Thursday, December 23, 2010

Reporting Back from Honduras!


Dear Brown Chapel Ministry Team,

I arrived in Indianapolis yesterday at 4:00 p.m. after a 14 hour trip. I was exhausted physically, but very excited spiritually. (Note: It won’t take us that long in July to get there).

The people of Honduras are very kind and warm; the kids in the Orphanage (they want us to call it HOGAR -- home) steal your heart immediately. They are fun, friendly and love the Lord very much. They ask you theological questions, sing with abundant joy and love stories. 

Kitchen
There are needs everywhere you turn. 80% of the country lives in poverty; 50% of them are in extreme poverty. When I say extreme, I mean extreme. I’ll show you some pictures and try to do my best to explain it to you, but still it won’t even start to describe the true reality of the poverty in Honduras.
Houses
  Our task will be to pick one of the many projects that they have and share our love with them that way. Another task will be to show what God’s love is like. The kids come from broken homes or non-existing ones; family is a big deal for them. That’s why they like to call the orphanage Hogar. They like to see themselves as a big family, where God is their father. They will call you "Uncle" and "Aunty," once they get to know you. They draw pictures and write their names so you can take it with you and remember them. One of the girls ran into her room and brought a framed picture of hers and a volunteer; she wanted me to take it so I could show it to my family. 



One little boy was all over me; grabbing my beard and asking to borrow my stop watch and digital camera so he could play with them. On my way out he would hug me and ask me several times when I was coming back. He asked me to write the names of all of his relatives and share that with my family as well. 


I spoke with the long- and short-term missionaries there; they all testify of how their lives have been changed. One High School girl volunteer told me that her luggage didn’t make it there (yes, we have to be ready for the unexpected); instead of having a ruined week; she said that she was having the best week of her life. She noticed how beautiful she really was without make-up; she couldn’t believe it; all the little girls of her unit reminded her of that as well. She said that she definitely was coming back. They also spoke of how this time in Honduras has changed their priorities and their future. They will definitely know what they are going to do with the rest of their lives: serve. 


There is an inexplicable joy in serving others; to love God and love your neighbors. I spoke with four other long-term volunteers; they all came for a short period of time. Some of them arrived in Honduras after the 1998 earthquake as volunteers and couldn’t leave the country, because their heart stayed there. They found meaning in their lives and a deep sense of calling there; they are still uncertain about their future; they just want to follow God’s leading.


Are you ready to be challenged to the extreme? Are you willing to be used by God in that setting? Have you talked to God lately about this mission trip opportunity? As the 2010 year comes to an end, I encourage you to spend some time with the Lord. Search for his will and I encourage you to follow his direction.






Have a great Christmas and a blessed new year. 

Keep the children of Honduras in your prayers….   

-Nelson