Where has July gone?

As we look forward to our third night in a row in our own bed, we can sit back and reflect on a very fruitful month of July.  It actually began in late June as we helped situate and lead a group from Wisconson. They worked in schools and also led a camp (in which Jonathan was the worship leader). Then as July began we received a team from IMPACT, a short term missions preparing and sending organization of the Santa Barbara Presbytery.  We worked alongside a group of five energetic women to bring the Word of God to the children of Honduras through songs, puppet shows and crafts.  For two weeks we traveled with the team and worked in 7 different cities across Honduras. We worked mostly in schools. Union Bíblica already has established relationships with these schools through volunteers (over 300) nationwide giving Bible classes once a week like we do in Siguatepeque. The work that IMPACT does in these schools is very useful on one hand because it strengthens important relationships between the principals and Union Bíblica. And on the other hand it opens doors for Union Bíblica to work in new schools as others learn of IMPACT’s work by word of mouth .  The work in the schools also serves to encourage the volunteers that already work there and give the kids something special that they don’t normally get to experience that at the same time teaches them about God.

A week into the time we were hosting IMPACT, we received a group of 31 people from First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA. The leader of this group was the church’s youth pastor, who also happens to be a good friend from seminary. Our work with this group mostly consisted of  the pre-trip planning. However, it was wonderful to see how all the hard work of planning played out as their group did a large construction project at the Union Bíblica camp as well as programs in schools in Siguatepeque.  The staff of Union Bíblica was very pleased with the work of both these groups. As both groups left the same weekend they both ended up at the beach for a day of relaxing at the same time. Therefore we were able to spend a little time with our friends from Richmond. Planning for months ahead of time up to the last minute, then hosting the groups when they got here, gave us a fresh perspective of the other side of planning mission trips. (Taking 36 gringos to Burger King in Honduras is no easy task!) But the new insight will definitely serve us well as we no doubt will be State side for many more mission trips down the road.

We saw both groups to the airport then hurried back to Siguatepeque to the final games of the soccer league. The championship game was very passionate, wet (as you can see in the pictures), and ending with emotions fit for the World Cup (many of the kids cried). Then that night  Jonathan lead the worship service for our church’s 25th anniversary celebration.

The day that followed we had to leave the country for our 3 month immigration requirements. Three hours by car, and two hours by boat later… we arrived in Placencia, Belize. We spent our mandatory three days in Belize trying to recuperate a bit as we prepared for events to come.

The same day we returned from Belize began the annual national conference of Union Bíblica. Jonathan led worship for the conference and we co-taught two seminars for the conference entitled “Being a teacher like the Teacher” (it has a nicer ring in Spanish). The seminar included first a  comprehensive overview of the entire Biblical narrative to discover the missionary attribute of God, and learning how we are all called to be missionaries in our own context. We then presented four scenes in Mark that presented keys for teaching and doing ministry in the manner of Jesus.

As soon as the conference ended, we headed off to the coast for a trip to the Cayos Cochinos islands off the coast of Honduras with the staff of Union Bíblica for the annual staff retreat. It was a wonderful time of continued relationship building with the people we work with. Yet truth be told, by the time we landed back in Siguatepeque (two days ago) we were definitely ready to spend some time in only one place for a while.

On our plate for now we have preaching (Jonathan Sunday), Sunday school teaching (Kristy) and three weekends of camps on the immediate horizon. (See prayer requests for more specificity of prayer needs) Please browse the new photos for scenes from the past month…