Our team has returned home and will be gathering together 1 last time tomorrow evening to share our stories and memories from this year's trip.  We hope our blog has allowed you to follow our team during this year's trip to Choluteca, Honduras. 

Gringos to the Rescue

  Yesterday, on our last full day here in Honduras, with our house and dedication completed on schedule and other works done, we were able to enjoy a few hours at the beach. In years past, missionaries would be given the choice of going to the mountain top for a spectacular view or the beach. Usually, they picked the beach. I think now they no longer have a vehicle that can manage the incline well, but I am pretty sure we all wanted the beach anyways. We were worn, beaten, and empty both physically and mentally from the last week.  We were all excited for the opportunity for some rest and relaxation.  God, as it turns out however, had other plans.

   The hour drive to the beach was strange. It was by way of the regular paved road that one would expect, but then we also went through a seemingly booming little town with lots of stores on the street. The road was so narrow.  We went on gravel roads too through what were little neighborhoods of mostly shacks.  Finally, we got to the beach.  The Honduran beach on the Pacific is nestled in between Nicaragua and El Salvador such that you can see both of those countries just by standing on the sand looking out to the Pacific.  Nicaragua on the left and El Salvador to the right.

  There were large open shelters all along the beach with tables, chairs and hammocks underneath them. There were vendors walking around selling anything from shell jewelry to sweet desserts to some coconut thing that you drink from with a straw.  The black sand beach had a fairly steep decline to the water. When we arrived, we thought it was storming but it was the high tide waves crashing ashore that sounded like thunder. The water looked dangerous, and we figured we needed to wait until the tide receded to enjoy the water anywhere above our knees.

  So we laughed, relaxed and played in the sand. At one point, I was in the water goofing off (more than I thought base on others' later comments) in some stance that would secure me to endure the rush of water on my legs and not lose balance and doing so completely oblivious to what was enfolding right behind me.  At some point, apparently, Cindy and I think Cheryl and then Paula were yelling at me about a woman drowning in the water. I didn't hear. The waves were loud and too many other sounds were blending together. Then an image hit me that registered foreign to the moment. Paula and Nick were suddenly in my view.  What made the image register as an emergency was Seeing Nick in some tug-of-war position with an appendage of a very large woman. Paula was doing the same, but Nick's image made it instantaneously serious. I don't know Nick well, but what I have seen of him on this mission is a complete workhorse.  He digs in and gets to work.  The story is that he was up on the beach and made a mad dash in style with David Hasselhoff in Baywatch for this woman after hearing and seeing the need.

  My guess after the fact was this woman was 300 pounds, but that netted a gasp from Vanessa, our young interpreter.  Apparently, I was cruel in my guesstimating.  I then declared, well.. "If she wasn't 300, she was every bit of 270."  That seemed to be less cruel,  and it appeared to be accepted. Anyways, this woman had been sucked into the water up shore and had been rolling in and offshore on her journey to our point on the beach. The water was such a powerful force that the early attenders lost her at least a couple of times to the pull of the sea and had to wait for her to come back with each ensuing wave.

  When I finally became part of the struggle to save her, the result was no different at first.  At one point, Paula called out for me to grab her arm, because the sea's pull on this woman was going to drag her in as well as she held on to the woman's arm or leg.  Funny that I don't know which it was at the time, but it happened so fast and a lot of this was a blur.  Paula claims that she was going to have to let go let she be consumed herself, but I don't believe her.  I saw the effort and struggled in Paula's eyes and body and I had seen her work very hard at the worksite this last week. I still don't think she would have let go. So I grabbed Paula's arm and we survived this one pull of the sea.

  All this time, this woman's clothes were getting pulled off her by the sea and exposing her greatly. Who Cares!!!  A life was at stake. This woman, who was so tired from her struggled and couldn't make one effort to climb out of the water and was dead weight did somehow have the energy to keep trying to pull her shirt back on. Paula had to slap her hand at one point. There was no way that this group of three Gringos were going to drag her out of the water and up the beach incline.  With a receded wave, I saw an opportunity to get in a good position between this woman and the pull of the sea. My legs were strong and I could plant myself in some sort of yoga warrior pose and prevent the back and forth bobbing that was going on. It worked. It bought enough time and made us accessible enough that a Honduran came to be the fourth person at the scene that was willing and able to pull and lift her up out of the water. I directed him to grab a leg as the rest of us all did with the same with the other three limbs, and we all carried this woman belly down up the shore.  All the time I was looking away so this woman kept as much privacy as possible.

