Here’s a quick reminder that I am still doing a GoRings fundraiser until July 31st (THREE DAYS)! They have a lot of incredible, handmade jewelry and they are created by a former World Racer. Go to gorings.com and select “Emma Williams” at checkout for a percent of the profits to go towards my Race!
Lisa is a member of my church in Philadelphia, Antioch Christian Fellowship. She serves in children’s ministry during Sunday school and she has served as a missionary to Honduras and Nepal. I loved getting to hear about how different her experiences were even though they were both at orphanages nestled in the mountains of the two countries. I think her perspective and the things she learned while serving in a place that didn’t meet her expectations from her previous experience is really valuable. It’s an important reminder that while we are on the World Race, there may be times we feel like our ministry isn’t as “exciting” or “special” as we may have hoped, but God is always teaching us through whatever situation He puts us in.
While in Honduras, she served at Montaña de Luz, a. orphanage with the desire to create a loving home for children affected by HIV/AIDS. They provide the children with a comprehensive education, medical care, and emotional and spiritual support. They also work to raise awareness and eliminate discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS.
edited for clarity
EW: Thank you for taking the time to interview with me today and for the wonderful food! I guess we’ll start out with the first basic thing I ask, which is where in Honduras were you guys?
LD: Well, we flew in and went to El Campo, we were in a village up on a mountain, Montaña de Luz was the name of the organization. They are an orphanage for HIV positive children.
EW: So, what exactly did you do in Honduras?
LD: In Honduras, we did maintenance around the place. So, we painted rooms and people dug holes to put in big flagpoles, put in a sign and did a lot of maintenance for them. Could I speak about my other orphanage that we went to in Nepal?
EW: Sure! You can speak about that too!
LD: So, first, I went to an orphanage in Nepal. And there it was really just ministry with the children. They wanted to see us and wanted to fellowship. The orphanage in Honduras was not set up that way and the children were very stand-offish. So, I was a little bit disappointed because I was expecting the relationship I had in Nepal, but I more bonded with the women I went with in Honduras. I hadn’t met them, I joined the team and I met them in the airport.
EW: Met them in the airport? Wow!
LD: My brother-in-law’s wife runs this orphanage and she coordinates teams to go and raises money and different things for that orphanage in Honduras. So that’s how I ended up going. The one thing I really liked about the orphanage in Honduras was that they had caretakers. The children had caretakers that really loved these kids. And you could feel that, see that. And we would meet every morning in a room and hold hands and she would pray, the caretaker, would pray in English and in Spanish and I just really liked her message at that time. They played a little game in the morning and they included us if we wanted to join them and that was their daily routine and I really liked that. That was my favorite.
EW: Yeah, that’s really sweet!
LD: But there wasn’t that hands-on experience. When I was in Nepal, I was with the kids. Like, part of their routine. I did Bible study with them and danced with them. They wanted to know American dance. They wanted to tell me where their names came from and they wanted to know about my family and how many cars I had, and they were really interested in me, whereas in Honduras the children weren’t at all – they didn’t speak English. In both places the geography was absolutely beautiful – Honduras was hot. I sweat a lot.
EW: I think when I went to Nicaragua there wasn’t a time I wasn’t sweating! Anyways, during your time on missions in Honduras, what was a big thing God taught you?
LD: Well, they were having the month of the Bible when I was there, and I was really impressed with what I saw there in the parade, but, in addition to that, in the stores there was a lot of Catholicism and that picture with the heart.
EW: Is the government in Honduras officially Christian or Catholic or something? Is that why they do the month of the Bible?
LD: I’m not sure what the government is, but they sent people who guarded us as we traveled around. They met us at the airport, they took us from the airport, they stayed with us if we went out for an event, which we didn’t do too much we mostly stayed at the orphanage. Something interesting that the orphanage did was that all the things the people bring, it’s way too much for them, they sell it at big flea markets and then the people around them are blessed.
EW: That’s pretty cool.
LD: It is cool, but it makes me think a little bit more detailed on what these people really want. They don’t just want more stuff, I want to think specifically and just be more mindful. And not just in Honduras but when you’re giving to anybody, giving people what they need and what they want rather than just giving them a gift to give a gift. I think we tend to give our leftovers, our extras, rather than being thoughtful. And that was a big takeaway. I learned to observe that. Just, you know, God wants us to give Him our best.
