God has placed on my heart a passion for the Spanish language and the Latin culture; hence, I travelled to Honduras. Honduras is located in Central America and is the 2nd poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.  Less than 20% of homes have electricity and running water and most children do not advance beyond 3rd grade. Since so many cannot read, they hunger to hear Gods Word read to them.  Our education and money stretch very far there.   For children in the remote villages the only way out of poverty is education.

I had the honour of joining a Christian organization called AIM (Adventure In Missions). AIM provided me with an opportunity to see the need in Honduras and ways that we can help, in the name of Jesus.  Serving, through preaching, teaching, building and healing is the purpose of this mission. I enjoyed the idea that one can be involved with different projects during the duration of the mission.  Some of those projects included serving at the Medical Clinic, building latrines, houses or wells, preaching and worshiping in the prisons; door-to-door ministry praying for people and giving out bibles. I had the privilege of being involved with all of the above.

Our team set up medical clinics in different villages around La Ceiba, and provided vision consults, dental and general health care along with a pharmacy of medicines that we transported with us.   Families and children lined up to be seen and rewarded us with their beautiful smiles.

One of the highlights of my trip was evangelizing in the villages door to door.  Along with the pastor and a Honduran interpreter we reached many homes, which were simple, thatched-roof huts with beautiful humble people.  The people were especially welcoming into their homes and thirsting to hear the good news of Jesus.  Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved”.

One house in particular was special for me.  This is where I met Jenny, a neighbour of the folks we were visiting. I sensed the Holly Spirit directing me to speak to Jenny; I had a conversation with her about the Lord.  She started to cry and released her burdens that lay so heavy in her heart.  I could tell that Jenny was hungry for the Lord and prayed with her.  At that moment, I noticed a change in her face.  She was glowing and smiling. She ran to her house, changed into her best dress and shoes, and wanted to join us in our journey travelling from house to house in this little village with her new bible in hand, telling the people what had just happened to her.  She was a new creation in Christ! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2nd Corinthians 5:17).

Another highlight of my trip was a visit to the prisons. Most of the men were in prison for drugs or deportation from the USA as illegal immigrants after being apprehended for a crime in the USA: Honduras being their native homeland. We went in a group of 10 and set up a small clinic for the inmates wherein medication and eyeglasses were distributed.  Pastor Ron, the musicians, and myself had a worship service.  Following the worship and praise, Pastor Ron spoke a sermon about being washed in the blood of Christ and obtaining new life in Christ.   Looking around at all of the inmates who attended reminded me of the scripture in Mathew 9:36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”.  We prayed for individuals who wanted prayer and there was a line up for that! Each person received prayer and a Spanish bible.

Lastly, the occurrence that put this entire trip into perspective for me was the flight home from Honduras.  Originally at the beginning of the plans for this mission our Ontario group was to leave on Thursday February 13, 2009 flight 3407 with Continental airlines from Honduras to Newark/Newark to buffalo.  However, this date was switched for the Ontario group now leaving Saturday February 15, 2009 Continental airlines same route as the above. The headlines that our team was reading on Feb 14 read: Flight From Newark to Buffalo Crashes: This was the Continental flight 3407.  The uneasy and eerie feeling that came over me was un-comprehendible until I was back home and realized the significance of God's presence.   His presence was so real and so steadfast words cannot explain how overwhelmed I felt His love.  God does what he does for a reason and He knows why, I just have to trust I Him that His way is the best way.

Servant hood, humility and obedience are words that come to mind when I think of my experience in Honduras. When we work together, caring for problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ’s example of putting others first.  Considering others interest as more important than our own links us with Christ who is a true example of humility. Remember we can choose our attitude.  You can approach life expecting to be served or you can look for opportunities to serve others.

~Laurie Ontario, Canada