This is a day by day account of my first missionary trip to Honduras in 2001

The following blogs for the next week or so will be memoirs from a journal I kept in 2001 of my first missionary trip to Honduras. I had never been to a third world country before and had no idea what I would encounter there.This account will detail my thoughts and emotions over a 2 week period. It was a life changing experience and I want to share it, In hopes that it might be an inspiration to someone to go and take this precious gospel to the lost. If you cannot go, then my desire is that you would pray for those that are called to go.

Monday January 15, 2001

Well, we’re finally on our way! After about 2 hours of sleep last night and a very foggy morning, our plane actually left on schedule. We are enroute from Detroit to Miami. The sunrise was very beautiful. I have never been above the clouds when the sun came up before. You can’t help but think of how great God is, to have created this! I am looking forward to whatever lies ahead, although there is a shadow cast over our trip due to my grandmother’s death yesterday.  I am comforted knowing that she knew how much I loved her. I just pray the rest of my loved ones will understand my absence at the funeral.

It was so hard saying goodbye to our children. I do have peace knowing I have entrusted their well being to the only One who can be trusted with our lives. I feel I must be dehydrated from all the tears.

After 2 uneventful flights (yay) we arrived in Honduras. I am so happy to be back on solid ground! It took a long time to go through customs. First you go through a line to stamp your passport. Then you get your luggage and go through another line where they check your bags. We finally made it through and went outside where we received a warm welcome from our host, Bro Casco, his family and several members of his church. We might not speak the same language but we share the same love for one another.

I really didn’t know what to expect Tegucigalpa, the capital city where we had landed, to be like. It was shocking. I was stunned at the contrasts between oxen ambling down the street and modern cars flying by. The drivers reminded me of Chicago taxi drivers, only 100 times more dangerous! There is much poverty evident and you can feel the hopelessness of these people. The believers are very blessed to know a living God. I am very thankful to be an American.

Bro Casco’s wife Bertha doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish. We agreed one thing we have in common is our laughter. It is the same in every language! We were staying in the Casco home. It is situated on 2 levels with an outdoor courtyard in between. We have a nice comfortable bed and an air conditioned room. We drink bottled water, even to brush our teeth. They took a us to dinner in the modern part of the city. We ate Chinese food!

Bro Casco has a little truck with 2 seats. Everyone else who wants to come, piles in the back.

Honduras is still rebuilding from hurricane Mitch 2 years ago.  Some parts of the city were completely destroyed.

I called home and everything was fine. The children are never far from my thoughts. I hope some day they can come here and experience this firsthand. I believe there is so much more we can all do for God’s people, not just here but wherever we can. Tomorrow we will leave early in the morning to drive 3.5 hours for an afternoon service.