These words resonated in my heart after hearing and seeing many stories of pain, sickness, and evil during our month in Honduras.
While Honduras is the only Central American country with no volcanoes, there are hills and mountains that make the greenery looks like it rolls on forever. I was pleasantly surprised by its beauty. But it didn’t take long before we began to catch glimpses of the darkness and pain that resides there, as well.
In our orientation, we learned that:
Honduras is the number one country for murder in the world.
It is also one of the poorest countries in Central America. Corruption within the government cripples the country as a whole, and many people are left struggling to provide for their families and their children.
Sadly, many men are totally absent in women’s lives, or are very present.
Too present.
Many leave physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds that wreak havoc on their victims. We heard stories of rape, incest, repeated abuse, abandonment, and neglect. It was sobering and saddening. It left many of us angry and somewhat bewildered.
Since Month 2 was Squad month, all of us were staying at the home of Daryl and Darlene Daiken, a sweet southern couple from the United States. They were kind enough to house all of us. The front porch quickly turned into Hammock Hotel, while the back yard became Tent City.
We were located in Talanga, Honduras, but we would all go to our various ministry sites for each day from the house by bus, and then return in the evening.
Team Mighty Love had the privilege of serving at Heart of Christ, along with three other teams.
Heart of Christ is a ministry run by Pappy Lee and Mama Gracie Murphree. God has used them in amazing ways, and they are leaving such an impact on Honduras. Their testimonies are inspiring and challenging.
They have focused on providing physical, emotional, and spiritual care to women who have been victims of rape and incest, along with the precious babies they had as a result. They also have taken in two special needs children, and several other children who have been abandoned in some form or another. Many people will call at all hours of the night asking for help, whether that be protection from an angry husband, needing food or medical care, or just to say hello.
There were three aspects of our ministry time with them.
-Construction: We were able to build a cement wall behind their house to help protect their fruit trees from stray chickens, pigs, horses, and any other animal or person that wanders across their land. There were always two teams working on this every day. We had the privilege of working alongside Team Dependent By Faith. They helped make construction days fun!
Village Ministry: Heart of Christ are currently working in a program to help provide food and other help to women and young children in the village. We had the privilege of going door to door and asking questions on a survey to help determine needs. It was also a great opportunity to pray over people and encourage them, even if they didn’t meet the “requirements” of the survey.
House Day: This day consisted of helping with the special needs girls, or helping to take care of the 3 toddlers and 3 babies of the house. Someone also helped with cooking and cleaning for that day.
Every afternoon, we would sit down together for an hour or so and have a devotional. Gracie and Pappy Lee spoke many truths and challenges into us.
The theme for our weeks there was,
“Do you really believe God is who He says He is?”
All in all, it was a great month. Having the whole squad together really changes the dynamics of ministry, but I enjoyed it, and was challenged by my follow squad mates, as well as the beautiful people we met.
I believe that all of our squad longs to truly believe and walk in the knowledge of Who God is. We want to take Him at His Word. I believe God used us during the month in Honduras. I believe He worked in each of our hearts. I believe He brought His Kingdom through us.
God is the hero of Honduras. The battle is still raging, but God is fighting. For His children and through His children.
And the truth is…
He has already won the war.
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Month 3 finds us in Nicaragua. Team Mighty Love has the privilege of doing Unsung Hero this month!! So we do not pair up with specific contact or area in the country, but follow God’s leading and go to various areas in hopes of meeting new contacts that future World Racers can team up with in the future. It’s also a goal of ours to encourage and build up the contacts we meet, and bring recognition to their hard work for the kingdom.
Prayin’ God’s blessing over you today!
