13 hours on a bus, hours of sleeping sitting up, and a countless number of encounters with strangers who quickly become friends.
As soon as you step off the bus onto the property of Zion's Gate the presence of God is so evident, a peace begins to run through your veins.
You are greeted by the boy with warm hugs and happy hellos. Walking into the smell of warm tostadas freshly prepared and a room fresh and ready to become a hammock haven.
It doesn't take long for anyone to see the love and passion that Tony, the founder of Zion's Gate, exudes from his soul for these people and this ministry. A man in his 40's, who was once a part of the Mormon church, turned around by the love of the one true king, scooped up for a purpose of disciplining children into mighty warriors for Christ.
We were all informed of the different ministries and surrounding areas we would be working with.
Two immediately stood out to me; La Kennedy and Gracie's House.
**La Kennedy is a community that very few people venture into. Tucked behind a bus hub, down a shady dirt ravine, is a split community of "trash houses". Most of the members of this community are addicted to paint thinner, or marijuana. There are 17 year girls who look like they are 12 because of their addiction to thinner, and don't have the desire to eat, nor the means.
<<Thinner is a common choice of drug in Honduras, it provides about a 30-40 second "numbing high", they feel no pain, no hunger, no thirst, nothing>>
**Gracie's house is a safe house for girls who have been victims of rape and incest, as well as children who have been abandoned by their mothers due to disabilities. She has worked along side the police to help woman have a voice in this country. Statistics show that only 30% of these cases are documented, of those 12% make it to the courthouse and only 1% of those cases are ever closed. Gracie and her husband Lee work together to be Spiritual parents to these girls and their children, and show them what the true of a father really means.
As soon as I learned we would actually be working with these ministries, my emotions began. I am excited to minister to these people. I am heart broken by the stories told to me about these little girls who were taken advantage, just so their family could eat some dinner.
As I entered into this, I immediately saw the hunger these people have for a savior, for a better life, for a way out. These people have no fear, and they are excited with open arms to welcome in the 'Gringos' and not only learn about the one true King, but to dive into His presence and have a real experience of what true, pure love really is.