EW: That’s one thing I’ve thought about a lot in the past couple years, just with gift-giving in general. I want to think about what someone would want, not just give them a gift because I feel obligated to. So, for Christmas or birthdays or whatever, I want to come to that with a real thoughtfulness rather than just scrambling to find a gift because I have to give one.
LD: Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s hard! Sometimes you have no idea!
EW: Yeah! Sometimes it’s hard and you have to really think and you’re like, okay, this is my friend, or my family member whatever, what do they like? It makes me be more intentional when people express a desire for something and pay attention to that and make note of that and be like okay I’ll keep that stored away for when I do have to give them something.
LD: It is a lot more fun to give someone something they can appreciate or like or use or need or you know fill in the blank! So that was a takeaway. The people were friendly there, I thought, everyone we met was welcoming. I don’t think we are as friendly here, in the city. You can walk down the street, and no one will say hello or anything. The fruit was really good, they fed us really well.
EW: I’m excited to eat fruit where it is actually grown! It’ll be so fresh. This leads into my next question – so what was your favorite part about Honduras as a country and then about being on missions in Honduras specifically?
LD: Well, you know, when you go to another country, I think you appreciate what you have here and what you take for granted. For me, I think it was just being quiet from the business of life and you are focused on being a missionary. Not that we can’t be missionaries here, in our home environment, but I kept the mindset that I’m a missionary. I’m just me, but I could tell myself I’m a missionary and that’s what I’m here to do. I didn’t bring a ton to the table so I had to just trust God in it. And I felt privileged, I felt very privileged that I could just go and serve in this way than just sit in some fancy hotel just to be there. I think I felt really privileged just to see another part of the world, see God’s creation, meet people, stay focused on the Word.
EW: What about the culture in Honduras? What was interesting?
LD: I liked when we went to this big park and there was this church service having a meeting and they were all standing on these big rocks with their hands up praising the Lord. You don’t see that in Fairmount Park, and with it being the month of the Bible I really enjoyed seeing people display their faith.
EW: How was it for you not getting to interact with the kids as much? Was that disappointing?
LD: I had a fear of the lice! I could have sat with the kids in my lap when we had free time, but I had the fear and that’s not something to be proud of. But, that’s what I was thinking, I had that fear, I’ve had lice before. So, I don’t know if I had more time there if I would have gotten over that.
EW: Was there any takeaway in God still being able to teach you in that?
LD: Definitely, God uses those things to teach us. I think I’m realizing I don’t have the strength and energy I had when I was younger, maybe going and playing with kids like that isn’t my strong suit. I’d like one on one ministry with women, but I didn’t have much opportunity for that. I brought little Spanish/English Bibles and I was able to give them to one of their caretakers on the side, she was really grateful. I wish I had more time with her or with other people. The organization I went with, they did not provide that opportunity. So, I guess it just depends on who you go with and what their goals are. Their goal in this mission was a work trip, where you go, and you work, and I’m okay with that, but that’s not necessarily what I would choose again. I’m more for service with the people, more relational. I don’t mind working on top of that, but I don’t want to be exclusive to that.
EW: So, what would be three words you would use to describe missions, and then you can explain why those three words?
LD: Privilege. I think we are privileged that we get to do this. I mean, these people in Honduras or Nepal may want to come to our country and serve us, but they don’t have the means to. We do have the means to, and to whom much is given much is accountable, so whether you leave the country, or you stay right here, you need to have that mission mindset. Don’t despise serving your neighbor. I think it is separated where someone goes off to be a missionary. We shouldn’t be making that distinction. It’s our privilege to do that. Responsibility. And pleasure. I mean I really enjoyed being able to serve, just like I enjoy being able to serve in Sunday school. It is my privilege, my pleasure and my responsibility because it’s in my season of serving. So, that’s where it’s my responsibility. Those are my words, privilege, responsibility and pleasure.
EW: Nice! Those are all the questions I have, I really appreciate you taking this time to talk to me about your time on missions. It’s really cool because I get to get a peek into the countries a little bit before I go!
grace + peace
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