Sorry for the non photo post…I have been working on this for
3 days. If I don’t get it up it
will be at least 3 more…
I got to spend some time away from Emmanuel this weekend for
the first time since I have come here in May. Other than going to pick up teams at the airport and getting
to take small adventures to the mall across the street from the airport, my
leaving Guiamaca has been limited.
Like to none. Til Sunday. Amy Elizabeth- one of our volunteers
wanted to go to Tegucigalpa to visit some ministries and go to church and I
needed to pay to add on 30 days to my visa so “road trip it” was the plan.
We walked into town Sunday morning to catch the 7am bus that
costs 2.25 dollars and takes you into Tegucigalpa. From there we went to a mall that was mostly closed but the
grocery store was open so we bought some things for the family we would stay
with Sunday night. Then we went
outside and got a cab to take us to an English speaking church we would be attending. The cab guy wasn’t very familiar with
where we were going from what we could tell. Amy had my phone with google maps open on it and we had
marked where we thought the church was from the directions we had. Amy ended up directing the cabbie where
to go from the map, where to turn etc.
We found it no problem. The
Cab guy was fairly young and very interested in my phone and the app. Amy was thankful for the map and we had
a good laugh about it.
We went to Christian Union Church which is basically
missionaries from various ministries that worship together. It was neat to see how they all do
different things in and just outside the city. We went to lunch with Barbara and Carlos who have a
daycare/small school in Tegus. He
happened to preach and they also took us to lunch. Denny’s. I posted
on Twitter “I am sitting in
Denny’s watching Indy on ESPN and listening to Mylie Cyrus sing “Party in the
USA” overhead.” Literally. I had a good avacado chicken sandwich
and a chicken and sausage quesedilla (Amy and I split our order…buffet style is
the way to go. And yes, the eating
details ARE very VERY important).
Then they graciously dropped us off at a place called the
Micah Project just north of old downtown.
I was feeling like I was back in Ecuador driving through there. The Micah Project is 15 boys from the
streets in a house where they are schooled and trained and grown up to
hopefully love the Lord and never go back to the streets. It was neat to see the facility and
what they can do with so little.
As I think back on the weekend I think that being at Micah’s was one of
my favorite things.
I was honored just to stand on the fringes of what went on
and see how the guys in charge love on those boys. And in turn those boys love on each other. There was a little 10 year old boy who recently
came to Micah. As one of the big
boys was standing in the courtyard and the little boy went by the big boy said
something to him. The little boy
continued to walk past and the big boy basically said “Hey! A Hugh?!” And the
little boy came back and hugged his waist and the big boy hugged him back and
kissed him on the head. There were
different moments when I saw men staff members just standing with their arms
around the boys while they talked.
One of the staff guys is really tall and big and one of the big boys
just stood with his arm around the big staffer and his head leaned on his chest
as they hung out with the other guys standing around. It was just a beautiful picture of family. I tried to take a photo but they guy
had moved by the time I dug out my camera. But you get an idea of the little house they live in and the
boys.
That night they had a little worship service. One of my favorite parts (other than
the new Spanish song I didn’t know but I sure cannot tell you now) is when they
took a moment to tell God who He was or thank Him for something. Throughout the courtyard the boys and
the visitors just spoke God’s bigness or graciousness. It made me want to cry to hear the big
boys say “Thank you for my family.”
“Thank you for opportunities from God.” It was a blessing just to be
with my God family there. And see how God is working.
My sister in law Karen is from Honduras and has a cousin
that still lives in town. So we
made plans to stay at Sofia’s house.
Sofia and her dad came to pick us up, in the dark, in the rain. What a blessing that family was to us!
They did treat us like royalty. I
just can’t explain how sweet it was to be in their home and listen to Amy talk
to them (I understand a lot of Spanish but I fail to be able to comprehend when
someone is talking TO me and I really have a hard time speaking it right now…so
I listen).
Monday morning we got a cab friend of Sofia’s to take us by
immigration so I could do my paperwork and leave my passport for my visa
extension. Then he came back to
take us up to Casa de Ester. It’s
a home for girls that have come off the streets. There are currently 15 there. It is a beautiful home that
overlooks Tegus from the mountain up by the Jesus statue. It was a blessing to hear the hearts of
people who are in charge of it and see the girls for a short time.
After that Barbara from Sunday at church picked us up to
take us to her ministry- Nueva Esperanza.
It’s a daycare/school that also has some afterschool discipleship
stuff. It was amazing to see how
they built up a single story building on that site into a large facility.
Back to immigration, more waiting, a run to the mall for
some cash and snack, back to immigration.
Then back on the bus to Emmanuel.
It was an interesting ride home. I am working through “Anything” by Jennie Allen. I remember so vividly reading it last
summer anticipating moving to Uganda.
Jennie echoed my thoughts so much.
And encouraged my heart.
And God’s truth/word spoke to me so much. And I find myself back in the same place. Still struggling through life of saying
“Anything” to the Lord. Even in
this place. The things that I find
difficult at home are still difficult here. Add in a bunch of other variables that don’t exist at home
and it is still WORK to say “Anything.”
But it is my heart’s desire.
HIM. What HE
wants me to do. I must. I cannot help but say yes. Please. Do that Lord.
And in the middle of thinking about Emmanuel, what I am
doing here, what I know God wants me to do here, and what I need to let Him do
better through me, I realized Monday was the day my Momma died 15 years
ago. It struck me funny…it seems
like yesterday but it seems so long ago.
And it made me think about a couple of weeks after Momma died when I
went whitewater rafting in Chattanooga.
As we drove next to the river on the way to the put in place I thought
“I wonder if Momma knows I’m doing this.
Did I tell her?” And then I
remembered I didn’t tell her because she was gone. I kind of had that feeling as I rode that bus home
Monday. Just wanting to tell her
about this craziness that is my life.
Nothing important. Just to
tell her “Hey, I am on my way to Tegus and back this weekend.” It’s just flashes of memories mixed
with current events that collide in an odd way that is hard to describe.
So I returned here Monday with my brain swirling about what
I had seen while in Tegus.
Grateful for the body of Christ in this world. For all the laborers who have said yes. Here. There. Everywhere.
Grateful for Amy seeking to find what/where God has her next. And thankful for being able to just
journey with her. And I struggle
not to count down the days until I go home for a few days. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my girls. I get frustrated so much because I love
them so. I hurt with them when
they let me in, I rejoice with them over small victories. But I do long to just be with my US
#village for a bit. I want to be
HERE while I am here. And not
think about THERE. And I have only
been here short of 3 months but in a way it feels so much longer. And I think “Can I do this for a long
time?” And God’s answer is “No.
You can’t. But I can make you able
if you are willing and I ask you to.”
So I work. As Paul talks
about…the race. I continue
on. (did I mention I am a
sprinter, not a marathon runner? Haha)
Found out a team member sent me some Dr. Pepper. Shout out to my girl in Georgia! So
blessed by a want. Not a
need.
Blessed.
I am so blessed. Grateful for the body of Christ. The gift of
the Spirit who knows how to speak words that we need and have to hear, even
when we don't want to hear them. Christ's salvation and righteousness
that covers me completely. The Father who is gracious and loving.
Sorry for the
long narrative. Just wanted to share…
Be His.
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