Traveling once again to Honduras!

In just a couple of weeks I will be on my way back to Copan Ruinas, Honduras.  I will be part of a rather large group from the Church I attend in Ruston Louisiana.  We are going to serve alongside our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who live in Copan.  It has been two years since a large group from our Church has been able to visit Copan and we are all very excited to be part of what The Lord is doing there.  Please be in prayer for use as we travel and pray for the Church in Copan Ruinas.

Eternal Rock Baptist Church
"The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abideth forever."
1 John 2:17

The called out ones......

Ekklesia in Greek, Iglesia in Spanish, Church in English, in the New Testament it translates, "the called out".  A very fitting decription for those whom the Lord has called and have followed the voice of The Master. 

 

Sunday morning worship with some of the called out in Copan Ruinas Honduras is always humbling and convicting for me.  the service was about one hour late starting.  All those who had already arrived sat patiently waiting, reading their bibles or visiting. The children ran around outside playing.  What was the delay? why the wait?  The group pictured above had not yet arrived.  These families walk down from the mountains each Sunday to worship and fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ. Young and Old, some carrying infants, a very loyal dog in the group and all of them are smiling and laughing.  The trail is steep and rocky, it twists and turns through the mountains. It is about a two hour walk each way.  Once they arrive Pastor Nahum takes up his guitar and the singing begins!  Prayer time is a group participation experience with many of the congregation praying at once. It is a wonderful sound and reminds me of the scripture that says "the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God.....".  It was a wonderful time of  preaching and fellowship.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

What I Found.......

I have learned over the years that God shows me amazing things when I allow Him to. 

So what is it that keeps me from seeing amazing things?  It is the meaningless pursuits and constant noise that I let distract me.  That is why God can speak so clearly into my heart when I am on a mission trip, far removed from my normal routine.  I am in a place where God can easily get my undivided attention, and it is always amazing!

Today was a day that I saw something so fresh and unexpected it left me hungry for more.  I heard a man pray the way I believe God desires all of His children to pray.  This prayer was not delivered by an eloquent theologian or voiced in a magnificent cathedral.  In fact, I could not understand a single word that was said and was standing in the mud beneath a tin roof.  The man praying next to me was a humble Honduran man, He was praying with such passion and sincerity, tears filling his eyes, as he worshiped in prayer.  I heard a man grab God's attention today, on a mountain side in Honduras. 

From Copan Honduras

I had a great time today working at the water well our mission team installed a pump in this past summer.  Pastor Nahum was with me all day along with several other men from the neighborhood.  It was an interesting day because none of them could speak English and my Spanish amounts to a few words and lots of arm motions.  I really thought I would wrap up what I needed to do by noon, but as is usually the case in Honduras, it took all day.  Gordon and I walked to Pastor Nahum's and had a great dinner.  perfect way to end a day in Honduras!!

The Well we installed a pump in this past summer

Two sisters that live in a house next to the well. I became friends with their big brother Andrew last summer and he invited me to his house to meet his family.

This morning I am sitting on the rooftop patio of our Hotel, just off the main square of Copan.  It seems like there are as many chickens as people roaming the roads of the neighborhoods and I can hear the crowing of hundreds of roosters in the mountains above me.  I hope to see the sunrise this morning and the roosters are like a cheering crowd waiting along with me.  It is impossible to describe how beautiful this country is and also how broken it is. 

The word’s that Jesus spoke to the multitudes keep coming to my mind, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” 

As I work alongside the wonderful men of Honduras I am humbled and ashamed of my prideful, arrogant attitude.  I want God to restore in me a poor, meek and mourning spirit that hungers and thirst for His righteousness.  The surprising accomplishment of mission trips is not the physical tasks that get completed or the “good” works that are performed.  It is always what God can accomplish in our own hearts.

Let the Work Begin!!!!

A great day of working on the mountain.  We are putting in a water system for the neighborhood where Pastor Nahum lives.  This is a great need for the families that live in the area.  They must carry water from a spring that is farther down the mountain.  We found out quickly that we are flatlanders and just carrying ourselves up those mountain trails and roads was difficult.  The Honduran men were amused at our slow climbing abilities.  I think they felt sorry for us and really wished we would step aside so they could finish the trench.  The  girls are falling in love with the little children and the sweet Honduran ladies. more posts and pictures to come. Adios from Honduras!!