Recreation Time

This past week, both Ashley and I were able to get some fun, recreation time. We don't get the chance to do this too often because of our full schedule, but we feel it is important for our mental and physical health. 

On Wed. evening last week, I went to a playoff match here in La Ceiba with Ashley's brother Chris. We had taken some boys from La Fe to a game a few days earlier, but since we had to keep an eye on them we did not get a chance to actually watch a lot of soccer. So, on Wed. we realized that one of the local teams had made it into the first round of the playoffs and would be playing a night game at the stadium in La Ceiba. It was a lot of fun to get out and really be able to watch the game. It ended in a 0-0 tie (and the local team lost in the aggregate scoring 2-1). 

Vida (La Ceiba) 0 - Marathon 0

On Saturday, we decided to go relax and enjoy some of our God's creation at a river just outside of the city. We spent 2 or 3 hours swimming and enjoying the outdoors and each other. It was a good break from 'city' life and we are thankful that it is so close and easy to get to. 

Las Cascadas

Chris and I exploring the area.

Ritmo was ready to be out of the cold water.

Pool and Soccer

This past weekend both Ashley and I were able to spend some special time with a few kids from La Fe. On Saturday, Ashley took four girls (along with Erin P. and three girls from Armenia Bonito) to a local hotel to spend a few hours at the pool and/or beach and have lunch. On Sunday, I was able to attend my first professional soccer match and was able to treat three boys to this fun experience as well.

The girls enjoying the pool.

None of the girls from La Fe had ever had the chance to do something like this before. They had a blast and have already asked when they can go again. During their time, Ashley was able to present the Gospel to them and talk about who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

Ashley sharing the Gospel with the girls.

On Sunday, I got to go to my first ever professional soccer match! It was fun to finally have this experience and even more so because I was able to share it with three boys from La Fe. Arnold, Tito, and Kevin had never been to a pro game before and loved seeing the stadium and the game. After the game was over, we took them to a restaurant for dinner. They had so much fun. This was a very rare treat for them because their families are very poor and do not get the opportunity to eat outside of the house. The boys were so thoughtful of their families that they only ate part of the food and took the rest home to share with their families.

Waiting for the game to start.

It was special for both Ashley and I to spend this time with the kids. We are so glad that we were able to share something with them that they have never been able to do before.

Long Day

Yesterday, I went to San Pedro Sula to look for a car. It turned out to be more of an adventure than I was expecting. I went with a Honduras friend who has some friends in the used car industry. He asked if we could leave at 5am, so that we could get there, do some searching, and get back to La Ceiba before it was too late (San Pedro is about a 3 hour car ride from La Ceiba). Later, he called and asked if we could leave at 4:30 instead of 5. I did not realize why at the time, but it was because he heard that there was going to be a political rally that would block the main road between La Ceiba and San Pedro.

He was right, as we got just past a main bridge just outside of San Pedro, we saw a large crowd of some 600 protestors headed toward the bridge to 'take it over' in order to make a statement to the government. If we would have left five minutes later, we would not have been able to cross the bridge and get to San Pedro.

The looking for a car was the easy part of the day. I think we found the one we are going to get! After we finished our car shopping, we knew we had some time to kill, so we went to the mall for some coffee and just hung out. It was a great opportunity for me to share with a man I just met why I am here in Honduras and what the Lord is doing in and through me to help the people here.

We heard the protestors were going to 'give the bridge back' around 2pm, so we decided to get back to our car and get on the road so that we could get home before too long. Well, turns out my friend's car battery died and as we were checking out that problem, he locked his keys in the car. So, we got all those things taken care of and decided to head home with a dead battery. In order to do this, we figured it best to not use lights and/or air conditioning and/or the radio.

It turns out we could have waited longer to leave, because we ended up sitting on the freeway (no a/c or radio) for about 2 hours waiting to cross the bridge, then had lots of traffic the whole way home. We got home at about 8pm. So, it ended up being a 16 hour day in which I was not able to do too much.

Some good things:
1. I think we found our future car.
2. I got to talk with these guys a lot. (This was also tiring since I did not speak to anyone in English, except ashley on the phone, all day.)
3. I got to experience new things in Honduras.

All in all, it was a good day, but it was a long day. I am still a little tired today, but thankfully I have some time this weekend in which I can rest.

