God’s advocate

God’s Advocate
Written by Abi

Today was a day full of surprises. Every day that we are here we are reminded to be flexible which I find exciting but sometimes it can be difficult to know what to do. The day started off with breakfast, a meeting, and a bus ride ,which is typical, but today instead of driving to the church we stopped at a store to meet up with Pastor Mario who took us to the market to buy fruit. While we were there we met an American missionary who works at a church here. Morgan told me that that was going to be me some day. I’ve been thinking a lot about how God uses us in the most interesting ways and in the most interesting circumstances. Someone told me that one of the flaws of America is its constant need to ascend in anything, but in order to connect with others we must descend. What I mean is that in order to connect with someone you must be vulnerable. Each day for me has brought a new health challenge and I’m amazed that God still uses me. I have lost my voice, and although I can still talk it’s very raspy and full of voice cracks 😂. Proverbs 31:8-9 comes to mind where it says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy”. My lack of voice reminds me of the lack of voice of these people in their country.

One of the hardest things that I’ve seen is the lack of opportunity these people have. I met a girl at the church she is the same age as me (18) and it shocked me how even though we are the same age our futures look completely different. I’m worried about which college I’m going to attend and what career path I want to go into, while she has nearly no opportunities and is an anomaly in her community because she has been faithful to God and hasn’t gotten pregnant yet. Here I’m reminded how much God has blessed us in America. Today the only member in the community that speakers English, hurt his ankle playing soccer with us. He has two children, a second grader and a 10 day old boy. I was so honored that he allowed me to hold his baby and even though he had little means he shared what he had with us. I found myself recently getting angry at God because I feel like he has given me many trails but when I’m here I see what the people go through and I’m overwhelmed. I’m overwhelmed by their faith in Gods promises. Even if it looks like they have no options wether that’s food, money, a place to live, good health, or even hope they trust God and solely rely on his hope because it is not the tangible blessings that God gives us that makes life meaningful but it’s the fact that God has already given us the blessing of his son and a hope of a better life with him one day.

As a group we were talking about how many times as Christians we feel like there is a certain way to do things whether it’s preaching, evangelizing, worship, etc but that God uses everything we do to bring others to him, all we have to do is be willing to participate. We were reminded of that today because on our way back from the church we stopped to pick up our bus co pilot who has been with us for two days. Our translator, Pastor Alex, started talking to him and found out that he came to San Pedro Sula two days ago because back home he could not make enough money. Alex asked him what his dream was for his life and he said he wanted to be a pastor but he didn’t have the training. Oddly enough, Pastor Shane is teaching a class about pastoring in a couple of days and we invited this man to join us. All that to say, sometimes it is not what we do or say that brings others to Christ but the fact that we are just present and willing to do Gods will even if we are in Honduras, America, or wherever. Blessings to y’all. Thank you for the prayers.
Adios