First of all, I’d like to thank you, dear friends, for your prayers and words of encouragement during my trip to Honduras with mi amiga, DaNetta Fernandez. We had an amazing time and were kept safe by the grace of God.

We traveled that beautiful country, from its capital city, Tegucigalpa; to Danlí, bordering to the east with Nicaragua; to San Pedro Sula, which borders to the west with my beloved Guatemala. We visited with, prayed for and met wonderful people – many of them pastors of the various La Viña (Vineyard) churches. How wonderful it was to see the ongoing work of the Lord in Honduras!

On our way back from San Pedro Sula, we stopped at the shore of Lago Yojoa – a majestic lake with gorgeous views, dotted with little stands where you can eat a mean plate of fried tilapia. Being a pair “healthy eaters”, DaNetta and I eagerly accepted Pastor Jorge’s offer to stop for lunch. (By the way, we stayed at Jorge and his wife Eva’s house while in Tegucigalpa, and they also graciously drove us all over the country. ¡Gracias, Jorge & Eva!)

Imagine our surprise when a young girl inside the stand motions for us to follow her, then opens up a freezer and begins to pull out these big, wide-eyed fish, and asks, “Which one do you want?”

“Are you ladies hungry?” Jorge asks jovially.

“Well, I was,” DaNetta responds, looking a bit green in the face.

Our last stop was at Comayagua, which is about 1-1/2 hours from Tegucigalpa. DaNetta preached during the Sunday service; we met with several friends, and we got to watch the Soccer World Cup final at Pollo Campero (a delicious fried-chicken restaurant). But the highlight of our visit was on Saturday, when we attended the wedding of Josue Hernandez, the La Viña de Comayagua worship leader, and Jenny Whitson, a missionary from the North Phoenix Vineyard.

I got to interpret for Jenny’s family during the ceremony and even got to say, “And now I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Oh, what I kick I got out of that! ;0)

The wedding was happy and lovely and Jenny looked beautiful. We ate and danced and laughed to our hearts’ content. But one event in particular touched my heart in a very special, unforgettable way.

It happened early in the morning, before the ceremony began. Esperanza, who is the groom’s mom and Pastor Antonio’s wife, asked DaNetta and I to help her transfer the wedding cake from the bakery to the hotel in which the nuptials would take place.

“And then I’m going to drop you girls off and ask you to put the cake’s top tier on its columns. It should be easy,” Esperanza said airily.

Never known for our hand-to-eye coordination, DaNetta and I seriously doubted we were the most adequate selection for the job. But since everyone else was busy with another wedding-related task, we prayed for steady hands and bravely accepted the challenge.

On our way to the bakery, Esperanza broke into tears as she shared how God had granted a very special wish of hers. “I’ve always wanted to pay for our son’s wedding cake,” she said, wiping her cheeks unabashedly. “It didn’t look like we were going to be able to afford it. But the Lord opened a door for me to make a little extra money at work, and now I rejoice in God’s faithfulness and provision.”

A big lump formed in my throat – part shame, part emotion. I don’t know about you girls, but for me “toughing it” mostly means not using my credit card. Yet this people face need and poverty and want, every day, and they do it with a grace that humbles me and puts my meager struggles in perspective.

Monday morning, we said good-bye to our dear friends and returned to Phoenix and to our families. It’s kind of funny how DaNetta and I talk non-stop on our way to Honduras. Yet on the way back we are uncharacteristically quiet. I guess we’re tired, and a little sad, but mostly in awe of the many wonderful things we witness God do during the few days we get to visit there.

It is awesome indeed, and we are so glad to be a part of it.

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters and for the work of the Lord in Honduras.

Grateful,

Ana
PS. You can check out pictures of our trip on Facebook – look me up by name: Ana Stine

When this blog posts, I will be on a beautiful island in Lake Winnipesaukee (NH) with some of my family. But I’m writing it while on an airplane.

I think this is pretty amazing stuff.

Here I am, high above the Earth.  As I look down I see mountains, rivers, lakes, highways, towns and cities.  There are dark places where the clouds make shadows on the ground.

1890 miles to go.

Millions of people are going about their day with no idea, and mostly not caring, that I am looking down on them.

That is such a sad thought.  Wait!  I’m getting ahead of myself ’cause that’s not the sad thought.

I think it’s often that way with God.  People have no idea He’s there watching over them, and many don’t care.

If I want the people to know me, I have to bring myself to them, and typically, someone will introduce me.

God brings Himself to people, and sometimes we need to do an introduction.

Are we doing that?  Are we taking the time to help people initiate the most important meeting that any of us will have in our life?

“Person, this is God.  And have you met His Son?”

Of course it’s not that easy, but don’t get all bogged down in the words because, after all, if you don’t know what to say, God does.

1423 miles to go.

Peace!

Barb