This week has been by far my favorite week in Honduras. My team made our way to work at a new ministry. We came to the house of Gracie and Lee and their big family. They moved from the United States a few years ago to start their ministry here in Honduras.
They help rescue girls who have suffered through rape and abuse as young as 11 and are now pregnant. These women have been abused in every way possible and usually blamed for their situation and kicked out of their homes to fend for themselves. Gracie and Lee give them a safe place to stay where they become a part of the family and have the support they need to raise their babies and stay in school at the same time.
In the year that Gracie became a part of the crime unit here in Honduras the number of reports filed for women in domestic violence went from 100 to 600. Usually things go un-noticed and unreported because of police corruption and lack of government help.
Many people have had it out to take her life but she continues to work to see justice served and free women in sex trafficking rings and domestic violence situations. They never say no when they are asked to take in more women and children and at any time of the day they are available and willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They now have 3 girls who were born with cerebral palsy and the family wouldn’t be the same without them
Lee, also known as Papa Lee, has taken on the role as a father to these children and is an example to them of the Father they deserve and the love they should receive. He is also the father to 3 little boys who have been abandoned and left in their care. They follow him around everywhere and look up to him not just because of his height but because of the wisdom and knowledge he carries.
It almost rained every single day our team was there and when it did it poured. We learnt to celebrate when the rain came down because it not only meant cleaner water but it also meant saving money. People were washing their hair in the rain and we would run out to empty the barrels once they became full so that water was not wasted. There are so many things I took for granted before coming on the world race and rain is definitely one of them. It is no coincidence that Gracie is called Gracie and that this ministry is beautiful display of the amazing GRACE of God. After leaving I felt drenched in love, compassion, humility, and grace.
May the grace of God rain down on you today !
