Penalty Kicks For The Win!

Day 3! What a beautiful day in Honduras. Sunday is always a day that we get to take a break from everything because in Honduras the majority of people do not work on Sundays. However, for TORCH we often still have busy days! 

Today we went out to Santa Anna for church. The service was at the Santa Anna Church of Christ. We sang both in Spanish and English and then Chad brought us a message that Tim translated to Spanish. Chad spoke about working towards giving up everything for Christ. He used examples like Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his son because God told him to. We have to be willing to do the same, give up everything we have so that God is first in our lives, even when it may be hard because in the end He will provide for us what we need, just as he did when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. 

The church at Santa Anna.

Chad and Tim delivering the message at church.

At church they took up an offering, and it was truly amazing. The church there has a normal contribution of about 200 limperas ($10) a week. The offering today was 32,400 limperas or about $1,400. To put that slightly more in perspective we thought of it in the standards of a church in the US. If a church normally has an offering of about $200 it would be as though someone from another country, who doesn't speak your language, comes in and drops $300,000 into the offering, says they love you, and then gets on their bus to continue their work. It always humbles me to see the giving hearts of those on these trips. People who work to raise money to come, shop and give to the community, but then are still able to give so much to a local congregation to further the efforts of Gods Kingdom. 

After church the kids put on a little performance for us. If you look on my facebook there should be a live video of it. 

After church we made out way to the mall for lunch. We also were able to watch the Denmark/Croatia game, which was exciting because it was a great game to watch! For anyone who doesn't keep up with it, someone had to win this game. It went into extra time and then into penalty kicks before Croatia kicked Denmark out of the running! Soccer is always so much more fun to watch down here because it is so loved in this part of the world! In Honduras they had a huge set up at the mall for people to come and watch the game. The food court was filled with people sitting and watching the game.

Staple for every trip I go on. 

This is the watch party area at the mall they have set up. The screen was huge and everyone was standing around it. So much fun watching with people who are into the game! You should have seen/heard the crowd when Croatia missed the one kick!

 

Once lunch was over we made out way back to the Mission House. The doctors had arrived from the airport and we got to work sorting meds for our medical clinic this week. We always manage to have such a great time sorting meds, even when we accidentally sort bags of 60 and then have to resort them into bags of 15 🤣🤣. 

Sorting is always so much fun! It gives me a respect for the pharmacy that I never had before!

Scott and Cassidy working on lables for Zpacks

Hannah putting lables on bags.

Smiling faces even though most have left and we are here fixing a mistake.

We don't want to give out 60 of these guys so we had to change the bags to 15.

There were a lot of this med.

Dinner tonight was from Taco Loco, a staple meal here on the days that the ladies at Villa Gracia have off. Taco Loco caused devo yo be slightly later then normal. Matt spoke tonight on the love that God has for those I  his family. He spoke on the fact that although God breathed life into each one of us it is our choice to become part of the family. Gods family are those following Him. He wants each of us but in the end sadly not all are party of the family. But if you are, and God has a cell phone, you would be the background on His phone because you are His child.

Birthday celebrations in Honduras are always so much fun.

Tomorrow is sure to bring about a lot of adventures! Sad to think we are already in the home stretch of the trip, I really don't want it to end. 

Day Time House Builds and Night Time Shopping

Another amazing day here in Honduras. Today the group broke up into a few teams. We had 3 house builds, food distribution/the dump, and a group that went out and got the Didasko kids and took them to Chuckie Cheese! 

As much as I would have loved to go with the Didasko kids, I couldn't bring myself to stand in the sign up line.  But I was able to get on a house build. Before leaving Chad spoke at Devon about super heroes. He spoke on the fact that although all these super heroes in the movies have amazing powers, we ate blessed to be. Superhero to all those we come in contact and we not only help save them for this life but for the eternal life. He also spoke on the fact that of all the superheroes out there Christ will always be the most powerful. 

All 3 of the house builds were out near the dump, along with the food distribution. We packed up about 115 of the bags of food for them to distribute in the morning and then they made lunch for those working at the dump. 

Our house location.

Our house build was in a wonderful location. There were no rocks and it was really one of the best crews I've been a part of. Everyone had amazing attitudes all day, worked hard, and listened to each other. Jo Dawn, our leader, did an amazing job working with some of us who dont often get to use a chainsaw to teach us. 

