Before preparing for departure tomorrow we had a day of fun, fellowship, and rest with the Sumner families today! We started out with a delicious breakfast and Honduran coffee, which I have drunk so much of while here and not regretted once.
Another busy and beautiful day in Honduras! We left early this morning before the sun came up to have 5 services at Academies and Bases. Jeff preached 2 of the services, Jacob preached the last 2 services. Sadly, one service canceled but we were still able to go onto the base and look at the airplanes and helicopters. We had wonderful services, God helped us and was the One who worked!
Sunday morning started children's crusade that went through Tuesday night. Our theme was the jungle and we enjoyed decorating the sanctuary with safari theme decor and clings. The first service was centered around salvation. Second service was on the Holy Ghost. Third service was on the call of God. And the fourth service was on staying committed and faithful to the call of God.
It has been a wonderful day! Its Saturday which meant we had Saturday schools and soup kitchen. We started out at a public school where the SENT team was given the opportunity to do the Bible skit for the children. The children were sweet and the teachers and military leaders were so happy to have us and the captain at the end invited us openly to come back for the next 3 or 4 months every Saturday to be with the children. We opened with prayer and then songs where everyone got involved, especially on Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah Gloria a Dios (praise ye the Lord) with guys against girls! The Bible skit was narrated by Ruth Violette, translated by Bro Scott Sumner, on the story of Moses as the rest of the SENT team acted it out. Salvation was explained at the end of the skit and we closed once again in prayer. We had another skit followed by the soup kitchen where we served hot dogs to those who came. After that we had 2 more locations we went for Saturday school skit and songs.
We had the opportunity of going to the police academy this morning that Bro. Sumner Sr. went to first, 25 years ago. Jacob and I testified before Bro. Pahlman preached. After service, Bro. Alan Sumner took us to have breakfast. Then we helped Grandma Sumner shop for the soup kitchen and house. After grocery shopping, we visited the Friday market to say we've experienced the Honduran market. We stopped for corn that had been roasted over a grill and fire on the street corner. The toppings were salt and lime and you ate it off of the cob. After that snack we tried liche, a sea creature looking fruit that was red on the outside and once popped open had a round white fruit. Most similar to a grape but still distinctly different. It tasted amazing! I wish I could pack a tree up and bring it back to the states with me! We also drank the juice straight out of the coconut! After our adventure through the market we ate at a chicken place where they served it by a whole chicken, half chicken or portion of a chicken. It was great, down here they say its the best in the world.
Today we returned to the Sumner's house after busy week. It was a wonderful experience and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to be a part of the South team. We took the morning easy and took our time getting back. Before returning Bro. Alan Sumner dropped us off at the mall and went to pick Bro. Pahlman up from the airport. It's good to have Bro. Pahlman with us and we look forward to the remainder of the time with him.
Buenos noche from Honduras! If I had to choose a favorite day of busy week today would be the day. We started out with the Cobras and Tigers police academy. They did formation and roll call before the service started. Jacob Vaughn preached and we sang and testified. I was standing to the side for the majority of the service so I could take pictures and during the end of the message I saw two of these grown police men used to fighting and being strong with tears flowing down their faces. It almost made me cry seeing how the Lord was working amongst them. They were so willing to raise their hands and praise God. And those two I saw weren't ashamed for tears to flow. With hearts tender like that I believe God can really work for them and make them strong. I felt completely at home with them and would have been content to stay longer. After the service they invited us to stay and eat breakfast. We had a traditional Honduras breakfast consisting of eggs, beans, avocado, cheese and tortillas. The ladies serving us said they were never able to come to the services because they cooked but wanted us to pray for them. The one lady said she needed healing and wanted us to pray for that specifically. Thank the Lord for the opportunity to pray. Believing God to heal her today!
Alarm off at 2 a.m., loaded in the van and ready to roll at 3 a.m. for our first 4 hour drive on South team to hold services for police academies and the Military branches/bases for what the Summers call busy week. Those 2 cups of coffee weren't enough today but the excitement for the services is building. South team has Bro. Alan Sumner, Jacob Vaughn, Jacob Hurst, Jeffrey Schneider, Kayln Perry, Ruth Sumner, Sarah Sumner, Rhoda Sumner and myself. The remaining, Bro Anthony Moody, Bro Scott Sumner, Ruth Violette, Lisa Peretic and Elizabeth Sumner went North to do the same thing as our team. After riding awhile, you could see what I assumed was city lights and I was kind of excited about seeing a Honduras city with sky scrapers and skyline view of lights. But it turned out to be lots of street lamps all together, with outside building and house lights of several towns on the hillsides. It was still beautiful.
Today we slept in some and had a delicious breakfast at Grandma Sumner's house. The Sumner families are so hospitable and happy to host you. I, instantly, felt apart of them and at home. You don't see a lot of families 3 or so generations still working together, living together and in the ministry together. Most families today, ministry or not, can't even stay together and be happy for one generation. They have been beautiful examples to me of a family in the ministry.
Our first Sunday in Honduras. I had the privilege and experience of helping teach Sunday school this morning with Sis Lisa. We had a blast with the kids and once again my heart melted with some of them. I was impressed by their involvement and overall willingness to learn and memorize. I've made up my mind I'm learning more kid's songs in Spanish; I love them and most of them have some kind of motions!
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AuthorCharity Hayden is a Junior at Free Gospel Bible Institute. ArchivesCategories |