Meeting God in the produce aisle

When you take a mission trip, invariably you ask yourself what God wanted to teach you or show you through the experience.     I'll share a few things that I learned from our trip to Honduras...

1.  When you feel God leading you to do something, even if it seems crazily hard, do it.  There is no better place than in the center of God's will.   We had dozens of people tell us that we were a little bit crazy to even consider taking 7 children to a foreign country.   Dozens who thought that sounded impossible...dozens who said they just couldn't even imagine doing it.    When we think about it now, we can see why people would react that way.  Heck, if we dwelt on it too long, we could have easily dismissed the idea as crazy and not considered it.  I mean, who would have blamed us for saying, "We'd love to take a mission trip, but we have....too many kids...it would be too much money...it would be too hard to travel with all those little kids and suitcases."  I guess it encouraged me to "Do Hard Things" as the book by the same name says.  I am so glad that we did.

2.  Because I don't speak Spanish, I wasn't able to share the Gospel with anyone in Honduras.  What it DID reinforce to me is my responsibility to share the Gospel where God HAS called me to be a missionary....right here in Burkesville.    It is so easy for me to think that I am willing to be sent across the world to share Jesus with others, and what that would look like, but lately God has had me consider  a different angle.  I am called as a missionary to Burkesville.   We are all missionaries where we are until God calls us someplace else.   Am I living like a missionary here like I would be if I was being supported to be a missionary in Honduras?  Am I free with my time, my family, my house to show love to others.   Or do I live like a non-missionary, focused only on me and accomplishing MY goals.   I'm afraid I'm guilty of the latter, but with God's help hope to start living like a missionary.
I read a verse in Philippians 2 this week as I was attempting to memorize the chapter to beat my kids in a competition (grin) and it was talking about Timothy.

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Those verses were convicting to me because I realize that I often look out for my own interests.   It's so easy to say, "I'm too busy." "I don't have time." "I'm too tired."    But if I were truly looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ, all my excuses would go away.  I'm praying that God work on me in that area this year.

Before our trip, I started reading a book called  Just Walk Across the Room.  By Bill Hybels.  I was able to read a good portion of it during the trip when Gilead was having his naps and I finished it after our trip.
The book talks about how evangelism doesn't have to be hard.  It is as simple as "walking across the room" and saying "Hi" to someone and building relationships. It's stepping away from your comfortable circle of friends and greeting a new person, or one that might not have many friends.
On thing jumped out that Hybels said.  That is that every morning when he wakes up, he prays "Lord please open doors today that I can share You with others."

I tested this out last week and almost failed miserably.  
Last Thursday, I was going to the orthodontist and Wal Mart with only 2 children...my oldest and youngest.
I prayed that prayer as we pulled out of the driveway.  I asked God, "Please give me 1 open door to share your love to someone."   After that I kinda forgot my prayer.
I sat with a waiting room full of parents in the orthodontist office....then we went to Wal mart.
We were almost done with my list.   You know "THE LIST" that your whole goal is to cross off everything as quickly as possible so you can check out and go home!    I was totally not even thinking about looking for open doors or even thinking of "the interests of Jesus Christ."  I had a mission.