   Praise God that she was breathing and moving.  A couple dozen Hondurans surrounded her when she was set down.  I ran and got my towel so I could give it to Paula so she could be cover the lady.  And just as quickly as this whole thing started, we were done and walked away.  From a distance, I later saw her standing up still beaten by the sea but ok.  There was a beach full of Hondurans but it was only us one group of gringos that were there to save her. I truly believe that if it wasn't for Paula, Cheryl, Nick and myself, this woman would have drowned.  I apologize if I missed anybody that helped or if my recollection isn't complete.  It just happened so quick.

    I am not sure what God had in mind for this moment, but I am sure something was at work. It made me think of Ecclesiastes 3:11(NLT), "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end."  It's sort of ironic that a week spent trying to save souls and serve others had us literally saving a life during our down time.  I have a couple expressions about God when he works in one's life.  I say "God can be a showoff sometimes" or "God's smart like that.  Even though we may say we saved a life in our last day in Honduras, I am pretty sure I speak for everyone that we give all credit to God for putting us there at that moment.  

Thanking God with every moment of every day of this mission trip, but I still praying that he wipes the image of the woman's exposure out of my mind. ;)  (I'm sure she'd appreciate the granting of that too!)

God Bless.

Aaron Mason.

last day of building

Today we finished the house. It was a great day, we expeireneced the house being presented to Santos and her family, Tony cooking everyone food, and saying bye to everyone on the mission field. I made a friend here in Honduras. Her name is Angela. She would never leave my side and constantly was saying Megan, diceseis y rosado. ( I'm 16 and my favorite color is pink) I would reply using the little Spanish i know. Earlier in the day she was drawing hearts and our names in the dirt. It broke my heart saying goodbye and took everything in me not to breakdown and cry while she told me she would miss me very much and she hopes to see me next year. At that moment it really hit me we won't be coming balck there will he no more hasta mañana.  Being here is incredible and has taught me so much. I cannot imagine not coming back and seeing how the communities will grow with their faith. Tomorrow we will go to the beach and one last church service. Then it is goodbye Honduras. It really is crazy how fast  the trip has gone bye.  I will forever remember this and I will take home so much more then what we gave to the people here in Honduras.

Role reversal

  Standing in the dusty lane they call a street and seeing the dedication and key ceremony for Santos and her boys took me back. It took me back to the beginning of the week when Santos was doing anything but smiling as we tore down her old house. Now, she is smiling from ear to ear and I am overcome with a sense of loss.
  We're done a the site. This is goodbye. Unless I come back on another mission I won't see this family again or any of the neighbor kids or neighbors.  I won't see little Victor and his endless energy and personality. The little girl who taught herself English and wrote "love" in a heart with one of the women on the mission. I won't work side-by-side with Orlando, Edgar, or their friends.  I won't be able to be silly at the work site and be rewarded with an honduran's observing smile.
  So as much as I am happy for the family and to have been a part of it all, I felt something missing as Tony and I rode standing in the back bed of that beaten down yellow pickup of Levi's. There was no laughing or joking around this time.  We just looked silently at the same buildings and people from the building site to the mission house, the same sites we saw many times by now, but we looked as though we took one long deep breath trying to take it all in and not let it out.
  God Bless Santos, her family and all these Honduran people we have met and grown to love.

Aaron Mason

Framing, Walls, Doors, and Windows

Yesterday we completed about 1/2 of the wall framing and 3 out of the 4 doors/windows.  We may complete this home this morning (Thursday), but with all of the help early in week we won't have any trouble completing the home and giving out the keys by Friday.  Working this week in the shade (a rare find in Honduras) has been a real blessing.

