Preparation - An Intro to Honduras

We are getting ready to go to Honduras- the 2nd poorest country in the western hemisphere - with World Gospel Outreach. Ninety-seven percent of its 8 million people are Roman Catholic, and three percent are Protestant. Tegucigalpa is our destination. It is the capital of Honduras with over 1 million people. In preparation, our group of medical and pharmacy students have been meeting for the past month and a half in order to get the logistics in place, to make sure we have our passports, to make immunization plans, and to figure out how this trip will be financed. Right now, we are in the process of raising financial support for each team member and getting meds to bring with us as we will be working at a clinic called "Rachel's Organization," providing health care to the poor.

The trip practicalities are being addressed. Likewise, the spiritual aspect of this trip is a focal point at our meetings. As Rich always says, "You don't become a missionary on the flight down." Thus, each team member is doing a 5+5 plan - 5 minutes in the Word and 5 minutes in communication with God so that as we physically prepare for the trip, God will prepare our hearts to do His will and further His kingdom. The only way we will be ready for this trip is by walking with God daily and seeking Him for all our needs. Jesus says if we remain in Him and he in us, we will bear much fruit (John 15:5), for we will be known by the fruit we bear (Matthew 7:16). Apart from Him, we are nothing but a piece of firewood. In Honduras, the Hondurans will recognize us by our fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. In other words, they should see Jesus when they see us. However, we forget that we are in our mission field everyday - at work and at school. Everyone we come into contact with should see Jesus radiating from us, for we are "the light of the world - like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14). Therefore, Let our lights shine not only to the Hondurans but in our daily lives; let us glorify God daily and not just May 21 - 28. Let us live with eternity in mind rather than get caught up with worries of this present world. When it comes down to it, eternity is all that matters. Jesus is all that matters.