As crazy as it seems, I am writing this blog having just finished my first week of month 3 ministry! Last Friday, all 46 of us left our ministry base in Nicaragua to travel to Honduras, a journey we thought would take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. Joke was on us because 6 hours later and we were still sitting at the Nicaraguan border! By the time we actually ended up at our ministry, it was 4:30 the following morning and the whole trek across the border had taken a whopping 22 hours! While that day was full of lots of sweat and frustration, God’s hand was so present.
After delays at the border, our bus ended up breaking down around 6:30 pm on the side of the road in Honduras, not exactly the safest situation to be put in. By the time another bus could come and get us, it was after 12 am! Through it all, God was so faithful! At the border, He allowed members of my squad to worship and pray for people in line with them. He kept us safe as we travelled after dark and when we did break down, it was outside of a police outpost where we not only were safe, but we were able to spend time with some of the officers who allowed us to hang out in the parking lot and even use their bathrooms and water while we waited for our bus. When we arrived at our host’s doorstep the next morning, she told us just how dangerous of a situation that we had been in. Honduras is not the safest place in the world during the day and even our host who has lived here for 11 years doesn’t leave her house after dark. God’s hand was definitely on us and even through all of the many delays and danger, His name was glorified in it all.
Our ministry this month is called Heart of Christ and is a home for children who are conceived through rape or incest. Gracie and Lee, our hosts, founded the ministry 11 years ago and Gracie does rescue, advocacy and justice work for women and children who are victims of abuse. There are 13 children living at the home right now and they are precious! In addition to the children’s home, Lee and Gracie put on numerous Christmas events each December throughout Honduras where children from each village can come and receive a small Christmas gift.
Our time this month will be divided between packaging and delivering thousands of Christmas gifts that have been donated, working around the mission compound cleaning and doing dishes daily, helping teach and care for the children, and doing construction on a new children’s home that will allow the ministry to expand within the next year!
We have only been here one week but the Lord is already doing incredible things in, and through us. This Christmas season looks so different from any that I have ever had but I have so much peace in this place and season and I am so excited for all that month 3 has to offer!
*Sorry for the lack of pictures! The wifi isn’t strong enough to upload but hopefully there will be some within the next week!
