I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “actions speak louder than words”. I have always been a believer in this phrase and try to live by it. I can tell someone I like them but do my actions prove it? I can tell someone I love them, but do my actions prove it? I can tell someone that Jesus loves them, but do my actions reflect God’s love?
This past week I lived out the phrase, “actions speak louder than words”, and so did the rest of the mission trip team. God blessed me with an opportunity to go to Honduras on a mission trip with a great group of people from my church. There has not been a better opportunity in my life to show God’s love without speaking many words, all because of the language barrier. It started shortly after we landed in Honduras and visited the children’s cancer center. I know very little Spanish and the children, as well as their parents did not know English. The best way to show how much we loved them was to play with the children. We took turns pushing the children on the swings, playing with them on the floor with their toys and handing out suckers. We attempted to talk to the children and the parents as well. Even though we didn’t speak the same language we could tell from the smiles on their faces that they enjoyed our visit. As we made it to our bunk house and prepared for bed, I nor any of the others were expecting what the week would bring.
I woke up Tuesday, early, thanks to the birds' beautiful singing. I was ready to do God’s work, but little did I know he was already working on me. We had a wonderful breakfast, and the guys went to the drilling site while the girls went to the kindergarten school. The reunion between Jodie and BB was very heartfelt and moving to witness. We were all excited to meet BB and to get to know her since Jodie couldn’t stop talking about her after last year’s mission trip. We played duck, duck, goose and sang songs with the kids. We played with them outside. We went down the slide, pushed them on the swings, played chase, and soccer with them. Then we were faced with an obstacle, some tension, and though we couldn’t figure out where it was coming from or why it was there, we were not about to let it overtake our spirits and keep us from doing God’s work. A few of us gathered together and prayed, it seemed to help. A plan of how to restructure our activity for that morning was made, and the tension seemed to ease up a bit. After we served the children lunch, and helped clean up they went home and we went to the school the group from last year was at. Another sweet reunion between Jodie and Karina would touch my heart so deeply, that it left me hoping for a connection like that with one of the kids. Karina jumped into Jodie’s wide open arms and you could tell how much they missed and cared for each other. A reminder from God of just how much he loves us, and how important it is to share his love with others. We played soccer with the kids that came up to the church and enjoyed visiting with them and each other. That night at dinner, Cherie, one of our team members had some heart breaking news, and I stepped out of my comfort zone and shared part of my story with her. Our actions speak so much louder than our words, and this was just the beginning.
Wednesday came with the same beautiful song sung by the birds, and a hesitation of what the day would bring. After our breakfast and morning devotional, we once again went our separate ways. Our prayers were answered and walls started to come down. We went to the Jr. High/ High School where our missionary was one of the teachers. Her students were learning English, so it gave them a chance to practice speaking English and us a chance to speak Spanish without feeling too silly. The students sang a song for us in Spanish and we sang a song for them in English. It’s amazing how music will tear down any wall that is before you. The students wanted to play soccer, so we walked down the street to a basketball ball court, and played soccer. Those of us who wanted to play soccer went on the court and took turns playing, while those who didn’t want to play sat in the bleachers. The ladies from our group had the opportunity to paint the nails of the girls who decided to sit out of the game. There were smiles all around that morning. After playing for a little over an hour we walked back to the school where Star taught a lesson and shared how God loves us even when we mess up. Then Peyton stepped in a taught a lesson on kindness, which tied directly into Star’s lesson. We served lunch and after school ended we went back to the bunkhouse for the day to be sure we were ready for church. One of the students went back to the bunkhouse with us and shared his story. We all gave him some advice, and watched Peyton pour wisdom into this young man. We began to see a transformation in this young man, and I pray it continues long after we are gone. As he shared it opened the door for BB to share part of her story and instantly I knew I needed to share part of my story with her too. That night after church, during dinner and our reflection time I was overwhelmed by how our devotional and our actions for the day were linked, even the lessons that were taught connected. Our prayers were being answered and God was working on everyone’s hearts.
Thursday we were met with another obstacle. We went back to the school where the group from last year went, but no one was there. A few of the students saw the van and came to play, but when we asked where everyone was they said they were not having school. Being flexible, we went to the school yard and played soccer, talked, and colored with the students. The lady who feeds the students at the feeding center told us she was feeding the students, so we played until a little before lunch and walked back to the center. As the students came in and got settled it was time for Audrey to shine. She taught her lesson, and did a great job. After lunch we played soccer, basketball, and kickball. One boy found one of the guys from our group and would not leave his side. He was all over him, and made him sit by him for lunch and the lesson. It was the cutest thing to see. Even though there was a language barrier, the smiles on everyone’s face said enough. The high fives when someone would score a goal, or a laugh when someone would mess up just showed how much alike we all are. That afternoon the girls were treated with the opportunity to visit the guys and the drilling site. Who knew it would be so loud. :) It was neat to see what the guys were doing and to hear how they were witnessing to the drillers and the students at the school across the street. On the way to the site we stopped to pick up one of the students of the missionary who needed help on his homework. It just so happened to be reading (in English) and there just happened to be a seat open next to me. On the drive to the site, I helped a student with his homework. Funny, how God will use you wherever you are, in Honduras in a van heading to a drilling site for a water well.
