Looking
Back, Moving Forward
Reflections
on Honduras Good Works, 2012
After
month at home I look back on Honduras Good Works, 2012 with fondness and joy
and hope for the future. Hope for the
future of the Mission, hope for the future of the people of Honduras and hope
for the continued giving and receiving of God’s blessings and the giving and
receiving of God’s good works through the lives of the people of God. The photographs attached to this post give
just a small look at the people of Zarzal and their commitment to each other
and to the Kingdom of God. Incredible
things happened, friendships were formed, and we all, I mean all, came away
with a better understand of the covenant of baptism. That is, that we are all joined together, not
only with God through Jesus, but that we are all joined together with each
other as well.
The
five of us on our team brought enthusiasm and took away skills and
friendships. The people of Zarzal
brought skills, enthusiasm, a commitment to working together and a love for
their church and their people. They also
took away friendships. Friendships with
the five of us and stronger friendships with one another, forged by working
together for a common goal.
I
have some goals for the coming year. I
want to return with my team, hopefully a larger team that will include more
people from St. Stephens and Beaumont, Texas, including several children who
will give and receive and be ambassadors for the kingdom of God. I also hope that my wife, Lynn, a Nurse
Practitioner specializing in Women’s Health will be able to join the medical
part of this very important mission.
In an
earlier post I mentioned the 140 Scholarships given to support secondary
education in a country where this is normally limited to the larger
cities. I intend to become a financial
supporter of this very important program as well. Can you imagine the change that can take
place in villages where all the young people have the opportunity to go past
the sixth grade in School?
My
primary reflection on Honduras Good Works is that it is like a stone thrown
into a lake. The ripples just keep
growing and going further out and further out until the entire lake is
covered. The longevity of this mission
and the founders’ willingness to share the leadership and even to pass it on to
others insure that this wonderful work in God’s name will continue for many,
many years to come.
As I
continue to reflect on this year and look with anticipation toward next year I
leave you with some words of St. Paul, from the third Chapter of Colossians, which
have shaped my attitude toward this important mission.
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and
beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and
patience.13Bear with one another
and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the
Lord
has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything
together in perfect harmony.15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed
you were called in the one body. And be thankful.16Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with
gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.17And whatever you do, in word or
deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through him.
All I can add is Amen!
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