A group of 20 people, mostly college students, from The Rock Church in Columbia, Missouri traveled two thousand miles south to help serve alongside its sister church in Choluteca, Honduras. While I could sit here and write a thought-provoking post about our trip, what we accomplished and what God taught us during our journey, I thought it better to start with a picture post. Enjoy the photos and leave your thoughts, encouragements, etc.
Constructing Beds & The Playground
Chris Kassing shows Levi (Mission Project Coordinator) the piece of wood that will ultimately be used as the leg of the bed to make sure the cut marks are accurate. We learned quickly that “Measure Twice, Cut Once” was not a Honduran proverb. Rather, it seemed to be “Cut, then measure, realize you’re wrong and then cut again…. when you realize you cut too much or too little, just change the dynamics of the project.” Oddly enough, this philosophy worked quite well!
Josiah Smith helps sand the wood during the initial stages of putting the beds together. Joe and Stone Chen’s wood was known for being as smooth as a baby’s bottom. They took great pride in sanding well.
Stone helps direct other team members as they tried to assembly the big yellow slide on the side of the main tower for the playground. The kids went crazy about the big yellow slide, as you’ll see later.
Chris Kassing helps screw in the notch for the swing set. Steph Proffer helped pain on “La Roca” to leave our mark on the project for months and years to come.
After days of watching the gringos progress on building the parquesito con juegos (park w/ toys), the kids finally were able to storm the playground and enjoy it to the fullest.
Our mission team poses for a photo with the five completed beds with mattresses in the neighborhood we gave away the beds. Each of the families that received the beds were in a dire need, with having people sleeping on the ground at night or on makeshift beds made out of cardboard or old broken mattresses.
A few kids sit on a the new bed and mattress inside their cardboard & tarp-constructed home near the river. These kids were previously sleeping on broken old mattresses directly laid on the ground.
Smiles & Memorable Moments
Katie Hayes paints a girl’s nails while at Casa Hogar Vida. Katie became known as the nail polish girl among some of the locals.
Some of the chicas pose for a photo on top of what will be the Missions Hotel when it opens in May 2012. From left to right: Elizabeth Jester, Margaret Bedwell, Ami Jester, Alex Turkey, Katie Hayes, Paola Andino.
Kyle Vitican… err Vltican… err.. CHUCK WAGON plays with Jorgito while in Namisigue. Chuck & Jorgito had a tight bond form over a few short days.
Stone plays with Jorgito while in Namisigue. Jorgito became one of the poster-children for our trip. Everyone loved playing with him and especially tickling him, since he had such an adorable laugh.
Stevi & Emma pose with their soccer team put together from the girls living in or near the Casa Hogar Vida community.
Evangelism
Zane & Criz team up and share the Gospel with a women living in Limon, Choluteca, Honduras. Zane used his Spanish skills to communicate the love of Christ. Criz used his passion to help relay any concepts Zane tried to communicate that the women was having trouble understanding. They made an incredible team!
The interaction between these three, especially the mother and the baby was beyond precious. While most families in Honduras don’t display great unity and mother-children intimate love, this family definitely did. And it was such an encouragement.
Zane, Criz & Steph pose with some kids outside of a house we shared God’s love with during an afternoon in Limon.
Alejandra Pavon (Alex Turkey) and Ami Jester talk with a women in Limon about God’s love and His Grace. Many people in Honduras believe that you have to do good deeds to earn salvation. This concept runs rampant and creates a sense of fear in the people that their salvation can be won or lost based on their whimsical actions.
Silas Acuff poses with bus driver Rony after giving away his shoes one of our last days in Honduras. The shoes fit perfectly for Rony! What an awesome display of generosity by Silas.
Baby Wendy: Hope Renewed!
Elizabeth and I getting to see our little girl Jensy (formerly ‘Baby Wendy’ because she had no name when we first met her in July). It’s a miracle this little girl is still alive and is growing so well despite immense malnutrition.
Relentless Optimism 