Sobs and smiles

   I don't know if Mandillo was 90 or 60. It's so hard to tell with the Honduran people in the community where we are building the house. I think they have lived such hard lives that their youthfulness flees too early.  While out visiting with people in their homes on Wednesday afternoon, we met Cindy and her family which included her brother, Mandillo, and I will never forget this strong man of God.
   This community is well accepting to talk of the Christian faith, but it is plagued by bad knowledge. So many feel hopeless that in the muck and mire of just existing day-to-day, there isn't much time to do the "good deeds" that in their mind would earn their way to heaven. When we asked Mandillo about his beliefs, he went into an animated preaching explanation. Not knowing any Spanish, I shouldn't have known what he said, but with each word, expression and look in his eyes, I knew exactly what he was saying as he was saying it. Our wonderful young translator, Vanessa, confirmed this understanding. That alone was a wonderful moment. But that was nothing.
  When we explained our faith, which matched his, and our reason for being here, the man... The rock of faith from just before... Broke down crying. It wasn't tears. It was sobbing. Sobs of Joy. Mandillo explained (as best as I can recall from the language barrier) that it is a Christian household. "We're all Christians. My sister... My sister has doubts an I pray to God to take those away.  God gave me a vision that we would be visited by people to save my sister (paraphrasing)". His sobs were of Joy for answer to prayer.
   Our group them proceeded to share out experiences and talk with his sister, Cindy.  We connected. I think for her to have foreigners from 2,000 miles away in her dirt floor house speaking a different language and show that we are experiencing the same issues of doubt and other burden of faith really hit home to her. She was moved. She believed, but she never let herself to really believe. In one very graceful God-given moment, the five of us and the household prayed as brothers and sisters in Christ. In that prayer, Cindy accepted Jesus as her savior and Mandillo and all his leathery wrinkles on his face grinned from ear to ear.
   That was just one moment from a very long blessed day

God Bless the people of Honduras.

Aaron Mason

Barbed Wire, concrete walls, and Hospitality

  We see barbed wire and barrier walls everywhere here in Homduras. Even the most modest houses make use of barbed wire.  As we go from location to location there are some houses that look comparable to what you would find in a good neighborhood in the U.S., but do they have that picturesque elevation from the street side?  No. There is most likely a very high concrete barrier wall with barbed wire over the top of it. Any outside yard enjoyment is probably in an enclosed courtyard like design.

   Seeing such things make me think of news reports that have Honduras slated as the murder capital of the world. I am told that the source of that dishonor is the northern part of the country.  Resources are so low that people have to do what they can to protect themselves and their family.  Even being told that about it being in the north, it should still be a scary thing to work in one of the poorest neighborhoods, but we've been doing that. Yesterday, we did something more. 

  For the first time, we walked through one of the neighborhoods. The neighborhood was a step up from where we were at. At least they had electricity. Did I feel unsafe? No. Ever since stepping off the plane here in Honduras, the people have been very friendly and hospitable. More so than the U.S. By far. In the U.S. We walk around with imaginary concrete walls and barbed wire around ourselves. I just think that it is amazing that in a country where they have to resort to actual mom-figurative  barbed wire and concrete walls, that they can be so much more friendly. 

   For a brief period yesterday, we split up and walked a neighborhood. My group met a gentleman named Henry. He welcomed us into his home and we spent almost an hour and a half talking to him. It was very nice meting the man. Despite the language and cultural differences, I could relate to many aspects of his life and I learned way more by looking ink his eyes than any words from the interpreter. It was a really rewarding experience. Hopefully, I'll see Henry a church on Saturday, but it was sort of an empty feeling walking away from his house knowing that I may never find out more about him.

God Bless,

Aaron Mason

Today was a very emotional day, we went out to do ministry work. The second house we went to, really touched my heart. We came across a women sweeping, so we assumed she lived there and a young girl  about 9. We found out that the women was a neighbor, taking care of the young girls father who had been paralyzed by a surgery.  So we went into the house to pray for this man. He was lying in the bed, his legs and body so frail,  yet he was well taken care of by his neighbor. The little girl sat on the bed, beside her father with a big smile on her face. It totally broke my heart.  The man was in such good spirit.  He knew Jesus was his Savior. But all I could think about was the little girl sitting on the bed with her big smile. Just her and her dad. If it was not for the kindness and good care of her neighbor, what would happen to her? Please keep this  young Jennifer and her father in your prayers. And for the kind neighbor who keeps this family together.

