Most in in the US don't follow the news on this small Central American country. I've had the privilege of visiting Honduras two times over the past few years, and it is one of a few places I would love to explore with Claudia and the boys when we have the opportunity. Unfortunately though, Honduras has the dubious reputation of being the most violent country in the Americas as of late, even surpassing Mexico where so many fear to go (yet we as a family spent an amazing two weeks in November and highly recommend despite its reputation in the news. See earlier previous blogs). Honduras has some major problems as you can see in recent news reports. But what these reports don't share is what God is doing in the midst of suffering and perceived chaos. As Paul Harvy used to say...and now the rest of the story.Do you may remember Heather Braden? She worked as my assistant for a while about two years ago before her assignment to Honduras. She currently serves with Iglesia Gran Comission's Centro de Desarrollo Infantil (Children's Development Center) in La Ceiba, Honduras. Here she serves the children and their impoverished families, caring for them in mind, body and spirit. In the past year alone the Lord has walked them through numerous deaths, kidnappings and murder as Heather, the ministry and the church remain lights in the surrounding darkness. Please pray for Heather, her recent husband Rigo and the ministry of CDI. You can read more about her in her blog.
Lauren Zuber recently deployed to Siguatepeque, Honduras. I had the pleasure of working with her on her doctrinal and missional understanding in preparation for deployment. Here's an excerpt from her most recent news letter:
Imagine riding in the back of a pick up
truck, with the sunshine on your face, the town of Siguatepeque stretched out
before you and children in your arms. Yes. That’s my Sunday morning commute to
church. I’ve been visiting different local churches and looking for a place
that I can be involved. For the past 3 Sundays, I’ve been attending the Iglesia
de Nazareno church that meets up in the mountains and the majority of
the congregation is children. This
church ministers to a total of 200 kids and being able to worship and dance
with them on Sundays has been a blessing. I’m looking forward to many more
bumpy truck rides in the future to this wonderful church.
Some days I still wake up and think, “I can’t believe this is my life.” I can’t believe I get to teach
these awesome, crazy kids every day and soak in warm sunshine. Some days I wake
up and I can’t believe I’ve left my comfortable life and family and friends
behind for this scary, frustrating process of figuring out life and people in a
new place. But both kinds of days end with God reminding me that He hasn’t
changed and he’s still with me. Baby
steps! Thank you for being a part of
this proud teacher’s 5th/6th grade classroom. -Much
love, Lauren
Lauren also includes some sobering facts reguading Honduras that she found in Operation World (a must have for any missions minded person):
More than half of
Honduras' population are children, the majority living in poverty. Destitution drives
them to desperate measures:
- Illegal migration: Thousands of children attempt to cross to the USA to find family members working there. Usually they end up incarcerated in Guatemala or Mexico.
- Pepenadores or garbage dump children are more prevalent in Honduras than in any nation in the Americas
- Vice and Crime.
- Street children, numbering in the thousands are often exterminated as a nuisance by ruthless groups in the name of social cleansing.
These ambassadors of God's Kingdom only scratch the surface of what God is doing in Honduras, not to mention throughout Latin America and around the globe. So what's my point? The world will attempt to make us believe that the enemy is winning and that God, His Kingdom and His Word are not only irrelevant but have lost the battle. Similar tactics have been used in human wars since the dawn of time in spreading rumors and false data to the enemy concerning the status of the war in order to demoralize enemy troops. The truth is, yes, there is an ongoing battle. Yes, there are casualties, pain and suffering, but the end is secure, and if we look...if we pay attention, we will see the truth of what Jesus proclaimed two centuries ago:
"...upon this rock I WILL build my church, and the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against it..." -Matthew 16
Don't give way to discouragement but look for what God is doing and spread the truth about the Good news..!
Thank you for your encouragement and support, you are a vital part of this team and Kingdom effort.
In His Hands / En Sus manos;
Office: 305-884-8400 x225
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