Realistically, I know this was probably one of the nicest buses we will ride on for the rest of this trip.
When we pulled into Tegucigalpa, we had to switch buses. Here it was already dark and we were in a part of town that seemed a little sketchy to us… quite a few people watching this bus of white people parking along the road. So, the girls got straight off the bus and onto the school bus that was taking us to our home for the month. The boys starting grabbing the luggage and moving it to the next bus.
We all get loaded into the new bus with our ministry host Tony… our bags taking up the back third of the bus and a bunch of our guys left standing for the last little 20-30 minute ride to Zion’s Gate. As we drove through town, he would sound the horn. But this was no ordinary horn; this was one that reminds me of the Dukes of Hazard! Now, this is World Race traveling.
When we arrive at our place, our contact Tony welcomed us… and I mean WELCOMED us! His excitement for us to be here overflows into excitement for us to be here with him! He is amazing! This is the first time he has ever hosted a whole squad here… that’s right! 52 of us in the same location this month. Usually we would not be living together as a squad, we would be living with our ministry host or in a location close by to them. But this month, my entire squad is staying at Zion’s Gate with Tony and his family.
Tony has been here in Honduras for about 5 years, I believe. He works with the kids in Los Pinos… an area that people have tried to tell him is not worth his time and effort. It is a very dangerous place. Here in Honduras, there is a lot of gang activity… a lot of drug use (paint thinner is a BIG problem)… a lot of corruption. In fact, this is currently the world’s most dangerous country (Family and friends… do not let this scare you… we are safe). People have no hope for this place and especially for the kids in Los Pinos. Tony and his wife give their lives for their ministry here… They do not let others stop them from trying even though the success stories are few compared to the ones that were lost. But, to say that it is not worth his time and effort… I don’t think so. Here at his home in Zion’s Gate, he has about 7 kids living with him right now. These are all kids from Los Pinos that are having their lives changed. These kids have amazing testimonies, and I can’t wait to hear them. For example, one of the boys was just robbing people to buy paint thinner a month ago. There is hope for these kids, and for the next month, we have the opportunity to pour into them!
This is Herman…one of the boys I get to spend this month with! Go Cards!
Now, not only is Tony’s ministry one that people have said is impossible, but you should know about this place we are staying… Zion’s Gate. This place used to be the Cotton Club… only the hottest club in Honduras. You can ask anyone about this place and they know about it. It is pretty much the Vegas of Honduras… What happened here, stayed here. Whatever you were looking for, you could come here to find it. Crazy to think that a place so full of sin is now a place full of God’s presence. It is incredible.
They have only had this place a short period of time so they are still working on painting and all…
I am so excited about this month!!!! Our original route did not have Honduras on it… We were supposed to go to Costa Rica instead, but God obviously had big plans for us here. This is going to be an incredible month of learning and growing. I have already learned so much from Tony… simply in the way he runs his ministry here. God has definitely blessed the B Squad in bringing us to Honduras. And, we are going to rock this city!
And here are some pics….