Pouring the Concrete Floor

The house and floor are taking shape

By Tuesday at noon half the roof and half the floor were complete.  The team has agreed that carrying water even a short distance is hard work, and concrete needs a lot of water.  Great work by the team today.

Got the supports up for the roof. Moved a lot of dirt and rocks. Carried water in buckets about 1/4 mile from the river to mix cement.  Satisfying work for sure. God sure is ministering to my heart on how much of a blessing a little time and hard work can be for a family and community. I find it amazing sometimes God has these long messages for you and other times is short and too the point. I am always looking for the long message lol.

Drops of Water

  I've never drank so much water and peed so little than my time on mission in Honduras", I was told before coming on this mission.  Now that I am here, I know just how true that statement is. Our mission support team is so great. There is always bottled water, and when in the field, there is a cooler full of bags of water. The local support team is constantly coming around and offering us some. In addition to drinking so much, I've never tasted water so good in my life. I think, however, that it is a testament of my thirst rather than how they actually purify the water.

  Anyways, the thoughts of water on this mission turn me back to a figurative comparison I use from time to time of water and acts of service. While serving in whatever capacity, whether on foreign mission or otherwise, one can sometimes get overwhelmed by the immense need or ill in the world and the seemingly smallness of their impact. Two comments yesterday, the third full day here, also brought this to mind. In our morning prayer/reflection meeting, one of us who was also on foreign mission for the first time made a comment on how the need is so big and although we know we are doing good with what we are doing, it's so small in comparison. There has to be a way to do more. Also, while at the nutrition center tour in Limon, Luis Fernando the administrator that oversees it made a joking reference about needing counseling because of the dauntingness of the work at hand.
  I say that service, including that of mission work, is like water.  One act of service, just like one drop of water, may seem completely insignificant, but take that act, or drop, and combine it with enough others, and it can become an unstoppable force capable of anything. On this mission trip so far, I have seen so many drops of water. I am amazed at the variety and holistic nature of the good works being done.
  In the morning of day three, we toured the nutrition center in Limon, Honduras. This is a community in which this mission has built houses before but isn't our location this time around. Years ago, a neighboring area was devastated by hurricane Mitch. Women and children evacuated, but the men stayed behind to guard their possessions, what little they had.  They were wiped out. The men. Suddenly, there were thousand of household without their fathers, without their bread winners.  Aid swooped in and built these homes in Limon. But then that was it. It was a great aid, but like all too often, and especially with American aid, it was short-sighted. It wasn't just about the loss of a home. The community was full of households that were not self supporting. Soon after the aid, there was a different set of problems.
  Women had to deal with extreme poverty for their households. Many without husbands fell victim to men who preyed on that need and more children were added I already poor homes. Malnutrition became rampant. Households resorted to cheaper ways to fill bellies but not meet the needs of their kids. Sugar water and bread is no substitute for milk and meat. The director of the center said that they were seeing malnutrition cases in both the calories and protein areas.
  The nutrition center started with a desire to fix that need but quickly found that you can save a child from malnutrition, but sending them back to their old environment without anything else is... well, a death sentence. So the center does many things now. It not only rescues these children but gets them to a place where they have healthy numbers for three consecutive months then they graduate them to a day care area where the child gets continued support into their teens. They get at least one good meal a day and have access to other resources. On site there is a special needs school, the only one in an urban area of 200,000 people. There are regular classrooms as well including a computer room. They teach the kids English, because translator jobs can be easily had.
  They now have a tortilla "factory" on site.  It is really a one room building with one machine in it. But what an opportunity it creates. The machine cost $17,000. Before, it would take all day to make 400-500 tortillas. Now, they can make 2,500 an hour. Currently, they make 7,000 a 10,000 a day and serve a niche market of restaurants. It's hard to break into the home market, because there are hundreds of women across the city that make these by hand. People still prefer the handmade ones for home use.  This production and it's niche does allow the center to employ some local women.
  This place is doing amazing work and is making an impact. Not just feels so small for the Director in light of the need.  As I write this entry, I am opening my "mail" from my prayer partners and I read something very appropriate.  "Giants - you may look out and see nothing but giants in terms of the endless work that needs to be done. Do not be discouraged. Giants stand for great difficulties and are stalking everywhere.  We must overcome them or they will eat us up, as men of old said of the giants in Canaan (Numbers 13:33 "There we saw giants."  There are mighty giant killers down here.

