My bags are packed and I'm ready to go. Well, not really. I've still got to find my favorite blue backpack carry-on, which might be buried at the bottom of our very full storage room. I'm very excited about this trip, but it's going to be different than my previous trips. First of all, there will be a different team captain. I know he will be great, but he's not the team captain that I've known my whole life. I'm going to have to be conscious of comparing cause I know "that's not how Dad would do it" isn't the right attitude. Secondly, I'm not going with my parents. I have never not gone with one or both of them, and I'm going to miss them a bunch. But don't worry, I have a host of surrogate family members that will be there, including my real-life Uncle Sluggo.
I have also felt led to share my testimony one night during the evening church service, so I'm asking everyone to pray that I can do that without sounding like a blubbering idiot. One main thing I want to share is how God answers prayer, which is something my family knows about personally. Please be in prayer for me about this.
One of our former team members wrote up this and I thought I'd share with my blog friends. I wish I could post daily from the field, but if we have electricity I will count my blessings.
Thanks for praying for me and our team this week. We are excited to see what God will do!
MISSION TRIP PRAYER GUIDE
Saturday - Pray:1. For safety of all team members traveling to LR & all vehicles function properly
2. That all team members arrive with the proper documents/passports
3. That team members will sleep well and arise easily for departure
Sunday - Pray:1. That team members will arrive at the airport on time, all bags meet airline guidelines, airport check-in proceed efficiently, & ALL board the airplane
2. That team members will remain positive, even with frustrations, so that airline employees and fellow travelers see Christ in them
3. For divine appointments with someone that team members encounter today and the courage to share the plan of salvation
4. That Honduran staff members will complete their preliminary plans and arrive at the airport promptly and without travel difficulty
5. For airline travel safety for team members and for airplane personnel to perform their tasks safely and efficiently
6. For ease in proceeding through customs & for travel safety to the mission site and ease in setting up the compound
7. That all equipment function properly & all luggage/supplies arrive safely
8. For the Holy Spirit to be present in the church service & for salvation decisions
9. For a restful night and adequate sleep for team members in the new environment
Monday - Pray: 1. For the health & unity of all (Honduran & American) team members
2. For many divine appointments today & that team members maintain a Christ-like attitude so others may see Christ in them
3. As the team members prepare themselves for ministry & will focus on the spiritual and eternal needs of the Hondurans encountered today
4. That the entire operation/mission functions well & without major difficulties
5. For the Holy Spirit to be present at each day & night church service & work in team members & Hondurans that attend
6. For a “full house” at the evening church service & all be attentive to the Holy Spirit
7. For many salvation decisions, that Satan will be bound, & God glorified in all activities today & tonight
8. For those speaking/singing in the service that the Holy Spirit may use them
9. Praise God for what He will do today and thank Him for his presence
10. For team members as they encounter Hondurans today that they will share the plan of salvation with ease & confidence
11. Specifically for those that made salvation decisions today and also for those that heard and did not accept that the Holy Spirit will work in their lives & bring them to a salvation decision soon
12. For a good night’s sleep & rest for all team members
Tuesday – SAME AS MONDAY plus pray for renewed physical strength & enthusiasm as team members tire and for flexibility
Wednesday – SAME AS MONDAY plus pray for physical & spiritual strength as clinics may run late & team members have fatigue for there still may be lost people waiting
Thursday – Pray:1. That departure activities proceed with ease and efficiency & all will assist
2. Praise God for the work that He did this week, for those attending the clinics & church that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their lives and that they act as He leads
3. Pray for the local church that it will grow in numbers & spirit as they disciple themselves & others
4. For travel safety and the health of all team members & proper functioning of ALL travel vehicles & continued unity & flexibility
5. Thank God for the improved facilities provided and the ability to “clean up” and rest
Friday - Pray:
1. For continued health & safety of team members
2. Praise God for the translators & Honduran staff as they have given of themselves
for the advancement of the Kingdom. Pray for their continued work in Honduras
3. For U.S. team members that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their lives & use experiences this week to grow spiritually, & share with others what God did this week in Honduras
4. For team members today that others they encounter today will see Christ in them
5. For continued divine appointments
6. That team members will sleep well and arise easily & joyfully for departure
Saturday - Pray:1. That team members will arrive at the airport on time, all bags meet airline guidelines, check-in proceed efficiently, & all board the departing airplane
2. That team members will remain positive, even with frustrations, so that everybody they encounter today will see Christ in them
3. For divine appointments today courage for team members to share the plan of salvation
4. For air and ground safety and for those responsible for it
5. For ease in proceeding through customs, that all luggage arrive safely & promptly
6. For travel safety for friends/family members & for safety in returning home
7. Pray for a restful night’s sleep and energy to wake up and attend church services
Sunday - Pray:1. For team members as they attend church services that others may see & hear how God worked in their lives in Honduras this past week
2. That as team members tell about their mission trip to Honduras that God be glorified
3. Thank God for the work that He did in each team member’s life.
4. That each team member continue to be “on mission”, have divine appointments with the lost & have courage & boldness sharing the plan of salvation
We noticed that there were zip lines across the water, and several people wanted to try it. I was not interested in getting strapped to a wire across a huge waterfall, so I decided to stay on the ground and take pictures. So glad I did too!
After visiting at the compound, the new team members went to the market, which has all kinds of souvenirs. Since I have plenty of Honduras stuff, I wanted to go to Yolanda's. You wouldn't think of Honduras as being a trendy place, but in the big cities, there are definitely people who have money. And they like to get their hair done! The bus dropped off me, Zoe, Lesli, Kathy Garcia, and Jennifer off at Yolanda's Satellite Spa and Salon. Her main salon is in Tegucigalpa, and is much bigger, but we were glad to see them! The services I got were wonderful and inexpensive! I had a manicure, pedicure, full-body massage, and hair washing and drying - all for $30! I can't even get my hair cut in Cabot for that much. I really enjoy the pampering time after roughing it earlier in the week.
Holly and Kristen rocking out...
