I can't believe its taken me this long to blog about our month in Honduras…its been such a crazy few weeks traveling half way around the world and all…but finally without further ado I will attempt to summarize our amazing mountain top experience this past month.
Our month in Honduras was spent living high up in the mountains with the Mayan Indians in a mud brick house with no electricity, no running water, and the nearest 'town' was a 3 hour hike down the mountain. To say we were taken back in time was quite an understatement…It felt like we were living in a whole other world…everything seemed so simple and new.
The memory of arriving at our home that first evening, after driving in the back of a pick up with our whole team and all our packs for over 2 hours up the mountain, will forever be etched in my mind. We arrived just after dark and as we entered the house I remember feeling like I was in a dream. The tiny little house was filled with family, friends and neighbors all ready to welcome us to their home. It was heated by the fire blazing in the mud stove and lit by sticks on fire that were stuck in the mud walls. I looked around in awe at my surroundings. The sink was a hallowed out tree and the water source consisted of buckets in the corner that were gathered earlier down the mountain at the local watering hole. Corn was hanging from the ceiling by the hundreds and fresh tortillas were being heated on the stove and set on the table in stacks for us to eat. We were surrounded by such humble, compassionate, warm faces looking at us in such anticipation of what God was about to do.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY SO MAGICAL!
Our month on the mountain was spent truly living out Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Our main ministry was relational and prayer ministry with the family we were staying with and the many other families all over the mountain. Our mornings were spent hiking for 3 hours throughout the mountains and stopping at every home that we came across to pray over the families. We prayed a lot for healing, as there was so much illness ailing the mountain people. We also prayed the presence of God to consume that mountain and reside so powerfully over the homes of the families we came in contact with.
I learned how to truly become a prayer warrior this month. I really learned the power and the weapon of prayer. I saw many battles arise on that mountain and I was able to experience such demolition of strongholds over the families lives and even our own team members lives by the powerful weapon of prayer. The Lord really began to open my eyes and speak to my heart of His power and might, and how just speaking out the powerful name of Jesus changed atmospheres and broke so many strongholds and caused the darkness to flee instantly.
The Spiritual warfare on the mountain was very tangible. I could see darkness trying to cripple the people spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I also saw very tangibly the darkness tremble and flee the second we brought the presence of God into any home or spoke out in prayer the name of Jesus wherever we were. I experienced such authority of our Lord up on that mountain. Such authority that was allowed to reign when prayers flowed freely and powerfully.
Our other main ministry this month was relational ministry, simply and profoundly loving on the people, but mainly our dear family we were living with. Loving them was not hard to do, they were such an absolute blessing every second of every day. Such dear servants hearts, such humble compassionate people, such tender love! We loved them by simple being with them and calling them family. It was a joy just to be around them, living life with them, praying for them, fighting the good fight alongside them, laughing with them, worshiping together as the body of Christ. Such dear people on that mountain. They blessed us more than I feel like we could have ever blessed them. They welcomed us into their family with open arms. Eagerly offering their very best to us in all things.
I can say that by experiencing their love towards us I learned what it looks like to truly prefer others, humbly serve, and joyously love with Christ's heart. I saw Jesus in every single one of them so beautifully! God was so good to us to allow us that month with our Mayan family, truly understanding His unfailing love.
He almost forced us to BE STILL this month and just KNOW that He is God. With lack of electricity and the distractions of the world, we truly could only sit and contemplate the glory of the Lord. I saw the glory all around me. In the stillness of the crisp mountain mornings with birds chirping, roosters crowing, and the beauty of the sun rising over the valley. In the peace that came from morning hikes through unblazed mountain trails simply communing with God as if He were walking right beside us. The early evenings where the sun would go down before dinner forcing us indoors where the only light was in the kitchen, where we would sit around the fire for hours worshiping and laughing with the family. God was in all of the simple, still moments. I saw His face everywhere, I heard His voice whisper in every sound, I contemplated His glory in every moment where distractions no longer blurred my vision.
I am so blessed to have had a month literally on the mountain top with my God! I will be STILL and KNOW that He is GOD!