God Bless.

Aaron Mason

Serve the server

Some of the group had the opportunity to serve the mission house by planting a small field of trees. It is a great feeling to be able to serve the people and place that serves you during your stay! God can do so much in your heart with such a simple act.

Youth in Honduras

Last night we went to chuch, to experience there Youth Group.I was so inpressed . The topic was Sex. The auditorium was full of young people.  The Youth paster had there full attention.  It was Fun an Amazing.  They are very blessed here. Love how the bus went to different areas to pick up the kids. Im so thankful to have been apart of  this wonderful work of God.

Respect is Universal

   On our second full day, the group got split up at the start of the day. Some stayed at the mission house to plant trees while the rest of us volunteered to go back out to the costruction site.  While in a short time we were able to get a lot more accomplished, it was our meeting with Margarito that really defined the morning.
   While working with more stone (Yay Stone!!! Lol), Levi called us over to meet one of the neighbors that have been helped by the church.  While Margarito stood there vulnerable to the judgment of strangers, Levi explained Margarito's path.  In order to earn a living, Margarito gets on his bike each day and rides it for four hours one way so that he can fish.  When done, he rides the 4 hours back home.
   Margarito is an alcoholic. By the grace of God, he is trying to recover from that addiction.  He has quit the drinking, but the demons of his past are hard to escape from. His drinking friends still come around and he has to send them on his way. Sometimes, they make trouble for Margarito, because they don't like his change. Levi explained that one day a lot of guys came to make trouble in a big way and Margarito handled it without resorting to his machete. Apparently Margarito is very skilled with the machete and could have easily killed them all right there without much work, but he restrained.  Putting aside the shock of such a story, the pride of restraining oneself from machete violence, we just saw Margarito standing there trying to be a good man of God in the way he knew how but exposed to us. Levi explained further how this transformation has been difficult for him and he continues to get challenges and trials that want to interrupt his path.
   Now I am not an evangelist. I haven't done such things before, and I have never been on a mission trip before now.  But this man, Margarito, well you could see the weight of struggle in his eyes and posture as he stood there. I felt compelled to share some words of encourgement and share a scripture that had helped me through such times. I told Margarito that by changing his life and staying strong on a good path that he is showing others in his community a way.  He is even showing those old drinking buddies that transformation is possible and one day his example may help one of them, God willing.  I had to run back to the truck to get my bible so I could share this verse, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."(Romans 5:3, 4 NLT)
  Levi then shared with us all the verse he has Margarito look to when the devil is knocking at his door.    "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen."(1 Peter 5:6-11 NLT)
  After that, I led a prayer for strength over Levi.  Then it was back to work. Later, Margarito's wife came by and showed us some of the shrimp Margarito caught and offered to fix us up some. I don't know if it was the moment, the freshness of the catch, the way his wife prepared the shrimp, or all of that, but it was the best shrimp I ever tasted.
   Between Margarito and his wife, the lesson of the day was that respect and smiles are universal and go a long way. For us foreigners to come there and hear and respect his path on life, well.. I could tell that it meant a lot.

God Bless,

Aaron Mason

Building a Forest in Casa Hogar Vida

To day we separate in groups. One group went to build. My group stayed an planted trees. It is called the forest of Elevate. It will be wonderful to come back an see this beautiful plantations of trees. Then the children from the orphanage came to pick out clothes. Girls came first, they picked Tops an  dress an shoes. They were very happy with there selections. Then the boys came. Wow they were great shoppers. The oldest Jorge was the great at helping his brothers pick out clothes. The twins were so excited with there tennis shoes.  The joy in there faces was beyond words. John will be posting a video of this. Hope you enjoy it as much as we have. I am so thankful for this day.

Orphans of Casa Hogar Vida Shopping for clothing

The children of Casa Hogar Vida orphanage were so excited to come to the mission house this morning and  go "shopping" from all of the items we brought with us.  I don't know who enjoyed the event more, the girls or the boys.  These two boys in particular with so excited to get new tennis shoes.  

