Well, we are finally here! We arrived Friday, late morning, without any issues along the way. Praise Him. Our ministry contact, Gracie, picked us up at the airport. I knew 5 minutes after meeting her that we were in for an incredible adventure.
Honduras is sometimes referred to as a fatherless nation. The vast majority of households are single mother homes. Unemployment, drugs, alcohol, and abuse of all kinds have ravaged this country. Satan is truly waging a war here against families.
Gracie and her husband, papi Lee, are fighting back. They run an incredible ministry that focuses on victims. They provide a safe place to stay, food, and education for women and children that have been victims of abuse. Papi Lee earned his title because has become a father to 24 truly fatherless children.
The reality of the situation confronted us head on within hours of arriving. While sitting in orientation, a police car pulled up out front to drop off 2 victims, a mother and her 10 year old daughter. The mother is pregnant with her father’s child and it is likely that her daughter is his as well. Before the end of orientation, the police came by again, this time with a 2 year old boy who had been absued and abandoned. They shattered my heart, but what a blessing it was that we were there to receive them in a time fear and uncertainty. 3 more were added to the family that night.
This place has already captured me. I am heart broken by all of the trauma the people around me have experienced. But, I see beauty in the Lord’s redemption. I see His mighty hand in the midst of tragedy and injustice. How beautiful it is that we serve a God who has us call him “daddy”. I delight in knowing that the God of the universe is father to this “fatherless” country.
Prayer requests:
– health and safety for our team, hosts, and victims
– that God would begin to change the hearts of men in Honduras
– healing for the victims
– willingness to walk by the Spirit
