I’m not finishing the race…
After months of blog stalking before the race, I learned that every World Racer has one month that flips their world upside down. They either fall so in love with the ministry or the country that they just decide this is it. This will be the future. That’s what happened to me. Stepping off the bus onto the gravel road leading to Zion’s Gate I knew this month would be my month. Several teenagers began dragging our bags down the driveway while others greeted us with warm smiles, big hugs, and kisses on the cheek. A sense of peace quickly came over my heart.
Tony founded Zion’s Gate several years ago because he saw a need. After visiting a small community just outside of where we are located, he met a street kid high on paint thinner. He continued to build a relationship with him and the sweet boy, after some time, moved in with Tony and his wife. Zion’s Gate is now home to several teenagers all looking for a different direction for their lives. The boys have come so far from when Tony had first met them. It’s so easy to fall in love with them and the community they’ve built together as a new family. There are good days here and some hard but always growth in the end. It would be foolish not to stay, right?
Wrong.
The love that I have for this place is real. I wake up every day excited and anxious to see what adventures I’ll encounter. I love laughing with C after he’s yelled water, water, water in English instead of rain. I love that I’ve played more games of pool than I can count with almost all of the boys. I love that, as I’m typing this, my hands are so sore from using a pickax all morning to till the front yard. I love hearing the stories of the boys’ prior life and seeing how far they’ve come. I love that R is teaching me to follow the Spirit. I love that N yelled my name out of the other 60 people here to help her cook in the kitchen. I love awkward language barriers. I love that A and R are willing to be our police for the night because the real ones weren’t available. I love W’s sweet hugs and smile. I love that I wake up and find random animals in our tent city (horses, puppies, roosters, a dead rattlesnake…) I love when the water runs out and you can’t shower, wash dishes, or flush the toilets and just when you think it’s bad the power goes out and you’re reminded of how a lot of the world lives. I love listening to the boys laugh at night as they all cram upstairs in a small room before bed. I love date nights on the roof watching for shooting stars. I love learning to pray for people and expecting a miracle.
Yes, I love all of these things about Honduras and I have questioned whether God’s plan was for me to stay. But, I must continue the race. There is no doubt in my mind that I’ll be back but, for now, Honduras is just for this month.
