The power of youth 0
In the last 30 days I’ve served in both San Jeronimo, Honduras and Mattoon, Illinois (USA).
Each time I’m amazed at the willingness from the kids to jump in and help.
Painting desks in Honduras
Archive for July, 2009
Meet Louis 0
Thursday, June 11, was our day off in Honduras. We ended the evening with a meal with the pastor’s family and our entire team at Pizza Hut in Comyagua, Honduras.
We were really looking forward to the pizza after a week of some home-cooked authentic food.
Our team gathered in the typical looking Pizza Hut. We excitedly ate some bread sticks, and then anxiously waited for our pizza. Then it arrived. It was so good!
Then I noticed a boy standing behind me the entire time we were serving up and eating our pizza.
He just quietly stood and observed our team eating.
His name is Louis.
And we found out he was a street kid. He was by himself. He had made it past the door greeters. And he stood by my side watching us eat….over eat too much pizza.
We pulled a chair up. Invited him to sit with us. We poured him a drink and got him a plate of pizza.
I broke. I teared up as I sat next to Louis. I watched his little dirty hands cherish each peice of pizza that he picked up off the plate.
In broken Spanish I told him my name, asked him his age, and asked him if he lived in Comyagua. Then I asked him if Jesus was His Savior. He nodded yes, as he ate his pizza.
I put my arm around him, and just TRIED to imagine my son on the street fending for himself for dinner.
Lord, take care of Louis. Feed him. Clothe him. Educate him. Protect him. Help others step into his world and bless him.
I left an hour later and headed to a hotel.
He walked down the street…
No Power 0
The power went out on my side of town this morning as a thunderstorm rolled through East Central Illinois.
It was inconvenient …for about 45 minutes.
I had to get a flashlight to find my clothes in the basement.
I wondered if I was going to shave today with my electric shaver.
My wireless router didn’t work.
And my water and ice cube dispenser didn’t work on the door of my fridge.
Then it happened…..
I had a flashback of nine days ago.
Last Tuesday I was in the village of Ireland just outside of San Jeronimo, Honduras.
No one in the village has electricity.
Here’s an inside look at a humble kitchen with no electricity, no running water, and no sewage system. Just a table, some containers for transporting water, and wood stacked in the corner for cooking and light.
We used a generator to power a sound system for a bunch of kids’ activities, including an evening movie presentation of GodMan on a large 10-foot screen.
I have lived a life blessed with more than enough.
Yet, I get irritated when my power temporarily goes off because of a storm.
I need to learn to be appreciative of what I have.
I need to learn to thank God for my blessed life.
And I need to learn from my new friends in the village of Ireland that joy comes from much more than a power outlet.
I continue to ponder all the lessons learned on my trip to Honduras.
Holistic Love 0
Food
+
Water
+
Toys
+
Jesus
=
The Good News
We need to love our neighbor, even if she’s 1814 miles away.
The 1814 Project Update 0
After an all-night travel day we arrived in Honduras safe and sound, landing in Tegucigalpa Airport… known to be one of the more dangerous airports to land in because of the nearby mountains and landscape.
Since then we have:
- Been interviewed on Honduras Channel 28 for coming to Honduras to help in a community transformation project.
- Opened a ribbon-cutting ceremony up in prayer. I was seated by the Catholic priest, mayor, a local pastor, city police officer, principal, and another city official.
- We hosted children activities during the first-ever San Jeronimo Project Market Day. We painted faces, played games, did the El Sapo dance, and got beat by kids in soccer.
- Saturday night we participated in a church service where God moved in great ways. Our team did an excellent job in their THREE HOUR children’s church time.
- Sunday we taught a leadership class and did children ministry at the same time. Great morning.
- I taught the leadership class under a Mango tree next to a rooster, a dog, a broken down car, a nursing mom, and a family doing their laundry five feet away.
For some pics go to www.evancourtney.com
He’s blogging and twittering this trip more regularly than I am.
The Virtue List for San Jeronimo, Honduras 0
Respect
Kindness
Courage
Forgiveness
Wisdom
Love
Purposefulness
Service
Trust
Honesty
Thankfulness
Self-discipline
We’re developing curriculum and practical ideas for how these virtues can be instilled in the youth and children of San Jeronimo, Honduras. We’ll be using God’s Word as the platform to teach these virtues.
Got ideas?
