Honduras… I have to say nothing came very easy during our stay in Honduras. I remember our team piling up in the bed of a truck all cramped up with all our bags on our laps. The drive was very bumpy, for we were heading to our location way up in the mountains in the middle of no where. There my team of 7 would find ourselves stranded in the wilderness in the middle of no where way up high in the mountains. We had no water, no electricity, or transportation. We stayed in a tiny little mud house with a family that shined with joy and laughter causing us to forget at times the reality of our situations. Everyday we would hike miles and miles through the thick forest witnessing and ministering to the random houses we would come in contact with. Poverty was evident everywhere. Families were struggling to provide nutrition, protection, medical support, and so on. Everyone has to work their butts of just to make it and survive. However, their circumstances did not prevent them from experiencing the love and joy that Jesus has to offer. They were all lovely inside and out, laughing and singing to the rhythm of love.
When we first arrive at our location, Blake, Jeff, and I noticed that we needed to get water for our team some how. Getting water would be an all day thing that would have to be repeated once a week. This is how this process went down. The three of us would hike through the wilderness and down the mountain till we would come across a road that would lead us to a nearby town. This was no easy journey, for slippery rocks seemed to get the best of us at times. We then would hitchhike the rest of the way into town. This was about a 30 min drive. Once in town, we would pick up the 5 gallon water jug, hitchhike back to where we came out of the woods, and somehow crawl our way back to our location alternating carrying the water jug. Never did I cherish water so much!!
The family we stayed with had many children, and if you know me at all, I’m a family man! At night we would sing and dance through the woods of the unknown. We would often make big fires at night screaming and shouting, for only God himself could hear us! We also took a couple of journeys to a beautiful waterfall and a cave. When I was at the waterfall time seemed to have stood still, for I never wanted to leave, nor did I want the beautiful scent to leave my nostrils. But at night when the stars would awake and the noises stood still, I would take my guitar and sing to the God that I love so dearly! I would sing in freedom and in joy. As I drifted in amazement of the beauty of creation, I would find myself thinking less of me and more of Him!
You see I believe so many people at times get caught up in the chaos of life. It’s all about me me me. “Lord bless me!” “Lord get me out of this situation or circumstance.” “Lord I want to serve you, but will you please work with me here?” Technology, Internet, phones, iPads, etc. seem to dominate our everyday lifestyles. I’m not speaking against this, but I often believe The Lord speaks to us through silence. Just like he spoke to Elijah in the Bible up in a cave. The Lord did not speak to Elijah through a big gust of wind, earthquake, or through a fire, but He spoke to him through a gentle whisper.
Often I would have everything blasting in my ears with media and technology that I would miss the times when God would whisper to me freedom and love. So I want to encourage that whenever life seems chaotic or crazy and peace and joy seem so distance, try distancing yourself from the world and stand in silence in aww of God. There is something beautiful about silence. 🙂
