Honduras – Ministry on Islands and Farms
As Westbound, we typically make a point to stick together, however traveling to Honduras, we felt a nudge from the Spirit to do something different – to split up into two groups and cover more ground for the Kingdom. Team A went coast-side, to an island called Utila, where sun, diving, and worship would collide in a beautiful journey somewhat similar to a Luke 10. Team B traveled inland to a Mennonite community where relationship-based ministry in farming territory would captivate our hearts and leave a fragrance of the Spirit in areas hungry for more.
To better tell our journeys, I’ll share the accounts separately:
Team A: The Island Group
“Our previous host in Guatemala had a contact for us on an island. He said that they were a couple still discovering a relationship with Jesus, serving the local people through building homes and providing a school. They’re also highly involved in nature conservation in the area. This opportunity deeply excited us, especially since it involved going to an island! However, there was one catch in the plan: there was no way to contact them to ask ahead of time if we could come stay. We would essentially be pulling off our own version of a Luke 10. This would be a real faith journey.
After praying, we felt peace to go. The team involved Stiaan, James, Jana, Sarah and Georgia. I think we all wanted to step out of the boat and were excited for an adventure. So we left for the island, unsure if we would be received and even uncertain if the people would be there at all.
Our first challenge came when we got off the boat, arriving at the island, and the driver told us the price for the ride – it was more than four times what was initially communicated – and he wouldn’t let us get off until we paid him. Shocked, we did the only thing we could – pay him the fair – and watch him leave with all our week’s worth of money. This meant that we had no means to get back to the town and no finances to supply our own food or accommodation. Within minutes upon arrival, God stripped us of all self-reliance. It was now all up to Him.
He pulled through that week in miraculous ways that only the true living God of the impossible can do. We soon found our people of contact – staff working at the resort that our (soon-to-be) hosts owned. It was beautiful to see how after a short while of confusion and skepticism, they welcomed us into their community. Amazingly, most of the staff were hungry for the Lord and that night, a worship evening erupted. There, we saw God bring breakthroughs, inner healings, and personal words of encouragements for the people. What a way for our first day to begin!
The couple who owned the resort arrived on the island the next day. Incredibly, they had just gotten back that day from over a month long holiday! Talk about impeccable God-timing. Things started beautifully unfolding from there.
They repaid us for the boat ride, took us into their resort, gave us a place to stay, food to eat, and a time of deep fellowship filled with laughter and joy. Throughout the next week, we helped teach the kids at their school, volunteered at a local animal shelter, helped build a house, and loosened beach-sand so that turtles could lay their eggs in that season. We essentially served them in whatever way needed.
Some of our favourite memories came from the worship evenings we had every night with the staff and their families. There, we got to teach them how to do Bible studies, encourage the local body of Christ, and spend time in the Word together.
We did ministry through relationships, building trust, and bonding over shared experiences of fun. They even provided the chance for us to get our diving certificates so we spent many hours talking with them on a boat in the sea. Sometimes, they would ask us questions like, “what have you spiritually experienced while being here?” They really were curios!
We believe God deeply impacted their lives. At the end of our time there, the husband told the manager (who later told us) that, “If I were to believe in a God, it would be yours.” And the wife told us that, “If you were wondering why God sent you here, it was for me. I really needed this.”
Our time there was so special that we decided to extend it by an extra week. In this time, we experienced a family-like dynamic with them. They took us on outings around the island, gave us ‘pocket money’ to spend, and asked us intentional questions about our faith and our Global Challenge journey. The fact that we were there to serve was big to them, as they’d often remarked that many Christians don’t actually do what they say they believe – such as living by a servant-hearted principle.
As our time there came to a close, we left feeling like old seeds were freshly watered in their hearts, with an expectancy for new life and much rejoicing in in the near future. We thank God for His faithfulness, His provision, and that we could partner with Him as He pursued the hearts of His beloved children.
Team B: The Farm Group
While Team A was worshipping, splashing in the waves, and ministering to a couple on island shores, the other half of Westbound was doing heart ministry in a Mennonite farming community where the Spirit was gently but powerfully breaking out.
The team was made up of Daniel, Christian, Kaitlyn, Barbara and Emily. Here they give their account of their time in Honduras:
“Two of our team members come from a Mennonite community in Ohio, the States. The Mennonite culture is peaceful, hard working, separate from the rest of society, and many hold a deep love for Jesus. Through their contacts, we were able to find a community in Honduras. Those were some of the most wonderful two weeks on Global Challenge.
After a few days of adjusting to new ways of traditions and culture, we soon found easy familial rhythms with our host – an elderly couple from the States who have a heart for taking in the orphans and widows. They are generous, gentle, and hard working people. Ministry there looked a lot like simply doing life with them. We’d go with them to the shops, bake in their homes, help cook and clean, play and talk with their eight adopted kids, spend time cleaning corn off the cob, and help out in the local community. We did house-visits with locals from their church, helped build an outhouse for a widow, and led some services in schools with Bible skits and teachings. Throughout it all, we laughed, we spoke of deep hurts, we loved, and we experienced true joy.
It is difficult to put into words how special the people there were, but in a nutshell, they were some of the humblest and most open people we’d met in a while. It was inspiring to serve alongside them for those two weeks in their community and become a part of their family. We learnt a lot about how the body of Christ works and the power of uplifting each other to keep running the race before us.
We believe the Lord did deep inner work there and brought much healing to some of the people. Some of the girls in our team had beautiful times of sitting with the women there and getting vulnerable about things that hurt and things that need healing. They were able to speak life and truth over the women and sit together as they listened to the Father’s voice. There were times of silence, speaking, confessing, worshipping, and experiencing the spirit in new and powerful ways. New gifts were released and old dreams rebirthed. It was a beautiful and tender time of experiencing being God’s daughters together.
The boys in our team had impactful times of relating to each other, getting vulnerable, and simply having fun camping, competing in ping-pong games and playing volleyball together. They served a lot by doing physical work for the community and encouraging the men in their walks with the Lord. It was a powerful and fun time of true sonship.”
As the two weeks came to an end, both of the Westbound teams (on the island and on the farm) came back together full of a new stories, excitement, and celebrations. As we reflect back on those special memories, we can see God’s hand everywhere – in times of joy and of mysteries, in moments of conflict and in healing. We see His heart for family, adventure, and uniting His body. We see His Fatherly hand bringing back the lost and calling out to the forgotten. We see His blessing and His glory.