Honduras Day 2

Sunday morning we got to sleep in a little bit.  Breakfast was at 8:00 am and we left for church at 9:15 am.  The church was small, up on a hill, in a very poor area.  The terrain was very rough getting up there, lots of rocks, ruts, and bumps all the way.  We passed a graveyard on the way up and it was nothing like that in Guatemala.  The yard was the potters field, a large piece of land where people just come in and bury dead people where ever they can find a space.  It’s very sad to see.  We also passed a area on the highway that was cut off do to a mud-like slide.  Above the highway were some nice-ish houses, but apparently about a year and a half ago, during the rainy season, there was a mud slide.  It is so sad to see.  The highway is covered with a huge mound of dirt, with a broken house on top. And as you look up the hill you can see a number of broken houses that were on the dirt that fell.  Do to some legal issues, the mess cannot even be cleaned up yet.  

I found it interesting, yet sad how our minds see this (poverty and such) as sad, but then just “forget” about it when we see something beautiful.  As we drove pass these broken houses (pictures below) and such everyone seemed to feel the hurt or feel sad, but just an instant later, everyone was oohing and ahhing at the beautiful overlook of the city out the other side of the van. 

When we arrived at the church, they welcomed us joyfully.  The decor of the place was light-solid blue and silver.  The pastor and others serving were all dressed up in blue (since they dress up on the first Sunday of the month).   The church was a Spanish speaking church, so Liz translated most of what was said.  They did a few worship songs (not translated), and while they were singing I just felt God telling me to Love these people as He has loved me.   That He is planning to do mighty works here.   After a few songs the pastor introduced Oto, who introduced our leaders and then we each introduced ourselves (the original plan was not us being involved in the service, let alone us doing the service).  Then Bryan gave a welcoming, and we sang a song in Spanish, followed by Janette and Jasmine talking about what we are doing here.  Meanwhile the rest of us went and got changed for the Life House skit.  After the skit, Oto preached the service and Liz translated for us. 

At the end of the service Oto asked us to come up front and then asked the church that anyone who needs prayer to come up front and we will pray for/over them.  It was powerful.  The Lord spoke many things to me there of His plans.  He is coming with His mighty Hosts, to push back the darkness. Something big is coming to that church; something big is coming to Honduras!  Yesterday was just a spark that God is going to fan the flame, God has mighty plans!  Hallelujah! Praise God!

After Church we went back home for lunch, and then drove about a half an hour through the mountains to a shopping place.  It wasn’t shopping like Guatemala, but it was still fun – though we were really limited on time.  But it was worth it!  On the way home we stopped somewhere for supper – now that was good.  They had a banana soda, and it tasted just like the Bubblegum cough medicine that we had when we were kids – it was good.   We then came home – I was privileged to ride with Dale and his family to and from the shopping. I got to know them a bit better and we shared some life stories, memories and experiences.  It was a good time.  At home we did our Orientation, Worship and just hung out until people started going to bed. 

The Broken Houses and such...

More Pictures from the day:


At the Church:


Pastor Victor, Liz and Oto up by the pulpit. 


The Dancers...





Bryan doing an introduction followed by Oto translating.


One of the kids.


The road to the church.


On the side of the road, it was like a dump: trash everywhere.


The view of Tegucigalpa from the road.   


Lunch back at home.


While on the shopping trip in the afternoon, we went into a wood working shop.  The guy in charge knew the Ruttans and showed us the workshop upstairs.  There were a few other men carving out wood and making all the really cool carvings.  He offered to let anyone try to carve some of the project they were on, and only Daniel was willing to.