Hola friends and family,
Thurs. This is our last day to work on the park and everybody was feeling the pressure to get everything done. We hung the gates, the last fence replacements and also had to get them all painted. We were blessed that several members of the community came and helped us to finish up. After our devotional time, several ladies of the team and the church had a clothing sale from the donations, which went very well. After dinner, Pastor Luis had a prayer service under the "BIG tree" with a band (so much like Blackhawk). We had so many people from the village, it was standing room only. And we experienced a little rain and we moved to the patio of the pastors house. Most everyone attending stayed until the church service was completed. After the rain stopped the band played for quite a while.
Fri. 5:30am Anne took 10 team members to the top of the mountain overlooking Orica. It was a 2 hr hike for them up a very steep incline, but the view was spectacular (pictures to come). We then had to say our good-byes to the Pastor and his family, the cooks, several children that had been hanging around with us all week, and many members of the church. We were all so sad to leave them as we prepared to head back to Tegucigalpa. 11am We made a stop at AFE (Amor, Fe, Esperanza (Faith, Hope, Love)), a non-profit org. that helps improve the lives of the families that live in and near the dump in Tegucigalpa. They provide housing, health care and education for the families. 5pm We arrived at Barb and Barry Hess' to drop our bags and head to the Vega's for delicious pupusas'. Luis' wife, Etelia and her mother spent a lot of time preparing this homemade meal for us. We were enjoying the company so much we got in pretty late.
Sat. Because we were going to miss Easter services, we had our last devotional with communion and prayer time, followed by the "washing of the feet," which was very powerful for our team. For our last day in Honduras, we spent the day in Siguatapeque at the plaza, did some shopping and sightseeing at the botanical gardens. We ended the day with a meal at Freddie's with Pastor Santana and his family, many of the translators, and friends so we could say our good-bye's.
We head out early tomorrow morning for San Pedro Sula airport. Hasta Luego.
This is months later and I have to say, I am missing my Honduran friends and the calling that God sent me to serve on.
ReplyDeleteI would encourage anyone and everyone to pray for that calling to come. Whether it be in Honduras, Peru, Kenya and the like, God can move mountains and show you things you never understood. Then you have that AHA! moment that brings you to tears.
This weekend, when we sang "Stand" in church, brought back that AHA! moment for me. This last April, I had given my testimony in Orica, moved by Christ to share that song and the lyrics, and how powerfully God's grace has transformed my life with the many people present that night at Alpha y Omega, my newly acquired friend, Becky Vega translating at my side. A day or two later, it was shared with me that what I said had a major impact on a person's heart. I was brought to tears, humbled and am STILL to this day moved to tears to know how powerful God is and His presence is everywhere and you never know HOW he will use you.