More reflections

Karie - Spending a week at the children's home in Honduras was amazing! I could really see God at work. We started off strong with our painting project, we were ahead of schedule and getting things done faster than we had anticipated. We had cool cloudy weather for the first few days. Then the sun came out….and we could see many different shades of our 'melon' colored paint all over the place. Since we mixed the 5 gallon bucket of paint ourselves, each bucket came out a slightly different shade. So we decided to go over each room with a 3^rd coat being careful to only use paint from one bucket so that it all blended evenly. Looking back at it now, I can see how to apply it to my life. Often I do things in my life that I think look good on the cloudy days, but once they get into the sunlight I can see my mistakes. When I give those things to God, he is my source of light- I can clearly see what areas need improvement.

And for me, it takes practice and some help to do things right- that's what I learned from the tortillas! One afternoon I had some free time and Marianna was making tortillas, I walked over there and soon enough Pastor Alex said something about me helping with the tortillas. My Spanish isn't very good so I'm not sure what he said but I can't help but wonder if he just thought it would be funny to see me try! I watched Marianna shape a few tortillas out of the dough and thought this doesn't look so hard. But no sooner had I tried to make my first one that Lisbeth was next to me shaking her head and pointing that I should put that back in the bowl of dough and try again. Marianna started shaping them for me so that all I had to do was flatten them- those turned out much better than when I tried to do it all on my own! I feel that was another lesson God taught me, that we all have our own role to play and when we work together we can accomplish so much more than on our own.

Overall, it was an incredible trip. I loved getting to know all the children and playing with them- especially Candyland!

Honduras Mission Highlights

Honduras Reflections

Teresa - Two weeks after returning from Honduras, my thoughts immediately go to the kids at the Children’s Home! They are such wonderful kids and seem so happy there. It really feels like a family atmosphere and it’s obvious how much each child is cared for and loved. I know their happiness is due to the people who work there and care for them. The adults who work there also seem happy and content. Although they don’t have all the comforts many of us in the U.S. do, they appreciate what they do have and really seem to enjoy life.


I also think of the children who come for the feeding program each weekday. That leads to thoughts of the surrounding community around the Children’s Home. Many people live in real poverty. The Children’s Home has been good for the entire surrounding area because of less crime around there since it was built, the feeding program, offering medical care when teams come to the home, etc.


Overall, I think how Dago, his wife and a handful of people followed what the Lord asked of them in building the Children’s Home and trusted God to provide. Then more people answered God’s call to give to the Children’s Home to provide the money and necessary resources to build it and sustain it. Over the years, the people working at and giving to the Home, have greatly influenced children for the better who have gotten to live there and who have benefited from its other programs and even it’s mere presence in their community.


When we answer God’s call, God will use us, and the resources He’s entrusted to us to His Glory. It doesn’t even matter whether we think it will make a difference or whether we think it’s big enough contribution, God can and will use it as He wants and He can do anything with a little or with a lot! Remember the story about the 5 loaves and 2 fish that Jesus used to feed the multitudes (Matthew 14:13-21).


For me personally, I learned that’s why I am to answer any call God gives me. He knows what He is doing and will use me for His glory if I am obedient. I really didn’t know why I was supposed to go on this mission trip or if I would be of much use, largely due to physical limitations. However, God used me and also showed me that I am capable of much more than I thought when I rely on Him. I knew He was asking me to go to Honduras and the call was followed by confirmation by others in the church that this would be the best mission trip for me.


I encourage everyone to listen to God’s still small voice, or sometimes His rather loud calling! Obey what He asks in faith and believe He will provide. You will learn to lean on and trust Him more. This is how we learn more about the magnificent character of God. We get to grow closer to Him and he wants to be our friend! What an incredible privilege!!!



Wendy - When we made it to Honduras I really didn't know what to expect. I found a different part of the world so much different then mine. We count on water to be there whenever we turn on the sink, or electricity to always be on. If any of this goes wrong we are not happy. In Honduras it is a part of life. You make do with what you have and not complain.


I saw God there at the children's home in many ways, the way they sang there songs, read from the bible, the love in there faces for him. I knew I could not understand what they said most of the time, but you could see god and feel God there. God has provided for them in many ways. This children's home is a blessing for the children there and for the kids that come to play or eat there. The adults that help there are amazing! They have 23 kids and more to take care of and always has a smile on there face when doing it. I know if I had that many kids to take care of everyday I would not have a smile on my face. I really liked how life there was laid back and not in a rush. We are in such a rush here that is why we are so stressed.


I know God picked us to go there to see how they live and worship him and to see what an amazing place that is. Also to make good friends. We worked great together on the painting. We also did good when we had to paint all over again when the paint didn't go so well. I feel God was telling us we are moving too fast and need to take more time on this project do not be in such a hurry. I remember Kevin saying some people like to go on mission trips and some will support them. I know this mission trip was good for me. I plan on doing more even if they are here or out of the country. I hope to take my children on some when they get older. I have told my children all about the children's home and how they live. My middle child had so many questions, so I answered them and he still has more. He wants to know it all.


