After a refreshing and encouraging couple of days with all of the teams and leaders in the beautiful city of Antigua, Guatemala I was ready to get out and start ministry with our contacts. We were one of the last teams to be briefed on our ministry contact. I thought we would be somewhere in Guatemala like the rest of our teams and for some reason I was nervous but od gave me a peace about it. During the meeting as sson as the words “you remember when we asked you to drop all expectations of the countries you would be going to” came out the logistics coordinator’s mouth my heart jumped. We would be going to Tegucigulpa, the captiol city of Honduras and working with Tony, our ministry contact.
At 5 in morning we boarded the bus on what was hopefully a 6 hour (at most 9 hour) bus ride from Guatemala to Honduras. 17 hours, 5 u-turns, and 1 Coca Cola to bribe the police (which I will be carrying in my bag from now on) we finally arrived. Tony shared with us his vision which was the most encouraging thing that has happened on this trip so far. Tony left a great job and comfortable life in Utah six years ago after coming for a week where God captured his heart. His vision of bringing God’s love to the communities of El Horno and Los Pinos by getting the children off the street and the parents involved in the community was met by death threats, loss of friends, church, support and fellowship. Despite these trials, he now drives into the community and is met with hugs and thank you’s instead of rocks and mockeries.
At 5 in morning we boarded the bus on what was hopefully a 6 hour (at most 9 hour) bus ride from Guatemala to Honduras. 17 hours, 5 u-turns, and 1 Coca Cola to bribe the police (which I will be carrying in my bag from now on) we finally arrived. Tony shared with us his vision which was the most encouraging thing that has happened on this trip so far. Tony left a great job and comfortable life in Utah six years ago after coming for a week where God captured his heart. His vision of bringing God’s love to the communities of El Horno and Los Pinos by getting the children off the street and the parents involved in the community was met by death threats, loss of friends, church, support and fellowship. Despite these trials, he now drives into the community and is met with hugs and thank you’s instead of rocks and mockeries.
Though he didn’t have anything for us, Tony has so many possibilities for ministry that brings out the gifts of our team. His life motto is “Todo es posible con Dios” or everything is possible with God. He not only preaches this but lives it. The communities are the poorest of the poor, filled with paint thinner adicts who do drugs not to get away from bad families or peer pressure, but because it takes away their hunger pains for just a little while.
We have a meeting with the Madrinos, or mother of the community tomorrow to decide how we can help in the short time we are here, so be praying for that! Internet will probably be once a week but stay tuned because I know God has big plans for this small group of people!
