We left launch in Atlanta for our first country, Honduras. Most of us stayed up all night since we had to leave the hotel at 2:30am.
Despite the sleep deprivation, it was a fun day. Our logistics people did great and everything went smoothly, which is not an easy task when traveling internationally with 50 people! After meeting our host, Gracie, at customs, we had our first meal in Honduras…Little Cesar’s. It was a close-quarter bus ride about an hour from Tegucigalpa to the village where we’ll be staying, La Ermita (near Talanga).
We’re working with El Corazon de Cristo (The Heart of Christ) ministry. Their mission is to rescue and care for victims. They have a home for special needs children and teen mothers due to rape andincest. They train police all over the northern part of the country on how to serve the people and handle reports of abuse and violence against women, children and the elderly.
The living conditions are comfortable and our hosts take wonderful care of us. We are staying in a new building with bunk beds, no electricity and no running water. We have rechargeable lanterns, bucket showers and toilets we flush by refilling the water (…something to do with physics. It functions so I didn’t ask questions). The cooks make us 3 meals a day and we even get coffee and bread or cookies each afternoon. Obviously, the coffee is my favorite part of the day!
It’s similar to deployments and other mission trips in basic conditions so I can’t wait to see what’s going to be different, what God does on this journey, and what new things He reveals.
This was my devotion from Jesus Calling on Jan 9th, the day we left for Honduras:
“I am with you and for you. When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing on earth or in heaven can stop you…Do not expect an easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very present Helper, am omnipotent.
“Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. One of the main ways I assert my sovereignty is in the timing of events. If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the path forward moment by moment. Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace. Slow down, and enjoy the journey in My presence.”
I’m going to try to let go and see what happens. It’s something I’m going to have to work on continually for a while, maybe even all 11 months, because I’m a bit of a control freak. 
But it’s only the beginning. We’ll see what happens.
