An Unusual Week at School…..

Weddings are always special!  What I am about to write will actually encompass the last two weeks of our experience here in La Ceiba, but it has taken two weeks for God to bring it all to completion. 

I will begin by explaining the title of our blog…an unusual week of school.  A pastor friend of ours explained one Sunday that if something doesn’t look “normal” then we usually question it or turn our nose up.  What is unusual to most might just be normal for the supernatural workings of the Holy Spirit.  He explained a quote from someone else that went something like this: “If you can explain ALL the things about the God you serve, then your God is too small.”  This statement has stuck with me….and I am always reminded that the Bible says that God’s ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9) .  Needless to say, an unusual week of school here turned out to be a very normal/supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.

This week began with a new instructor, and a very normal, tired couple of American students (us).  As the Monday morning progressed along and Hope and I began to wake up, our interaction with one another increased.  I should also mention that we have been going to class together for the last month.  This causes our classes to move a bit slower for various reasons, but it actually has allowed us to take our time and LEARN what we are studying rather than just blazing through the information.  A very normal marital chuckle and smile occurred between Hope and I and our teacher commented with a very interesting observation.  Our teachers name was Oscar, and he was genuinely impressed by my relationship with my wife.  Oscar had not only noticed us in class on that Monday morning, but had apparently been watching us during our normal interactions at school these past several weeks.  His comment sparked a very divine conversation that has changed his life forever!  His observation was simple, and here is what he said.  “You guys really love each other.  I have taught many couples in my time working here, and they don’t act like you.  I can tell that you have the love of Christ with you.”  Oscar saw JESUS!  How humbled I am to type this, and how thankful I am that we were able to shine the light of Christ without even knowing it.  The next hour and a half in class was not so much about the Spanish language, but rather about a higher purpose that God had for Oscar’s life.  He shared with us about his past experience with Christ and how he felt a calling to serve God.  It was one of those times where God genuinely opens a door and allows you to be a part of something special.  Oscar had so much inside him that he literally walked us through what God was doing right before our eyes.  I don’t want to go into great detail here, as much of what was shared was personal, but I will say this….Oscar was about to make a great change in the direction of his life.  We shared Christ with Him, talked with him about ministry, and prayed with him for direction, and the fulfillment of his calling from God.  Then the bell rang for break, which really didn’t matter, because at that point, the whole school was merely a divine place God was using….and it didn’t matter to any of us who heard our prayer or who came into the room.  God was doing something….and it was beautiful. 

Break ususally lasts 30 minutes, then class for another hour and a half.  Upon returning from break, Oscar shared with us that he had really been contemplating asking his girlfriend to marry him.  This situation is sort of normal in Honduras, but I will just simply say that Oscar knew if he was going to serve God, he needed to make a commitment to his girlfriend, Julie, so God could truly bless his family.  When Oscar first suggested he was thinking about marriage, I was thinking in a year or two….not so!  Oscar asked Hope and I if we would be witnesses at his wedding.  In Honduras, you must legally have two people who stand with you and validate your relationship in order to be married.  Of course, we said no problem.  The next few days of school were semi-normal for Hope and I, but it seemed as if we had a new teacher.  The truth is we had a very, new teacher….one that had a renewed sense of purpose and a fire for the Lord that makes me smile just thinking about it.  After school we helped him shop for rings, and July 4th, 2008 we stood by he and Julie and their family and witnessed God joining them together in a beautiful way.  I never thought that a “normal” day of school could turn into this.  God’s ways are higher, man!  So, now scroll back up there and look at that picture again.  I am sure you can figure out which one is Oscar and which one is Julie.  If not, look left!  There’s some joy on their faces.

Today is Saturday, July 5th and it began with some pancakes for our Trujillo friends who came down to see us last night.  We were so excited when Brian called on Friday morning to say they were passing through and wanted to get together if we had time.  Then 30 minutes later, Andy calls and says they are passing through and want to know if they can stay with us.  So, on Friday evening we all had the opportunity to go to the mall for dinner and then back to our place for ice cream and fellowship.  We had such an awesome time just sharing about what is going on in our lives and ministries, both the good and the bad.  We are thankful that the Lord has allowed us to meet these folks and has given us an opportunity to minister to them just as they have to us.  So, Andy and his family stayed the night and as we scrambled out the door this morning,  we headed over to the prison here in La Ceiba and they headed for the border to renew their visa.  Oscar, his pastor, Hope and I were going in to minister for a church service at the prison, as well as, some one-on-one ministry with the prisoners.

The prison was very different than what you might expect, but if you look closely here you’ll see me singing, but you’ll also see my teacher, Oscar, playing the keyboard.  I can tell you this wouldn’t have happened two weeks ago, as he held a very strong opinion that this prison was not a safe place.  Truth is, it’s not, but God’s plan makes us do things that aren’t normal by many standards.  Oscar and I did the worship part of the service, then we all went out to talk to a few folks in the prison.  I really struggled with how to talk to people who are imprisoned.  This is a place I cannot identify with, but God spoke to me about how very similar we all are and how He sees us not as prisoners or free.  His eyes don’t look at me any differently than the most vile criminal in that prison.  He sees His creation, in need of a Creator’s love.  What makes me think my wrongs are any different.  Sure, the consequences are different, but the need for redemption is the same.  We ALL need God’s forgiveness, love and mercy everyday.  The pastor really had a heart of mercy for all in the prison, and it was a beautiful testimony of what I believe God was trying to teach us today.  Needless to say, a very ordinary week of school had turned into a very extraordinary experience.  I really had no clue two weeks ago we would be witnesses in an “official” Honduran wedding for our teacher, or that we would be going to a prison with him and his pastor to minister together.  We are truly thankful that God is showing us where he is working and allowing us to be a part of it.  We are blessed beyond measure!

We only have about 3 more weeks in Honduras and our days are jam packed.  We will be doing alot of traveling within that time to try and visit a few more ministries and organizations.  Tomorrow (Sunday, July 6), we are headed up the mountain about an hour north of La Ceiba to visit with the directors of Give Hope 2 Kids, which is a ministry doing work within the Urracco area there.  We will spend the day with them and then back home tomorrow night to prepare for school on Monday.  Then on Wednesday, we will get on a bus to Tegucigalpa for about 6 hours to reach the La Ermita area.  We will be visiting and touring the Helping Hands Ministry, campsite and children’s home there.  We will be in that area for 4 or 5 days and then back to La Ceiba.

Please continue to pray for our safety and protection during our travels.  We are SO excited about what the Lord is doing and we can’t wait to begin bringing teams next summer.  We can never thank you all enough for your continued love and support of us.  We also are very appreciative of the encouraging emails and comments from you all.  We will post again as time permits.  Much love and many blessings!!