Although I am still in Honduras, my team and I had a change in ministry this month. About a week ago, we packed up at the ranch and headed down one mountain and up another to Valle de Angeles, our new home for the next month. Although a ministry change in the same country isn’t completely typical, the Beard family, our former host’s, are headed to Mexico for a much needed Christmas vacation, so we had to say goodbye a little bit earlier than we had once hoped.
My time at the ranch was a much needed and much appreciated time of growth, restoration, and building relationships. It 100% lived up to the name Rancho Oasis as it provided an overwhelming feeling of peace from start to finish. At times, I may have found myself discouraged, but when I asked the Lord, He didn’t hesitate to show me the seeds planted through my team’s time at the Ranch. We spent countless hours with some pretty amazing kids (the Beards) teaching them different artistic, musical, and athletic skills we each hold. We cleared a huge field of weeds so their new horse could have a place to call home and they could start their horse therapy ministry. We shared Bible studies and testimonies with the trade school students and helped organize their supplies. We talked to and played with some pretty great soccer boys. And finally, my team and I grew closer than ever before and we spent the month encouraging and speaking life over one another.
If I had to describe this past month in one word, I would say it was a month of relationships. It was month of building stronger relationships within our team. It was so incredibly special to watch everyone open up and become comfortable enough to truly be themselves. We reached a whole new state of vulnerability. We spent many nights in the kitchen laughing so hard our stomachs hurt and many days in the field pushing each other to work harder towards a goal. We 100% became a little family and I am so thankful for each of my sisters. A month of meeting and growing close with a truly amazing family. The Beards were such humble and hospitable hosts and I am so thankful the Lord placed my team with them for the month. I truly got to see what it looks like to be dedicated to life in the mission field while also being dedicated to a family. They were such beautiful examples of what it looks like to hear the Lord’s voice and follow whole heartedly. From beginning to end I felt loved and welcomed by every one of them. Jon, Mare, Naomi, Tabitha, Tobias, Poema, and Matthias, you will forever hold a special place in my heart. A month of beginning relationships with Trade school students and the soccer boys. With the language barriers this was a little bit harder, however I learned that a true and genuine smile can go a long way. I pray that the Lord touched at least one of their hearts through one of us. Finally, and most importantly, a month of growing closer with the Lord. In such a beautiful place I assumed his voice would be heard loud and clear, but that wasn’t the case. I heard him through the silence and a whole lot through my teammates. I grew deeper in my relationship with him through him destroying my expectations of what a relationship with him looks like.
Now, at our new location, we are working with a very different ministry. We stay with two amazing hosts (David and Scarlet) who are a young married couple. There are no kids, but there sure are a whole lot of racers. 5 out of the 7 teams on my squad are staying here which is a big difference from being alone at the Ranch. Every day, we walk to a special needs orphanage for adults to work alongside them in whatever way they need. This has included (to this point) dance parties to Spanish Christmas music with residence, Christmas caroling at the different houses, painting, rolling yarn (for projects the residence make to help the home make money), etc. It has been so amazing and so hard all at the same time.
For those of you who don’t know, special needs is a passion of mine. From the time I was in 6th grade when I worked alongside a special class, I realized that this was something that broke my heart in such a beautiful way. The Lord has blessed me with a deep love for these amazing people. This being said, day one at the Orphanage was quite tough. These men and women working are doing their best to care for the residents, but with such limited supplies, their job becomes a bit difficult. The first day was very overwhelming, but through this the Lord is teaching me so much. He has made it more than clear that no matter the Earthly supplies, he’s got this. He has reminded that even at the times I feel most overwhelmed, he is the Prince of peace. He has allowed me to overflow with love for each and every person I come in contact with. He is so so good and I thank him for allowing me to work with something that he has given me such a deep passion for.
Jesus, I pray that you guide my every step over my next three weeks with this ministry. I pray that you use me as a vessel to glorify you. I pray that you fill me with that spirit day in and day out and speak to me loud and clear. I thank you for this experience and your great love. I pray for my teammates Drew and Lexi get fully funded (their blogs are drewdoyle.theworldrace.org and lexigrisanti.theworldrace if you feel called to help), so that, if it is your will, we can stay as a little family. I pray you fill me up and your love overflows from me. I pray your hand of protection over the next 3 weeks in Honduras. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
