2019 Slideshow

The final blog has arrived... Today was a day of reflection. We had some great talks in our morning devotional and over breakfast. Every one of us is leaving with as a new person in one way or another. All of us are grateful for the growth, change, and revelations that God has been working inside of us. 

Emily and Frank took us to the ocean today. It was so amazing to have time together as a team, decompress, and talk about anything we needed to in a relaxing setting. There were a lot of beautiful moments that happened in such a gorgeous place, but my favorite of all was watching the three boys. Two have been interpreters for us all week, and the other boy is younger so he helped with running us drinking water, assisting us, and learning more English. 

The people put in place to help us while we are here, work just as hard, maybe even a tiny bit harder. To see the boys laughing and playing and enjoying a day filled my heart. We get to know them so well during the week that you get a good look pretty deep into their lives. Knowing what they have gone through and struggled with in this country to succeed can be heartbreaking. I absolutely loved having them share a fun day laughing by our sides. 

We got to go to church this evening, which also came with saying most of our goodbyes. SAD! In the moments I didn’t realize how many people we fell in love with while we were here. They questioned and begged to know if we would be here again next year. The relationships here are some of the strongest I’ve ever seen. So much love in this country! 

It’s not goodbye it’s see you later. I think most of us will be returning within the next few years to check in and make some new friends. What a HUGE blessing this has been in my life. I’m so thankful God brought me here! 

Keep us in your prayers as we have a long day of traveling ahead of us tomorrow! Peace out Honduras ✌🏼🇭🇳We will miss you! 💙

This morning was peaceful, and for me, it’s a new side of a mission trip I haven’t not been able to see. Some of us girls had deep conversations up on the roof while we watched the sun come up, and we also had a powerful prayer session. Jen said that Pastor Adam once told her, “When you are aching, God is aching. He’s your Heavenly Father and he wants what is best for you. Remember he wants you to be happy so when it comes to making decisions, know he wants what is best for you. When you are joyful, it brings him joy.” In writing this I finally understand why God brought me on this trip. The revelation I was in need of has come, and I was beginning to believe that I wouldn’t get one until I returned home. 

I’m not sure what his plan is, what the next step will fully entail, all I know at this point is that God cares about what brings me joy. I’ve been patient for years, and I feel the reward coming. I’m always scared to make the wrong decision, but as long as God’s hand is in it, there can be no fear. So even though life brings bittersweet moments, we have to keep moving, and keep growing. As long as we live in him and through him, it will all work together for our good and his glory. 

Before I came on this trip, my small group told me that I would figure things out and God would show me what path to take. Continuing to be patient will be a struggle, but I’m thankful to know what’s coming in the near future. I need to find my daily peace again, I need for my soul to be refreshed and washed clean of the pain, and I need to love my purpose once more. The fire is still burning, but others have tried to dim the light. 

I am forever thankful to God for bringing me to Elevate Church, and I am forever thankful to Elevate for reminding me of who God had created me to be. Today was the final trip down the road into the village of Las Brisas. Even through we love it here, the people that make the community what it is, and the love of God we feel pouring into it, all roads come to an end. I hope we get to visit again in the future and create more amazing memories togethers. 

Melissa & Alan were the saddest to say goodbye to today. Melissa liked my headband so I gave it to her, and Alan would not let me go! He would squeeze me and every chance he got he would kiss my checks. It’s always sad to say goodbye, but for me it was much easier than my previous mission trip. 

Here in Honduras they understand what the word community truly means. They literally love their neighbors, and care for one another’s families. These kids are LOVED!!! As we handed Martha the keys to her home, the community flooded her yard. I was a little taken back because I didn’t understand what was going on. Come to find out, the community comes together to celebrate the blessing Martha and her family have received! How precious is that?! Something almost every single American needs to work work on. Money won’t bring happiness. It may make life easier, but it won’t bring you eternal joy. These people are joyful with hardly anything. Community and family is enough to keep their hearts happy. 

The house is 98% finished! It looks amazing and Martha’s smile was even bigger today. She asked for green so green it is! Avocado Crema looking to be exact. It made us painters pretty hungry for lunch while we were working this morning. 

The VBS today was INCREDIBLE!!! Frank did such an amazing job translating our bible story of Johana and the whale. The kids LOVED the story, the whale game we gave them, and the snacks. (Of course the snacks lol) When we told them that we may not be back at the community center tomorrow so many of them were upset and on the verge of tears. My little buddy Alan ran up to hug me and with eyes filled with water he did not want to let go! It’s going to be hard to say goodbye when we leave the community. The connections to people we have made here are much deeper than I was expecting to see. As we left the community today there was a rainbow shining down. It was a great end to the house building!

The house is the magnet that brings us here, but not the purpose. We need to focus on the purpose not the project. These were John’s words this morning that stuck in my heart, and as soon as we got to the job site I began to understand. As we all stood around the house waiting to see where to fall into place for the day, Kirsten and I noticed that the neighbor was in need of some help. As we build the home next door, he began to clean up. There is a lot of trash here, and we saw the job he had ahead of him. So we jumped in to help and his face lit up!

We did a cultivate community event in Monroe before we left as a team building experience, and here we are in Honduras, doing the same event. Cleaning, helping, building, and loving our neighbors! Helping him take care of his home was the best gift we could have given him. In Honduras, the people don’t have much, but the things they do have are beyond valuable to them.