My team is in the last half of my third month on the race and it’s blowing my mind at how fast each day goes by. These past few months have stretched me and taught me so much about my faith, myself, and the limits I put on God. I can’t begin to describe it all, but will try to in the next coming weeks.
To be honest. I have been a little overwhelmed at the amount of things going on with different ministries, personal growth, and team dynamics, and it has shown in my blogging… or lack of blogging that is.
In effort to catch you all up, here is a quick update on this month, pictures, and a link to my teammate’s video blog of my last month in Nicaragua, as well as some prayer requests at the end.
My team is in Honduras, located in Valle de Angels (Valley of Angels). To say it is beautiful here is an understatement. We are up in the mountains surrounded by Pine trees and Evergreens of all kind; making the views spectacular.
We are staying with a young couple who spend their mornings at two different schools bringing students food for the body and soul.
A typical morning for us looks like waking up to make 50ish pancakes, jumping in the bed of a truck and riding on a dirt road up the mountainside to a school with the cutest children we ever did see.
They wait for us at the gate to greet us with smiles from ear to ear and a million little hugs. We’ve only been here two weeks and are simply obsessed with these goons.
I have come to believe that miniature hugs and high pitched giggles are God’s love language to us, and that laughter is the native tongue of the Kingdom.
We give a 10-15 minute (with translation) bible study, play some games, sing some songs, and pass out pancakes or whatever the meal for the day is. These kids are so full of life!
Depending on the day, we spend our afternoons in a couple different activities, whether that be making piñatas for our hosts who donate them as gifts to local churches to celebrate christmas, or working with a Honduran family in building Adobe bricks (HEAVY bricks made out of thick, compacted mud) to add a room on to the house.
The town here is colorful, quant, and adorable. The people are friendly, tacos – amazing; coffee – strong; air – pure; showers – FREEZING COLD.
This month has been expansive for my team in various ways. God is revealing a lot to each one of us about grace, vulnerability, servanthood, and pride
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I am frequently asked about ways people can be praying for me so I have decided to start putting prayer requests at the end of my blogs.
1. Team dynamics- That we would continue to work well as a team and find ways to communicate better, as well as calling each other to higher standards of living. That each of us would lean into the challenging part of vulnerability with one another as we learn to trust each other with our struggles.
2.Hosts/Location- That our hosts would feel blessed by our presence; and my team and I are be able to bring lift and renewal to them and their ministry. We want them to be served by us, not serve us.
3. That our actions will show God’s love, grace, and mercy wherever we are…whether that be at the schools, building bricks, local coffee shops, or around the dinner table.
4. That I continue to pursue after an authentic life that finds my true identity in Christ. This is my main goal of the race, and it easy to lose focus and get distracted by everything else going on.
Thank you all for your support, love, and prayers.
Peace and blessings,
Marsh
There are family owned “food stands” on the side of the highways. These places have the best corn based meals including tamales, corn on the cobb, and pancake- like desserts. YUM.
Random utensil night: In which each person has to eat dinner with a random utensil of my choice.
My teammate Joe makes great videos at the end of every month. Here is a link to his vlog of our last month in Honduras. Enjoy!!
http://joebarnes.theworldrace.org/?filename=month-2-nicaragua
