My lesson learned

The Thursday before we left to go to Honduras, I had the ‘opportunity’ to attend the graduation ceremony of my five year old niece from pre-school. The ceremony included a short presentation by the entire class which consisted of Bible verses and several songs. It was then followed by an actual graduation ceremony. They dressed these children in graduation attire, had them walk down the aisle as they called their names, and handed each one a diploma. And pretty much the whole time I was rubbing the temples of my forehead and saying to myself, “I can’t believe this is happening” over and over. That said I know that when it is my two year old nephew’s turn to graduate from preschool and when it is my three week old niece’s turn, I will be there to watch them do so and will probably be chanting, “I can’t believe this is happening”.

Anyway as part of the ceremony the class recited in the sing-song way children do Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And I wondered both at that time and as I traveled to Honduras that if we sometimes sort of gloss over this particular verse. It is a simple verse; one that we have probably all memorized. But, the implication of this simple scripture I think is sometimes lost to us. No where else in the Bible is a better example of the sheer power and the sheer size and greatness of our God. Think how large the earth is. And the earth is just a single planet in a solar system. And the solar system is just a single system inside a galaxy consisting of millions upon millions of systems. And the galaxy is a single galaxy inside the universe. And Genesis 1:1 tells us God created everything, which means that he is greater than the whole thing. It is incredible, and I think we all know that the earth and ourselves are actually very small, but it for many – including myself – it is really only from an academic standpoint that I know this. But it struck me as I left the United States for the first time and was truly a stranger in a foreign land - and particularly after our group separated from the larger group – how vast the world is. On the second day of programming when it approached lunch time, we walked over to the cafeteria and stood outside the kitchen window. And none of us knew how to ask for food. Four guys: one fixing to graduate in a semester, two who had just graduated, and their instructor thinking we are four fairly intelligent people and are unable to do something as trivial as ask for food. We did get to eat but it wasn’t anything we did but rather the ladies working there figuring it out. It was a very humbling experience, and it made me feel very, very small - very insignificant. And putting myself into the scope of the universe, I think I truly have an understanding of the vastness of the universe. And I almost despaired.

But then I remembered a second passage that graduating pre-school class recited: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” First of all, the world here is not the ground, plants, and trees. It’s the people God loves: the people that he created. And even though His creation turned from Him, He gave them a way of hope and salvation. And even though I may be small and insignificant in the scope of the physical world and the span of time, because God loves me I have significance. That is the lesson that has stuck with me from our trip to Honduras.

Fouss

Looking Back on our Trip

This trip required alot of planning and work done by our amazing team of teachers, students and friends. It was awesome to see the solar lights come on for the first time in Cedeco, or to see Chris exclaim from the top of the biulding that the rafter project was finished. The things i remember most though are the interactions i had with the Honduran people. The things that were not planned. I loved breaking from work to play soccer with the village kids or see how many times Philipe and I could head the soccer ball back and forth with out it hitting the ground (I think we got eight). When I stepped on a nail i got to ride with a truck full of Hondurans to a nieghboring clinic. One man spoke a little english and with the little spanish i knew we carried on a ten minute conversation. On the plane ride back to Miami, Daniel and myself befriended a Honduran girl and with the extra two hour because of delays we taught each other card games, talked and i think i can say we made a friend. These are my favorite memories. Honduras is a beautiful contry with many beautiful people. I hope that I made a good impression on the Honduran people, and that maybe they will remember me too.

Kirk Pippin

Trip Thoughts

All praise be to God for a safe and most successful trip! Admittedly, I had some doubts that the rafter project could be completed in the allotted time. Silly me! I should have known from the 2004 trip that these are the "can-do" kind of students who will find the ways and who have the drive to get things done. These traits, a gift from God, will always serve them well.

I found it interesting that with only a little stretch, one could attach Biblical connotations to all the mission's projects. The Computer Team provided PREDISAN with the means of updating their patient-service database. Records and archives likewise played an important part in the lives of God's ancient people (Ezra 6:1-2 and Esther 6:13).

The Solar Panel Team labored long and hard to light the little world of Felipe and Julia, and the smiling faces of their kids made it all worth it. God Himself saw the goodness of light (Gen. 1:4-18), and throughout His Word, light is equated with that which is pure and holy.

It's altogether possible that the Rafter Team, as they assembled and installed cupola panels, did so not realizing that they were validating the words of the teacher Solomon regarding a leaking roof and rotting rafters (Eccl. 10:18).

The school visits, too, had the Lord's approval, for it was His practice to bless children and to remind His disciples that children are the stuff of which the Kingdom iis made (Matt. 19:14).

The devotions were wonderful. I'm especially thankful to those who opened their hearts to us and allowed us to share their inner thoughts.

Thank you, Father, for a wonderful trip.

Lee

Reflections by Fort Gwinn

How can I express what this trip meant to me? This trip was a sort of pilgrimage. As most all of you know, I was supposed to go to Predisan with last years group, but due to some unexpected health concerns I had to stay home. Lee Whitney went in my place to oversee the construction of the tower (Lee, I am continually amazed at the way God works through you).

So the trip this year had two purposes for me. First, to work with students and friends on the improvements to the CEDECO building and to support the installation of the solar panels. And secondly, to see, to touch, and to climb the water tower that was built last year.

While there, I discovered a third purpose for the trip...the people of Honduras. I was touched by their loving, generous spirit. The Christians in Las Delecias are filled with God's spirit and their beautiful children are a blessing from heaven.

God willing, I plan to visit CEDECO again.