Dragonflies

Day #2
I love to go to the second floor of the mission house and do a little workout every morning then spend some time with God while taking in the view of his beautiful creation.
Today, at the end of my  prayer, I asked him to use me as his tool as we serve or brothers and sisters and to be with my words and actions through or this day. At that moment, a dragonfly, otherwise known in Spanish as a " libelulu, flew by me and then went strsight out in front of me until I couldn't see it anymore.
A few know that I absolutely adore dragonflies because I think He placed them on this earth to be a living cross to remind us of the gift of salvation he gave us through Jesus Christ.
God is just so very good <3

Good Morning

We arrived yesterday after two flights, and a 4 hour bus trip. It was incredible! The mountainous scenery is breathtaking. The culture of love exudes from thier smiling faces. Not one time have I felt unsafe or not at ease. Even if the bus ride was a bit exciting! :-) God clearly has his hand and grace over us. 

We came pulling into the mission house with about ten minutes of daylight left. I'm anxious to explore this property and to see the new additions to the orphanage. 

This morning I was awaken by two talking gecko lizards and the most beautiful sunrise. It's warm already, but there is a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air that makes it seem as if anything is possible. Then I'm reminded of one of my favorite versus when I get in a funk and feel the spirit of defeat, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". And again I'm humbled at how God works in and on my mind. I'm here to serve him, but I'm clearly aware that God is the one that is serving me. 

I am blessed, I am strong only because of my faith...as everything of this world tells me that I am not capible of the kind of life I desire to live by serving the Lord. But it is because of his GRACE, LOVE, and ULTIMATE forgiveness that even I can serve in HIS name... 

Thank you Lord for the heart that you gave me. I pray that today you protect our crew, bless our crew and provide your heavenly wisdom to embark on the many tasks we will complete this week! AMEN...

PS: As I went to publish this, it didn't go through. I went upstairs to get a picture of the property and started conversation with my fellow team members. Through sharing and talking God spoke to our hearts, mine most definitely. 

THANK YOU GOD FOR OUR ABILITY TO USE Our hands and feet in your name! 

Life goes on... And so Must the Mission

Life goes on... and so must the mission

It's a team of ten this year.  It's Friday, June 26th and we are all sitting at the airport at 5am about to board our flight to Honduras via Atlanta.  We will be gone for 10 days.  I'm sure it won't seem like a long time on that last day, but as we prepared to leave this last week it seemed like a monumental task to exit our daily routines and responsibilities.

Industry changing regulation has my work very busy right now.  Also, my son just graduated and I have been helping him transition into adulthood and soon-to-be college life.  On top of that, I have other time planned off for family needs shortly after the mission. Then here was hail.  just two weeks before mission, a hail storm like I never had seen came through my neighborhood. My roof, siding, and windows were peppered so badly that they all need to be replaced.  So I have been dealing with the insurance adjuster and contractor up until the last day here. Finally, you just resign to the fact that it will all be there when you get back.

Robert Frost once said, "in three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life:  it goes on."  And that it does.... And so must the mission. You can't be in two places at once when in mission. You have to leave everything behind and trust that it will be fine when you get back. This is a necessity so that you are present in the mission. You need to be there and undistracted. God is doing great things where we are going, the least one can do is "show up."  Both literally, and figuratively. 

Last year was no different.  Back then, I was heavy into a new position at work, and my grandma passed and I needed to travel for that just before going on mission.  It was a very busy time, but it all worked out. 

Life will happen.  Mission doesn't change that. You just have to be prepared when deciding to go on mission that there will be many things in your life that threaten distraction and that those forces will intensify the closer you are to the gate at the airport. 

To my family and friends that may read this... I love you all very much. My prayers are with you, but my focus is here. I got this (by the grace of God) and you got it back home. See you all in a couple weeks!!!!

God Bless!!!

It's finally time to "Do Something"

 “I just couldn’t bear the thought of people living in poverty, Children sold into slavery. The thought disgusted me. So, I shook my fist at Heaven said, ‘God, why don’t You do something?’He said, ‘I did, I created you’”
-Do Something - Matthew West

Tomorrow at this time we will be traveling through the mountains of Honduras on our way to Choluteca. I pray that God watches over us and opens our hearts to the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that we can truly be the hands and feet of Christ. 

I cannot believe we are just two weeks from another mission trip to Honduras!! My excitement grows with each passing day. I am eager to be updated on the lives of the family we served last year and hopefully see others that live in the community that we were so blessed to get to know a year ago.
I also look forward to evangelizing. I have been noting verses that I hope will help the people we visit to better understand what Jesus' death did for us. How all he asked in return was for us to believe in him and live the Truth through faith.
Unfortunately, faith is a strange concept to them. Please pray that our efforts, at the very least, would plant a seed that illuminates His glory and clarifies His grace and mercy.

Thanks for your support - only 16 days remaining

Vega Family

We have had a awesome fund raising campaign this year.  Our team of 10 has raised over $20,000 to support our trip.  In addition, our first annual rev22two golf scramble was a huge success raising over $3000 to further enhance our work in Honduras and Moldova.  With all of your support we are going to be able to build a new home for the Vega family and also build an outhouse on their property.  We will also be donating sound equipment and a wireless security system to the church in Choluteca.  Our team is thankful for all of your love and support.

 

 

The Return of Antonio Banderas and Company

A Last year was my first ever mission trip.  10 days can be both a long time and a very short time.  We worked very hard and at the end of each day it seemed like a long time.  The bed, a shower and clean sheets were our best friends.  However, that last day, a very somber day at times, made the whole mission feel very short.  I felt called to go back to Honduras before we ever even left eyesight of the mission hours. 

A year, however, is a very long time. Many things can happen, and you never know what God has in store for you. So, I was hesitant to say (for sure) that I was going back until just a couple months ago. Elevate also does missions to Moldova, and I have always felt an underlying pull for me to go there, but it has always fallen upon a very inopportune time for me for work. An  unfortunate impossibility to take time off. 

While it may seem like an impossibility for me, I know that with God all things are possible. "

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.' (‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ NLT)"

And so my great internal debate is whether I am limiting God by going to Honduras instead of Moldova.  In my heart, I believe the answer lies in last year's mission. There were so many God moments and even some spectacular moments that I am only left to conclude that I was supposed to be there and am again this year. (Elevatehonduras2014.blogspot.com)

This year, going to Honduras is, in part, a feeling of a new calling and, also in part, a leftover feeling of unfinished work from last year's mission trip.  Within this internal debate, I think of Philippians 1:6:

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ NLT)

So with unfinished work in mind, I am going back to Honduras, and I have faith that God will be with us.  Some of the same characters will be on the mission trip  again this year such as our fearless leaders, the Huie's and even Tony, Mr Personality.  I still think some of them believe his last name is "Bandaras" because he would yell out to the kids each day "Antonio Bandaras" when leaving and arriving at the mission house. 

God Bless.