Bienvenidos A Honduras, the most dangerous country in the world.
Um, what? I was shocked by this little factoid. I would have guessed somewhere in the middle east was the most dangerous, or perhaps in Africa. Nope. Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
And I am so excited to be here. Already, I can feel that there is something different. The best way I know to describe how it feels here is that the vibrations in the air are different here. Some of you may know what I mean when I say that.
I’m stoked about this month. Our whole squad of 52 is together this month, which is a rarity for World Racers. Usually, we are limited to our team. Each team still has a separate ministry for the month but we will come together each morning and evening for meals.
My team has been serving with a lady who has been teaching English out of her house for the past 18 years. Her name is Angela and we met her yesterday. I look forward to working with her. I’ve never taught English before so this is a completely new experience for me.
I have fallen in love. His name is Carlos. He is 14. He stays at the ministry sight where we are camping this month. He has four brothers here also. Tony, our ministry host, has taken these street boys in and has become a father figure to them. This is the main ministry here that is 24/7, loving on these boys, their family and their friends, teaching them how to be men that choose a different and better lifestyle than robbing people on the streets to get their next high.
Each team’s project is really just an excuse to build relationships with these guys, live alongside them and show them a different life and also help them learn English.
I think this is where a lot of North American churches get it backwards. We see a material need, see that we can meet it, build whatever, bring whatever, say Jesus loves you and blow out the door. We have met, perhaps, a physical need but we have neglected to address the spiritual poverty. We are also creating a dependence on North American churches to come and build for majority world churches instead of working to enable them to build their churches or run VBS themselves, both physically and spiritually. This new kind of missions requires a real commitment to your faith, it takes longer than a 1 month investment of your money and 1 month sacrifice of your time.
I imagine it isn’t easy to pursue the ones that the world says are hopeless. Over 200 Honduran pastors– God-fearing men– have told Tony what he is doing is impossible with these boys.
I also believe Tony is doing the impossible. But he is doing it with God. And of course, God makes all things possible. And there is success here. Not from a worldly perspective. In fact, Tony himself will tell you he has had more personal failures than successes in this venture. And it isn’t easy living in the most dangerous city, in the most dangerous country in the world, with boys who have contributed to those statistics.
Friends, be careful when you hear the call to follow Christ. It can be a reckless road, and a dangerous lifestyle. People will tell you to be careful. Jesus will tell you to follow him. I chose the latter and it has been the greatest decision of my life thus far.
Pray today
For communication-I’m having frustrating technology/computer problems
For Safety
For tummy health for myself and my squadmates, it’s been rough for some of us this month so far J
