A few years ago there was a bar in Tegucigalpa that was
filled every night with people drinking, having sex, indulging in every drug
that could be found in the city. The owner of the property gave her life to the
Lord and shut the bar down. Now the building is a ministry site. It is a place
for the teenage boys that are living on the streets, stuck in bondage to a
lifestyle of drugs, stealing, and lust to come and learn a new way of living.
They learn who Jesus Christ is and that there is safety in His name and in the
presence of His Holy Spirit. It is here that they learn a righteous lifestyle
of living for the Lord.
This is where my squad is working for the month. Three days
a week we dive into some construction labor. We are clearing the land, making
pathways, cleaning the area, digging up the trash to find good soil, and
planting seeds of fruit trees and flowers. We are bringing life to a land that
has been dead and abused. Our first week we dug in an area until we could get
to dirt that was clean of broken glass.
The boys here are desperate for love. Almost 90% of birth
certificates in Honduras lack a father’s name. Most of the kids here don’t have
a father figure and don’t know what it’s like to experience the love of the
father. Our host has been called to live here in Honduras and be that figure to
these boys. And also to express to them the love of their heavenly father who
is passionately pursuing each of their lives.
Thursdays our squad goes into a girls correctional facility
and we are able to lead worship and tell testimonies and just love on the girls
there. Fridays we take it to the streets. We take signs and guitars and go to a
major intersection in the city to tell people that Jesus loves them, there is
salvation, there is freedom, and He is alive. We are able to interact with
people and pray over those who pass by. Some of the signs say ‘Honk if you love
Jesus’ and let me tell you, Hondurans are not afraid of using their horns. It’s
like a constant honking session! But it keeps a great energy going. Some cars blow
kisses and will say, “Jesus loves you too!” It makes me wonder why I’ve never
seen this in the states back home.
Saturday our squad went to a local church and had service
with them. I led worship in Spanish with Betty from my team and it was a new experience
for me. As most of my friends and family know, I’m not exactly the type to jump
on stage. I’m actually not that person at all, but an opportunity presented
itself for me to step out of my little comfort zone that I’m so used to, so I
said yes. The thought of it was terrifying but the simple truth of it was that
I wasn’t really getting on stage to sing for 100+ people. I was simply standing
there singing praises to my heavenly father, and that is something that I can
do. I’m not a performer, but I can be a leader.
I love being here in Honduras seeing the kingdom of heaven
being brought down to earth and I’m excited for things to come as the Lord
moves through the hearts being changed and the work being done.
Greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still
to be done in this city.
