finally home.

after missing our connecting flight in miami, jen and i are finally home. we ended up spending one night at the ramada inn in miami to wait for the first flight back to toronto. we were stuck in line at the miami international airport to redo customs, security and baggage check and with 30 minutes left to boarding, we heard those four dreaded words, "you missed your flight". 

but now that we're home, i just want to go back. weird isn't it? i don't feel like i can accurately convey how God is working there and the work that God has done in my heart. i feel like recounting the events wouldn't capture what it felt like to experience the kids' joy and love at miqueas 6.8, although the pictures and blogging help :) 

i think when people go on missions they expect to help people and give them things and teach them how to be "better" with plans to "fix" them. but this trip has helped me understand how BIG and AWESOME our God is. i have been given a new perspective on the way i'm living and my purpose in life. and i've learned that prayer and sole dependence on God is what makes a missions trip successful. it's all about Him.

thanks for reading, i'll try to post more pics in the next few days.

thank you for all your prayer and financial support.

tuesday.

chalkdrawings. i think that's supposed to be spongebob squarepants??

the kids learned about Samson's strength given by the Spirit of the Lord. then each kid had an opportunity to pray at the front. so. cute.

the kids clamouring around jen to see a video on her phone. kids love technology.

underneath the mango tree.

finally the chancho! piggie!! i told estefani and jefferson they had to be responsible children before i let them into the pigpen aka a corner of the backyard.

all kids need are sticks to play.

monday.

staff house.

the kids all clamouring around a window to see their pet chancho (pig).
they refuse to let joby kill it lol. this same chancho woke me up with its grunting this morning.

me and carmencita.

why use spoon when you have hands? marvin  being resourceful as usual.

surrounded by mountains. no need for a dryer in 30 degree weather!

sunday.

american airlines ended up giving us 2 free checked baggage each! praise the Lord!
we brought over many many donations for the kids.

it's been an adventure just to get to honduras. because of the huge snowstorm in toronto on friday, there were a lot of cancelled flights. i didn't think it would affect us since our flight was on saturday but as i'm sitting there on friday checking the gtaa website i see the word i've been dreading beside our flight number. cancelled. and it was the only flight to miami that was cancelled. i guess the Lord intended on us to go in on sunday! we rebooked our flight and the new itinerary took us to LA (3 hours behind toronto) then to miami (same time zone as toronto) and then San Pedro Sula, Honduras. and of course as we're on the flight to miami, a lady had a medical emergency and i was just praying that she would be alright. i saw the panicked looks on the flight attendants' faces and it didn't look good. we had to make an emergency landing in phoenix, arizona and the lady was escorted off the plane with her husband (hope she's okay!) it was a very long long flight but jen and i made it alive, tired but alive.

joby, melody and elsie (an intern from georgia) picked us up from the airport in their blue toyota corolla. we stuffed all four luggages in the trunk and they asked if we were hungry. jen and i looked at each other, we're always hungry! we stopped in el progreso at mr. taco. it was delicious! maybe even more so because we were hungry and tired but the tacos were fresh and the nachos were crispy and nothing like pouring salsa on tostitos chips. the kids who served us (literally couldn't be more than 14) were nice and i'm not sure if they were the ones doing the cooking. we were the only ones in the 5 table joint.

we made a quick stop to the megaplaza mall which also housed the supermarket. we picked up snacks, breakfast and food for the week (in hindsight the next time they ask if i want anything i'm going to request more salsa verde plantain chips-delish!). a young boy came to help us with our groceries and melody and joby tipped him. i think the culture is very different here...you can drive as fast as you want on the 2-lane streets and bypass people whenever you want, you can fit 15 kids in the back of a pickup truck, older ladies will bud in line ahead of you and ask if it's okay (and even if you say no they'll still do it and smile).

as we're driving to the orphanage compound we're surrounded by beautiful lush mountains. but as i look around me i see half finished houses (or what appears to be half finished) and children selling fruit on the streets. it's just different. 

stephanie and juan miqueas. no matter what country, kids love candy!

the kids here at the orphanage are SO adorable!! they've completely stolen my heart. and it was hard to remember all their names but i try. they're so excited to meet you and play with you and hug you. adorable. the kids call joby and melody, papi and mami. i can see why they wouldn't want to leave.

joby and walker kill a (potentially poisonous) snake.
it was the first time i heard the words "grab me my machete" spoken so casually.

snow overload.

that is the view from my second story window. snow day! i'm all packed and checked in online. i'm praying that the snow settles down so my plane can leave tomorrow morning!!

18 more hours!

hands on.

i can't describe the excitement and this feeling in me as the day grows closer. i can't believe i'm leaving in 3 days! tonight i was so encouraged by my small group and the way they are faithfully praying for me and supporting me financially. it's amazing and wonderful. i was just talking to jen today about how awesome God is and how blown away we were by the generosity being showered upon us. truly God is at work.

we all know i'm not a touchy feely person BUT having the hands of my beloved small group members being laid on me for prayer is a great encouragement. to know that we are united for His purpose and in agreement with His word is a blessing.

if you're reading this small group, i'm thankful for YOU.

encouragement.

this past week has been filled with many opportunities to meet up with friends, some whom i haven't heard from in a while and some whom i see weekly. needless to say i was physically tired but each time i was so encouraged by Christ-centered conversations and rejuvenated through a time of prayer and left carrying bags of tshirts :)

this trip has been a great tool to talk to people about Christ and why i'm taking vacation days to go take care of children. i think in the midst of the busyness certain things have preoccupied my mind. i'm constantly thinking of where i can get t-shirts, how many i have and how many more i need to get. i want to fulfill their every physical need. but i was sharply reminded today how much more i need to pray for these kids' spiritual needs. for melody and joby. for honduras. 

O Lord, how i desire for your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. it's not about what i want to do for these kids but what You have already done for them. You, Yourself gave up your only Son so that whoever believes in Christ Jesus would not perish but have eternal life. an abundant life of knowing You and worshiping You. i long for these children to comprehend the depth, height, width and length of Your love for them. i pray for your Spirit to strengthen the hands and feet of your faithful servants. may their joy increase exponentially as they serve you wholeheartedly in honduras and may their comfort come from Your word and from You alone. Father give me eyes to see what You want me to do and boldness to speak truth even if it might not be received with joy. thank you for providing a way for me to go. thank you for increasing my faith as i prepare. Lord, nothing in my hand i bring, simply to the cross i cling...