Saturday, June 16, 2012

UMC Hillside Mission to Honduras 2012

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Mission to Honduras 2012 " Through God's Heart"



The path is full of bumps in the road, the journey is long, the mountain is steep, the valley is dry, and the land is thirsty.  It is full of discomfort, pains in the stomach- like labor pains about to birth. The new beginning, a new path it will be joyous, all the pain forgotten.  It may seem small but it will be big.  The road less traveled will be muddy, I will carry you across the river to my cross set on a hill; you will kneel.  Although the land is foreign and the language is not familiar, I will show you a new way to communicate with the heart, with a language that is familiar my love.  See the common struggles man suffers, what seems cursed in blessed.  Don't judge the circumstance, I have a plan that you don't understand.  I will light your path in the dark.  You are my salt and light n the world set apart.  I will set you on top of the mountain, beckoning to those who will see.  A city on a hill, hear the angels sing, Alleluia. Glory to God!  I have made this place a Holy Ground that will yield good fruit from all around. 
Hear the cheers as you approach La Fuentes, the angels are singing in heaven.  You have arrived let the mission begin!  Blessed are the floors you are laying the foundation is stronger, blessed are the chimneys you make, the smoke will not choke the heart, blessed are the latrines you are providing relief and belief, no more grief. Blessed are the crafts the children made and the bible stories you tell- I will be hailed.  Blessed is the journey you take- I will teach your soul not to forsake.  I will teach you to stretch beyond your boundaries not just in miles but with smiles.  My love will abound on this ground!

This is what God revealed to me after the trip-Stacy

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Honduras Misssion Trip Memories

Welcome Banner from Hondurans
Video from children from the village singing  Hallelujah
Before concrete floors

After concrete floors poured

Inside kitchen of home in village

School in La Fuente village

children wait for soccer balls to be thrown from our Landrover each day

First time listening to music headphones

Doug and Steven singing with children in village during bible studies

Kids singing loving music

learned how to catch tennis ball

Village church

family waiting for Latrene to be built

Hillside mission group

Latrene almost complete

Fiesta last day we provide food for the community

kids posing with sunglasses 1st time they have ever worn glasses

Tom and Marta HOI team leader

Children singing at Fiesta

Cross at Ranch where we prayed and had fellowshipwith others

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Saturday our flight landed and we took a 3-4 hour bus ride to juticaltpa where we stayed in a nice hotel in city. We all got a nice sleep in our last night of air conditioning! After breakfast we took a tour in the city. I must say I was amazed at the living conditions in town. We walked through a dark alley where the locals bought meat and let's just say I was thinking that I may become a vegetarian on this trip until I saw the vegetables in the market. Wow it is amazing how much we take for granted in u.s. the highlight of the walk was that we got to visit a cathedral during a service. The church was beautiful but not like catholic churches at home but it was very cool to see the service in another culture. The people in this country are very friendly and take pride in their country. Sunday we stayed our first night at the ranch the country side is absolutely beautiful the mountains magificant and had had a feeling as we pulled into this place that this is God's country. We had a great fellowship Sunday night as we all got to know each other better. Monday morning at 5 am we woke up to slight overcast and after a great breakfast headed to the village 2 hour drive. The village of La Fuentes joyfully greeted us with all the families and children. The children welcomed us with songs. At first some of the kids seemed at little shy and timid towards us not really knowing who we are or what to expect from us. However, we sung back our songs to them which seemed to break the ice a little.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Friday, June 1, 2012

God's Call and How We Respond


 It is Friday June 1st and we are meeting at the church to load our luggage for the trip.  Doug Thrasher, Linda and  Barbara have created us a devotional journal for our trip.  Our devotional focus will be on God's call and how we experience it and how we respond to it.  Each evening, different ones of us will share our personal experiences of God's call.  Each morning on our trip we will take time to read, write, and pray.  Each evening after our building projects and bible school with the kids we will be sharing our experiences of God during the day.  We are all in prayer that this trip will be an incredible time of hearing and responding to God's call. 

 
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Hillside UMC 2012 Trip to Honduras

Agalta Valley Honduras Outreach - Hillside UMC 2012
Two weeks until we embark on our trip to Honduras and we are preparing mentally, physically and spiritually for our tasks.  This year we have a lot of mission trippers who are returning from previous years and are excited to reconnect with the families that have touched their lives.  There are also new mission trippers attending this year for the first time including myself.  We are all excited to be God's hands in helping our brother's and sister's where God has designated for us to show His Love,  and Compassion.


In preparation for our journey, we will be commissioned this Sunday May27th 2012 at the 11am celebration service.  Please join us and pray for us as we spend our last Sunday with our church family before departing June 2nd.

Prayer for the day: "Walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another with love, diligently keeping the unity with the spirit with the peace that binds us. There is one body and one spirit- just as you were called to one hope at your calling."Eph4:2-5 "For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, "You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land." Dt15:11