We’ve experienced some life-changing things at the hand of God and I hope none of us from the team leave the intensity of this week here and simply wait for next year to come around. God has called us to this type of lifestyle all 52 weeks of the year… at home AND on the mission field. However, we shouldn’t avoid going on a mission trip because we don’t feel we’ve lived up to God’s mission. Going will only help you discover how much God is at work throughout the world and how he can use you to make a difference in the lives of others.

We kicked off our day taking a tour of the tortilla factory in Choleteca. This is another micro-business designed to give jobs to individuals that have struggled to make it. These jobs give them a steady income to improve the quality of life for them and their families.

I’m not sure any of us could have prepared for our next stop. After a drive outside of the city, we entered the dump area for the city. As we approached, we had to shut the bus windows because of the smell. When we approached the top of the hill, our eyes were drawn to a row of hodge-podged plastic and stick houses. The mood instantly changed. We drove past the row of plastic shacks and into the piles of trash. We were received with skeptical stares as we exited the bus. When we approached the over dozen men and women rummaging through trash, Levi told them we wanted to pray with them and give them food items and water. The group of people took a break from their activity and allowed us to pray for them. We interacted with some of the individuals there and handed out food and water. I’ll forever remember the images and smells of the most hopeless place I’ve ever visited. I pray that for a moment we were able to bring a light of hope through the love of Christ. As we loaded the bus, with no more food and water, there were another dozen people running toward the us from the row of houses, hoping to catch us before we left. Unfortunately, there was nothing more we could do. Needless to say, the drive back was somber and none of us dared to break the silence. Thankfully, Levi sensed the mood and spoke from his heart about how the Great Comission Church wants to help these Hondurans find a way out of living this lifestyle. He asked us to pray for them that God would show them how to best help these individuals.

The afternoon brought some much needed down time from a full week of serving and emotional intensity. We took a drive to the Pacific ocean and spent a few hours resting on the beach and riding the tide in the ocean.

When we returned we ended our day by celebrating with the Great Comission Church during their weekly Worship service. The worship was exciting and the talk by pastor Geovany challenged us to live out a radical faith, like that of the New Testament character of Paul.

Tomorrow will be a long day of travel for the team as we begin the transition back to our routines. My prayer is that we’ll go home having been changed by the power of participating with God in His redemptive plan for the world.

Throughout next week, I’ll continue to post other photos and trip reflections as I see fit so be sure to keeping checking back.

I’m not sure I can even begin to capture all that transpired today. It’s hard to believe it’s been a week in the making, and today was a moving day of celebration. We started our day with a trip to Maxi-Bodega (wal-mart) to purchase some party supplies for the celebration. The Aguilars were already cleaning up the yard from the rain the night before. We kept all our gifts in the bus to keep them a surprise, and were able to finish up all the carpentry work and final details.

I noticed that there was a pile of wood laid out on the floor in the new house and asked what it was for. Carlos explained that he slept in the new house on the floor last night because he was so pleased and excited to be in his new home. He shared that for the first time he didn’t have to struggle to find a dry spot or avoid laying under the leaks in their roof.

We then sent the family away to gather all the neighbors in order to have an official presentation and party. Once they were out of sight, the team began transforming their new house into a home by adding dividers, new fold-up beds for the two sons, chairs, dishes and moving their items in from their old house. You could certainly sense the excitment and the mood was so electric. When the family returned, along with a parade of neighbors, we all stood behind the bus and on the count of three, all shouted: “Mueve el bos!” which means “Move the bus!” Our trip leader John Huie prayed over the house and family followed by an official handing over of the keys. Carlos, Edita and Jeffery all expressed their thanks to Elevate Church and Great Commission Church in Choleteca. Franklin couldn’t find the words, but his tears spoke all that needed to be said.

The rest was all such a blur as we gave the family a tour of their home and the boys tried out their own beds- the first time in their life they’ve ever a bed of their own.

Following the tour, we gave all the kids there a chance at a pinate. It didnt take many wacks before candy spilled everywhere and kids were scrambling all sorts of directions.

Once the crowd cleared out, one of the ladies of our team washed the feet of Edita in an intimate ceremony symbolizing the servanthood of Jesus we wished to portray this week. It was then time for our goodbyes- which are never easy. But, we all count it a priviledge to be a part of their lives for this one week and change their lives forever.

And that was all before 12:00noon. At lunch, we celebrated my birthday with the ladies from the church singing happy birthday in Spanish and presenting a cake (which tasted amazing). More time was spent in various homes in the afternoon sharing the love of Christ with the people of Honduras. We split into two groups and talked about our faith through our amazing translators.

Our evening was spend at the home of Pastor Giovony and others we had worked with this week. We spent time talking about the week and giving God all the glory for all he has done in our lives and the lives of the Aguilar family.

