Ula-
Here in Honduras I am simply viewed as a “North American Gringo Missionary” aka a white Missionary from the United States. This is accompanied with staring everywhere I go (is this what it feels like to be a hated celebrity or politician?) and cat calls are so constant they have become background noise, similar to the sound of cars when you are walking down the street. The people see me and they assume my mind set is “I am white therefore I think I am superior to the people and the place” (clearly, we are here to break this cycle).
The more I think about it, I realized stereotyping individuals based on their race is just as harmful as making assumptions about the Church or Christians.
A church building is a place of refuge. A church pew is a place of comfort. A pastor is a source of wisdom. A church body is a source of love.
A Christian is one who is in tune with their sin and weakness because they have discovered the love of God therefore their ultimate “goal” in life is to love. To give. To free. Judgment is a word only used by God when the time has come which we all know, can be any day. It’s not a threat but a fact.
- Do all missionaries approach missions in a way that is productive and helpful for the people? Not always
- Do all Christians love their neighbors and inspire others to drop their current life and become a radical lover of Jesus? Let’s be real, it’s usually the opposite.
- Do all Churches make communities feel welcome regardless of past, class or status? No.
Here’s my point, if I let the perception of others affect me, I might as well go home. If my focus is on human beings and not a heavenly perspective I would have no impact on the people around me because my mind would be too preoccupied by fear of how others will view me.
I used to have a similar view of the church. I judged it and was extremely hypocritical of the methods used. I didn’t feel welcomed but condemned. Is this God’s fault? No.
Being in Honduras I’m realizing the church is alive and beautiful. The church doesn’t look like a Sunday service and helping others doesn’t consist of 2 volunteer hours a week at a local shelter. The church is the body, the people of God discovering who God really is. You can do what I did and blame the church or Christians for your lack of faith in the heavenly father, or stop letting others distort your perception of an amazing God who can bring you everlasting life.
The church is you. You are the church. The actual church building is valuable and being a Christian is significant but neither of these will build your faith in itself because they are human run. I challenge you to take on a different view of the church that I was unable to comprehend till recently. In discovering who God truly is, the church pew will become a source of sustainment and not an uncomfortable Sunday morale booster.
May the church become alive for you outside a building.
Love, Ellie
Picture #1: Left – Ronny, a boy from one of the worst neighborhoods in Honduras. He wants to be a pastor. Left – Noami, Ronny's mother who helps in the kitchen. She always greets me with a loving hug and kiss.
Picture #2: Team Isha breaking for lunch after doing work on the inside of Toni's home.
Picture #3: Sharing my testimony in a place that is void of God's love.
