It occurred to me that I haven’t written about me in quite some time. I just love feeling like I’m getting to know all of you, and I want you to do the same. When I first began this blog, it was more of a creative writing space for me….as a wife and mom of two little ones.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped writing as an escape….and that’s what writing is for me. Whether it’s about furniture or my experiences as a mom, it is therapy for me. There’s not much I love more…including painting furniture.
🙂
So….there is this huge part of my life that I’ve only talked about here and there. My relationship with God has been a constant…whether I’ve been ready to follow or not has been the variable. But in college, it became real to me. Like….I finally got it. Not that I figured it all out, but I finally grasped that it’s not about me figuring it all out, but about Him doing that for me.
And before I start crying, and write my entire life’s story, I’ll get back to this particular post.
I’m not sure why it’s been on my mind lately, but I wanted to share this with you guys. Please know this post has zero to do with uplifting me or us as a family, and all to do with something so much bigger than me.
I never pictured myself as a missionary. Ever. But again, that’s what He does….helping you do and experience things you never thought possible.
So when I met my husband and he began talking about his mission work in Honduras, I thought it sounded incredible, but I never actually entertained the thought of going.
But as I grew up in ways beyond adding years to my life, I began to feel very drawn to the idea of trying to give of myself in that kind of way.
And let me tell you, it changed my life.
This is part of the huge capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Beautiful, right?
Thanks to my husband, who had been 8 times and lived there one summer, we stepped out and led a group down there. And have done the same several times since.
Doesn’t he look handsome with his tool belt on??
🙂
The driving can be a bit precarious…
and the days long. But the payoff is far greater.
We have taken groups of 12 and as large as 30. Still smaller groups, but hey, we’re just two goofy married people. We can only be responsible for so many people. (by the way, I’m in some of these and some I’m not–it’ll be like where’s waldo?)
This is also where my love of becoming a handier woman came about. Working with Baxter Institute, a college who trains Honduran men to plant their own churches and a faith-filled minister, Leopoldo, our focus is building homes. We usually have a VBS or something fun for the kids, and make bags of food and household supplies for a few hundred families. It involves some long, long days and hard work….
and teaching very petite girls how to use power tools…
The poverty in Honduras is literally unbelievable. I had never known true need and still don’t, and am so thankful for the opportunity to have my eyes and heart opened.
Just to give you an idea of what makes up a typical home…
The actual house is usually a simple lean-to of scrap wood and tin or cardboard. With a little time and work,
(yes, that’s me, making a door, I believe:)
and sometimes a little loft later…
there’s a new home for them to sleep in that night. It’s a simple pitched-roof and at 16 x 16, it’s not somewhere we would all probably want to call home. The people are so grateful and seeing their graciousness and thankfulness is so incredibly humbling and convicting.
As a matter of fact, I was so incredibly moved and in love with the people after my first visit, that Matt and I prayerfully decided to sell our home and live there for a year and a half. We then were presented with the opportunity to keep the house and Matt’s job if we were to go for the summer, 3 months. Again, after prayer, decided this was what we would do. We were also fully intending on adopting a child while were there. But I do believe in my heart there were other plans for us…for now.
A few months before we left, we unexpectedly found out we were pregnant with our first child. And the rest, they say, is history. We have been a few times since, but for now, our hat will hang in Alabama.
A fort of food bags holds rice, flour, shortening, coffee, beans, laundry detergent, soap, etc. that will feed and care for a family of 4 for 2 weeks.
My favorite part?
Other than the empowerment I get from using the nail gun to build a wall :)….the children.
Oh my goodness, the children. I ache for them. I also rejoice for them….for their incessant smiles, uplifted spirits in the midst of the turmoil there.
I want you to meet Jenny….
At every site, there are always tons of kids that come around to watch and play. But there’s always one or two that I’ll connect with a little more than the others. They’ll stay right by my side and I’m constantly telling them to “cuidado, nino” or “be careful”, but secretly loving the time I get to share with them.
Jenny was one such little girl who immediately began throwing rocks at me, her way of showing her endearment.
We spent most of the day together, and through our time I saw pain in her little eyes. I could tell somehow she was more poor than the rest, noticing no shoes on her feet and torn and filthy clothes. The other kids even ridiculed her constantly, igniting my protection and a good opportunity for a lesson to show love to one another. 🙂
At one point I tried desperately hard to give her a shirt out of my backpack, and I almost couldn’t convince her to take it. One of the little girls who spoke some English finally told me she was trying to tell me something. She was telling me she couldn’t take it….that “they” would take it from her. I didn’t know who “they” were, but I couldn’t imagine fearing a clean shirt as a little girl.