Although I have only been here two days, it really has been the most amazing experience of my life. I love all of the happiness that comes from the people. Watching them you really realize they are pure happiness and just so thankful for everything. Today, the orphanage kids came and picked out clothes to have. Like they were "shopping". It's interesting to watch and so rewarding. It made my heart happy to watch the kids come, pick out what they like, and say gracias as they leave. Working with the kids really makes me wish my Spanish was better, ha ha, but it has definitely had an impact on me so far.

Yesterday we had our first day of helping to build the house. It was so crazy to see what they lived in: a house built of tarp and twigs. Surprisingly it was so sturdy though! The family consists of 3 people, a mother and her two sons. All of them were there to help and worked very hard.
We also went to church. The message was very good and it really made a good point. Are you a fan or are you committed to God.

Being here is amazing.You feel so calm with everything you do. Almost like you just feel as your just going with the flow, if that makes sense. God is changing my heart and I am always reminded I can do all things through him. He is awesome!

Day 1 in Field

God showed me today how only he can take a handful or two of people and in short order accomplish his will. To me, I saw just a bunch of ants all seeming to have their own talents and agenda. All with the desire to serve God and people of His will. Only God can take all that talent and desire and focus it to accomplish a lot in a short period. We moved supplies to site, emptied the old house, tore it down, and moved rocks. We did it all with the joy of God's heart. We did this in just a couple hours! God continues to amaze!

Eggs and Ham

  Our first full day on the mission trip ended with us dressing up and getting on a bus to go to the church here. The service is a contemporary one much like Elevate Church back home. To me, it was an amazing thing to see and experience in a world so different than what has been my life's experience up to this point.

  Pastor Geovany gave a great sermon, and through Frank's interpretation over our headsets, or at least through the ones that worked, I got to experience it like a sermon back home.  He told the story of the chicken and the pig.  Both wanted to provide breakfast. The chicken helped by providing the eggs. The pig gave the ham.  The chicken was involved while the pig, for obvious reasons, was committed.

  Then he talked about the call from God and how he is calling out to you (with urgency) to be committed.  God doesn't want "fans". He wants "disciples." How are you being a disciple of Christ?  And how are you committed in your faith?  Although I don't think he gave the verse John 12:24, he certainly mentioned it's elements about dying to oneself like a kernel of wheat that falls to the ground. It's death is necessary for a bountiful harvest.  I just smiled. There are certain God moments, and this was one of two that were back-to-back.  I had posted a picture on Facebook earlier in the day of the house we were replacing, and with it I wrote the following, "This is the house that we demolished today... The old house had to die to self to make way for God to breath new life into this family and community.  Tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. (John 12:24 NLT)".  I had done a mini-devotional surrounding this verse after seeing Santos's face, the woman whose house was being torn down to be built anew.

  During our demolishing work, there was no smile on Santos's face. Even though she was getting a new house, a much better one, her world was still getting turned upside down and there is a certain kind of rub in that. There has to be a death for new growth.  All I wanted to do was to tell her that I recognized her stress and reassure her that there is a better day ahead, that this stress of displacing her possessions and destroying the home she knew and along with it the memories is good for her and to point her to Romans 5, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:3-5 NLT)
 
  At the end of Geovany's sermon, he offered up an analogy about being committed or involved. He said, "Christians are like wheelbarrows. They are no good unless pushed."  That was another moment. One of the days highlights was loading up rocks into a wheelbarrow and moving them.  On each return trip. The small children of this neighborhood jumped in the wheelbarrows and Tony and I "raced" back to get more rock.  It was another one of those God moments in a sermon that jump out at you and speaks a special message seemingly intended just for you even though it was a packed congregation.

  I thought back about my hometown, in which I have been born and raised and which I love. But, our town is what I would consider a typical Midwest town that is non-diverse and sort of goes about its day in ignorance of the real world swirling about it. It is a town ripe with churches, but it seems to me that it is also a place that is too complacent. There are a lot of wheelbarrows that are stagnant in God's call to mission. Many are satisfied with being involved but too few are committed. The workers are few but the harvest is plenty.

