For the month of September, my team has been traveling around the country in search of Unsung Hero’s. Unsung Hero’s are people or organizations that are changing their community through Jesus that are not partnered with Adventures in Missions. The Lord has led us to Comayagua, La Paz, Tegucigalpa, Valley of Angels, San Pedro Sula, Puerto Cortes, and La Ceiba in search of Unsung Hero’s and the Lord has truly shown up in each city.
To be honest, I was nervous and scared of what this month would look like. A team of six girls traveling around the world’s most dangerous country without a plan (I am a major planner) seemed like craziness to me. It took a lot of trusting the Lord and each other to get through this month, but I can now look back and see how much the Lord was present in each step!
Our first stop was Comayagua, Honduras to Open Eyes Ministries to work with Terry and Arlene DuPont. Terry and Arlene are great friends of mine; they are my Honduran family you could say! I met them two years ago on my first mission trip with my home church Faith Promise. I have been doing ministry with them ever since and always love coming back. Terry also was the second person the Lord sent to me to confirm the decision of participating in the World Race. It is so amazing to see how God works and the people He puts in your life. Terry and I played Facebook tag for a few weeks about if we were going to come or not and finally last minute it all came together.
It was such a blessing to me to be able to start out this month with family and VOLS fans!!!!! They treated us as their daughters and went above and beyond to make us comfortable and to help us in any way that they can. They poured so much life into us, and just being able to see their hearts for the Lord and for the people of Honduras was inspirational. During the stay with Terry and Arlene we were able to travel and serve with them in a few of their ministries. The little girls at the Home of Hope stole our hearts instantly! It was amazing to see how much they have grown up from the first time I laid my eyes on them two years ago. We got to feed and love on the children at their children’s ministry, and also got to get down on our knees and scrub and clean the rooms of the school that they have started.
Terry and Arlene have something amazing going on in Comayagua and I know that my team was so thankful to be able to see it. We just want to send out a special blessing to Terry and Arlene for taking 6 crazy, homeless girls into their home and treating us like family. We cannot wait to see where God is going to take you and we are so excited for the partnership that is being formed. I am praying that the Lord will send future World Racers your way and that He will continue to be at work in your life!!
I love you Terry and Arlene! Can’t forget my favorite interpreter and friend Pamela either!!!!!
Below is a look at what Open Eyes Ministries looks like! You can also get more information on their website openeyes.org .
Open Eyes Ministries
*Part 1- how it all began.
Their journey began on October 26, 1999, as Pastor Terry was heading from Knoxville, Tennessee to downtown Leon in Nicaragua. They had packed up their belongings and followed the Lord all the way down to Central America. They began Open Eyes Ministries in Nicaragua and over time as they began teaching and preaching, their vision spread from church to church, denomination-to-denomination, and to other organizations around the country. Miracles began to take place and people began to get saved. Lives were being changed!
*Part 2- the mission statement.
To share the love of Christ to all of Central America through evangelism, worship, cell groups, discipleship and sending, and to use the gift of leadership to build leaders in churches and organizations.
*Part 3- what does ministry look like at OEM?
Open Eyes Ministries is continuously growing and has so much to offer to Central America. They have cell groups, street ministry, multiple church partnerships, crusade outreaches, leadership training, feeding programs, medical services, construction, children’s ministry, schools, women ministries, and sports ministries.
*Part 4- the results of obedience (just a few).
1) One million and 250 thousand professions of faith. (PRAISE)
2) 3,000 partnerships with churches and organizations.
3) 25,000 cell groups in place.
*Part 5- what can you do.
God is doing amazing things within this ministry and I am so excited for what is coming! You can be apart of this ministry by simply joining us in prayer over Open Eyes Ministry and all the people that it is reaching, you can consider coming along side them and serving with a team, and you can also reach out to them financially as they continue to grow!