I’m telling you, I cried like a baby. I am tearing up now as I recall that day. I wanted to bathe her off, put bows in her hair and carry her home with me. But as quickly as all that sadness came over her, we had a little talk, and one clean shirt later, she gleefully skipped away and for a while, took part of my heart with her.
And every time I’m there, I feel the same pull, the same conviction. It’s what has lead us to adopt a child from Honduras one day. Not just yet, but one day.
I hope you enjoyed this little piece of my life….and if you’re a praying person….maybe say a prayer for the people there. And I know I’ll be praying that I can obtain half the spirit and joy that they hold.
🙂
Blessings to you guys today….wherever you are and in whatever you are doing.
WOW! What an incredible opportunity to be actually able to "make a difference"!! That's an amazing story and definitely inspiring! I have always had a heart for mission work but unfortunately I never took the time or put in the work to go before I had children and now its much more difficult to coordinate. I would definitely love to hear more about your work over there and will have the people over there in my prayers!
How wonderful that your talents could be used for such a tremendous purpose. Honduras is such a beautiful country geographically, but so heartbreakingly poor. Your post did a wonderful job of showing how just a little bit goes a long way for such a struggling country. I know how much I take for granted all that I have and it's always good to be reminded. Thanks for sharing this meaningful part of your life story.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story with us 😉 *and making me cry* To be given the chance to touch the lives of others' is awesome. And what we may consider small may be huge to another! To give that kind of gift is…is just wonderful, I can't think of enough words to describe the amazing feeling I have in my heart after reading your post…thank you for that gift 🙂 God Bless you and your beautiful family!
Thank you so much for sharing this very special part of your life with us! It left me feeling inspired…even more than when I read one of your amazing decorating posts:) I'm thinking of those precious little ones in my prayers today!
We would LOVE to get involved in an organization like this. Raising my children to appreciate what they have while consistently giving to others is very important me and my husband. Do you have some form of contact information that we could reach out to and become involved in this?
hi shauna- thanks so much for posting this. i think it is very important to have a grip on reality. while we are all busy decorating our homes on what we consider a budget, some people are lucky just to simply have literally a roof over their heads. it makes me appreciate what i have, and want to do more for others. thanks for your inspiring post and for being the kind of person who gives herself completely.
Such an inspiring post…..makes me feel unappreciative in a way….We have so much here in America to be thankful for don't we? I mean my gosh, I am so thankful that I have a washing machine after reading this post….a roof over our heads….thank you for your post. A real eye opener.
What a beautiful post. Thanks so much for giving us a glimpse of your life, and a glimpse as to what life is like in Honduras. You and your husband are wonderful people and living the Word. Praying for those sweet children.
What an amazing story about your time in Honduras. My daughter has gone to the Dominican Republic twice and Mexica once on mission trips. The poverty is bad there too. My daughter was like you… she loved the children. I hope to go on a mission trip one day and experience all this for myself. It is so life-changing. Thanks for sharing. Love & blessings from NC!
I knew there was more to you then just a beautiful face with a beautiful talent…a beautiful spirit. As Americans we really do have it good. Thank you for sharing and God bless you.
I am so glad you shared this! I love knowing this about you and your family. I am in tears…very encouraging. I so easily think I am suffering and then I remember these people. I have no real problems at all. Thanks! Lisa~
Seeing it for yourself is so much more than it could ever be seeing it on television, don't you think? I lived in Venezuela for a little over a year, but felt this way after my first trip.
Such an inspiring post! Thank you so much for all your doing! I'm so thankful for all the kindhearted souls out there who devote their time to bringing those less fortunate happiness and comfort. Huge pats on the back and hugs to you all! You're simply AMAZING!!! :)
My husband also served a mission in Tegucigalpa, Honduras! He lived there for two years and always talks about us going there to live and help for a while. It is amazing the way you touched their lives- I am glad that you shared this :)
Thank you for giving us a peak into your heart for Honduras. We are so incredibly blessed as Christians in this country and must remember that to whom much is given, much is required.
You wrote such a beautiful piece. What a great adventure and humbling experience to see and work with such grace. Thanks for sharing your story. Jenny is so pretty. What a love. What a way to see God's splendor in life…