Cassidy working hard nailing in a wall!

Myself back in the corner working with Chris to finish the floors. 

Jo Dawn working with Lindsey and the chainsaw.

How on Earth with Ethan get down?

When in Honduras, do as the Hondurans do. 

**No one was hurt in the taking of this picture

The crew.

The family we build for today. They are due for a baby in about a month.

Colleen and Chris...this is what happens when I leave Hannah go out on her own for a build with Terry and Brian.  (Don't worry she is okay, just scraped up her knee a little.)

Hannah working on the Terry Reves house build

*I stole this from Patty's facebook for you to see Hannah working 

After the build we all headed back to the mission house. There we had dinner slightly early, around 5:30, so that we could go back down the mountain and shop at Mi Esperanza. 

Normal routine after work, we play soccer!

After shopping we had a short devo before coming back home for the night. Matt spoke on the importance of giving up things in your life that are keeping you from following Christ. When in Honduras, at a church camp, on a church trip, etc. it is so easy to let those go. He spoke on how by giving those things up you could find a life that would bring more reward and fulfillment.

Scott and I on the bus to Mi Esperanza.

Mi Esperanza has a campaign ever summer. 

This summer it is #standforhope

When you forget something somewhere in Honduras you have to work to get it back.

Here is a girl doing the Macarina to get her phone back.

Tomorrow is going to be a slightly easier day. We will be going out to Santa Anna for church, out for lunch, and then head back to the mission house to sort medicine for the medical center this coming week. Also tomorrow we will gain a few members to our team who will be working as the doctors in our center. 

I was told by someone that comments weren't working..feel free to put comments here or if your on my Facebook you can make a comment on my link to the blog. :) 

P.S. Some of the pictures are not great quality. I used my camera and then realized that my dad's computer doesn't have a card to get the pictures from off the camera. I will use my phone for the remainder of the trip.  

Better Late Than Never

Finally!

Finally, I have made it to Honduras. Sadly, a couple days late. Looking for a job in PA has been difficult and I made the decision to stay home for 2 interviews Wednesday and Thursday...a decision that I now retreat since neither one went anywhere and it caused me to lose money and two days of my trip. However, I am here now and I couldn't be happier. 

Thursday night I left my house around 10:30pm (I am now typing this at 10:30pm, which would be 12:30pm Eastern time.) My dad and sister drove with me to drop me off at the airport in Baltimore...a nice 5 hour drive, that I slept maybe an hour of. We arrived at the airport around 3am and I said goodbye to my family. It was weird traveling to Honduras alone, something I have never had to do! 

Morning Drop Off

Checking into the airport was easy since it was only myself and I made it through security and to my gate with no problems. The first flight took off around 5:44am and landed in Miami about 8:30am, slept the majority of that flight. Then I had a lovely 2 hour layover before boarding for Honduras at 10:00. Upon arrival it took me 15 minutes or so to actually find Terry and Brian who were picking me up because my flight had landed early and they were still at the money exchange.

Once I found the guys we made our way to the truck and directly went out to work! Missing 2 days already I was so excited to go straight to a build sight! When I arrived the team already had 3 walks up but I was able to help build some! I worked with Fisher, a darling 5 year old on the floor. I would nail in the majority of the nail and then she would finish it up for me, we worked great as a team. I absolutely love seeing the little kids coming on these trips! Once the floor was in I was also able to help nail up one wall, with the assistance of a bucket and wooden plank. #shortgirlproblemsolving One the last wall was up we got the door put in, normally this can be done earlier but the door happened to be needed on the last wall today. While they were inside cutting out the door those stuck outside cleaned up the tools and wood pieces until the door was cut to go inside and dedicate the house. 

Myself and Fisher working on the flooring.

Once we finished we started back to the mission house. Thank goodness for Scott because my bags were taken to the hospital along with Brenda and the truck (Brenda broke her wrist today at the build sight, but everything looks as though it will be okay.) when we stopped at the gas station Scott got me some Fresca.  When we arrived back at the mission house those who had went to the hospital and fruit market were finishing packing food bags, so I jumped in and helped with that and we moved 240+ bags that were made inside until food distribution on Saturday. Collen and LeAnne your daughters were part of this group. They were working hard when I arrived.

