It’s been a down couple of days for us in this house…we are resting as much as possible and Matt (poor thing) has some kind of bites all over him and is quite miserable. The kids are literally hanging on us, and little has gotten done.
I wouldn’t have it any other way. (speaking of busy, I received hundreds of emails while away, and I promise, I’ll get to those, but it’s going to take a little time…thanks for being patient with me!)
I promised a detailed report of our trip to Honduras, and detailed is what you’ll get.
I love this country so very much. It is breathtakingly beautiful in some spots, lush and green,
and incredibly crowded and bustling in others.
I first visited Honduras in 2005, and fell in love immediately. Matt and I had actually planned to move there for a year and a half, and found out we were expecting…which was not part of the plan. We stayed here in the states and have been taking groups ever since. As you can tell, I’m about as happy as a pig in the sunshine when I’m there.
We left from Atlanta on Thursday, May 5, and took 26 other folks with us. Let me just tell you…everything takes a long time when you travel in a group of 28. Just fine by me…more time I got to look at their cute faces and spend time in what feels like another home for me.
We were missing 9 bags, which is nothing compared to the 30 we lost the last time we were there, but 4 or 5 of those bags were full of tools to separate into our 3 teams. It took quite some time at the airport, but we got rolling soon and Matt, Parks, and J.T., our team leaders, worked out what tools to disperse to the 3 teams.
We rent trucks when we’re there, so our groups are able to make it up the mountain and into places a bus couldn’t reach. For the 28 of us, we rented 3…and spent just as much time riding around in the back as we do in the cab. The only law there? You can’t sit on the side. I’m not sure why my fear of a car accident suddenly dissipates when I land in Tegucigalpa, but it does….the driving there is quite mad…nothing like here in the states anywhere.
Crazy with a capital C…and I love it.
As previously mentioned, there is no feasible way for me to cover the entire trip in one post, so we’ll check out some of the houses we built while there. Some sites are spread out like this one (one of the best I’ve worked since I began going), but most are on the side of a mountain or wedged between 5 other small houses…it’s kind of become a challenge we look forward to.
The houses we build are roughly 16 x 16, with one window and one door. Many here would consider it a shed, but those beautiful people live simply and honestly, I think it makes them love more simply, too. They know from Who the houses come, and that we are simply there to be used…and like my friend, Lauren, said, “it’s a powerful and beautiful thing to watch the walls go up in a few hours and know that family not only has a place to live, but a place where they’ll make memories…enjoy each other.”
Over the years, we replaced carrying all hammers for 1 or 2 nail guns…
the nail gun makes me happy.
And if they’re used to replace a few people hammering, it helps us build 2 houses in a day as opposed to one.
Sometimes getting to the site is even too difficult for the trucks, like the time we had to cross a water pipe (see left pic) and hike into the mountain to get there. I thought we weren’t making it out after. On the right, you can see the guys made somewhat of an ark of the covenant for the tool box…they carried it on a ladder to be able to lift it out.
The wood may or may not be at the site when we arrive. And even if it is, we usually do some passing up or down a mountain to get it in the right places.
Sometimes the post holes are dug for us when we arrive. Sometimes not…and sometimes they’re off by just an inch or so and we have to re-dig.
Some of us even almost break our toe with that steel monster while packing a post hole…on the first day.
🙂
No matter what conditions we are building in, there are always little ones and families to meet and spend time with throughout the day. It has to be one of my favorite parts…the little guy on the left was my little buddy. He wouldn’t smile the whole first half of the day, but by the end, we had him giggling like any toddler.
We typically don’t pour the cement floor for them…they apparently told Matt that they do a better job. I’m sure they do. Most of the time, the family will work with us on and off throughout the day, and it’s a humbling thing to watch and to work beside them.
Part of our roofing crew…Becca, and Matt…it’s a hard job, and I was fairly thankful I escaped that task this time…this ole girl doesn’t have great balance due to my half metal foot.
🙂
At the end of the day, though, it seems simple to push through, to work through obstacles…we aren’t leaving that site without having finished a house. It seems as if God continues to shape and shift the plan, tug at our muscles and energy, making it all possible for a random bunch of gringos.
