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

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 

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

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.  

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

Needs vs HOPE

Yesterday was our day five in the field. We arrived in the morning as usual the family was already hard at work preparing the job site for our arrival. The girls and I had a plan already in place that eventually we would be taking the two small children down to the river to bathe. We brought colorful towels, travel size body wash shampoo and conditioner. We were anxious to brush out their  beautiful hair and see what they thought about using product for the first time.

It soon would be in that although the little girl loved being in the river the little boy was not such a big fan. His mother had a very perplexed look upon her face, as he cried. As he exited the river, he fell into my arms and warm towel. It was then that I realized he had a fever. He clung to me and his little body seemed exhausted.

I carried him back to the website and his home and was able to get him some much needed fluids, and love on him the best I knew how. He drank The first bag of water against my chest without lifting his tiny mouth once. Another team member Adam who had graciously donated his SpongeBob towel sent from his children, had brought an apple from the morning breakfast. Oscar eagerly received the bites of the apple meat as though he hadn't eaten in quite some time. 

Through interpretation we were able to conclude, each morning I arrived there was no sign of food that had been cooking or cooked. There was no evidence in the afternoon that supper was coming. Wendy, the Mom said there was a serving of rice in her cupboard and two eggs. 😔 my heart broke...💔 a sick child, a husband working day and night at the river for two dollars a day sifting sand, empty cupboards, and yet smiles never leaving their faces and a blessing of a lifetime receiving a new home. How conflicted I felt in that moment for them. The irony was immediately after finding this out it was time to load the bus to come back to the mission house for lunch. 😏 I left her with all my packages nuts, granola bars, and seeds. I hoped the little bit of nutrition I had extra in my book bag would be used to feed her family. 

I boarded the bus with an heavy heart and filled mind. Luckily I'm blessed with a leader who heard and didn't just hear my story and after lunch made the decision not to wait till the end of the week to present the family with supplies but to ACT in Jesus. He arranged for us to be able to go and get the pots and pans we would be delivering to the boys and girls houses at the orphanages as well as getting groceries and supplies for the family. 

^John aka fearless leader and I unloading supplies...(after a very interesting day trying to find a Lowes for a drill bit.) lol justttttttt kidding it only took four stops at "hardware" stores . 

Thank you Lord for my team and all of our generous sponsors. It wa because of all your hardwork and dedication that we were able to make this trip so successful! 

Serena Major ✌️💗🌻

To love and be loved...how sweet it is!

This past Tuesday our group was able to to take the children from the orphanage to the movies for the first time in their lives. It was an emotionally charged afternoon, filled with excitement and expectation. The children had no idea where they were going to go. Only to be ready by a certain time and then it was a surprise. As I loaded the bus, Gaby waves to me and grabbed my hand to sit with her. She was the same sweet little girl who taught me so many variations of jax just a day or so before. Gaby is 12, and after her parents broke up she went to live with her Dad. Unfortunately neither new step parent was kind to her and eventually she was placed with the church. We laughed and smiled on the bus. And then as we pulled into the mall she was 100% all smiles!!!! 

The movie "Inside Out", had to do with emotion and memories...it's a touching cartoon that deals with struggle, heartache, love, and family. In a few scenes my little girl Gaby, was overcome with emotion as family scenes crossed over the screen before us. It was Not only beautiful and touching but it left my heart aching for her. I know firsthand what it is like to miss my mother  and to feel very alone in the world, and I still had lots and lots of family. My heart wanted to embrace her and hold her and comfort her as she leaned forward and stared up at the screen, she wasn't ready to let me do any of it. Then slowly she sat up and eventually she just leaned into me. She still would t make eye contact, but at least she knew i was there for her.

