Most of my time over the last two weeks was spent in Choloma, a city of (depending on who you ask) 50,000 to 100,000 people in northern Honduras. Choloma is well known for its factories as well its high violent crime rate. It is also the home of Pastor Josue Hernandez.
Pastor Hernandez is a marvelous example of Christian leadership in Honduras. He leads his congregation with integrity and by example. He gets his hands dirty in construction projects, then washes them and leads those in his community in an uplifting worship service. Early in the morning, he drives his wife to work 30 minutes away, then works as a taxi driver to supplement the meager salary he receives from his church. Returning midday to focus on his church and family duties, he does so without complaint or showing tiredness, and always with a smile and a minute (or 30) to visit with visitors, church members or others in his community.
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I had met and enjoyed spending time with Pastor Hernandez, who is also the leader of the northern committee of CAM’s churches in Honduras (known as Centroamericana Evangelica churches), and his sons last fall as they dedicated two days to work at the denomination’s retreat center on Lake Yajoa. So I was excited to learn soon thereafter that I would have the chance to spend more time with him and his family the following February as I co-led a missions team visiting from Michigan as they served alongside Pastor and his congregation to build an addition to their church.
Team Work
Over the last two weeks as Don, John, Laura (from Gracepoint Church), Allan, Nicole and I worked with many church members in the 90+ degree, dusty heat of Choloma, we were building not only an addition to Vida Nueva church, but also meaningful relationships with members of the Choloma community and with one another. While I enjoyed getting to know the team from MI (and Allan and Nicole better as well), I really enjoyed seeing the “visiting gringos” put aside their North American predisposition to focus on productivity and comfort and in turn willingly adapt to the local culture, food and relational-style of work and life present in Honduras.
By not just building frames for walls and mixing cement for floors, but building trust in others around them by taking a personal interest in their lives, families and wellbeing, the team was able to convey the true love of Christ that all Christians are charged to do. I saw tough, grown Honduran men shed tears when a simple birthday cake was presented to them, and I saw small Choloman children want to hug and snuggle again and again with visitors from a land 2,000 miles away, all because of the deliberate interest that had been taken in their lives by these visitors. It was a special and moving time not only for the visitors and the residents of Choloma, but for me as well.
R&R (Ruins & Rides)
My time with my new friends in Choloma was not without some quality rest and relaxation. We were able to sneak the pastor away for his birthday for a day to visit the Mayan ruins of Copan and Allan drove his big yellow school bus (fully packed with church and community members – standing room only!) to the coast for a Sunday beach service where one member was baptized, I was allowed to share my testimony and after which the church community as a whole was able to relax, play soccer and enjoy fellowship with one another.
All-in, through this team’s visit, I was blessed to experience much fellowship and communion, but I also had the opportunity to experience mission team mobilization, an area I thought I would be well prepared for based on my detailed nature and much experience in organizing events and teams in the past. Undoubtedly, without the help of Allan Morel, the trip would not have gone nearly as smoothly as it did – thank you, Allan! Noting this was a great reminder that while God may give each of us specific skills and talents, we are all part of the body of Christ that needs to work together to fulfill our life’s purpose: bringing glory and honor to our father, creator and savior.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for continued unity in the church, the body of Christ, here in Honduras. Pray for Pastor Hernandez as he leads his congregation and his family. Pray for church member Rosa as she attempts to expand her sewing business and for brother Christian as he grows deeper in his relationship with God. Please also pray that I will be given continued patience, wisdom and direction as I manage the time, treasures and talents God has given to me here in Honduras. Thank you!
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.. ~Colossians 3:15-17