   I am already coming away from this mission trip with the firm belief that every Christian should at some point early in their faith go on a foreign mission. To see Faith in action, the hands and feet of Christ, at work in a culture, economy, and environment very different than your own... To see the God's love be universal, it does enrich your own faith and heighten your understanding.

  Today we visited two orphanage houses next door to the mission house. The kids were full of love and life. They wanted to play with us and be loved.  Several of the women mission team members gave the kids temporary tattoos. We let the kids take pictures with our phones. Tony and I played a little soccer with a couple of the boys. You would never know unless told that some of these children lost their parent(s) to AIDS or were sexually and physically abused.  Just as God's love is universal, so is the sin in this world.

   We also got to see and learn about the cinder blocks and coffee this holistic community produces. The Great Works being done here is truly a hand up and not just a hand out.  I could go on and on, but the simple story is seeing The hands and feet of Christ in action on a place foreign to your own is a true glimpse of the ham instead of the chicken. These people are committed in Christ, and it is a beautiful thing to see.

Glory to God in the Highest!

Aaron N. Mason

Gods speaking

Last night, before I have lifted a finger to do workforce the Lord, he spoke to me. I was reading some online devotionals and one was Psalms 25:3 "Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed." This might not be a revelation for some but wow it spoke to me. He said to me when you do things in my name I will never bring you shame. Your sinful nature is the only thing that brings you shame, even when doing things in My name but forget I am the source behind! So to me this goes to EVERYTHING you do: work or play. Can't wait till I actually do something or am immersed in the mission to see what god reveals.

Being served as we serve.

June 28, 2014 - Our first morning at the mission house

  My first thoughts that come to mind this first morning at the mission house is to a lingering feeling of embarassment.  Our group from Elevate came here with hearts and minds set on serving others, but from the airport doors all the way to us retiring to sleep last night, the people here in Honduras that are associated with the mission were extremely hospitable. So hospitable that, at times, it had the feeling of coming to a resort rather than being sacrificial.

  Each of us, I think, have found our own awkward moments of where our servant hearts had to reconcile with the hospitality of our hosts. Something a simple as loading and unloading our luggage on the bus turned into an inner struggle of what to do with oneself. At the airport, it felt like we had to convince the gentlemen helping us that it was ok for us to help load up the bus. By the time we got to the mission house, we figured out the roles a little better and wound up letting them unload our bus for us.  Still, some of us wrestled with the roles. At one point, one of the mission team members gestured/offered to take away one of the host's dinner plate when he was done. A small gesture really, but the look of inner-debate on the host's face was priceless.  A role reversal. Something I think we will be wrestling with this whole mission.

  I know this overwhelming hospitality has to be, at least in part, because of the gratitude these people have for the mission of the church. The ones we met the first night here were ones involved in the mission too, so their hearts and purpose are already there, but it doesn't take a very perceptive person to see some reasons why.  All one had to do is look out the bus window on the drive here to see why.  It was a lesson in living conditions of other countries. What people back home would have had torn down as unsuitable for even a shed, were actually homes and businesses of the Honduran people.

  If you're following the blog while we are down here, please keep us in your prayers that we may find a place to do great things with our time here.  But in any case, please keep the greater mission and these wonderful people of Honduras in your prayers no matter when you read this.

God Bless!

Aaron N. Mason

Here

Well we made it to Honduras safe and sound. As always God was faithful! Flights and transportation were smooth...really flawless. Praise God, looking forward to his movement and manifest presence!

We have made it safely with no issues. These past couple days I have really been worried and afraid. I had bad anxiety about the trip but as I was on the planes and the bus, I noticed God took that fear away from my heart.  I cannot wait for this expierence to start!

Arrived Safely in Honduras

It has been a long day of travel, but at 5:00 pm local time the team pulled in to Choluteca.  The yellow school bus that normally meets us at the airport, did not make the trip this year due to some mechanical issue.  So we were picked up in an air conditioned rental bus that made the 3 hour bus ride a little more comfortable.   I said a little, because the 2 lane curving road through the mountains that can go from a 2 lane to a 3 lane road (pass slower trucks with on-coming traffic shifting to the shoulder) still makes the ride a little breath taking. 