The house

Matt Mitchell is the speaker for the week. Tonight he spoke on John 1:12 and what it truly means to believe in Jesus. He spoke on how the term belief is more then just a feeling that we use it as. Belief in Jesus is believing that he is the messiah, the christ, immanual, holy, I Am, etc. He spoke on how belief is not only the feeling that many think but it is putting that belief into action. For example, you can believe that putting gas in your car will make it move BUT you have to put it to action by starting the car and pressing the peddle. Our belief in Jesus is the same way, we can believe but truly believing also requires us to follow his teachings. 

Tomorrow brings all sorts of fun things, I hope you'll be back to read every day! I will do my best to post either in the evening or morning, but its Honduras so you never know! And now it is what would be 12:50 at home and I am beyond tired with only 2-3 hours of sleep since Thursday morning. PLEASE, feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts. :) 

God is in My Tomorrow

Another year has come and gone. I can not believe that I am typing this blog on my bed back home in the USA...This year probably went faster then any year I have ever spent in Honduras. We had such an amazing team, one of the the best teams that I have ever worked with!

On our final work day we broke off into 2 house builds, a hospital/dump team, and a group that went to Didasko to finish the renovations on the playground.

I was on, you guessed it, a house build. This house build was not just a house build though, it was Tricky's dedication house. I have been traveling with Tricky for the past 14 years to Honduras. He really is like a second father to me so building this house in honor of everything he has done for the people in Honduras was special to me.

Jerret petting the donkey at the build site. 

Measuring out for the posts.

High side wall crew!

Gwen did double duty holding down the boards for my side and the other side!

The life of a short person doing the high wall. 

The house we built was out near the dump again, that seemed to be the community of choice for this years trip, all but 3 of our houses were built out in that community. We build the house for a mother, who was expecting, and her 3 children.

Me and the Trickster

Jarret working on the floor.

I LOVE having kids in Honduras!

Cassidy was so excited!

I told you all he worked HARD today!

Tricky was different on this house build then any build I have ever seen him work on. Over the past couple years we have kind of weaned Tricky into becoming a crew leader because people don't want him to over work himself, which he totally would because he is stubborn, haha. On this house build though it was as though he was a little kid again, he wanted to be a part of every portion of that house. He worked on the posts, the walls, the floor, the door, the window, EVERYTHING. He did all of it and the smile on his face thought this house build brought a smile to everyone else.

This is Walter. He is one of the boys who will live in this house.

He had so much fun helping me make the floor!

He took my work gloves. Doesn't he look cute! 

I wish you all could have seen the excitement he had when 

I let him help nail in the floor!

 Working on the final wall

The family

I don't think Tricky ever thought that someone would choose to build a house to honor him. The work he does was never for anyone but the people of Honduras, in fact it wasn't his choice to start coming to Honduras. He started coming because his son couldn't come at the last minute and he didn't want to waste a plane ticket! I told you all he was stubborn. God has a funny way of showing people what they are meant to be doing. I believe that is why Mikey couldn't go on that trip all those years ago....if Mikey had gone Tricky would just be Pat. If Mikey had gone the 116+ houses may not be standing in Honduras. If Mikey had not gone I wouldn't be able to consider myself a daughter to Tricky and Robin because I really don't know if I would be as close to them without our trips together. I am so thankful that Mikey wasn't able to go on that trip and that Pat took his place. God knew what He was doing. He knew that Pat needed to GO! (Funny how that works in with the Go theme this year.)

The crew

The house

The other house build. We went and helped finish/pack up tools after our house was done.

Me and Jonathan. 

I heard a saying from J-Lo this week and I feel like it is one of the best things that anyone could live by. I don't know what is in store for me in the future but I do know one thing, God is in my tomorrow.
If God is in my tomorrow, your tomorrow, anyones tomorrow, there is no need to worry because He's got this. God may have plans for you that you can't even comprehend but that doesn't matter because with Him you can and will do the impossible. So as I close out another amazing trip, what is your tomorrow looking like? If you can't say with certainty that God is in your tomorrow then I would think about changing it. God is in my tomorrow and I plan to GO and use Him in everything that I do.