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On each side of the river stood the tree of life. . . . And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Rev 22:2)

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On June 26, 2015 a team of missionaries from Elevate Church in Monroe Michigan will travel to Choluteca, Honduras to work with the Grand Commission Church to build a home and share the Gospel. The team will be working in the Brias del Rio area serving and being served while on mission. The team will share our experiences and how God is changing our lives on this blog.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

2015 Elevate Honduras Mission Trip Video Slideshow


I hope you enjoy this short video covering our 2015 Mission Trip to Honduras

If you can't see the video from the blog, try this you tube link   http://youtu.be/0VDrq3FlPE4

Thursday, July 30, 2015

It's more than building a house.

Last night the team met for a recap of our mission trip. Before I went on the trip when people asked what we would be doing I always said "We are building a house for a family."  Each person on the team was able to share their highlights and memories of the trip.  Not one person said building the house. The trip is so much more than building a house for a family although that is a wonderful blessing to the them.  It's about relationships. Our relationship to God and others. The bonding of 2 mothers from very different backgrounds loving on each other's children. The life long friendship between teens that developed working side by side serving our God. Not allowing the language barrier to hinder a relationship between 2 men, each one seeing God in the other. The smiles and love from orphans who have been through much more than any of us can imagine, touching someone who has been through pain and grief and opening their heart to healing. 
We serve a mighty God. He wants wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants us to be in relationship with others sharing His love. He allows us to be a blessing to others but in the process we are greatly blessed!
When asked next year about the trip I will say "We are building a house but it's so much more than that. We are sharing God's love with the people of Choluteca through our relationships as we serve side by side with them."
-Julie

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Being home

Things that made me happy when I was in Honduras:
-The people, all of them. Everyone is so nice, kind, and anxious to serve you.
-The kids. Although the language barrier sometimes is frustrating because you cannot talk to them, you can see God in them. In their eyes, smile, all of it. 
-The church. Nothing was better to me then walking into the cement soccer field/basketball/volleyball court. Kids running everywhere and people talking. It's amazing.
-Spreading Gods love. Knowing that the team was being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ was incredible. 
-I know I mentioned this, but I really adore the kids. 

Sitting at home reflecting on the trip I became frustrated. I was angry I wasn't still there, that I was sitting here when people I met could be in need. I wonder about Wendy and Orlene and how the new house is. How Katherine and Oscar are. Did they eat today? Is Oscar still sick? I hope Katherine went back to school. 
I then realize that I shouldn't be frustrated. What I should do is spread His word and love from home. 

I want to thank everyone again for making this a reality for me. If you donated or even just supported me along this trip you made it possible for me to spread Gods love and word. Thank you all so much.

Megan 

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Safe Travels and Reflection

Safe travels and reflections

On our last evening in Choluteca, Honduras, we attended service at the local church (inglesia gran commission). The service was on greed.  Pastor Giovany explained how greed is a condition of the heart, and he discussed the different signs of whether greed is in your heart. A poor man can be just as greedy as a rich man. It's more about your focus. Is sufficient not enough? Is your focus on accumulating more or preserving what you have?  Greed may be in your heart.  

He then gave us what the antidote is to a greedy heart. Generosity. When you give, you are more apt to store up heavenly treasurers. It is a fool who spends his life storing up earthly things only to die and leave it all behind with no benefit to their salvation. 

Pastor Giovany then explained a family of the church, Orlin and Wendy's family for which we just built a house. When they first met them, their daughter Katherine caught their eye, she had very low energy.  She was not active. Something looked terribly wrong.  It was clear that a medical intervention was needed. Her hemoglobin level was 1.5. Acceptable for Honduras is 11. Little Katherine was not having oxygen delivered through the blood. She was basically dying.  With the church's help, Katherine was saved and is much healthier. 

Now, a team from the USA has come down to build the family a home. The aid and assistance is completely one way. There is no way Orlin can ever return the favor.  Orlin and Wendy knows that. How humbling to be on the receiving end of grace. The antidote to greed is generosity, and the ultimate form of generosity is one where the recipient can never give anything back. Complete grace. 

The reason why generosity is the antidote to greed is because when we are generous, whether we go to the extreme of overseas missions or just blessing someone locally, we DO RECEIVE something in return. We get a glimpse, a small taste, of God's loving grace for us.  It gives us perspective, at least as much of it as we can handle, a perspective on he real value of  "things", specifically the lack of value.  "Things" are temporary, while gracious generosity is monumental.  The house was a "thing" given, but it only occupied a small tangible space on our planet.  The grace given planted a seeds in the recipients' heart and our very own. When we plant those seeds in our hearts, theirs and ours, there is less room for greed to take hold. 

