My trip to Honduras was an absolutely incredible trip that I will remember until the day I die, but what did I learn on my trip?
The mission began on Tuesday with a flight to Houston, Texas, then from there we flew to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, from there we drove for almost 5 hours to the mission house, there we spent a day in rest. Wednesday was a fun day, we went into town and shopped, it was very fun walking through town seeing how the people of Honduras live. We ate lunch at a small restaurant in town and had an amazing time. On Thursday, we packed our gear, and set out to hike, we drove for 2 and a half hours before reaching our hiking point. We started our 3 and a half hour and 6-mile journey to Santa Maria.
When we reached our destination, we set up our sleeping mats and had dinner before resting for the days of work ahead. The next morning, Friday, we got up early and had pancakes for breakfast, after that we set up our medical clinic, and our construction team got ready to work. The construction team had a few problems the first day, but got things moving soon enough, so I heard. I decided to do medical, I worked with the dentist who was pulling teeth. My job started as just washing the dental tools after teeth were pulled, but wasn’t long before things got moved around and I ended up holding heads still, while teeth were being pulled. We worked for hours and the medical clinic treated over 100 people before shutting down. That night we had a church service on top of the mountain, it was amazing. Probably about 30-50 people, maybe more, outside on top of a mountain praising God. No instruments to play, just their voices and their hands, and even though I couldn’t understand them, I could still hear the worship and their praise for God, and I even recognized a few songs based off the tune. A few people went up to speak and we had translators so we could hear their message. It was a Beautiful evening, as I had the honor to serve the people in the mountains.
On Saturday, we got up for breakfast and got started, we didn’t have and medical but we did set up a lice treatment for the kids, we also gave them shampoo, conditioner, lollipops, and a cross necklace. And Construction, despite the problems from the first day still got the job done. I was washing hair, I didn’t know much about lice treatment but it didn’t take long before I had the hang of it. that same day we also hiked about 15 minutes to a house to pray for an elderly woman for her heart problems, she told us her story and we even got to ask her questions about her life. She was 83 years old and had many children, when we asked her how many grandchildren she had, she said she had a whole town. That night it rained and many of us took what we call a true Honduran shower. we got to play with the kids before the rain, the kids are the main reason I love going there. The kids are so happy and find joy in everything they do, and I love to hear them laugh when playing, I have learned that even though there is a language barrier, that there is this universal language of fun.
Sunday was our hike home, we could either take the road, or the jungle, I took the road with my friend David, which seemed to be a mistake. The road was Hot, and almost straight up for 3 hours, we ran out of water and got dehydrated. But after 4 and a half hours (maybe longer) we made it, and even though it was a mistake I don’t regret it, it was an awesome view, and if it wasn’t for my friend David I would not have made the second hike, either he realizes it or not he helped me get down that mountain. After getting to the bottom we got on a bus and took our 2 and a half hour drive home. After reaching the mission house we got some dinner and went to bed.
Monday was a fun day, we drove back towards the airport and stayed on the beach near a resort. We got to swim in the ocean and use their pool, it was a very fun and relaxing day before heading home on Tuesday.
Some of us woke up early and went out to the beach and just watched the waves hit the beach, I stood there and thought about the hike, and how I struggled with it, but as I stood there I heard God tell me that this is the first of many. The first of many times I stand on the beach in a different country, the first of many times I think about how hard the day was, the first of many missions where I think I can’t do it, and the first of many times I realize, yes, I can. That day we got on our plane ride home and after 2 flights and a 4-hour layover in Texas, we finally landed in Cincinnati. I was so happy to see my family, and as I said goodbye to all my new brothers and sisters, I realized that I couldn’t wait to go back.
The night I got home I couldn’t sleep, I laid there and just thought about how, I wasn’t as comfortable as I was while I was in Honduras, I realized that even though I loved my family and I love my country, it’s not where I belong, my place is out in the world, showing Gods love to those who don’t see his love. All I could think about is how I wish I could be back in Honduras, or being somewhere in the world where I feel needed. God has given me a purpose on this earth, and its my job to follow it. And as I get used to being at home again, all I can do it sit and wait to go into the world again, and until then I will spread Gods word here. I can’t with to find out what my next journey will be, will it be world race? Maybe I’ll find a mission to go on before then, but whatever it is, it will be amazing.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Mark 16:15