And at the end of those days, it’s these families who touch me, who almost always move me to tears. They are not poor, and never were.
They are filled beyond measure.
I want to be like them when I grow up.
🙂
*for those that wish to know, through God’s provision, we were able to build 16 houses in four days, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have been a part of it!
Oh Shaunna ~
Your pictures and story just bring tears to my eyes ~
I love missions trips because even though it is hard it is a huge blessing to not only
the families there but to the ones working ~
Thank you for sharing with us ~
xoxo
Lori
Thank you, Lori! It is always the biggest blessing for all of us!
🙂
shaunna
Beautiful pictures Shaunna. I am so glad you are sharing this on your blog. Thanks! Lisa~
Thank you, friend. I couldn’t wait to begin sharing it all with you guys! How are you doing??
🙂
shaunna
…and this is why it’s hard to come home. 🙁
I know…I will admit I’ve been pretty bummed this week. 🙂
shaunna
Wonderful/beautiful pictures and report of your mission to Hondurus. My daughter visits there at least once a year. Usually on medicial mission teams. On one of her first visits she contracted malaria but didn’t know it until she became pregnant. She recovered, the baby was born healthy, and now she is working to help those who suffer with this disease. She too has fallen in love with the people and children of this wonderful country. Maybe your paths will cross one of these days. Blessings to you and your family.
What a complete and utter blessing you all are, Shaunna! I’ve always wanted to go on a mission trip. Those homes you made will certainly create a sweet, dry, homey place for families to come together and thank God for the roof over their head. God bless you all!!!!! ♥
xoxolaurie
It was wonderful to read of your time in Honduras and see the pictures. You can sense the love you have for the people. What a blessing the group of you were to the peoples of Honduras. It makes me feel inspired to reach out, too.
This is SO awesome, Shaunna! What a blessing – for everyone.
How awesome for you all. This is really making me miss mission trips. I can’t wait to do them again one day, and hopefully with my kids so they will have the great opportunity to join in the blessing of serving!
How incredibly AWESOME!!! I can only imagine how full and blessed your heart is after this experience. Thanks for a great post!
What a wonderful way to bless others. 16 families with a new place to call home – that is exceptional!
oh my … how wonderful! reminds me so vividly on my 2 trips to honduras … and love the part ‘they were never poor’ … there is such simplicity there without all the distractions that come with all our americanized ‘stuff’ … look forward to taking our 3 boys one day soon …
16 houses in 4 days? That is just so exciting!! Several years ago, our whole family (then w/ 4 children ages 2 through 14) participated in a house-building trip in Mexico. It’s one of our best memories. I think it is awesome that you’ve been able to continue going back. And 16 houses?? Incredible.
Thank-you for allowing God to use you (and your muscles 😉
(I found you through MissMustardSeed ~ I found her looking for info on using drop cloths for covering furniture. Who knows where I first learned of THAT….. isn’t the internet grand?)
girl, that is so inspiring! You truly are a gift to this world!
Xo, Meme
I am having a Chalk Paint Giveaway…It ends May 26th…Swing by if you get the chance!
Shaunna, your post about building houses in Tegucigalpa made me smile. My brother and sister-in-law have gone there each August to do construction at an orphanage. This will be the first time in many years that they will not make the trip because they are going to work with our sister church in Germany instead.
The houses are wonderful, and reminds me of the one my husband and our daughter helped to build in Mexico several years ago. They were able to reunite a man with his son by giving them a home to share.
Those homes may be humble, but they do so much more than just provide physical shelter. They give families a place to gather and love each other.
May God continue to bless your work!
Valerie
How awesome Shaunna!! Truly awesome. Thanks for sharing this!
What a great sense of accomplishment.
Very beautiful photos, your blog post helped me with house building research in honduras!
I was thinking about buying a plot of land in Honduras and building a house on it. I was wondering how much labour and materials would cost, just thought you would be as good a person as anyone to ask?
I think what your doing is really great and that the world need more people like you 🙂