Hard to believe month one is here and gone, and as you guys know I am know in Guatemala and desperately trying to get caught up on my blogging. So here it goes, Honduras in a nutshell.
Honduras- July 7- Aug 1st
Language- Spanish
Money- Lempidas 1USD=20L (approx)
Ministry- Zion’s Gate- run by Pastor Tony and his wife. Their focus is taking boys in, primarily from Los Pinos, ages 12-18 and just discipling them to live Godly lives.
What did I eat? We were really blessed this month, all of our meals we’re provided for us. Each team had a day of the week to cook for the squad. We cooked on Thursdays. Breakfasts alternated between oatmeal and cereal, pancakes on Saturdays and a traditional breakfast on Sundays, lunches were sandwiches; ham and chicken salad and a bag of chips, and dinners were a variety of things, little caesars pizza, spaghetti, soups, and chicken tacos.
Where did I sleep? Outside in my tent, and was blessed to wake up to a beautiful view every morning.
Ministry Specifics-We got to do manual labor-de weeding, digging rocks, and wiping down buildings. Going to a program called INHFA, which is for young girls who have troubled up bringings or are causing problems in the community. We would go on Thursdays and sing songs, and a few of us would share testimonies. Then we would paint nails, braid hair, make bracelets etc. Fridays we would do something called taking it to the streets. We would hold signs on a busy street corner that would say things like Jesus loves you; Honk if you love Jesus, free hugs and just bring some joy to the people waiting in the busy traffic. We also got to go to the dump twice to give out food, and just chat with the people, and also got to go to one of the rougher neighborhoods Los Pinos and visit the boy’s families that live with Tony and also play soccer and hacky sack with the kids that live there.
Highs- Having our first month as our whole squad together and with that building so many relationships with G-squaders. The boys that live on property and the joy they bring. Catching the heart of Tony’s ministry and seeing how he truly fathers these children. God showing up in big ways during our squad worship sessions.
Lows- manual labour, having a lot of down time, always sitting on the floor, getting sick.
Firsts-sharing a bathroom with 57 other people, guys and girls all using the same facilities, not being able to flush the toilet paper, cold showers, attempting to order my meal at the mall in Spanish, brushing my teeth outside, playing hacky sack, hand-washing laundry like scrubbing against a rock, authentic hand-washing, getting one dread in my hair, washing dishes with cold water and not being fazed, doing feedback in Betty's tent (all six of us).
What did God teach me in Honduras? Number one, you will always have to fight your flesh. Sometimes you don’t want to do things, but at the end of the day it is not about you, its about building the kingdom of God. Its not about Kiera, its about Jesus and people. There were days I’m like I hate manual labor, this really isn’t fun, but at the end of the day we were pouring into Tony’s property and what he is trying to accomplish.
The second lesson that I learned was that I have a voice. I do have giftings and abilities that God has given me but I was to busy focusing on my insecurities or whether the person beside me was better/more talented than me, that I missed it. It is team Mashach’s season to sing and lead worship so that’s exactly what we are doing. I’ve been stretched and uncomfortable but I am walking in what God has for me and my team.
What will I remember the most?? The boys on Tony’s property calling me Shakira, all the houses in the hills, the boys and how they always greet you with a hug and kiss on the cheek, G squad being all together.