Then we entered the produce department...and that is where God taught me an amazing lesson.
A Wal Mart worker came up to me who was off duty and asked if Gilead was my baby.  (He had been patient in the cart, but was over it at that point, so Aslan took him out and let him walk around while he followed him.)  I told her he was and that yes that tall 14 yr old was also my son.  She commented on the huge age span and I mentioned there were 5 children in between those 2.   She shared that she was a 4th born of 12 and how it's so nice to see a big family and how rare it is...yada yada yada.    Well, 10 minutes later, this friendly lady was STILL TALKING!!!!    About her family, her kids, and I was looking really sweet and friendly, but I'm ashamed to admit that inside I was praying emphatically, "GOD PLEASE LET THIS WOMAN SHUT UP SO I CAN FINISH THE PRODUCE DEPARTMENT AND GET OUT OF HERE!"
Just seconds later while I was having an internal meltdown at how talkative this woman was and how MY INTERESTS were not getting accomplished...I heard a loud voice in my spirit....totally a God thing cause there was NOTHING in me spiritual at the moment say...."HELLO?  You asked for ONE open door...are you gonna walk through it?"  
I knew that I knew that it was God....and immediately my intensity to leave, my selfishness, MY interests all calmed down and became not important.   I Listened to what the lady was saying, I mean really listened.  Before that I was just hearing words.
She was talking about how God had allowed hard times to happen to her son and what a blessing it turned out to be because it turned him from a work a holic into someone that had time for family relationships. She talked about how she had given her life to God at an early age, but got off doing her own thing and God brought her back to a relationship with Him.  She knew that God loved her enough to restore their relationship.
Then she asked if I could pray for the bread man who stocks the bread aisle every morning.  His name was David and his wife of 31 yrs had just left him and he was devastated.  I asked her if she had shared Jesus with him and she said that she had.   Then I felt led to pray with her and said, "You know the Bible says that were 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst, why don't we agree in prayer for David right now."  She loved the idea so she grabbed my hand and I prayed for David and his wife, for restoration and for God to show himself mighty through this hard time."   When we finished Wal Mart lady had tears in her eyes and we hugged.  We parted ways and I couldn't stop thanking God for His patience.  Patience because if it had been up to be...I had prayed this sweet woman away in my impatience to accomplish "my own interests."   God could have easy answered that prayer....but he had a lesson to teach me.
I had asked for 1 open door...and without me trying to find it...in fact I was trying to slam the door...he patiently kept this lady talking and talking until I would finally hear the spirit of God in my life nudging me that THIS was what I had prayed for. 
How often do we pray and then never look for the answer...or get it in our minds what the answer looks like and miss God completely.   I'm convinced that because I'm such a novice at this, God was exceedingly patient with me. And I thank Him for that.  I thank God that not only did He love ME enough to be patient, but he loves David the bread man enough to cause me and a bakery lady to lift him up before God, the only one who can meet his needs right now.   

I challenge you to ask God each day for 1 open door...and don't forget to look for which one God wants to open...and try not to be like me and pull it shut so you can accomplish your "stuff."
God is so gentle and good in His teaching us dumb sheep how to truly be His disciples.....if we make even a small effort, He will more than make up for our weakness......so just walk across the room....or across the produce aisle...you might just find God next to the bananas!!!

Miscellaneous pics Part 15

The younger kids enjoyed ironing beads and doing crafts. = )

Gilead ready to fall asleep.

Konsavage and Patterson families on the day we left...we're the ones in green. = )

Forgot this picture earlier. This is a boy in Canculuncos who had broken his arm playing soccer the day before our clinic.
We were able to go to a pharmacy and buy a cast and cast his arm the next day when we returned for the 2nd day of clinic there.

MEDA Seminary-Honduras Part 14

The place that our friends live and work and the place we stayed was called MEDA. It is a seminary for Honduran seminary students. It is really nice and pretty! Quite a contrast from just outside the barbed wire fences of extreme poverty. Everything was really nicely taken care of. Everything grows so well in Honduras too!

Inside of one of our rooms. Hot showers and everything.

Front Gate of MEDA.

Honduran Food- Part 13

I can't say that we really suffered in the food department. The food was all wonderful! A sweet, Honduran lady, Saida, cooked most of our lunches and dinners during the week since Christy and I were busy many times. Saida has a housekeeping job where she makes $1/hour. She was happy to get a raise and cook for a week for the 18 of us! She is a wonderful cook!
In this picture, she was making Beans and rice and fried plantains.
Most meals included montequilla which is a white sauce similar to sour cream but much better even!
On Monday, we had Pollo Frito (fried chicken) arroz (rice) homemade tortillas and pataste (a really yummy green vegetable that is similar to broccoli)
Dinner was Gringas (tortillas, chicken, salsa and montequilla)

Tuesday- Bistec (steak) Ensalada de lechuga (salad) tortillas and Papas (like cheesy mashed potatoes)
Dinner- Baleadas (tortillas, smashed red beans with scrambled eggs mixed in and montequilla)

Wednesday we ate lunch at Canculuncos and had fried chicken, beans and tortillas
Dinner was Arroz con Pollo (chicken and rice

Thursday we had Arroz con Frijoles, platanos won Mantequilla (beans, rice, plantains and montequilla--as shown below)

Friday, we went to a restaurant for lunch. (see 2nd picture) It was a fabulous, really nice lunch and there were 22 of us for that meal that cost only $70.
Dinner was Estufado (stew) Ensalada and tortillas

Steak on a stick, tortilla chips, plantains, Honduran cheese, rice and salad.