If you are interested, here is a news article (in Spanish) about the 'taking of the bridge' - http://www.laprensa.hn/Secciones-Principales/Honduras/Valle-de-Sula/Campesinos-se-toman-carretera-de-La-Lima-a-El-Progreso

Door Number Two?

This week we had what, at the time, felt like a step backwards. Really, it was just God showing us that He is in control and that, try as we might, we cannot plan ahead of his schedule. Our teammate, John, and I went to La Fe to meet with the president of the community, Antonio, to talk more about possible plans for a church building. We also planned to measure the site on which Antonio wants to put the church.

As we found out, in a not so comfortable way, not all of the community is 'on board' with placing a church and school in the location where Antonio wants it. The site he has in mind is the current soccer field for the community. As soccer is such a huge part of life here, especially with the kids, many of the people do not want to take away this area that gets daily usage by the kids. It really doesn't matter to us what the specifics are about the disagreement, but we know that we will not get in the middle of it.

So, we had to apologize to some people for infringing on their field in this way and tell Antonio that he needs to have unity in the community before we will help build anything. This was a little discouraging at first because I had felt that the Lord was opening the door for this building and possible church plant to happen... I had already begun to get excited about the idea and the new ministry opportunities it would bring. Later, as Ashley and I 'debriefed', we were able to tell each other the truths about our Savior that we know - that He has a plan and that He is in control and the He loves us and the people of La Fe.

We do not know when or where (or if) we will be constructing a building to be used as the home of a church, but we do know that we will continue to share the love of God in word and deed with La Fe. Please continue to pray that our Father will give us the wisdom on how to move forward with our work in La Fe. Also, please pray that the Lord make completely clear what He wants for the short-term teams to be a part of as well this summer when they are here.

Moving Forward

A few weeks ago I was talking with the 'president' of La Fe and he asked me if we could build a building for a church for the community. I know he asked for this in part because he knows we are funded through churches and that we want to start a church, but he still asked. In the moment, I was not too excited or interested, because we are being deliberate about not just giving 'stuff' without really thinking about it and about the long-term implications on our ministry. However, when I got home and talked with Ashley and talked with my team leader and thought and prayed about it, it seemed that may be the Lord's way of opening the door to beginning a church in the community. After all, that is why we are here.

We know that a church is not a building. We know that constructing a building is not planting a church. We also know that if we can build a building and if we can find a Honduras pastor to preach and teach the Gospel and love the people of La Fe, we can have the beginning of a church plant. Even if this happens, we will still have a long way to go to have a thriving church that is impacting the community and sharing the Gospel with other communities.

I want to ask you all to pray. Please pray that the Lord would make it clear to Ashley and me that He wants us to move forward in construction and in searching for a pastor.

This is especially exciting timing, because we have our first (of 8) summer teams coming to serve with us in La Fe in just seven short weeks. This construction project could be part of what these teams do in their time here in Honduras.

Homesick

You can probably guess how I am feeling based on the title of this post. I think homesickness is a funny thing. Some days I really do miss people, things, places, and the feelings of where we used to live. Then there are other days that, because we do feel so at home here in Honduras, I hardly think about those things or realize that they are not here with me.

So, I am not sure why I am feeling, today, the way I am but here are some thoughts:

It is a holiday week. Family always seems to feel further away in those times when we 'should' be together.
It has been a slow week and a half of ministry. We went to Guatemala last weekend, which was a great trip, but we did not do a whole lot. Then, when we got back we were smack dab into the middle of Semana Santa (Holy Week) which is a huge deal here. Government stuff is shut down and for many others it is vacation time. Most all of those Hondurans who are taking off come to La Ceiba to go to the beach and party. So, we have not been to busy with ministry due to the other things going on around us.
Satan wants to take my thoughts off of the great blessings I have (life and a right relationship with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for one) and put them onto the things that I do not have (family close-by for one).
I have been planning our trip to the USA in June. In planning our trip, I am realizing that we will get to spend a lot of time with family, most of whom we have not seen in almost a year and a half. Today I am just thinking about the fact that it is almost three months until we get to make the trip.

Whatever the reason is, I know that I have SO much to be content with and to celebrate, especially this weekend. I know these feelings will come and go, but the love of Christ does not!

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39