We have arrived finally, safely, and a week ago, to Honduras: The Land of No Traffic Laws, Cold Showers, and Co-ed Bathrooms. And by that I don’t mean a private bathroom where men and women go separately. Oh, no. Two showers, three toilets, and it’s all free-for-all. I might also mention that actually having a bathroom is quite a luxury, and as incredibly embarrassing and awkward as it is to walk past 3 men to go pee, I shouldn’t complain, knowing squatie potties are just around the corner.
Honduras is also the Land With No End of Dust Or Rock. My team, Noria, was tasked this week with a ministry at the site where our squad is staying- Zion’s Gate, a mission for boys (and soon girls) who have been growing up on the streets. We partner with another team (Zeroh) to cook dinner for the whole squad (oftentimes taking three hours to complete), clean the main hall and bathrooms (yep), as well as clearing every piece of rock in the whole world in order to level the ground outside the main hall for a patio and outside the new dormitory that’s being built. Honduras, I really believe, is where every rock found anywhere in the world was made. It is seriously unbelievable how much rock is on and in this property, and I’ve spent the last four days digging them up. That is to say, I have literally seen with my eyes how much rock is in the ground, and I still can’t believe it. It’s almost as if the rock in the ground is somehow multiplying itself. Crazy! But it’s also good, hard work that makes you feel exhausted and proud at the end of a long day. 8 hours in the hot sun, in the middle of the mountains, doing serious manual labor really forces you to take a look inside and decide who you are going to be. But the Lord just keeps reminding me of the girls and boys who will be living here in 10 years, sitting on the patio we’re making, or relaxing on the porch of the dormitory, looking out at all the beauty of the land that we are helping uncover, and being so overwhelmed by the glory of the Lord.
Clearly I work hard…
Speaking of which, the Lord (who is SO good), has really been doing a work in me this week. He has taken my introduction to this mission to really challenge who I think I am, and who I really am. He has been teaching me some serious patience and some serious truth, not just about who I am, but about who He is and who I am IN Him.
Making dinner for 60 people…kind of like Mooching (Pjoe and Janice!).
The biggest thing He has been teaching me has been to lay aside my need for plans and lists. If you know me at all, you know this is a nearly impossible task to ask of me, but Papa knows what He’s doing. He has told me He will have a word for me every day, and only for that day, for a while. So His question to me is, Will you wait for my word? No more making lists in the morning, or worrying over plans and time and tasks…just living in the moment, being fully present in His Presence, being silent, and waiting for His perfect and perfectly timed guidance. Difficult, but worth it.
Weekly washing of clothes at the pila
Beyond how good the Lord is, let us now talk about how terrible my body is. We were in Honduras for exactly three minutes before I came down with a terrible sinus infection. I also started taking my anti-malaria pills (my travel doctor prescribed Doxycycline). We were told not to worry about malaria in the area we are in, but since Doxy is also a medication for acne (and who doesn’t want flawless skin?!) I started taking it anyway (it also helps that I was prescribed a whole year’s supply). I threw up 3 out of the 4 days I took it AND got a sunburn on my shoulders and back. I, who have never burned ever, got magically toasted because doxy makes you incredibly sensitive to the sun. The good news, however, is that because I took my doxy so early (and in a relatively safe environment), I know what it takes for my body to adjust to the medicine. For me, I have to take it right before I go to sleep, that way if I get nauseas I am asleep and don’t notice. It’s worked the last 2 days, so I’m coming off the meds in order to enjoy all the sunlight I can without the absolute necessity of the medicine.
I've also been blessed to be able to take care of my team's physical needs.
Notice my precious boy beside me.
It’s still so surreal to think that I’m actually on the World Race now. It’s weird that I’ve been living in Honduras for a week. Every single day I wake up, overwhelmed with how blessed I am, how lucky I am to be living this life. Every day I wake up in full view of mountains and valleys, and the Presence of the Lord descending to give me a word. I am not taking any moment for granted, and I’m so grateful to the Lord for calling me, and to you for your financial support in helping make this calling possible. Amazing things are already happening, in my heart, and in the hearts of the people who are living at this mission. I greatly look forward to the amazing work of the Lord that I get to be a part of.
Anderson, the boy I leave my heart with.
Missionary Moment #1: When you use that Kleenex three more times than you should because it’s all you have, and you express sincere and overwhelming gratitude because at least you have that.
PS. On our first outing in Honduras, a wild monkey in a park stole my sandwich. TRUE STORY. Crazy monkey.