Saida with a stack of homemade tortillas. We had a friend from church give us money. She felt that God had put it on her heart to send some with us to give whereever we felt led. At the end of the week, we paid Saida for cooking for us and also gave the extra money to her. We received a letter shortly after about what a blessing it was to her family. Saida lives in a 1 room brick home with 2 children. (I think they are her neice and nephew) With the money that we gave her from us and from the donor she was able to buy a refrigerator for her home. She said it was the first time she could actually have fresh milk at home!! Lest you think we gave her thousands of dollars, the total amount was only $150 total (from us and the anonymous donor). What a difference you can make in the life of the poor, the orphan and the widows in the world. Where $20 or $50 might not seem like much to you, if you are willing to give it away, it is SUCH a blessing to the receiver!! If you need a great ministry to give to...we know one! Just let us know!!!

Yup...they have Wendy's in Honduras!

Various Honduran Houses Part 12

More pictures from Canculuncos part 11

Here is the outside of the church we had the medical clinic in.

These piggies were right outside the window at the back of the church...it was the highlight of Praise's day!

Pastor Omar was one of the sweetest people I've ever met. He is a pastor there and just loved Gilead.

View on the drive to the church.

Honduras-Canculuncos Medical Outreach- Part 10

On Wednesday and Thursday of our week, we drove 2 1/2 hours to a remote village of Lenca Indians called Canculuncos.
Most of them had never seen a doctor. On Wednesday, we saw children only. About 100 of them. We had each child sign in with their name and what was wrong with them with a number. We took them one at a time by number. While the children were waiting, we projected Nest Spanish Bible Stories on the brick wall of the church.
The picture below is of our make-shift pharmacy. We had a lot of medications donated from friends, and local pharmacies that made up our "pharmacy."
The 2nd day in Canculuncos, we saw mainly adults. Another 100.

Nest Videos

Gilead was a hit with all the Honduras with his pretty blue eyes. Grin.

Driving Around Honduras Part 9

There was a lot of construction going on around Siguatepeque. One area, completely stops traffic one way at a time for 30 minutes. It doesn't matter if no cars are coming or not, if the 30 min isn't up, you wait and wait some more. We got stopped about 3 times that week, where you just turn off your engine and wait. The local peddles take advantage of all the stopped cars to sell anything and everything. Here is one man selling something homemade.

Another funny thing about Honduras is their driving "rules." It was no doubt the most crazy driving I've ever experienced!! I imagine New York City taxi drivers might feel at home there, but that is about it. It is totally okay to pile people standing in back of a pickup truck.....it is okay that no children are in car seats....it was okay that for the week, because we had no larger transportation, that the Patterson's and the Konsavages drove everywhere by putting 18 people into an 8 passenger Expedition....but under no circumstances can you talk on the cell phone while driving. Haha.....their laws aren't consistent.

Here is a picture of what we drove behind on the way to the airport. There were about 6-7 men in the back of this little Police vehicle. At least 2 were in handcuffs. Not typically what we see roaming the back roads of Kentucky.

Police didn't seem to do much more in Honduras that pull cars over to make sure their licenses and registrations were up to date, hoping they could give a ticket for not having the required documents. I understand that if they try to give a ticket, it is much easier to "bribe them" with about $50. While I hear some police aren't crooked...most are.
2 weeks before we arrived, Mark P along with a bunch of church friends were robbed right in the church during a meeting. When asked for money and jewelry, he was reaching into his pocket, and they thought he might have a gun, so they put one to his head....They left with some money and jewelry. They didn't call the police because there is no reason to...they wouldn't have done anything anyway.
So be thankful that your town has police that respond and care about the law and justice!!! It's not like that all over the world!

Honduras-Boys Working Part 8

Mark Patterson, the missionary dad we are friends with, is in charge of maintenance, and the upkeep of all of MEDA...the seminary in Siguatepeque that we stayed at. He did a great job of keeping our boys and his busy the whole week. (The neighbor boys who are also missionaries and have 7 children worked often too) Many days they worked from breakfast to dinner with a quick lunch break. Aslan, Noah and Josiah worked with their boys (Josiah (16) Caleb (14) Noah (12) Levi (9) Isaiah (7) and Elijah (5) )...as you can see, we had 2 Josiah's and 2 Noah's. Our Noah's are only 5 days apart in age too!
In this picture Aslan, Josiah P, and Jonathan Montoya is working (Well, it doesn't look like it but they were) by digging dirt to fill in a hole that needed filling on the MEDA grounds.

