Month three for me has looked a lot different for me and my team than for anyone else on my squad. We had the privilege of going to two opposite spectrums of Honduras. First half we spent in a beautiful place that I’ll never forget, Roatan, and the second half we got to spend here in Talanga (2 hours outside of the Capital Tegucigalpa). Currently I’m sitting in my bunk bed thinking back on all that I’ve gotten to experience, take in, and be apart of this past two weeks here in Talanga. As our last day is here and our time is coming to an end and we’re jumping into month 4 (WHAT!!!), I want to remember this time here and also invite you into what I’ve been apart of through their stories.
I’m serving at The Heart of Christ Ministry out here which is a home that does more things than one. It’s run by an American couple who has been serving here for over 11 years helping to bring justice to the injustice and bring restoration to the lives of women and children who have fallen into the victim roll of violence, rape, and or incest.
I read a blog about this place and these people last month having NO IDEA I would personally be here now. I shed so many tears from reading the stories and then once I got here- it hit me. “WOW, these are the exact people I read about and my heart broke for. How do they have so much joy?” The reality of Honduras is that most women have their first child by the age 15, many are abused, and incest is very common. Right now there are 4 toddlers, 5 Kindergarteners, one 7 year old, 2 girls with cerebral palsy, one mom, and a full staff who teaches, cooks, and lives with them.
(Warning: I’m about to share a handful of stories that are pretty graphic and heart wrenching)
Alejandro’s mother was raped and abused by her father. He raped her at machete point so that she couldn’t scream or run for help. She was rescued at 14 years old and had Alejandro here at he home but she abandoned him and ran away with a man she met in the village.
Karolina was found at one years old tied up in her home, burned, beaten, and raped by her family. She has a lump on her wrist from where she sucked to keep calm because she couldn’t reach her thumb like a normal baby would because she was tied up.
Dulce was found and rescued right before her death. She was born in the mountains and left to die with placenta and all still attached. Thankfully, people found her after she screamed and screamed. Her mother was arrested 2 days later.
Cristopher’s mom was in a bad relationship with a drug dealer. She got pregnant with Cristopher and continued her drugs. You can tell because he is super tiny for his age. She ran away from her boyfriend looking for help. She found this home, had Cristopher here, but abandoned him and ran away from the home.
Katarine and her mother Michele both live here at the mission home. Michele did not have a good family life back at home. Her older brother murdered her father when she was 6 years old. Michele’s mother’s boyfriends would rape her and force her to work for them in the fields. Michele became pregnant with Katarine at 11 years old. She had Katarine at 12 and has been living here at the home ever since.
These are just a handful of the sad and painful stories of the lives here. To be honest, when I walked in, I had no idea what I was walking into. I didn’t know it was the lives that I read about because of the joy on their faces. Why? Because Jesus looked at these beautiful people and said “I’m not finished with you yet.” They are being educated here, fed, and taught truth in who they are. Past doesn’t define them anymore and it never will again. They have a new identity.
And to think there are many, many more stories of people who are out there still in the midst of their pain. Who knows, maybe it’s you reading this. Whether it’s as graphic as these stories or you’re in a bad relationship, hate your job, or can’t seem to find purpose or joy anymore… just like I said God is not finished with these sweet children and women here at the home, He’s not finished with you yet, 8 years old, 38 years old, or 80 years old. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or what’s been done to you. One thing I’ve learned and I mean really learned being here is that the Father searches for the lost one’s.
I celebrate the restoration of these lives and the many more lives that will be rescued in the future.
