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Where is home?

I don't have an easy answer to that question. It has been on my mind lately, because we are about to travel to our home country. On Saturday, we will fly to the USA for a week. We are going to a family reunion (Ashley's) and are also going to get to spend a little time with a big portion of my family! We are very excited to see them. For most of them, it has been over a year and a half since we have seen and spent time with them.

So, back to the idea of home. Ashley and I both feel at home here in La Ceiba, Honduras. We have been here for six months and our house feels homey and the city is getting to be more and more that way as well. I think a big part of this feeling comes from our ministry in La Fe. We feel at home with the people in La Fe. We are getting to know some of them on deeper levels and building trust with them. This, brings a strong purpose to us and causes us to feel that we are exactly where the Lord wants us to be. Thus, making us feel at home.

Sometimes, when talking about where I grew up, I say "back at home" (or something like that). My parents still live in the house where I did most of my growing up, so in a way, when we go see them I am going home. I am sure that many things about this house and town will not feel like home, since it has been so long since I have been there. I also know that family and friends play a huge factor in feeling at home somewhere.

One thing I know for sure is that none of us really are home yet. We have an eternal home waiting for us that will be far greater than this world. I love that we can rest in knowing that because of the finished work of Jesus Christ we have life and we have a home with Him forever!

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. -Ephesians 2:18-22

First Construction Project

With the coming of summer and short-term summer teams, Ashley and I decided that part of what the teams could help us do is some small construction projects. We are still in the beginning stages of building relationships with the people of La Fe and do not want to come in and 'fix' things, but we do have a desire to help the community help itself. We have talked a lot with the leadership of the community and many others that live there to find out what are some needs that we may be able to help out with while the summer teams are here. We found our first project!

We are going to (and started last week) work alongside some of the men in the community to repair and improve a walkway that is on the hillside and many people use daily. In the picture below, you can see some steps in the background. This is about what the walkway looked like a week ago. The team from Wellington Presbyterian Church helped to prepare the walkway for a concrete walkway (think sidewalk, but a little wider) and poured the concrete foundation that will help to keep the walkway from moving during the heavy rains or rainy season.

The steps in the background are dangerous, especially in the rain.

When the next team which is going to work in La Fe arrives, they will continue this project. We hope that this work will show the people of La Fe that we care about them and that we want to help them. Doing construction has already brought us into contact with some different people of the community. One of the workers even asked why the team came to work and I was able to talk with Him about Christ!

The foundation is poured and ready for the walkway!

Wellington Pres. Church

Our first team of the summer is here! They arrived on Saturday evening and have been busy ever since. This team of six adults is from Wellington Presbyterian Church in Wellington, Florida.

The team preparing for Day 1 in La Fe.

They are the first team to come and work for a week in La Fe! So far, they helped us host a clinic in which about 50 people were treated, they taught the kids in La Fe about what our true family is and who our true Father is, and they began to improve one of the walkways that many people of the community use daily.

Helping with patient intake during clinic

They have worked hard in these projects, but more importantly they have had the chance to spend special time with the people and show La Fe the love of Jesus Christ by giving them attention. We are grateful to have this team that loves working with and serving the people of La Fe!

SOCCER!