Why don’t I always listen to God?

I’ve been asking myself that question this week, because I am again totally and completely humbled by what God’s doing with me and with my friends.

I listened when God said, “Lead a team to Honduras.” And then I opened the Group catalog at EastLake this weekend and saw that ½ of the Honduras team are leading summer Groups…and for 3 of them, it’s their first time! Or maybe that two team members are signed up for fall Go! Groups, dispensing hope in other parts of the world. God is still working…from just one tiny step of obedience.

I listened when God said, “Invite her to your Activity Group.” And then, literally 3 minutes later, my friend (who is not into the baby Jesus or religion) signed up. How will her life change this summer by participating in a Group?

See, these stories are cool, but the scary part is the hundreds of seconds every day when I'm so busy, and NOT listening to God. The times when I ignore that still, small voice calling me, all in favor of loud music, a busy schedule, and a hectic social life. I claim to live a life that is bankrupt to Jesus, but as I honestly look around, I see savings accounts for myself all over the place – my friends, my family, my stuff, my job, my position. Which brings me back to the question, why don’t I always listen to God?

What would happen in my life if I made every effort to hear God’s voice and not my own?

If I put Jesus’ mission ahead of my ambition?

If I cared for the people who drive me crazy the way Christ cares for me?

If I listened to God’s voice and did whatever He asked.

Want to see Honduras?

We've pulled together a little video of our trip - we'll be sharing this video on Sunday @ EastLakeCC.com - 9am, 11am, 5pm and 6:30pm. The team will also be sharing their personal stories live in the services. You don't want to miss it!

For now, enjoy!

Honduras was amazing. it was incredible to have all of ones assumptions about life, and another way of living it, challenged. I went there with all these assumptions and guesses about what it would be like to be in their situation and instead I found that I was incorrect in nearly every case. for example, I thought that I would be unhappy to live in such a situation, such as houses like I saw; instead I found I adapted quickly and really enjoyed many things about their way of life; I might go as far to say that they are far superior in some ways to ours, like being thankful and content with what one has been blessed with. The children were all so wonderful as well and I will really miss them, especially little Denis Fernando and Gloria. they had so much responsibility for being so young and yet they had so much joy. we can learn a lot from them. I could probably go on forever but i don't really have the time so let me conclude with a quick list of events and then conclusion.

Events:
1. dangerous plane ride.
2. dangerous and incredibly fun truck rides.
3. chased by bull ( that was really a cow)
4. working extremely hard
5. making wonderful friends
6. life changing experiences

Conclusion:
you can find a way to go on a mission trip and you should, it will change your life for the better and draw you and others closer to Christ and an understanding his perfect love.

The Team!

We have internet!

We’re back in the hotel in Honduras. First internet in 5 days….I apologize for the delay in updates, but let me tell you…

Everything is more than I imagined….our living conditions are far worse than I imagined, the work is harder than I expected and the children are more lovable than I could have imagined. See, even though I should be prepared for this trip, it’s still so much more than I imagined.

I’m proud of this team. They have worked hard, they loved fully and they have been changed. See anyone can work hard – pouring concrete, building forms, attaching walls and screwing together metal braces. But it takes a willingness to allow the work to affect you. To get to know the person you are working alongside of….not just their name, but a little piece of their story. The team has done that and then some.

So, for the majority of our stay, we’ve been deep in Honduras….and by deep, I mean 6 hours in the back of a pick up truck far away from the city, on dirt road that would qualify as a decent hiking trail in the states. We had electricity – but that’s it. No running water, no internet…..oddly, cell phones (ah, the benefits of commercial competition – thanks Digi-Cell, Tigo and Claro for enabling cell service even in the more remote parts of Honduras in search of profit ☺). We took “showers” with buckets of cold water, we woke up at 3am with the roosters and we fell asleep exhausted every night. It’s certainly been an adventure….

The team will start posting to this blog with their personal stories in the next few days, but I thought I’d give you a taste of the adventure. While building cement forms, the team heard some commotion and watched as a bull, in the middle of a “branding” escaped. The locals tried to stop the bull, but unsuccessfully. Before they knew it, the bull was running directly toward the team, who was standing in a narrow alley – let’s just say, we learned that Tommy has a 6 foot vertical jump, Nathaniel would not have been a successful matador and Patrick has got speed! For the moms and significant others reading this, don’t worry – no one was injured!

To everyone who has financially and prayerfully supported the team – THANK YOU! Now, enough from me….team, let’s go – share your story!
-Jenn

And We're Off...

Tomorrow morning at 6am the team will jump on the plane and head to Honduras! I'm bringing a laptop, and will do my best to keep you up to date with stories and photos from the trip.
Over the last couple of days, God has been teaching me a lot about surrender and preparation. It's a funny process, living with an attitude of surrender and preparation---you spend your life surrendering to God and what He's asking of you, then preparing to do what He's asking. But, at least for me, the thing I am preparing for becomes less important (in some ways) than the process of preparing and surrendering.

I know this trip will be incredible, and I know that, because God has transformed me in the process of preparing. And now, with the trip literally 24 hours away, I am feeling very called to surrender...my expectations, my pride in my own skills, even the team. I'm surrendering all of it to God and trusting that all this preparation had a significant purpose.

As a leader, I feel very humbled, and as a friend reminded me, "that's all the better - the more for God to glorify Himself!" That's what this entire trip is about - God and His glory. We are merely along for the ride....and I'm sure it'll be quite a ride.

While we are traveling and working, please continue to pray for the team. Pray for health, safety and the ability to complete all 36 latrines.

Can't wait to return and share stories of how God used us, changed us and changed some people we are excited to meet in Honduras

Honduras

Typical Honduran Village Home:









Thank you everyone that donated all the great items for us to take to Honduras, last night we packed up all sorts of crates with great things for the kids and families of Honduras.

We are truly blessed to go on this magnificent journey.
-Nigel

Honduras Pictures

Honduras Pictues 2