When I did get back the first question my husband asked me was would you do it again? I said right away, yes.


So I will be not in such a hurry and take the time to breath and look at all the blessings I have . God has blessed me in many ways with my family, health and all the people around me . I have learned so much there and from everyone I went with on the trip.

Deb - A team of 8 people adventured from Prairie Ridge on the 2^nd mission trip to the Children’s Home in Honduras. We left Saturday excited how God would use us. Andrew and Keren Terry were already there, so the 6 of us from Ankeny began our trip together. Suzanne, our group leader, had gone the year before and the rest of were going for the first time. We didn’t know how quickly God was going to pull us together as a team as our flight in Chicago was canceled from mechanical problems and we needed to figure how to get to Miami to make our connecting flight to Honduras. Two on cell phones and running to the gate with the counter to rebook, we pulled together and added an extra flight through St. Louis to make our connecting flight. We all found a way to laugh and just trust God in this predicament.

We arrived Sat. night with the whole Honduras Soccer team. That was exciting and we joked the media was actually there for our arrival. As we realized our luggage didn’t make it, we didn’t let that discourage us. The difficult part was that they don’t deliver your luggage the next day when it arrives. Pastor Alex had to go back Sunday afternoon and did not return until Sunday evening. Never a complaint, his wife and the other gal on staff lead the Sunday evening service since their husbands had to drive an hour and half each way to retrieve our luggage. These women had helped with Sunday morning Sunday school, prepared 3 meals that day and lead the entire services. Their contentment and joy and trusting Lord humbled us all. Did I mention they cook all their food and it’s over an outdoor wood burning stove? And wash all their clothes by hand?

The children were so delightful and we all fell in love them all and found ways to communicate even without a lot of Spanish. They love to play and laugh. We enjoyed teaching them Skip Bo, Candy Land, Shoots and Ladders and Twister. They loved the games and even when the power went out and we played in candle light - it didn’t faze them.

We painted every morning for around 4 hours. We painted the main building of 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen and large gathering room. We found oil paint did not blend well and took 4 days 3 coats to get it to finally look good. It was worth the extra work and gave the place a fresh new look. Our work seemed insignificant compared to how hard these families work to take care of the facility, children, and run a feeding program 5 days a week for 30 local children. They are always singing praise to the Lord and content in where the Lord has put them. We were in awe of their incredible commitment and faith in the Lord.

Every day around 3 pm over 50-70 kids showed up to play on the playground and to engage in soccer games. Pastor Alex and Manuel would organize the boys into groups and play 10 minute games. Most of these boys ages 16- 7 didn’t even have shoes. They played in everything from heat to a major rain storm.

God has taken one man’s dream and through his faithfulness not only given 23 wonderful children a family but continues to reach out to the poor villages around them. I know the Lord is not done with this ministry and I pray Prairie Ridge is not done supporting such an important mission. “Ephesians: For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

We're home!

3:00 am came way to early this morning! The bus ride to San Pedro Sula was an hour and half adventure, we don't want to repeat any time soon. The driving and roads in Honduras are not comparable to the US. We got to the airport at 5:20 and got our tickets and made it through security in plenty of time to use the rest of our lempiras for some breakfast. The trip to Miami was uneventful - it was fun to fly over Cuba and the Florida Keys. It is always fun to fly and see the earth from a different vantage point - between the oceans, the clouds, the animals, the mountains...we saw nature as a testament of God's creation. When we landed in Miami and got through customs and passport control, we realized that we had been bumped from our original flight out of Chicago (at 5:40) and put on the flight to Des Moines at 7:00. We were all a little bummed because we were hopping to be home at 7:00. But God is faithful! With the thunderstorms in Chicago they were backed up and we were put in to a holding pattern over Chicago for 30 minutes - we didn't get off the plane until 5:50. So we had plenty of time to get some supper and compare pictures of the week. It was a great feeling to walk down the steps in the Des Moines Airport and see our families waiting for us! We had a great time serving in Honduras but hugs from our families were a great homecoming!

To learn more about the children's home visit their blog: http://ministriesoffaith.blogspot.com/

Friday

It's our last day! Today we have already gone shopping and are on our way to the water park (just our group) to cool off since all our work is done. We're getting ready for a party with the kids tonight. We bought a couple of cakes and are getting ice cream. We're going to give them some of the games and toys people at church donated - the rest will be used as birthday and Christmas gifts. The kids loved playing Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Skip-B0, and Twister! Today is the birthday of Carlitos, so we all sang just for him, and he got a special gift from the many donated by the church. His face was full of wonder as he took in the chorus of Happy Birthday in Spanish, all for him (usually the children have their birthdays celebrated in groups by month). They find so much joy in the things we take for granted. I hope to take some of that back with me. A storm rolled in while we were eating cake, so we were left to play games by candlelight. The kids were sad when bedtime came, and they gave hugs and said their goodbyes to the members of the group. God provided once again, as the electricity came back on just as we were finishing up our last minute packing for the trip home. We'll leave at 3 am tomorrow morning! It´s been a great week in this special place, and we hope you have enjoyed sharing it with us through this blog!

