s home today and some of the girls there stole my heart! It was so hard to leave all of them! Church service this morning was just amazing!! Well people are waiting in line so I better go! I love you all very much!!


Hello Alan, Grant and Alana, Just wanted to let you know we made it. It has been quite the experience from the time we left home. Seth is good. We visited two children’s homes today and went to church on the side of a mountain. The bus ride to and from the church gave me a few more grey hairs. We build tomorrow. Pray that we have physical and mental strength. We love you. Hope you are doing okey. Eat a piece of pizza for us at the porch. Love you.

Hola Everyone!
Today was amazing. We visited two children’s homes today and just spent time hanging out with the kids. Donna kept telling us to ‘get ready to love on some kids’…Well, we didn’t really have a choice. They gathered around the bus and chose us by grabbing our hands as we walked off. It was so neat having a perfect stranger just automatically loving you. We also went to church and worshipped in Spanish…that was cool. The people there lived in shacks on a huge mountain that I would’ve sworn a bus could not get to…but I now know otherwise. After church they announced that we were going to be building houses for people whom were very poor and that what they had was luxurious compared to what these other people are currently living in…wow…and I thought they were living poorly. I miss you all and can’t wait to show you all my pictures. I love you Chris. Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite…… I love you all.
Erica

Hello all,
We arrived safely in Honduras around 3:30 Saturday. Honduras is such a beautiful country – very mountainous. Today we went to a Spanish church and visited two orphanages. Hanging out with the kids and playing with them was so much fun! We went there to love and embrace the kids but they really loved and embraced us. It was very rewarding and hard to say goodbye to them. Tomorrow we are going to build houses on the side of a mountain which should be quite an experience. Well, it’s getting late. Hope to write more later ~ Beth

Wow… How do I begin? I’ve been having an amazing time here in Honduras, and that means I’m safe so, Mom, you can stop worrying : ) My first flight was interesting, and the second soon followed it. I decided something though while on my first flights; that God allowed us the intelligence to be able to fly so we could know how small we really are, and how great that makes him. Everything like I said is going well and we were able to visit two orphanages today. The children there just touched my heart, I was so sad when I heard their stories that I started to cry. They’ve all been treated so unfairly, yet they smile and hug you like they had never been hurt in the first place. I had the privilege of holding a small girl named Raquel, she is five years old, and knew very little English and had some trouble with some Spanish things. She had reached out for my hand the moment I stepped off the bus, and didn’t leave my side the rest of the time I was there. She was so shy at first, but near the end of our time together she had me holding her in my arms, squeezing me tight, and smiling so sweetly at me. I miss her so much already. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this trip possible for me, because I never could have done it on my own. Thank you also to everyone back in the states who’s praying for me and my team, I miss you all ; ) This trip is going to be amazing. I just hope that I can be used and grown by God in ways I could never imagine possible.
Abby


Marty, Luke, and Ryder,
Hi!!! I miss you guys very much and love you very much too!! We made it here safely, everyone’s fine and we’re having a fabulous time. This is a trip that is going to be really hard to explain. It is very sad, and poor. The children are adorable. I wish we could bring some home with us. I can’t wait to see you all and tell you all about it. We all need to come back sometime. It is definitely an experience that will change our lives. I have to go, but tell everyone we’re fine. Evan played soccer with kids at 2 different orphanages today. The boys loved it and it was great to see. Love you guys---and mom and dad if you read this—you too.
Love,
Jama

Hey there Ma and Daddy and, my faithful prayerful friends,
Derek and I are doing great- you’d be so proud of him. Today at Good Shepherd he loved on those kids and spun them in circles and played soccer with them. It was good to watch him with them. I hope you’ll come see it first hand sometime. I got to see Lupe, the little girl that I held the entire time I was at Good Shepherd the first time I came to Honduras, and she let me hold her again this time. Her smile is one of the most beautiful things I’ve witnessed this far in life. I feel like I could live most days, just to see my four-year-old Lupe smile. We’re blessed. We truly are. Can’t say it enough. God is using this team in big ways and he’s changing us all along the way. Thank you for praying. I love you all dearly. See you soon!
In His Shadow,
Donna