  We are about 30 minutes from boarding our flight out of Detroit to Tegucigalpa, Honduras with a layover in Atlanta.  This is pretty much the first chance I've had I sit down in about a week.  Life can get very busy just before a mission, and boy did it get busy. I had an impromptu driving trip to Southwest Missouri and back for a funeral.  This led to getting about 4 hours of sleep the last two nights.  Still, I am high on hope and excitement for what God has in store for our mission team. A tall cup of Airport Starbucks Coffee doesn't hurt any either. 

  If you get the chance, google "Tegucigalpa airport landing" and play the YouTube videos. Apparently, it is one of the most dangerous airports in the world at which to land.  I spent part of my sleepless night last night playing the videos over and over. The view is stunning, but so is the shortness of the runway. 

  Exciting!!!!

Loaded up the Truck. . . . Next Stop Honduras

The truck is loaded with 450 lbs of crayons, playdoh, assorted school supplies, clothes, shoes, drills, and saws that will be part of our teams donations to the mission of  Choluteca Grand Commission Church.  Our goal this week is to work together to show that the love of God is alive in each of us and to touch and be touched by the people of Honduras.  Knowing the body of Chris is praying for the 10 of us is a true blessing.  Thanks for everyone's support.

John

Ready to go!

Tomorrow at this time I will be on a plane to Choluteca Honduras waiting with anticipation to see what God has planned for our mission team. I pray that God will protect our team and allow us to step out of our comfort zones so that we can experience everything God has to offer.

Below is part of my devotion this morning and I know that it is so true.
"Jesus himself is our hero. He said once, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). If the omnipotent Lord finds fulfillment in doing things that bring benefit to other people, maybe that’s a clue how I will find satisfaction in my life. Isn’t that just like Jesus’ way--that I will find joy in giving joy? That I will get by giving?" -"Joy in Serving" Time of Grace Devotional

My prayer is to overcome fears, find joy in all I do and know that God will be by my side.
-Julie

STAY ALERT, PREPARE, AND REPEAT...

It is one short month before the mission to Honduras, and as I look over the past month, I can only wonder where all of my momentum went.  Life is full of distractions, and those distractions have a way of taking over and stealing your mojo, so to speak.  You blink and you suddenly realize that you have a month which has gone by that you can never get back.  This waywardness can simply be from our own nature to wander, but STAY ALERT, the devil knows us and our nature well, and he is at work too! 

SO STAY ALERT!!

“Stay alert!  Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.  Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.  So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on firm foundation.  All power to him forever!  Amen.” – 1 Peter 5 : 8-11 

Prowling he has!  My early success and momentum allowed me to have my guard down.  And he pounced.  I am going through a season in my personal life where there was an expected reaping.  Years of hard work and sacrifice should have led to a proud moment, a moment of reward.  The reality was just new challenges were waiting on the other side.  There was no cheering crowd or end-of-race relief station waiting for me at the end of the race.  For the race continues.  That was just one leg.  And oh, by the way, this next leg… well it mostly uphill!  If the dauntingness of it all doesn’t get you, the distraction will.  And to the prowling roaring lion, a distraction can be just as good!

AND PREPARE!!

So as I sit a month out from the mission, I take a self-assessment and look to step my preparations into high gear.  “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!  Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.  But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?  When will you wake up?” – Proverbs 6 : 6-9  So like the worker ant, I just need to set my tasks out before me, whether it is raising the last small amount needed for the trip, organizing materials donated, acquiring prayer partners, or other tasks and just attack each one systematically until they are all checked off. 

THEN REPEAT!!

But, like the personal experiences over this last month, checking off that mission to-do list is not the end.  For there will be no relief station there either, just a new leg of the Journey.  So in similar fashion to the (wash, rinse and repeat) instructions on a shampoo bottle, I will Stay Alert, Prepare, and Repeat!!!

God Bless!!!

Aaron N. Mason

Santos Leonor family in Choluteca

We have received a picture and some information about the family Elevate will be helping on this year's mission trip.

The picture to the left shows Santos Leonor’s house. Santos is a 47 year old lady that lives with her two sons. She is from Namasigüe a town near Choluteca but she moved to Choluteca when her husband kick her out of the house. The mayor of the city provided a piece of land for her to live with her sons and they have built a shack made of tin metal, plastic and cardboard. Santos has been part of our church for 6 months.