Thursday

What a great day! We finished painting and the third coat looks great! Today was also the day we got to take the kids to the waterpark. All week they had been asking is today the day? It was so fun. For about half the kids it was the first time they had been there - they were so excited! It's hard to describe the smiles and laughter - especially as they went down the slide for the first time. It's smiliar to an American water park but it costs $2.50 - a day's wage in Honduras, so there was only one other family there while we were there. Our day was cut short because of a thunderstorm. We had church at night - the pastor and his wife are on staff at the children's home. They work all day feeding and taking care of the kids and the groounds and still have time to prepare a full church service (almost all the kids fell asleep during church - they were so tired from their full day. All and all it was a great day!

Wednesday

Another beautiful day! God has blessed our weather this week...it has been unseasonably cool. We thought we had finished painting three bedrooms but once the sun came out we saw lots of streaks from the two different buckets of paint...so we started over! The third coat looks awesome! The melon color is growing on us. This afternoon we started painting the gathering room in the guest house. It started to rain just as all the kids from the feeding program were gathering - we helped serve the kids and gave them some candy. The loved it! For supper tonight we went to this little ¨restaurant¨ in a nearby town - we walked through the living room of the home to get to the eating area and had the best fried chicken in the world! We also had fried green bananas - they tasted like french fries! Now we´re in town calling home, checking email, and updating the blog...and hoping to find some ice cream!

Monday & Tuesday

Monday was a great day of painting. It was cooler than normal and we worked great as a team. After we cleaned up with our cold showers we got ready to enjoy the kids. Many children come after school and play soccer. They have so many boys they have to rotate groups for 10 minute games. At 4 pm 30 kids come for a feeding program monday through friday. I did a lesson and the most fascinating part for me was how excited they were for the color sheet and using the crayons. One little boy about 2 years old did not want to give up his crayon. So we let him keep it. One boy wanted to keep his sheet perfect and wouldn't color on it. Even with the language barrier, we could smile as they were so proud of their sheets they colored.

We then helped give out the plates of food to the children. They ate tortillas, beans, cabbage and a fruit drink. Then the children at the home helped with clean up and then they ate. The kids at the home are amazing with how they do their own laundry, clean rooms and help out.

The best part of the evening was when we played with the kids at the childrens home. We pushed many of the kids on the swings and they learned the word "Push!" We played until bedtime. The laughter and their smiles were the best!

Tuesday:

We painted again and that afternoon lost power for the evening. After the feeding program with which the kids had helped, we played again with the kids. It gets dark at 6ish but it didn't seem to bother them. They had so much fun with Karie's camera taking pictures of themselves and the flash going off. They were happy with simple things and we played many hand clapping games like "Mary Mack." The week is flying by and with storms we never know when we will have power. You can see why they cook on a wood burning stove outside.

deb culligan

Blogs will be intermittent

Electricity is intermittent...so our blogs will be too!

Sunday

Our first full day in Honduras! We were awakened by our cold showers....then awesome breakfast made by the ladies here. They cook and clean all day, and this particular day, got to do the church services too...Because our luggage didn´t arrive with our re-routed flights, Alex and Manuel had to go back to the airport for our luggage. This ended up taking all day before the airport personnel let them have all of our luggage. The ladies step in and do everything the men normally do in addition to all that the ladies do on a daily basis.
We had a wonderful time going to Sunday School and hearing the children sing. It was so exciting seeing them for the first time! They are God´s precious children!
We started taking down items from the walls where we were going to paint. Getting ready for a lot of painting the next few days!
Later they had a church service for any adults or kids in the surrounding communities who can come. We got to enjoy beautiful singing again and a sermon on the Great Flood...in Spanish¨.... After that we played with the kids the rest of the evening as long as long as we could. We were swinging, playing football, etc.
We are enjoying the wonderful food prepared on a wood burning stove and made with a lot of labor. We are seeing dishes and clothes being washed by hand outside.
We will be painting and painting and painting the next days.......

We have arrived...though the blog is late...

We left Des Moines on time Saturday morning, but things took a turn after that. We only had a short layover in Chicago, but we hurried to our flight and made it on time. We sat on the plane for about 15 minutes before they told us it would be delayed.....then cancelled. We had part of the team running to the help desk to re-route and the other part on the phone, luckily we made it through so we flew to St. Louis and then on to Miami, then finally to Honduras! We arrived in Honduras to groups of media and people cheering as we came out, waving signs.....well, it might have been for the Honduran soccer team that was also on our flight! Our luggage didn´t make it till Sunday afternoon....luckily they had some extra sheets and towels we were able to borrow at the children´s home! It was exciting to finally be here after our long journey and we were excited for what the week would hold. What does God have in store for us? We will soon see!