Greetings from Choluteca, Honduras!

After two long days of travel, Sunday was the first day I got to meet the people I came so far to be with. We worshipped with high school students first thing in the morning. The presence of God was precious as they stood in worship with eyes closed and hearts abandoned, soaking in His goodness. The students were extremely gracious as I led them in worship with my best attempt at Spanish. Looking around the classroom, I would make eye contact with the students with a friendly smile, only to get a smile twice as big in return. They had such tender hearts, and would hug me without saying a word, some even laid their head on my shoulder and I just wanted to pack them all up and take them home. 

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

After leaving the high school, we traveled on rocky, dirt roads lined with trash, roaming animals of different kinds, and things I have no words for. We arrived at a small church built of plain cinderblocks that looked as if it could tell a story of redemption and hope of all who sat on the other side of its walls. I opened the truck door and heard worship playing from inside. Looking out at the poverty around us, I was reminded that no matter where we go, there is always a message of hope standing brave and tall in a sea of hopelessness. A message that has stood the test of time, Jesus, the Lamb of God who was slain to take away the sins of the world. No matter how bad things look, no matter what the outside appearance looks like, Jesus is our hope, the hope of not just where we live, but a hope in Choluteca, Honduras, and to the ends of the earth. 

In one day, we saw miracles of healing, miracles of deliverance, and people saying yes to Jesus for the first time and rededicating their life to Jesus. God is a miracle working God, like we sang today, “Milagroso abres camino, cuples promesas, luz en tinieblas.” “Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness.”  That is who you are, God. 

If I were to sum up what I’ve learned and recognized on this journey so far, is people are still people no matter where we go. All people need to feel loved, they need to feel important and seen, but beyond all of that, people, no matter where we are, need hope. The hope of Jesus Christ! 

Please continue to pray for this trip and for the team. We are traveling with Vision Beyond Boarders Ministry. Our team is, Gio (our team leader) from Puerto Rico, Maggie and her two daughters Ella and Annabelle from St. Louis, Mark and Vilma Hull who live in Choluteca as full-time missionaries, and me. Also, please pray for two of my bags that got lost in Chicago. They are full of supplies for the students, and some of my things are in there too, including gifts for Pastors. They are supposed to be delivered, but praying they make it! Thank you, readers, friends, and family. You are amazing and I appreciate all your love and prayers. To be continued…….