As another morning dawned the reality of how alike North Americans and Hondurans are was being impressed on my heart. The ladies returned to the kindergarten school with a box full of goodies for the teacher to use in her classroom and so Star could could screen the kids’ vision. Star was great, and taught the missionary and BB how to screen the the students for vision. This is something that we take for granted here in the states and was very much needed at the schools in Honduras. While Star screened the students the rest of us played with the students who were not being screened. We watched their awesome teacher teach them a lesson and work with them individually. As Star, the missionary and BB were finishing the screening we started serving lunch, washing the dishes, cleaning the tables and sweeping and mopping the floors. I hugged my little amiga bye and realized that leaving Honduras was not going to be easy. We had a little down time in the afternoon but it wasn’t wasted. The group of ladies visited with the missionary for a while. After she left I took the opportunity to visit with BB. She shared more of her story and I shared more of mine. We both realized how even worlds apart people everywhere are hurting. I lifted her up in prayer and did my best to encourage her. My heart started to grow heavy with sadness as we only had two days left. We had dinner with the missionaries and truly enjoyed their company, the stories, the encouragement from others, and the laughter.
Saturday was a new experience as we went grocery shopping for the feeding centers, visited a shopping center and went to an orphanage. The grocery shopping didn’t take long as we all helped out, well except me, I guarded the buggy. It was an eye opener as to how much food was bought for the week to feed three different schools and I put probably that same amount, honestly more, in my buggy to feed my family. It makes you think of how much food we have that we let go to waste or that I buy and we don’t really need. As we walked down the street one little boy said in amazement, “Gringos”. We all giggled at that, it makes you feel like you’re a celebrity. It was as if he couldn’t believe we had walked in front of him. We met the guys for lunch at an authentic Honduran restaurant and enjoyed the midday fellowship which had not happened all week. After we left the restaurant and the men went back to the drilling site, the ladies went to an orphanage that houses 500 children. We had the opportunity to play with the babies. The smiles on their faces as we played with them made me feel so blessed. It was then that it truly sank in that, babies are babies, and kid are kids, and adults are adults, all over this world. We may speak a different language, but our needs and desires at each stage of life are essentially the same. We did not have to speak Spanish to know that the baby wanted to be picked up when it toddled over to one of us with it’s arms reaching up. The baby who was crying because they wanted a toy another child had did not need to explain what was wrong. We are ALL the SAME!
There is nothing like mixed emotions, ready to go home but not ready to say goodbye. This was our Sunday. We started our morning off with breakfast and spent thirty minutes of alone time with God. We were seeking His guidance for what He wanted us to do when we made it back home. He spoke to me, but my story is for another post. We attended church that morning, Laura taught the Sunday school lesson and did a wonderful job. Jodie did the craft, which was the salvation bracelet. The kids had fun, and several let us know that they know Jesus. It makes saying goodbye easier when you can say I may not see you again this side of Heaven but I will see you in Heaven. Mark had a wonderful sermon, and the music was great. I enjoyed singing in Spanish, and Peyton was also given the opportunity to sing a few songs as well. It was hard watching Jodie say goodbye to Karina, and it broke my heart to see the tears. The hard part isn’t just saying goodbye, but knowing what we are going home to and what they are not. After church we had yet another amazing meal, and just had time to reflect. Some of us took a nap, while some of us went for a walk. Honduras is a beautiful country, and God’s majesty is on display constantly there with the scenery. We attended our last church service in Honduras Sunday night, with yet another great sermon and music. The last few minutes we were able to visit one last time with our new friends. We lifted them up, encouraged them, and told them we hope to see them in Heaven one day. Knowing the stories of some of the children is heart breaking and it makes you want to bring them all home with you, but the reality is you can’t. I find comfort and peace knowing that God loves them more than I do, and he will take care of them.
The hugs given, the smiles shared, the laughter that filled the room. The tears shed, the kisses blown, the memories in full bloom. As I sit here writing this I’m in awe of my God and the work He did this past week. This trip has taught me that no matter the language love can be shown, actions really do speak louder than words. Until next time, remember : “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His instructions are trustworthy.” (Psalm 111:7)
