The week in Honduras definitely had the most impact. I continue to reflect on my time there and wonder how it will change who I am and the plans the Lord has for me. I'm excited to see what will come for all of us who went. And what an amazing group of individuals - Lauren and Josh Clark, Lauren and Peter Zaffos, Shari Henson, Memoree and Cody Barrett, Lesa our leader, and the hilarious-keeps-you-hoppin' Ginny Corbett also fondly known as "Ginny-cake". We all laughed 'til our stomachs ached, daily. I felt like they were all family by the end of the week and it was sad going our separate ways. To have seen and experienced so much together.
People keep asking about the trip. Honduras is such a beautiful land filled with a high rate of poverty. The poor are pretty much ignored by the wealthy, as if they don't exist. You can see that walking through the village. Adults won't make eye contact with you because they assume you will ignore them. (White = wealthy in their minds). One morning, while walking through the village, I started saying "Ola" to every adult I saw, then making eye contact and smiling. The way they looked at me with surprise and then to see their face warm, was heartwrenching. In a society where we are raised to think so much revolves around us and our "happiness", where people get upset when they aren't acknowledged, as if entitled, I realized I can't even imagine feeling like I didn't exist. But the biggest thing was seeing the joy and love in the faces of the children. Children who have nothing, absolutely nothing, and don't even know if they will have food tomorrow. To think of the children here in America, who have their parents convinced that buying them a certain toy, or watching that movie, will make them happy. Right. Not true happiness. Don't fool yourself. The happiness and joy I saw on that mountain was the kind that more of us need, the kind you only get from love. The love of others, the love of Jesus. What a week!!
Hope for Honduras is an amazing organization, run by Ron and Shelley Jones, true servants. They are truly changing lives up on that mountain. If you feel led to give or serve, there are opportunities for both on their website - www.hope4honduras.org
Here are some pictures...
Jumprope is a favorite pasttime in the streets...
Food that has been handed out to the villagers, provided by a mission team...
The street in front of the Center where children gather daily...
A child eating the food that was handed out on the street...
Barefeet are common in the streets filled with garbage and human waste...
The top of Mogote...
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