Where do I begin? How do I fittingly put into words the significance of week one of ministry? God has moved, answered, accomplished, protected, and remained.
Ministry at the school down the road from Zion's Gate began this week, which entailed a group of 11 of us teaching 22 6th graders English.
Each of us team members are teaching about 2 students each, allowing us to begin building solid relationships with them. I'm excited to see how God works in and through that ministry.
During the middle of the day, after teaching English in the morning, each team member began working on the Zion's Gate property. Some people began working machetes, others painted rocks for decoration, pulled weeds, began constructing a rabbit house, or worked in a cactus garden.
During the afternoons a group if us were driven over to a colony of Tegucigalpa where we began building relationships with a group of street people living in a gorge behind a bus station. It was eye opening to see the impoverished living conditions, yet was beautiful seeing the joy on their faces when we took the time to serve them and love them.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this ministry and was nervous to be able to communicate in Spanish. God, however, totally stepped in, took control, and blew my mind. It was so cool to recognize the Spirit working in and through me.
God strategically placed me with people to bless them, encourage them, and shine the joy of The Lord. Speaking Spanish came to me fluidly and I was able to connect with people and simply give them a smile and a listening audience, something that they never receive.
I believe God is going to do amazing things through my team and I in the course of two months of relationship building!
Our last ministry of the week happened Friday night in the same colony of Tegucigalpa as our street ministry. "Takin' it to the Streets" is all about proclaiming the love and hope of Jesus Christ in the streets of the city in a crazy, fun way.
Friday evening (6/14) was our first night in the streets. We made signs that said "honk if you love Jesus", "Jesus loves you", and "in Christ, find your hope." Several people ran into the street when the traffic light turned red and handed people candy with encouraging messages. We sang a three-part harmony on the side of the street and even went into every fast food restaurant and performed the song as a flash mob.
It was so refreshing to see how God was working through us to bring a smile to someone's face and put the name of Jesus fresh in their mind. We hope to make our act bigger and better each Friday night when we take it to the streets!
This first week of ministry has been full, yet God has been leading us the whole way and continually inviting us into the work he has already begun in Honduras.
To Him who is able to do more than we can even think or imagine, be the glory!
