Sometimes we are called to step completely out of our comfort zones.
Sometimes we’re called to stay there, and in staying, amazing things take place.
You’ll probably remember I mentioned that while in Honduras, we would be working with Breaking Chains Homeless Ministry.
And this lovely lady is the one who started it all. She’s one of the stayers.
Amber has become a dear friend of ours over the years, and this trip only made me more amazed with her. She moved to Tegucigalpa 7 years ago, and has served the people there in ways most of us cannot comprehend.
She works with groups (like us) that come through Baxter Institute, but she recently began Breaking Chains, a ministry to feed and love the homeless in the downtown area.
Let me tell you something right now. She is absolutely one of the most selfless and sincerely loving people I’ve ever known. And the best part? She doesn’t think so…she doesn’t even know how rare a gem she is.
And it makes me love her fiercely. Like kinda would move down there just to be supportive of her….if for no other reason.
And this cutie’s name is Rosie. Amber took Rosie in when she was about 15 months old (her mom became involved in the homeless ministry and is now a good friend of Amber’s). She just turned 2 and is, without a doubt, the cutest thing (other than my two, of course) in the world. She is loving and friendly…and we were fast friends. She helped me miss my two a little less.
It’s amazing to see Amber with her daughter, to know that she was meant for Rosie, and Rosie for her. I love that Rosie’s mom is involved in her life and knowing Amber continues to reach out to their family.
Rosie certainly wasn’t the only little one we all fell in love with on the trip to Breaking Chains. This is the little one you saw me with in this post.
And if he could have, I think Kenny would have packed Jonathan in his backpack.
We decided to have a pizza party for the ministry on one of the nights Amber normally feeds them…and I think they were pumped about the pizza. We were also able to purchase 130 pairs of shoes and give each of them a new pair while the party was happening. I had the honor of literally putting the shoes on their feet, and honestly, I’ve never been so moved or so humbled.
This is where I’ll admit some hesitancies. Most of the people we saw and hung out with struggled with addictions of different kinds, and many had HIV or AIDS. It was something Matt and I prayed long and hard about exposing a group we were leading to. In the end, we felt utterly called to go, and of course, gave everyone the option of staying on campus if they wanted.
No one stayed.
So we all loaded up our Americanized selves, fed pizza and touched their feet…loved on them. Something Amber said a while back truly struck me at my core…. “I can somewhat imagine waking up in a world where I was poor, I can imagine maybe being homeless, I can imagine being sick. But…I cannot imagine waking up in a world where no one cared about me.”
Most of these folks call Amber “mom” now, and I can certainly see why. So many of them just need someone to reach out, to express they are loved without having to say a word, without having to understand their language.
Many of the people I helped find shoes didn’t want me to touch their feet or didn’t want to put their shoes on (because their feet were a little dirty), but I convinced them that’s what I was there for…that I didn’t mind, and that their shoes would be fine. :-)
One sweet girl sat and wept so softly while I took her sandals off and replaced them with the white tennis shoes. She didn’t ask for another size or color, and she didn’t push me away. She simply cried and said over and over again, “Gloria a Dios.”
Glory to God.
I could hardly stop hugging her.
They rocked my world, these people.
And showed me that while I have heart for so much, it’s past time to live all that out here, at home.
To love some people around here that may not be used to it.
To be about the business of healing.
I think most of the 28 of us were shaken to the core, and yet, felt completely at home and blessed to have met them all. Most of us will probably never be the same.
And for that, I have to thank Amber. I have to thank her for her work, for relying on Strength not of her own, and for allowing us to meet her family. I realize now what a precious treat it was.
Since we were able to build all 16 houses in four days, we had some money and time left over. We were able to go back to Breaking Chains on our last day. We spent time with those who live there now, built some shelves for Amber’s storage, sort through suitcases of toys and clothes for her, make necklaces and bracelets with them, paint a couple of rooms, and sort of at the last minute, decided we would build some beds.
Matt and I (and the hearts of the people we take) kind of have this philosophy that while we’re there, we’re there to work. We can rest in Roatan. We can rest at home.
So on that last day, a group of us stayed til 2 a.m. and built 21 bunk beds (which made 42 beds) for the building.
I have to say that very early in the night, I got so giggly I was almost useless. I kept going, but those around me got a lot of laughs watching me not yield my DeWalt.
These guys (and all the rest) didn’t do much giggling, though. They worked and worked and worked.
And I saw Jesus in them.
Spending time at the men, women, and children at Breaking Chains will certainly go down in my top 5 experiences of all time.
And from now on, I think it’s time I search for beauty in the most unlikely places.
How truly wonderful, Shaunna. You and your husband must feel so blessed to know how many lives you touched. It takes a special person to give of themselves to unselfishly … they’ll never forget what you did! Thanks for sharing such an amazing journey! *Becca*
Thank you, Becca! It was incredible, and always is. We didn’t really do so much, though, if you know what I mean.
shaunna
Thank you for sharing. How blessed you all are.
Thanks, Debbie!!
This is a beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you, Lindsay! It was beautiful to watch it all.
shaunna
Thank you for sharing this powerful story! What a blessing for us to read about your time in Honduras.
You are a blessing to so many!
Thank YOU for blessing me with such a sweet comment, Betsy!
shaunna
I Praise him forBeautiful experiences.
