So far, our time in Honduras is drastically different than our time in Guatemala. Instead of living in a house, we’re sleeping in tents. Instead of preparing our own food, walking into town in the afternoons, and hanging out as a team, we now have someone to cook all our meals, we’re limited as to where we can go and what we can do, and the whole B-Squad is together. Yes, all 52 people that make up the October 2011 World Race are living together, doing ministry together, and even all sharing one bathroom! I guess it just goes to show that we can never expect or predict what each month will look like for us on the World Race.
Honduras has been an interesting time for me because of the situation we find ourselves in here. We are living with Tony, an American missionary who has been serving in Tegucigalpa for 5 years. He works in a colonía called Los Pinos, which is one of the most dangerous, poverty-stricken, and violent areas of the city. It is know for its gang activity, single mothers, and kids of all ages that are addicted to sniffing paint thinner. Tony goes into these areas, into the places where the kids are the most desperate and lost, and that is where he does ministry.
While we’re here, we’ve been partnering with Tony and some local churches in the ministry opportunities in Los Pinos. My team has been partnered with another team to teach English lessons and plan Sunday school in a church, as well as foster relationships and friendships with the youth in the area. We’re in a relatively safe area and have been pretty confined to the church, but we’re hoping to get into the areas where no one else wants to go: Sector F.
Sector F is one district where gang activity and drug abuse are the highest. Even locals in Los Pinos have given up on the kids that come out of Sector F due to the challenges and problems that continually arise. But this is where Team Kaleo wants to go, this is where we want to create relationships and communicate the hope and love that are found in Christ. This is where the need is greatest and we are hoping to bring light into the darkness of this place.
Tomorrow we venture into Sector F for the first time. We don’t know what to expect, but know that we would not be going in if it were too dangerous or unsafe to move forward. We are praying for opportunities to create relationships and build trust with the kids and teens we encounter so that we may be used to speak life and bring hope.
And so, a few prayer requests for ministry this month. First, that we would be kept safe and protected, not only in Sector F, but also throughout Honduras as we all go out and do ministry. Second, for opportunities to build relationships and to have our eyes, ears, and hearts open to opportunities where the Lord will use us for His purposes. And finally, for the colonía of Los Pinos and the darkness that is so deep there. Please just pray that it would begin to change and see hope for the future.
I am so excited to see where the Lord moves in the coming weeks! I know He has a mighty plan for Los Pinos and its so incredible that we have the opportunity to be part of seeing His plan come to fruition.
