Changed Hearts

I wrote this entry on March 11, 2012, but I am just now posting it.

One year ago today I boarded my first plane. I had all kind of emotions running through me, but mostly nerves. I was also scared, happy, proud, and excited. I was proud of myself for facing one of my fears, but without God I would not have been able to do it. I was headed to Tegucigalpa, Honduras with my college ministry. Not only was it my first flight, it was also my first international mission trip.

We flew from ATL to Miami and from Miami into Teguc. One of the big reasons why I was so scared was because of the conditions you have to face while flying into Tegcu. You have to fly in sideways in between two mountains. They have special pilots who fly into this airport because it so difficult and dangerous. In fact, it is on the world’s most dangerous airports list. That will make you real excited. Haha We flew into Tegcu and landed! It was an experience I will never forget. It was crazy awesome!

Now that I am over the flying nerves now it is onto the nerves of getting through customs. I was nervous because of several reasons. First, I have never had to go through international customs in a different country. That is kind of intimidating. Second, because with me having red hair and light colored skin, I am going to stick out like a bull in a china shop. Our group was all wearing lime green shirts with BMDMI, Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International, on the front and back of the shirts. It all turned out to be a breeze and nothing to stress about, but you hear all these stories about how men and women get taken in a secret room and questioned by law enforcement. So you can all understand my nerves.

We get our luggage and walk out of the terminal and meet the people from BMDMI. They were a sweet couple who greeted us with a warm welcome and hugs. I was so excited to finally be in Honduras. After months of praying and preparing for the trip, I was FINALLY in Honduras! We step out of the airport and a mass of heat hit us. We left Tuscaloosa in 50 degree weather and come to weather conditions of high 80s, drastic change. We then go eat at a Pizza Hut that was across from the airport. Now, let me say something about this Pizza Hut. I don’t know if we were just so hungry or if it was truly the BEST pizza I have ever had, but it was fabulous. We met up with some of the missionaries there and they informed us about all the activities we will be doing while there and all about the home we would be staying in. The ride to the “mission house” and the children’s home was enough for me to see how much the people need God and how much these people are suffering with economy. It was a very eye opening drive.

We finally pull up to the GSCH. We look out the windows of our bus and see about fifty to a hundred kids running after our bus. This one little boy got so excited that he didn’t see a ditch and fell into it, but got back up and continued to run after our bus. I believe I was one of the very people to step off the bus and began to be swarmed by the kids. They were jumping on me and playing with my hair and speaking Spanish. The only Spanish I know is hello and how are you. But that didn’t seem to matter.

We got our bags in our casitas, homes for the week, and headed up for dinner and to set up for our first night of worship with the teens. We did a nightly worship/small groups with the older teens in the home. I will admit, the first night was a little awkward because we all were in a new environment and only a few of us spoke Spanish and our translators weren’t around yet. Needless to say, the awkwardness rubbed off and we started to interact with the teens. The first night was a success.

Over the week I really learned a lot from the kids, from the experience, and mostly from God. I was amazed at the passion a lot of the teens had for God and for their walk with Christ. I really connected with one particular teen that week. He talked to me about his past and about his story on how he became a believer. He shared with me about his favorite bible verse and what God was showing him in his walk. Being able to see this made my heart smile and rejoice in the Lord.

I also connected well with one sweet little girl. She followed me around and hung onto me. I loved holding her in my arms and having her on my back. She was the sweetest and the prettiest little girl I have ever seen. She did not speak English. She might have understood hi or how are you, but other than that she had no knowledge of English. I was the same way with Spanish. So we had a huge language barrier, but my God said that the language barrier didn’t matter to him. He broke down all barriers I could ever imagine. Lupe and I connected like we were best friends after one day, but I could understand one word she said and she couldn’t understand any word I said.

My heart was changed after that week. Saying goodbye was by far the hardest goodbye I have ever had to say. I didn’t want to leave. I cried from the moment I started saying bye to till the minute I stepped foot back in the U.S. It was a long and sad flight back to Miami. I knew that I would be back one day. Plus I told a kid that I wouldn’t forget about him and that I would come back to see him.

I returned to Tuscaloosa while my heart and mind was still in Honduras with those kids. I prayed that if it was God’s will for me to return to Honduras, I would go back one day. I continued for God to show me what he wants me to do for my future. As the months went on and the summer approached I began to fill a calling on my life. I answered the call to full time missions this past summer. I didn’t know what all this was going to include for my future, but I trust God. I have an overwhelming peace from God that surpasses any doubts or fears from the devil.

I prayed to God, sought after God, and cried out to God to show me the next steps. He began to bring up an opportunity to go back to Honduras. In the fall he confirmed me that he wanted me in Honduras this summer. I started the process of raising money and getting forms turned in. Things are finally almost all together.

I will be flying out to Honduras in May for five weeks. I am so excited that I can’t ever describe the feeling I get in my body when I say “I am going back to Honduras”. God is so good and has blessed me with an incredible opportunity. I want to ask you to pray for me as I prepare for my trip back to Honduras. Pray for the people in Honduras and the kids. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in all the Americas. Pray for God to reach all these people and to change their lives for the better. Pray for all the children in the country who are living in extreme poverty. I have faith that God can change the people and change the country, but we must PRAY!