Finally, some of us had the unique opportunity to be part of a small group. Earlier in the week Levi asked Dave and I if we would lead the small group discussion. After introductions and an icebreaker, we shared our insight and engaged in discussion about the topic of last weekend’s sermon on Jonah. I felt so much like I was leading a small group back home at Elevate Church. It reminded me once again how big our God is- to be able to cross language barriers to discuss and understand God’s Word. We’re all human and we all experience the love of Christ the same. After discussion and snacks with the group, we came back to the hotel and called it a night.

Tomorrow marks our last full day in Honduras and it looks like the day will bring some personal reflection on all that’s taken place and some sight-seeing of the beautiful surrounding area. I’m sure it will be full of plenty of photo opportunities I hope to share with you.

Until tomorrow…

Most of our day today was spent at the home site in order to finish some of the details on the home before the big reveal tomorrow. Doors & windows were built, walls were put up and painted and other details were finalized. Overall, there was so much momentum from everyone involved because the project is really taking shape. In fact, the excitment spilled over into the neighborhood and more than a dozen people came just to check out the activity. I won’t be posting any final pictures until we reveal the final home to the family tomorrow.

After lunch at the church, Levi took a couple from the team to the store to purchase some items for the family’s new Casa. We were able to get roll-away beds for their two boys still living at home (the boys currently sleep on a dirt floor), chairs, shoes and other items they need to improve their quality of life. Our plan is to take the family somewhere tomorrow and place all the items in their new home, blow up some balloons and reveal their home, Extreme Makeover style!

Franklin, the youngest son, went along for part of the trip and picked out a backpack and some basic school supplies. I watched him when he returned to the church with us for dinner and he held on to his backpack and wouldn’t leave it out if his sight. He was so proud of and thankful for his backpack- I don’t think he stopped smiling the entire time.

Another group continued to evangelize throughout the Limon area, near the Nutrition Center. One of the greatest priviledges has been to share our story and our faith with the people of Honduras. Each home we visit, we’re given a warm welcome. Catholism is a major stronghold throughout the region, so many of the people we spoke with battle with accepting God’s grace as a free gift; something you dont have to earn or work for. Continue to pray for our teams as they share with other families throughout the remainder of our time here.

Finally, our day ended with a traditional Honduran dinner of eggs, tortillas, beans, plantains, avacado, ham, hot sauce and of course Coca-Cola.

It’s been a long day, starting with sunny and 80 degrees and ending with a downpour and noticable temperature drop. But, that seems to be pretty typical here. Tomorrow we are excited to see what the day brings as we giveaway a house and make an impact for God’s kingdom through one family.

Until tomorrow…

We started the day a half-hour early and began our fourth day working on the new home for the Aguilar family. We worked all morning and accomplished laying the concrete floor, finishing the tin roof, and got about half the framing on the side walls complete. When we arrived at their home today, Edita was making tortillas from the food we gave them a couple days ago. I continue to be amazed at how hospitable this family is and how hard they work. They are not required in any way to help us build their home, but they have committed to working along side us as their new home takes shape. I spent some time with the youngest son, Franklin today. He loves to play football (soccer) and is excited about his new house because he will have a place to sleep besides on a the floor, in the dirt. Tomorrow we should get the concrete board up for the walls.

After working through the morning, a few of us were invited to witness an incredible event for the Great Commission Church in Choluteca. Yolani is the wife of the first family that joined the church when it began. She has a passion for women in troubling circumstances and visits women in prison on a regular basis. Three of the women she visits in prison decided to go public with their faith through baptism today. So some of us traveled to the prison in Choluteca with Pastor Geovany and a small group of others from the church. Inside of the high walls, barbed wire and guard towers we had the powerful opportunity to hear the stories of these 3 women and witness their baptism inside a cement trough sink within the prison yard. These 3 women’s lives have been changed by God and their stories are very powerful.

Following that opportunity, we joined up with the rest of the group in Limon where they had already began evangelizing throughout the neighborhood. We broke up into teams to spread the love of Christ to those that need the hope that only God can offer. One of the homes we visited belongs to a 78 year-old woman. She lives with her daughter, grand-daughter, and great grand-daughters. All these women are single moms, with no male living in the home. Three of them prayed to accept Christ today!! We left with plenty of hugs and gave them some basic staple food items. (See the picture below)

Overall today, we made progress on a new home for a deserving family, witnessed 3 women go public with their faith in prison and led 3 people to Christ. Just your average day as a missionary in Honduras!

Until tomorrow…

Much progress was made on the house for the Aguilar family today. We got to the site first thing in the morning in order to avoid the hottest part of the day (meaning it was only 80 instead of 90). When we arrived, Edita was already cooking some of the beans we brought for them the previous day, along with other staples. We spend most of our time finishing up the trusses, nailing tin on one side of the roof, and we finally used all the rocks from the pile for the base of the cement foundation and sidewalk leading up to their house. The family was thankful for the sidewalk because when it rains, their yard mostly floods. After eating lunch at the job site and finishing our work for the day, we cleaned up back at the hotel and traveled to Casa Hogar Vida.

