While we are in Honduras, for the next month our team is working with Pastor Armando, a well known and respected pastor here in Tegucigalpa. He works with a wide variety of organizations from a drug rehab facility to a senior citizen home to a village in the mountains. Every Thursday our team and Pastor Armando meet at the hospital to visit the sick and pray over the patients.
It is 2:00 in the afternoon. The sun is shining and our bellies are full from a substantial meal of beans and rice and we take off with 2 of the boys from Zion’s Gate, Ariel and Christopher, and head for the school bus (Honduras’ public mode of transportation). Ariel and Christopher escort us everywhere in town as Tegucigalpa is a crime ridden city and is in a violent season (but don’t worry mom;). Honduras is also in its rainy season, so every afternoon dark grey clouds hover over the Honduran mountain peaks and fat torrential rainfall floods the streets. So it was not surprising that the showers begin while we were riding the old rickety bus, darting in between traffic and creating a 2 lane street into 3 lanes. We scurry out of the first bus to transfer vehicles, squeezing between Hondurans packed together like only Hondurans can pack, and try to jump off the bus before they drive rush off into the abyss of vans and motorcycles. We finally arrive at our last stop and we are sopping wet, so we sprint to a Dunkin’ Donuts awning to take cover when Morgan’s flip-flops rejected her feet and down the tile stairs she tumbles leaving her nothing but a black and blue bottom. Now, with a cripple and the rest dripping in rain and fatigue, we slosh through the streets to the hospital gates and take refuge in a small pulperia, or a small store, and wait at the gates for Pastor Armando. Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes pass and our squad leader Liz starts to feel the bladder fill, and with the trickling of rain, there is no choice but to pop a squat and do as the Hondurans do. What a bonding moment that brought. Christopher finally voices that we should head back and with no avail, we begin to return home. Slishing and sloshing through the streets, there is no certainty that the water was only contaminated with mud. This theory was confirmed when Rachel stepped in a potent brown gooey substance that a sweet Hondurans left for us. Thank goodness though, that bacteria builds immune systems so my infected foot cut can heal real nice.
We finally arrive back home after a long and cramped bus ride home to a beautiful meal of steaming soup that Naomi, a mother who lives here, cooked for us. As you read through the events of this day, you may be thinking “what an awful turn of events” or “I am so sorry.” But fret not my friends, this day was only a blessing where Jesus taught our team to choose joy in the rain. When you are standing in the downpour with a bruised bottom and human feces on your shoe with your squad leader peeing on the sidewalk, there is nothing else to do but laugh. At first, I felt discouraged, we were unable to do ministry and I felt as though we failed for the day, but this is a lie. God asked us to go and we did. We obeyed, stepping out in faith and trust to answer his call. God asked us to show us and we did. That is what he asks and that is enough. Whether we are in the hospital or standing outside its gates with no ID to enter, we are ushering in the presence of God. Just by being present, light is present and darkness departs.
As they say, when in Honduras, do as the Hondurans do. Today, we experienced nothing less. A little rain wont hurt you, and a little poop wont kill you. I would take all these unfortunate events over not knowing the call and voice of Jesus. Answer his call. Get on the bus. And let God take it from there. We learned to let go of control. Control of expectations, control of what ministry looks like, control of circumstance. It is not about us and how we feel from the "ministry" we have accomplished, but the joy of walking in obedience with God.
Below is a picture of our team with Pastor Armando (middle) and his friend. Folling are pictures of the Zion Gate property and the room we sleep in.
We laughed along with you and pray for you and the rest of the Immersion squad.
One more thing that God has used…you! By your words and sharing your experiences and lessons, you encourage and teach others about our loving God. Thank you for sharing. I am better for it!
I am glad you kept your spirits high in a time when you could have admitted defeat. Everything we do is a lesson in life and love. I could not be happier to have a cousin that is doing.so much and finding her way. Keep up the good work young lady. I am awaiting your next post.
Loved hearing about your day! Thank you for sharing. Mom and I pray for you and your team every day.
Maybe GOD wanted the crew to go through this. a learning step in life.
Thanks for sharing your day so vividly. You are truly in a 3rd world place.. I pray for you daily also. Love your Godly spirit.