Pastor Salvador's Dream Coming True

Braxton Aaron and Fred picked one of the hardest jobs to do on their first day serving in Honduras.  They worked diligently along side of the two police officers and Maribel's father, age 72, who ran circle around all of us all week long.  He wanted his daughter and her family to get their home.  Even our Meida who is the translator, pitched in to help the team out.  Tino, our bus driver helped as well.  Everyone worked together as a team to get that mescal flowing continuously all day long.  Did they grow tired and weary well of course they did, hot and sweaty, endless strenuous labor all day long but if you were to ask them why they were doing all this hard work they would all say for Jesus.  Jesus is the reason folks from North America come here to work harder than they probably have ever worked before but the beauty of it is they are working beside some beautiful and most grateful people here in Honduras.  The first day the two police officers helping were filling in only for one day for Ricardo and Franklin.  They worked hard as if they would be there all week and with joy in their hearts.  They were grateful to be able to help a neighbor of whom they serve and protect on a daily basis.

 As the mescla was being mixed and delivered the 800 blocks were being laid by the rest of the team.  Actually everyone at some point during the week laid numerous blocks.  New team member Fred asked Mark at lunch on the first day were they on schedule.  Mark who shared yes we are all doing a great job working together as one.  Later that evening during devotionals Mark shared with the team for the first day working side by side as a team for the first time is was humbled by the unity he saw throughout the entire day which led up to the devotional he shared their first evening on the gift shop porch.  

Mark was reading a book called Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders.  But title his devotional: 

"The Master's Master Principal "  - "Servanthood"

When we are back home we lack that mindset.  But once we allow our heart to kick it our duties, etc in our daily lives becomes more than just a menial job.  It becomes a joy in serving Jesus Christ.  In Isaiah 42:1 " Here is my servant, whom I uphold my chosen one in whom I delight, I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations and he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth."  An ideal servant made himself nothing and Mark referred to Philippians 2.  Mark shared how hard this is back home to stop in the midst of our "businesses"  to see someone in need or to take the time to help someone in need.  It is hard for us to turn everything over to God in our faith walk.  When we come to Honduras it helps us remember how easy it can be done because of how we all serve well together with unity for helping Pastor Salvador and family to receive their home.  There are so many characteristics Mark mentioned during his devotional, we need to be modest about our serving, the way we present ourselves, not boastful but with humble hearts, empathy for others, and with joy in our hearts when we do all things for Jesus.  We need optimism in our lives.  All we need this side of heaven is a strong relationship with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We all as busy North American Christians need to take time for Jesus and don't wait until we come to Honduras to do this.  We need to hunger for time with our Lord and Savior on a daily basis so we can have this strong and intimate relationship with Him.  In Matthew 6:33 it says "Seek first the kingdom of God", John 12:26 "Where I am, there my servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."  If we have this personal relationship with Jesus Christ we will know exactly what God wants us to do and not what man or ourselves think we are suppose to do for the Kingdom of God.  Mark's last works of his devotional was so profound,  "God was already here in Honduras, waiting on us to come serve beside Him and for that our rewards will not be here on this earth but in Heaven.  Because we were all obedient to His calling."

During their first day there was some precious God moments, Jennifer witnessed Pastor Salvador cry as his doors went into his home and the entire team was humbled each day by a hot Honduran meal served by Mabriel and Eveliyn, her daughter.  They were all humbled by how the grandfather worked so hard for his daughter's family.  How God provided their safety crossing the highway with materials and how on the second day Pastor Salvador had a means for all vehicles to be on the side of the road where the project was located.  How they provided a blue tarp to keep them and their water and Gatorade cooler shaded all day long.  The small things the family provided for the North American teams in the long run was huge gifts from God for their physical protection.  Thank you God for all your provisions for everyone this week.