Casa Hogar Vida is a project that is close to pulse of Elevate Church. This is a small village for those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. In this culture there is much stigma and persecution surrounding this. Many men actually commit suicide once they discover they have the disease. This, of course, leave many widows and orphans.

Within this village, the goal is to be self-sustaining. So, they make all the blocks on site for the homes in the village (and other markets around the area) We were able to see the process of how these bricks were made and sun-dried. We then saw the coffee room, where they roast Honduran-grown beans, followed by a trip to the craft shop, where many of us purchased hand made crafts from the people of Casa Hogar Vida. All these things aren’t to make a large profit, but to create jobs for the people that call this place home.

We were able to spend some time at the orphanage of Casa Hogar Vida playing with some of the children. We gave them glow sticks and other toys and had fun helping them use the yo-yos. The children there range in ages from 2-15, including a set of twins. One of my new friends I met today is Brian. He is 7 years old and had a smile on his face from the moment we arrived. You see him below playing with his new yo-yo.

After our time at the orphanage, we spent time with some of the other kids living in the community that seemed to come from every direction. Dave and I found a group of kids to give candy to (see below).

The leadership here shared with us that they recently received 400 applications for the homes here in this village. There are currently 19 that are near completion and will be ready for families next month for families that are affected and effected by HIV/AIDS. One house costs only $6,000 to build. Many of the families that will receive a new home are in extreme poverty and do not own a house or property. The goal is to help individuals and their families live with dignity and find hope in their situatuon.

I couldn’t imagine being in a better place this week for such a time as this. God is using us in a great way to not only touch the lives of one family, but to be touched ourselves and to have our eyes open to God’s Kingdom that is at work all around this world.

Until tomorrow…

There’s something about being here- giving food to the poor, waving to a group of children sitting along a fence, and extending a simple “Hola!” to an old man that seems lonley- it’s these moments we experience on mission for God, across cultures, that serve to open our eyes to something bigger. As much as I love serving the people of Honduras, my heart has never beat more strongly for the people in my city, my neighborhood. I think about the hurting people right in my backyard AND the little boy this morning that kept coming back to me for a piggy-back ride in Limone. For me, it’s not Honduras OR Monroe… Rather it’s Monroe AND Honduras.

I say all this to tell you about the most powerful moment of our trip thus far…

As you know by now, we’re in the process of building a new home for the Aguilar family. They have very little money and struggle to even make it day-to-day. We knew we had a special connection with this family, as they have been working side-by-side with our team as we lay out the foundation and frame of their house, during the last couple days. After lunch today, we took a trip to a local store to purchase basic food items (staples such as rice, beans, eggs, lard, etc.) for the Aguilars. When we returned to the work site, most of us went back to work, while a few of us snuck the food we just purchased into their current home and laid it all out for them. Edita (the mother) came into her kitchen to see the food that we had donated and immediately became overwhelmed with tears. One of the pictures below shows this moment where she walked into her kitchen.

Thank you for all the continued prayers back home for our entire team and this special family we have gotten to know this week.

Until tomorrow…

Our day started at Great Commission Church where we heard from Pastor Geovany the vision and plan of making a Kingdom size impact here in Honduras. His passion for God didn’t need to go through a translator- it crossed all language barriers. His 5-giants that impact this area include:
- poverty
- little/no education
- illness, including HIV/AIDS
- selfish leaders
- spiritual void

Just as God gave David the power to defeat a giant in the Bible, his prayer is that God would give him and his team the strength to defeat these giants.

Following our time at the church, we took a bus trip to see a finished home like the one we’re building for the Aguilar. Not only did we see a vision for what the home will look like, but met another well-deserving family along the way!

Most of our time today was spent at the job site, starting our build for the Aguilar family. We were able to meet this inspiring family and hear their story. Two years ago they lost a son after a long battle with a brain tumor, existing since birth. They used all their money to get the medical attention he needed at the time. Their current living conditions include a dirt floor, and two small rooms where their two other boys sleep on the floor. When it rains, their floor washes out and boys are forced to sleep on pieces of plastic to stay dry. When the church first met them, they told them there were other families that they were helping and wouldn’t be able to help now, but to keeping praying because that’s how God works.
Elevate Church in Monroe, Michigan is an answer to this family’s prayer. After raising the money for their new home, we have now officially begun construction.
Our time with them was spent moving rocks and dirt to prepare to lay the concrete and we set the main posts. The entire family worked alongside us and it was moving to get to know them while picking up some fragmented spanish along the way (although I’m not ready to leave my translator’s side).

After a day’s work I asked the family what they were most looking forward to once we complete their new house. The oldest son, seen in the orange shirt, said he was happy about his new home because he’d never had a house before.

And that is how God is changing lives in Honduras! Until tomorrow…

Bags are packed and the excitement awaits as myself and 9 others from Elevate go on Elevates first Mission trip of 2011 to the nayion of Honduras.

If you want to stay current on our trip, I’ll be posting daily updates, including pictures for all of you. We’ve got some incredible projects happening down there, so you dont want to miss what’s going on.