They also spent a lot of time sanding and staining doors for the dorm rooms.

Here Noah and Noah are taking a break from work to whittle with pocket knives.

Even though they did a lot of hot, hard work, they all seemed to really enjoy it because they got to talk and build friendships as they worked. They also got quite a bit accomplished!!

Honduras-Tuesday Clinic at Emanuel Children's Day Home Part 7

Tuesday morning, we did a clinic at the Children's Day home that is run by Emanuel Baptist Church in Siguatepeque, which is the Patterson's church. We saw the 22 children that attend there, their families and many others from the neighborhood. Practically every child has lice. They have been treated many times before, but they just come right back because their homes are not cleaned from lice so they get re-infested. They also all have parasites. The children were all so sweet.
Here is Chris examining a boy that had a bad skin problem

Here is a lady that is 100 years old. She was remarkably healthy. Her main complaint was wax in her ears!!

I took blood pressures for all the patients as Chris was talking to them about their health in Spanish. Gilead "hung around" too for 4 hrs and never got fussy. He even took a nap for about an hour on my back. There were just under 100 people seen this day too.

The 3 boys stayed behind at MEDA to do some manual labor, so we brought the 3 girls with us. Don't they look so elegant with all their hair pinned up. = )

Honduras-Grocery Part 6

On Tuesday morning, I got to go into a Honduran grocery store. It wasn't terribly different. They had a lot of brands that I hadn't heard of before, but many that I did. It was about as clean as a Save A Lot or Aldi's. It is very weird seeing all the prices that seem so high. The exchange rate is 19 Lempiras to 1 US Dollar. I had heard about a delicacy in Honduras (that fortunately we didn't "get" to try) called Huevos de toro...or "eggs of a bull." They apparently grill the "bull eggs."
If you aren't understanding what I'm talking about feel free to email me...grin. I got some funny looks when I photgraphed these bull "parts" in the deli. = )

As we were checking out, Gilead decided to do what he does at Wal Mart. He clicks any button he can find. At Wal Mart, it never causes any problems, but in Honduras, the checkout screen is a Dell Computer monitor and the keyboard is right there where our credit card scanner usually is....right within babies reach. Before I realized the set up...Christy was ahead of me and I was loading behind, the clerk had rang up a few items and then the whole computer went completely black. Of all the buttons on the keyboard, he clicked ONE that was "POWER." Sigh. The cashier wasn't too amused when it took 3-4 minutes to completely reboot the computer, re log in and re scan the items she had already scanned. I'm sure she was thinking, "Dumb gringos kids." When the whole bill was totalled, it was just over $1,800!!! That included $259 sunscreen, 62.50 milk and 10.50 liter of bottled water. = ) Here is the cash register as it was still being totalled.

Honduras-Monday Medical Clinic Part 5

On Monday, Chris was able to work along side the local doctor in Siguatepeque. Dr Karina Aguilar at the Betania Clinic. It was great timing, because she was put on bedrest the week before 1/2 way though her pregnancy. She did show up, but it was nice that Chris could do the bulk of the work. He saw 98 patients that day. It is a very poor clinic. They charge only a small fee to be seen...I think it was $5. They also help provide medicines and transportation to the nearest hospital when needed as well. They are a ministry of one of the local churches there called Iglesia Bautista Betania (Bethany Baptist Church). The clinic runs on a budget of only $2,000/month that comes entirely from donations. They use the clinic as an evangelistic tool.
The first patient that he saw was an elderly lady that had severe burns on her body after falling into an open stove. Chris treated her burns and referred her to the local hospital.
The clinic is on the right in this picture...the church on the left.
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Chris examining a little boy.

Me and some of the sweet savages meeting some new Honduran friends while they were waiting to be seen in the clinic.

The lady holding the little girl in the back thought I knew Spanish when I initiated a converstion by saying something in Spanish....I immediately realized my error when she rattled off in Spanish to me...thankfully, Christy came to my rescue and told me that she was wondering how many children I had. Whew...I'm sure I looked like deer in headlights for a few seconds.