This mission trip, like the last one for me, had an awesome group of people going. Every one of us was very different from the next, but we all came with the same generous heart. The cheer mom loved on so many children and displayed unconditional love in such a way that many of the kids may have never seen before. The tall often stoic looking fellow not only worked hard, but he took time to plant a few loving seeds of his own by goofing around with some of the kids or by donating most of his clothes he brought. The boisterous furry-face Italian that had a larger-than-life personality not only connected a man's loving heart with the kids that we came across, but he also made a huge heart felt impact with many of the staff.  

We can't possibly have a full heavenly concept of the impact of the work that was done here, but it doesn't take much insight to see the grateful hearts all along the way. This was a great and fulfilling mission trip.  We may be coming back tattered, tired and taxed, but we come back to the USA with a smile in our hearts an image of God's grace that we can share with those still in Honduras. They are our brothers and sisters of Christ.  For God has no grandchildren, only children. 

God Bless,

Aaron Mason


Saturday, July 4, 2015

We think too small, but God is so much Bigger

We completed the house yesterday.  We were all so happy. The sense of accomplishment was great. I had the honor of being the one to say a little something and present the keys to Orlin and Wendy.  

Along with some locals, Orlin and Wendy saw 10 of us missionaries from overseas work hard daily on building their house. They saw us smile, laugh , sweat and sweat some more. They saw us take some time out to play with the kids too. 

I made sure in what I said that I explained that even though he saw 10 of us missionaries that traveled thousands of miles to come and do this that there were at least 10-30 people behind every one of us that helped get us here, so literally hundreds of people came together under Christ to bless him with this home. Add on top of that the people at our church and his church that were involved this time and during prior years leading a path to this moment, and then there are hundreds on top of that. 

Orlin then said a few words and he said something like never in his wildest dreams did he think he would get a home like this. As he spoke more he gave the glory and thanks to God. As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes and tears flowed down our cheeks. We stood there by two very grateful people.  He didn't think it was possible and he probably couldn't conceive of the work and grace others would have provide. Orlin, like most of us, thought too small, but his faith in the Lord was strong and Hid showed up in a BIG way. 

Wendy also thought small. On Tuesday, we found out that she was saving the last of her rice and 2 eggs so she could make a celebration meal for them when the house was done. The fundraising went so well this time that we were able to do so much more including bringing them bags of groceries. Eggs, juice, beans and other staples. Enough for many feasts (to their standards).  Wendy's faith is strong and bountiful blessings followed. 

Orlin works hard.  He literally digs and gets sand down by the river for a living. He earns $2 a day doing that.  In a prior year, a previous mission team saw him carry whole tree trunks on his shoulders. I am told he looked like an NFL linebacker he was so big and strong looking. Today, he is still strong, just much thinner. We suspect that the loss of weight has been limited resources. It's hard to feed and care for your family on $2 a day.  Still, Orlin and Wendy have been very faithful and connected to the church down here. 

I am told Wendy is shamelessly loud when praise and worship music plays. When it's time to worship, that she does. 

If you helped towards the mission this year, thank you so much. Orlin and Wendy are a couple of the people you made a difference in their lives. Even if your contribution was small, God made it BIG. If you listen to the Holy Spirit and you give in service and/or money, God will bless that action beyond what you think. 

God Bless,

Aaron Mason

Our Final Day in Honduras


We started our final day in Honduras taking about the mountain top experiences we have shared together this week. Going to the movies with the orphans,  turning over the keys to Orlon and Wendy, finishing digging the latrine hole, church services with gran comision church were just a few.  In the end the team agreed that the hard work and sweat is not what brings us back each year it is the relationships and human bonds formed when working together in Christian service to others.  

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Observations from a different angle



This has been an amazing trip once again. Each year I visit the experience is a little different and this year is no exception. Unfortunately my sciatica back pain decided to act up just before the trip. At times the pain is pretty intense so I haven't been able to work as much. But now I am experiencing the trip from a different angle. I am quietly observing the love in action from my team. Serena, Megan and Adam playing with the children and taking them to the river for a bath with body soap, not dish soap. Aaron and Emily working on the windows and doors that will provide security at night and allowing the breeze to enter the house during the day. Nick, John and Paula working together creating the frame that will provide strength and support to the home. Mike and Tony helping put up the concrete walls that will help protect them from the elements and provide security. Frank and Nelsy interpreting for us allowing us to interact with the family and children. God is using each of our talents and gifts for His glory.






There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)


Julie