Honduras kind of has a bad rap. I mean, it’s hard to get past the title "murder capital of the world." I’m sleeping on the floor of what used to be the Cotton Club, one of the city’s most notorious and scandalous night clubs. I’m pretty sure the poles all around the place weren’t just for holding up the roof if you know what I mean. Kids here huff paint thinner because it’s the cheapest way to get high. I’ve talked to many Honduran women who won’t go anywhere alone because it’s too unsafe. 80% of kids don’t have a father, which also means 80% of the women with kids are single mothers, many with kids by multiple men. Some of these things might sound crazy to you. Maybe you can’t imagine that being someone’s reality or maybe it just seems too dangerous. Statistics and horror stories aside, what’s crazy to me is that amidst all that darkness, I feel Jesus. Light shines brightest in dark places and that is absolutely true here.
Zion’s gate
Zions gate is the new name for the Cotton Club that I mentioned earlier. 8 weeks ago Tony (our fab ministry contact) bought this location for his ministry, “Don’t Miss the Opportunity.” The ministry is incredible and predominately works to get kids off the streets, off drugs and helps them turn their lives around. He is a living testimony of his ministry vision, as he currently has at least 5 kids living with him, not to mention 50ish World Racers. We are the first group to get to stay at Zions gate, and it has been so amazing to see the transformation of this place! We have prayed over the grounds, the buildings, the people – everything in it. Our amazing squadmate Taralah (profesh ballerina. she's legit.) even danced here, saying that the dance that used to happen wasn’t glorifying to God, so she danced a beautiful worship dance and it was almost as if you could feel the transformation taking place. You can no longer feel what used to happen here. Instead you feel the power of what is to come and all that God has in store. What used to be a place of darkness has most definitely become a place of great light.
Mi Vina
Mi Vina is the church that my team is working with all month. They have 5 locations in Honduras and have a TV channel that is broadcast in over 45 countries. They also have a location in Miami, FL so all you south Floridians should try and check it out! Our hosts here have been so amazing and gracious to us. They drive us around all over the place and always have yummy Honduran dishes for us to eat. They honestly believe that we have been sent here to bring about change in this city and it is so awesome to partner with people who are ready to see God move! We have gotten to take part in many projects thus far including painting, buying Christmas toys for kids, evangelizing, and working with a leadership training academy… everyday is something new!!!
So far this month God has been teaching me not to be afraid to go to the dark places. On paper, Honduras looks pretty horrible. The statistics aren't favorable and let's be serious – it just sounds scary. But if we didn't go somewhere every time it seemed 'bad,' how would the bad places ever become good? There is a huuuuuge Jesus statue that is high up in the mountains and overlooks all of Tegucigalpa. I honestly believe that this is a sign of what God wants for this place. He wants to be the most prominent part of the peoples lives, the focus of all that they do. Our first Saturday here we went up there to spend time praying over the city and the country – for change to be stirred up, for the men to step up and be fathers and husbands and for the women to stand firm in the Lord. I love that God brought us here and I am so excited to continue ministry and see what God is going to do. Please join me in praying for this place – that the light here would grow bigger and brighter every day.