After the movies she was so loving and affectionate. Arm around my waist, and mine around her shoulders we travel to the mall towards the exit exchanging Spanish and English terminology for the items we saw. She giggled at my attempts not to slaughter the Spanish language, and she eagerly hungered to learn English from me. We boarded the bus and suddenly she looked very tired I put my bag on my lap and she laid her head upon it. I gently stroked her for head and circled her eyes with my finger just as I remembered my Mother doing to me as a young child, and sang a song of love.

In that moment, I envisioned filling an empty space that only a mother and a child can understand. I am left believing that through the loss of my own Mother, I am able to love and nurture as I do. It's often times a hyper sensitivity that often has me feeling as though I'm wearing terminator glasses and can see and predict pain and hurt in people. 

The love of Jesus that lives inside of me craves to help heal emotional pain in others...I'm so blessed to have known loss, and to feel the pain. To know that to love is to be loved and suddenly I feel set free.

I was reminded of a lyric in the song It's all good byWarren Barfield... It's the simple thingsthat shape the mood I'm in, just to love and be loved how sweet it is. 

Serena Major ✌️💗🌻

I am overcame the last couple days with happiness. My heart is exploding with joy and love. 

Today at the work site, a little girl named Angela came to visit me. Last year she was attached to me so I was so happy that she came to visit me. She was telling me things like she would never forget me. I was thinking about her as I was playing with another little girl, and then I ended up standing up and walking over to Emily for some reason. And there Angela was. God is so good. 

Only three more days. I am so sad because it's almost over, I could stay here a whole summer.

I never want to come home.

Bring Us Nachos

"Buenos noches" means goodnight in Spanish but to me I hear "bring us nachos."  Even though this is my second time coming to Honduras, I don't think I have learned any more Spanish this time around. Still, it is amazing how well communication can still happen. 

Yesterday, the foreman and I had to communicate about how to make the doors.  At one point there was an interpreter around but I really understood just from the use of gestures and use of a tape measure.   Often, I am a man of "exact" words, often to a laughable observation of those closest to me. Those not so close to me I suspect may do the same, just not in my presence. {shrug}. At work, I am known for phrases like "prudent sweater" and "learning opportunities". Here, while confirming instructions with the foreman, I used words like parallel and perpendicular even though he had no idea what those English words meant. And contrary to popular belief, adding a "o" to the end of a word doesn't make it Spanish. I doubt parallelo and perpendicularo are real words.  It is, however, amazing how well your forearms can demonstrate the two concepts.  

Yesterday afternoon, we took the orphans next door at the mission house to their first ever movie theater experience.  We saw Disney's Inside Out, had popcorn and soda.  It was amazing to see the kids' faces. Yet, during the movie I had sad moments.  There were scenes about happy family memories, something most of these kids didn't have, or if they did, it was with a family that they lost. I wondered what thoughts were going through their heads. These kids come from extreme poverty-type backgrounds, abusive... Both physical and sexual... Backgrounds, or AIDS stricken family situations. One child was so sick just a few weeks ago that she was thought to surely die. She even had been in a coma for a few days.  Still, the kids expressed great Joy.  Cindy, a child with a past that makes tears well up in my eyes just alluding to it here laid her head on my shoulder during half the movie.  Kids long for parental love. Little Christopher sat on my lap on the bus ride back and he looked at pictures on my phone and we communicated names of people in the pictures. I don't know his past, but his eyes (although very cute) make me suspect gestational alcoholism or something similar, because they are farther apart from each other than what is typical. He seems quite smart though. 

If you ever plan to go on mission and don't know the language, even not at all, don't let it stop you or cause hesitation. God shows up wherever a servant heart goes. It is amazing how well communication can happen in action. If you know a little bit of the language, even better. But it is not necessary. 

I think today we will be going to some homes. I pray that God continues to break down that communication barrier.  We will have interpreters with us, but God be with our eyes, our tears, our hearts, and our smiles so that we may communicate well with people today.  

Maybe if we do well today, our mission leader will find a way to actually bring us nachos tonight.  I am building a craving for them with every evening I spend here. :)

God Bless.

Aaron Mason