In the mountains of Honduras, there are hundreds of villages and thousands of people who have not heard the good news about Jesus, His life He gave for us, the death He died, and his resurrection from the dead that assures us, those who believe in Him, that we will be saved. They have not heard of His wrath and the judgement that is coming for mankind because of our sin; they have not heard of the love that Jesus has shown to us by voluntarily sacrificing himself so we could live for eternity in pure happiness and joy.
It is because of this God calls missionaries to go. He calls simple, normal people to do extraordinary work. This is why the Pattersons went, because God called them to it. There is nothing special about them. They would be the first ones to tell you that they aren't perfect. That they are flawed and sinful. They would also be the first ones to tell you about Jesus and His forgiveness.
Living with this family for 6 weeks was an amazing experience. We got to see the day in and day out of a missionary family. How they prepare for their mission work, how they impact the people around them, how they live, how they spend time together.. And so much more. I am so incredibly thankful for their family. They took my sister and I in as their own, loved on us, helped us find our place, encouraged us in our preparation and work, translated for us constantly, and quickly became some of my dearest friends.
God is doing amazing things in Honduras through the people He has placed there. A little village of about 1,500 people called El Buen Pastor is where the Patterson family have devoted their ministry. Every week they pile in their land cruisers and spend 2 hours on a bumpy road just to get there. A Sunday to them is a 10 hour day. We always left at 7, got there around 9, started Sunday school right away, had a 30 minute lunch break, then next was our teenage girls class, and finally we had the actual church service at 1. We would leave around 3 and get back home at 5. They do this every week! Willingly! And they L.O.V.E it. There was one day I was talking to Mr. Patterson and asked him what he loves most about his wife. He said that he loves how much she loves the ministry in El Buen Pastor. And he is absolutely right, she does loves their ministry there so much. Christy's heart is a heart of gold. She is so kind and one of the most humble human beings I know. She loves the women in the village. Almost every evening when we were laying around before it was time for bed, Christy would be sitting in her chair, crocheting hats for the new babies that would be born soon in the village. So sweet and thoughtful. Christy also is an amazing Sunday school teacher. Every week she consistently has 30-40 kids and when she starts teaching, they all listen to her so intently. I couldn't believe it! She loves all those little kids with her whole heart and teaches them so well.
The people in El Buen Pastor have really grown to love the Patterson family. God has used them to share His gospel with those who have never heard in this village and it's changing lives.
Back in Siguatepeque there are many others who have been impacted by Mark and Christy. We met several sweet, genuine men and women who's lives have been changed by God through the Pattersons and through other people God has placed in Honduras.
{victor and Carla} they have 5 girls and are some of the sweetest people I've ever met. Growing up as a little girl, I read in story books, learned in Sunday school and was taught by my parents that God knows and loves His people who are all around the world. But it wasn't until our time in Honduras that these thoughts became a reality. It is such a simple thought, that I knew was true, but I never had the chance to actually experience it. I was never able to put names and faces to people who live a different life, speak a different language but are yet precious in the sight of God. He knows them intimately, He died for them, and loves them. I can easily say it was one of the most special parts of our trip.
We were able to see, first hand, other Christians praising the name of Christ in a completely different tongue. They have been changed by His grace and their lives have been transformed into something new! The gospel is being spread all over this world, and we were able to see it first hand. Amazing.
My sister and I were also able to see what it's like for people to come and go from the states. One Tuesday we went up the the village along with some doctors and nurses who came from the states. They saw over 200 people that day. 16 of them were pregnant woman, some of them had no idea how far a long in their pregnancies they were. Our job was to entertain the kids for their parents while they stood in line, we had over 100 kids there. Crazy! But so fun.
We also had 3 different church groups come from the states and help us do manual labor around Meda, the seminary. They sewed, dug ditches, painted, worked on cars, and they also did a VBS up in the village. It was neat to meet so many different people and see how willing they were to help share the gospel in different ways.
I would encourage any Christian who has the opportunity to go on a mission trip to G O. It changed my life! It changed my view of God, how He works in this world, how He uses us weak vessels to show His great strength. I was able to see God work mightily through my sister and I and through the Pattersons while we were there. It was the greatest experience of my life as a follower of Jesus.
If you don't feel called to go then be a supporter and prayer warrior! I don't have enough words to express my thankfulness to my church and all the people that made it possible for us to go. They provided the means for us to go, they were excited for us to go, and prayed for us faithfully while we were gone. I received so much encouragement from a lot of people, some of them I didn't really even know. I have so much to be thankful for.
I hope with all my heart that I get to go back one day and return to the sweet faces that stole my heart while I was there. It's a second home to me now.
Here are a couple more pictures from our trip with some of the sweet people we met there :)