Ditto, sister!
I don’t even have the words to tell you what an awesome thing you all did.
Susan
Well, thank you, Susan…we really were grateful to be a part of it.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It brought me to tears! You did an absolutely wonderful thing for these people.
thank you for reading and for your comment, Holly!
Love this post! I usually follow for your great interiors, but have really enjoyed reading about the service you’ve done in Honduras. Amazing
Thanks, Elizabeth! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Truely, it is a blessing to be a blessing. Thank you so much for sharing. Gloria a Dios indeed!
Yes, it is, Kim. Thank you!
Wow….what a blessing…THAT, my friend, is exactly what we are ALL called to do if we call ourselves Followers of Christ!
May you continue to be blessed……
(oh, and I love your blog…recently purchased your ebook…love it…but have lots of distressing “distressing” questions…..seems to be the hardest thing for me to get “the look” right.)
Hey Rhonda! Thank you for your sweet comment. Ask away on the distressing.
Nothing ompares with this kind of “investment” Wish I could have been there with you!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Love that blue building!
Tammy : )
thanks Tammy. Me too!
I know what you mean! Reminds me to do that where I am right now — loving on the “unlovely” in Jesus’ name. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you, Mandy….we all need that reminder daily, I think. Blessings to you…
Shauna thank you so much for sharing this. The part about the little girl with the shoes made me teary eyed, and reminded me to continue praying for the children I have been blessed to meet on similar trips. It has been a few years since my husband and I have been on a mission trip and this tugs at my heart to get back out there.
-Jenn
It is easy to see your heart for Honduras in your post. I think the best part of a Missions trip is the difference it makes in us-just to know we were used by God to make a difference in someone’s life. I always come home feeling so blessed and thankful for all of God’s blessings in my life, and with a renewed determination to pray harder and do more for those less fortunate.
What an amazing trip you had! Not many would consider stepping out of their comfort zone as you and your husband have – that is very inspirational – thanks for sharing!
I’ve been to Honduras twice now with Amber and stayed at Baxter. I went to Breaking Chains as well. I cried the entire way through this post. That place really is amazing. I need to be back there.
Hey RaeAnn, so neat to “meet” you!! We are absolutely in love with Teguc and Amber!! Isn’t she incredible??? I’m glad you enjoyed the post and so glad we got a chance to connect.
shaunna
It was such a blessing to hear about your trip. We adopted my nephew (well, my brother adopted, but he’s “mine” too) from Ecuador last year, and now my husband and I are using the blogging proceeds that I won from Hillshire Farm’s sandwich contest to go help “feed” orphans in Guatemala. We are taking 4 our of our 5 children, and we are praying that their world is rocked, and their eyes open to all that the Lord has given them. Thanks for giving me a sneak peek of what we may experience.
How wonderful, Jen!! That’s so exciting! How old are your kids now? We’re thinking of taking Gray in the next year or so. He’ll be young, but we hear they adjust really well the younger they are, so we thought we might give it a whirl. I’m so thankful for your work there…and will be praying for you, your children, and the hearts you’ll undoubtedly touch.
shaunna
I’m absolutely smitten with you! First off you’re so very talented but even more, your love and compassion is so compelling! I’m in tears reading your post simply because it’s so moving to know the world has people like you! Thank you for being so giving and selfless and for sharing the love of Christ!
What a wonderfully sweet thing to say, Holly. I’m just a goober most of the time, so it’s nice to hear that maybe, just maybe, I can pull it together every now and then.
I’m not so great, you know…He is, but thank you for your encouragement…it made my week!
xo
shaunna
Thank you for sharing!! I am literally in tears as I type! Our church sends a group every year and I have dreamed about going. I have not been able to due to my work schedule, but am praying that someday I can figure out a way. You are a beautiful person! I am not only inspired by you creatively, but by your love for others, and most importantly, God. God is so good!
Thanks, Lesley!! I pray a way will be made for you…it’s amazing and I know one day you’ll get to go!! And thank you for your kind words…it’s all Him, really.
shaunna
I think whenever we step out of ourselves for God, it is like He says “yes! Finally!” and He is just waiting to shower us with beautiful blessings. God bless you for your faith.
My husband and I went to Tegucigalpa,Honduras last October and it was the most AMAZING trip I have ever been on in my life. We went on a mission trip with a ministry there called Forgotten Children Ministries. They take in homeless children in that area. They feed, clothe, and school them. I fell in love with those children. The day we left there I cried the whole way to the airport and continued to cry over the next few weeks anytime I looked at pictures of those children. God Bless the missionarys like your friend. They are doing amazin things for God’s Kingdom.
My Name is Fatima Iam from Comayagua Honduras, i haven’t been in Honduras in the las 5 years. you touched my heart with your history i would love to go and support Amber with her project I been trying to come up with some sore of help to my people but everything since so dificult i tried to mail cloth and shoes but is very expensive and the post office don’t let you send big boxes you have to send many little ones. I live in Killeen Texas and my friend from Honduras has an organization that is called crying babies and she has the same problem. but your history open my mind to do something like what you guys did go up there and do the work. can you please get me in touch with Amber maybe she can email me and we can work together my email is [email protected]. Thank you Shaunna God Bless you.