Hello from Macholoa, Honduras. My team arrived late Saturday night (1 am) to the welcoming generosity and hospitality of the local pastor, his beautiful wife and family. This month is a bit of exploration for us as a team. This is the first time our team has been alone, just the six of us, in our tents with buckets of cold water for showers. This is also the first time Adventures in Missions (the world race) has ever sent a team to this area and by the look on faces of the children, its the first time many of them have ever seen gringos. Our Pastor, Miguel, told us this is the first time they have ever had missionaries.
Okay so reality check. I know that I am on the World Race, a mission trip, which in terms makes me a missionary. But what exactly is a missionary? Do I really have something to offer these people? Jesus why am I here? The pastor and his wife are so hungry to be invested into. Every time we turn around they are just wanting to spend time with us. I keep thinking what is it that the six of us have to offer that they are looking for? Many times in scripture when Paul or Timothy visited an area, there was already and established local church, they were simply coming to further train and encourage the ministry already there.
It has been a interesting few days. We have a young girl as our translator, Maria, who we are so thankful to God for. Her english is limited and our spanish is as well, but we make the best of it with what we have and are so thankful for Gods provision in her. She has been a tremendous blessing to our team. Over the past few days as we have been sharing the Gospel with people we realized there were concepts and terms that were being lost in translation, Maria simply was not understanding at all. Some of these concepts are "You are dead in your sin and transgressions" and "to be made alive with Christ, to have new life"… Yesterday as we were visiting locals and praying with them, one of my teammates prayed that God would raise up godly women to disciple and mentor a young mother that was sitting before us. Since that moment I have not been able to stop thinking about discipleship. We are called, given a mandate from Jesus to make disciples. There is no negating this fact. Whether at home in the US in the comfort of your own living situations or here in Honduras, if you have trusted Christ as your savior, you are to be reproducing yourself in others, so that they can then reproduce themselves. The vision The Lord has given me for this month is that I would be able to spend time with the pastors wife and our sweet translator Maria, investing time into them, teaching them the commands of Jesus. We as a team are realizing that this (discipleship) is a vital aspect of this month in order to see that our efforts in this community continue forth with the locals long after we are gone.
Today I purchased a bible for Maria, this is an expense that came out of personal money, yet I strongly felt it was necessary in order for the Gospel to go forth and discipleship to take place. How am I to deny someone the opportunity to be able to read and understand the Word of God for them-self? Can I just say that Bibles in Honduras are expensive. I plan on posting a blog the next time I have internet about how The Lord has provided in my support being raised/ pledged. I am so thankful for all that The Lord has done in and through you as my supporters! I cant wait to share with you some exciting details.
However, as I quickly write this update to you in an Internet cafe, I want to ask if you would pray about personally supporting me, allowing me a "special ministry budget". Your financial support takes care of the majority of my expenses monthly, however there are "out of pocket" expenses like Maria's Bible that I keep finding I am walking into. Opportunities to meet needs and to share the Love of Christ through the meeting of "physical needs". I am finding that because of these scenarios where I really feel The Lord tugging at my heart to step out and give I am spending way more then I had initially anticipated. Would you pray about supporting me personally? Whether a one time donation or a small monthly donation for the next 9 months, every bit would help to further the kingdom during this adventurous journey this year. I have contacted a church about the possibility of this support going through them so that you may receive a tax receipt. When I hear back from them whether or not this can be done I will let you know! For the time being, if you are willing to help me, this support would need to be given directly to me, as I personally do not receive/ cant receive anything given to Adventures in Missions over the amount needed to be fully funded.
Checks can be made to Ashley Lynn Brady and mailed to 7075 Kivette House Road Gibsonville, NC 27249.
Thank you for what you have already entrusted me with by supporting me financially to make this trip possible! And I promise next time I have interent a long overdue update is coming!
