Honduras – June 2018

As you know, this past June we took a team of 13 people from Tacoma, Washington to Rio Mario, Honduras to put the finishing touches on our new Missions House, Casa de La Luz.  As always, our trips are full of ministry opportunities and great adventures that lead to lasting relationships.  This trip was no different.  After a full week of ministering in schools, a soccer outreach, preaching at churches, delivering groceries to a widow, visiting an orphanage and planting over 400 bushes and removing rust from a gate surrounding the 1 acre property and painting it – we finally took a day to relax.  Oh, and all of that in 90 degree plus weather and the humidity to boot!

Our heart for missions is to make an immediate impact, while simultaneously establishing long term relationships that last.  This trip couldn’t have been more true to the goal.  Many times we see things and value things differently than God does.  We look at the tons of kids that came to the soccer outreach or the great service we had at the church building. But what about the bushes – or the work on the wall – or better yet, the day off?

Let’s talk about that day off.  We took our day off to Cayos Cochinos  which is an island that is well know for snorkeling.  Our team left early Friday morning for a 45-minute boat ride that would lead us to the most beautiful water I’ve ever seen.  We were coupled with other people who had signed up for the tour.  Bridget and I were seated in the middle of the boat with another couple from out of town.  We could tell immediately that there was something  different about them.  Through our interpreter and our broken spanglish, we found out that they were there for their 25th wedding anniversary and they were pastors!  I wanted to talk to them more but also wanted to give them space so they could enjoy their 25th wedding anniversary.  So I gave them space.  It wasn’t until later as we got back on the boat to return that we began to converse even more.  We wound up inviting them to Casa de la Luz.  We road with them to the house and showed them what we were doing.  They were very impressed by the work we’d accomplished on the missions house, but I sensed I was drawn to them for a greater reason.  Before leaving, I asked if we could pray for them.  We started praying and God began to minister encouragement to this couple.  They began to weep and immediately I knew this would not be the last time of seeing them.  Before they left, they extended an invite to Bridget and I to come and visit them in Santa Rosa, Copan.   Little did we know we would wind up in their city on August 24th,  just 2 months later.  That’s a whole story in itself! 

Fast forward – we just got back from spending 4 days with Pastor Josué Barrientos and his family ( the couple we met on the boat).  We had an incredible time with Pastor and his family.  In those 4 short days, God opened doors on so many levels.  We had the privilege of meeting with local pastors, we were invited to share our vision on the local radio program and finally we were invited to meet the mayor of Santa Rosa.  In getting to know the mayor, we learned that he is new believer and that he is open to the gospel being preached openly in his city.  In fact, he invited and gave permission for Bridget and I to come and do whatever God put in our hearts to do in the city!  We shared with the mayor that we would like to come and lead a strategic city-wide worship and prayer TO THE KING!  In his short time as mayor, he is already cleaning up the city in the natural AND the spiritual.  Santa Rosa is heavily tied to the spiritual idolatry and practices of the ancient Mayans and the masons.  Many of their statues are set in prominent places in the city.  This mayor has begun to tear these places down.  One place ( the picture shown below), is one of the highest points of Santa Rosa, complete with a long road of steps all the way up the hill that leads to the (previous) monument at the top. It is at this “high place” the mayor has already had the largest mayan statue/idol to be torn down. And that’s not all! In its place, a massive, stone Holy Bible opened to the ten commandments is being erected! Wow! I believe this is the first of many great strides for the Kingdom of God for this community.

We are currently planning a trip in 2019 back to Santa Rosa to start walking through the doors God is opening.  Our heart is to partner with the existing Jesus-centered churches who want to see their city establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.