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| The view we see traveling up and down the mountain each day. |
I'm going to try explain with phrases and pictures!
This was my 6th trip to Honduras. Why do I keep going back? What makes it so special???
I learn many lessons in Honduras each year. Some of those lessons have been reaffirmed in some books that I've read since I've come back home.
Daily Devotionals:We always have a morning and an evening devotional and I'm always so impressed by the talents of the young (and not so young) men who step up to to them.
I took away a deep thought from one of these. "In Honduras, we are totally focused on doing good. At home, we are focused on not doing bad." These are two totally different things.................Think about it!!!
I just finish reading
Radical by David Platt. One of my friends described it as "radical". Actually, having read it right after a mission trip to a third world country, it wasn't that radical to me. David Platt has a problem with multi-million dollar churches catering to their members while ignoring the plight of the poor of the world. I realize that there is a lot more to the book, but that is what I took away with it. He said these "churches" of today don't resemble the way Jesus and his disciples worshipped.
,,“The price is certainly high for people who don’t know Christ and who live in a world where Christians shrink back from self-denying faith and settle into self-indulging faith. While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American dream instead of giving their lives to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the Gospel remain in the dark”
I'm also reading Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution. Both books speak to how Americans are blinded by materialism.
In Honduras, we live simply, our living situation is humble (as far as American standards go), and we don't have the distractions that we deal with at home. Distractions like: TV, jobs, family, etc. Everyone there is focused on doing good.
I know I may be rambling, but don't you see something wrong with $$$$ being spent or wasted when you have people living in situations shown in the picture above. Back home in America, it's easy for me to fall back into the trappings of the American dream.
Surrounded by others people who have a similar focus. It is also special to meet and be around other Christians.
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Today's generation has gotten a reputation for being lazy and spoiled. Torch trips always prove to me that there are a lot of spiritually mature young adults out there and it's always such an honor to meet and work along side them!!!
“So if the world hates us, we take courage that it hated Jesus first. If you're wondering whether you'll be safe, just look at what they did to Jesus and those who followed him. There are safer ways to live than by being a Christian.”
― Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical
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How many pairs of shoes do you have? How many pairs of jeans do you have? Maybe clothing isn't your thing.....What is your thing? I'm actually speaking to myself.
In Honduras, we gave clothing away to people who probably never had anything new. I couldn't help but get a little upset when I had to dig through stained, faded clothes to find something for those precious people.
They were always appreciative though, but I still felt sad when I thought of my crammed walk-in closet at home!!!!
The conundrum: I know this is a word, but am I using it correctly???? The whole time we are in Honduras, we are reminded to take our mission focus back to the US with us. Why is that so hard to do?????
People are the same everywhere!!! We all sit in Sunday school and we pray for our friends and family who are sick and going through struggles.
This week I had an appointment to get my teeth cleaned. The hygienist knows about my yearly trip, and I would consider her to be a "religious" person. She asked me if we could tell if our work in Honduras had made a difference.
I was taken aback...What did she mean by that???? I was fairly forward and told her that there was much poverty in Honduras, but we at least made a difference in those people we touched. What if it was her child, her mother, her sister who was sick or hungry??
I guess that's enough ranting and rambling for today. I'm not sure if this even makes sense. I hope it does.....I will try to collect my thoughts and add to these thoughts later!!!
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| Inhibitions are lowered and lost in Honduras. |
I have to go back to school on August 1st!!!!! Can you believe it???? I can't!!!
