Constant dust, never feeling clean, carrying water up hills, building outhouses, wrestling with the young men at the ministry, singing together, challenging one another, being humbled, having little to non internet as my support deadline approaches, seeing Christ reign in my team mates hearts, and seeing so many smiling faces because of what is happening here. The vision is huge and the people are ready.
My month here in Honduras and working with Zions Gate ministry has been one of the most challenging and best months of my life. Here are a few highlights from my month so far.
LOS PINOS
{FACTS ABOUT LOS PINOS} I will never forget my time in Los Pinos because of the simple fact that the boys Tony has brought onto his property will never have to go back there and live in those conditions. More importantly they can go back and make a HUGE difference. Another memory from Los Pinos I will have is carrying bucket loads of water up a very very steep hill. We had to do this because there is no running water in Los Pinos. People pay around $5 to get a barrel full of water filled up at the bottom of the hill. Then you have to get the water up the hill how you do that is completely up to you. This is very unsanitary, to see the buckets we had to use to get the water up the hill was hard to see. My prayer was that they boil the water before they use it, sadly I was not able to find out if they do or don’t. My Spanish is defiantly not at a conversational level, but it has improved quite a bit.
SOCCER MINISTRY
This was a LOT of fun we were with a local pastor from Los Pinos we basically showed up to the local field and hung out with the kids played a game of soccer with them, and then prayed over there lives and sung worship songs together. It was very interesting to see the gang members up in the hills hanging out just watching us and then come down from the hills to hang out with us. The ladies on my squad played against the local all girls team sadly they did not win but they held there own. I was proud of them all, I tried to coach the best I could from the sidelines. Pretty awesome day all in all
WORKING ON THE PROPERTY
We worked on the property pretty much every day for at least a little part of the day. Most of my time was dedicated to the path below you can see the before and after pics. Zions Gate ministry sits on 15 acres of property with one house with eleven people sleeping in it, and one recreational building. This is where most of us slept and also where we ate. The property used to be a nightclub so the grounds are a mess beer bottles everywhere, overgrown grass, and pretty much nothing attractive to look at. That has changed since my amazing squad has been here. Even though we have only been here a few weeks we have made a big difference. We have paved the way for other squads to truly turn this place into something beautiful.
LIVING WITH THE SQUAD {38 PEOPLE}
This has been a challenge never in my life have I been around so many girls for such a long period of time. In such close quarters. I have heard more girls pee this last week than I have my entire lifetime. One of the joys of having one bathroom for the entire month. At the same time I have learnt so much from these amazing women. I have new insight on what it looks like to be a women of God and truly walk closey with him. It has blessed me tremendously this month to around all the guys on my squad we have had some insane guy time. Just getting real and honest laying it all out there sharing our challenges and celebrations on a deep and personal level. It has been extremely refreshing for me.
FUNDRASING
GOD IS GOOD! He has provided little by little every single day I am so humbled and blessed by everyones support and love that they have sent my way whever that be with a prayer or sending dollars. Truth is I could not have done any of this without you! We are in this together to the finish. We will spread the gospel to eleven different countries and see lives changed for Jesus. I still need $450 to make my next deadline of $11,000. Which is due on the first. If I do not make this then I cannot continue the race and have to head back to the states. I do not belive this is supposed to happen so please consider giving a donation to www.nathanhatton.theworldrace.org p.s. that’s only nine donations of $50!
LASTLY
You are all deeply loved and missed if you are reading this and I do not know you personally I would like to. Please email me you can use the contact page on the side of my blog. The song I posted to go along with this blog is simply my jams currently I listen to it as I work away moving countless rocks to create paths on the property. Until next time GOD BLESS YOU!
