I’m sitting on the patio of our ministry site of Heart of Christ in Honduras, looking at the beautiful, lush greenery, colorful flowers, and never-ending mountains. While the land is beautiful here, the reality of injustice for women and children in this country has hit my team hard. We are working with women and children who have been a victim of abuse, rape, and sex trafficking. About 80% of women have been raped and/or abused because it is not a crime in Honduras that is seriously convicted. Most children come from incest because it’s a cultural norm for women and children to be raped by a family member. Yes, these are harsh words to comprehend, but I want to share them with you so you can see the beauty, hope, and light in the darkness. The women and children that we work with are joyful, creative, and bring so much beauty to this World. That’s the hope I pray for every day.
My team and I just heard the background of how all the children got to this ministry. It’s almost impossible to believe that these children came from such darkness, because all I see in them in happiness and light. I want to share a story of a mother and daughter, so you can see how darkness can turn into light and bring hope. We have been working with these two precious people pictured, Danielle (aged 15) and Sarah (age 4) (I’ve changed their names to protect their identity). Their story is unfortunately way too common in Honduras, but it is a story that needs to be shared to show that there is hope. Danielle’s older brother killed their father when she was six. After that point, every boyfriend that her mother had raped Danielle. Danielle’s mother wouldn’t let her go to school, instead she exploited her and made her work 14 hours a day picking up plastic bottles in the streets to sell for money. After her mother had her fifth child, she had her tubes tied, and this was an issue for one of her boyfriends since he wanted children. Danielle’s mother decided to allow her boyfriend have sex with Danielle during the day and continue to have sex with her at night so Danielle could conceive a child for her boyfriend. Once Danielle conceived and started to show, a neighbor called the Heart of Christ ministry and police to tell them about Danielle. Mama Gracie, the ministry leader and the police headed over to the house and were able to get enough evidence to take Danielle out of the home and bring her to Heart of Christ.
Once Danielle was at Heart of Christ, she started going to school and became a straight-A student. She brought life to her beautiful daughter, Sarah. Four years after being saved from the darkeness they are still living and going to school at Heart for Christ. My team and many World Race teams before us have been praying and loving on them as much as possible. Just think of how many other people Danielle and Sarah will be able to make influence and bring light to in their lifetime because of their story? We like to call this the ripple effect. It can be overwhelming to think of all of the darkness at times, but if we just help one person, then that person will be able to help others, then those people will help others, hence the ripple effect. For a visual, it’s like skipping a rick across the water and the never ending ripples it creates.
So I challenge you this week, to think of a friend, family member, church member, neighbor, accuantance, someone who’s been on your mind, somone who you haven’t talked to you in while, and think of how you can help them and/or think how you can make an impact on their life…AND DO IT! It can be something small, like a phone call just to let them know that your thinking about them, or something huge like getting out of your comfort zone to help someone. You’ll know what to do…let’s create some ripple effects.
How can you help?
Please pray for this ministry and for our team.
I’m still in need of funding for the remainder of my trip…If you feel led to give please log onto: http://courtneyvlaun.theworldrace.org/?filename=bio
