I’m Emily Werness and I’m sitting on a bunk bed in Talanga, Honduras. That’s the question of the month – where are we going Lord? It’s month 9 of my race and life only continues to grow more exciting, astounding, and full of thankfulness.
I’ve entered these last three months of my race, this last leg with L squad, in prayer. Prayer for boldness, strength, and the endurance and desire to run full speed ahead through Costa Rica. Prayer for miracles, newness, risk, unwavering trust in wherever God leads even when we cannot see and do not know what’s next…trust in the One who does know! I have learned and am learning that God wants us to pray big prayers and dream big with him. He is bigger than we can imagine and I admit half the time I leave him in a box – praying safe prayers. Truth: our God is not safe. He is 100 million percent secure, but he’s definitely not safe. I have prayed for miracles, for healing – physical, emotional, spiritual, and by golly I’ve seen God soften hearts in a courtyard waiting area of a hospital in Tirana, Albania. I have prayed for grace and sacrificial love among our squad and I’ve seen it – the way this squad loves each other is a direct reflection of Christ’s face and I truly believe our squad is set apart. We are 39 strong. The way conversations are direct and honest with issues brought to light in love is miraculous! God is working on and through each of us and that itself is a miracle.
So, I’ve prayed for these things and for God to take me deeper and grow me even more. Fast forward to today. I am on a brand new team for these last three months, I am their team leader, and our ministry this month is Unsung Heroes! WOW WOW WOW God! Talk about ample opportunities to trust You, see more of Your heart, and to think of myself less! Don’t be surprised when God answers your prayers in a big way. Unsung Heroes ministry means my team, En Fuego, will be following where the Spirit leads us this month. We do not have a contact/host. Instead our ministry is to search out Honduras and let God lead us to what he is doing here. We meet with these Unsung Heroes God is using to further His Kingdom here and just love them, hear about what’s going on in their ministry, and if there might be potential to partner with the World Race in the future – discovering where we could come alongside and help go after the vision for their ministry. Talk about trusting God! We are walking blind here, just waiting in expectancy for where the Spirit wants us to go and who he wants us to talk to, and who he wants us to love.
Needless to say we haven’t had to wait or lift a finger – it is ALL Him! It didn’t take long for Him to move. We landed in Tegucigalpa, with all 39 packs lost/left in Miami. After about two seconds of talking to Gracie, the contact we are staying with for the duration of Parent Vision Trip, boom, the Lord led me to Marie. Marie and her husband are Mama and Papa to many children in an orphanage up north and we will be visiting them later this month. Then, in walks Aben (directly from the Lord) who took it upon himself to handle our lost bags and organize the picking up and transferring to the right locations. He is a great guy who is opening his home to us next week and said, “Just pick a city in Honduras and I’ll connect you with someone there!” AND Gracie has already set us up with a couple of different pastors here in Talanga! God is on fire and we are right there with him, hence our team name, En Fuego (On Fire)!!
We showed up at one church and knocked on the door, no answer, so we headed to the other church a dirt road away and met Carlos. After introductions were made, Gracie needed to leave to run some errands, leaving two of my teammates and myself with Carlos. Did I mention Carlos doesn’t speak English? Because he doesn’t. BJ and I studied Spanish in school but it had been quite a long time since either of us had spoken it, but we went with it, opened our mouths and Spanish came out. Thanks to the Spirit no doubt, the right words and phrases came to mind, and we were able to engage in conversation, walk around the church grounds, see his home, and walk back to the other church to meet Luis, the other pastor. Anna, my other teammate doesn’t speak a lick of Spanish and to my surprise I was able to play translator for her that whole afternoon! I felt so alive and it truly was muy divertido (very fun)! Carlos seemed a bit stressed out when we first met him, as they were doing some construction on the church. But when we left him he was smiling and laughing and it seemed like joy and peace were replenished in him. It was beautiful. It was God.
God is just so good and I have no doubt my team will go on quite the adventure all over Honduras this month…we already are! When things happen and contacts fall into place or just little blessings or miracles happen I used to be jaw-dropped on the floor amazed and in such giddy disbelief. Now, my reaction is more of a deep, warm fire of thanks that spreads through my body, “Yep. That’s my God. He’s pretty great.”
Pray for our spiritual eyes and ears to be open and obedient.
Pray for safety in our travels throughout the country, as Honduras is the number one murder capital in the world.
Pray for fun and adventure for our team as we get to know each other better and dive into the next three months together!
I’m Emily Werness and trusting the Spirit and truly letting him lead you is full of beautiful freedom (and crazy stories)! Stay tuned for more 🙂
