Honduras 2011...

I've had a lot of time to think about the trip and if I could sum up my time there with one word, it would be encouragement. Encouragement from seeing the Church in Honduras, from the men and women with beautiful and passionate hearts to live for Jesus Christ our Savior. Encouragment of how the gospel of Jesus Christ is unchanged throughout the world. We might worship in different places and cultures, with different languages, and with different ways of expressing our joy for the Lord, but the cross where Jesus died to redeem us and the victory of His resurrection is unchanged. My God is God of all nations. His glory and mercy are displayed everywhere on earth for all people. God is good! All the time! Dios es bueno! Todo de tiempo! I say this phrase a lot, but I hope the truth of the words are never diminished. Because God is good. So very good. Encouragement that if we are ever uncertain of His goodness, we only need to look to the cross where His kindness is displayed through the death of His own Son. The grace of Jesus, who "was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities" because sinless Jesus "bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53). This grace is what I cling to because like Paul says in Romans 7: 21-25, "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" The greatest encouragement of all... that I am a sinner but Jesus came to save me. And I surely know that I'm a sinner! But this I also fully know, that Jesus is able to save completely. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ! There is no greater encouragement than the grace of Jesus.

The mission work in Honduras was such a great encouragement to me! I learned new truths of being a disciple of Christ and was strengthened in my faith as well. Praise the Lord. Thank you to everyone who financially supported me and prayed for the trip. Dios bendiga.