He is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

I'm a little early to really be talking about Easter (about 2 hours early) but as we celebrated Easter with my family (and some extended family) today, it seems fitting to me, even if it isn't officially Easter yet.

This past week I haven't had much time to focus on Honduras, but I have had a lot of time to focus on why I'm doing this...and that's because Jesus came down to Earth, died in my place, and gave me an opportunity to live eternally with Him, provided I realize that I can't get there on my own, I need his help, and surrender everything to Him.  Part of that surrender is to live my life in the way that He has called me to live it, and based on what I have seen and experienced in the past 9 months, this is what he wants me to be doing with my life right now.  We are called to care for the widowed and orphaned, for the "least of these".  And I can't think of anyone who fits the description better than those children who have been abandoned, orphaned or displaced. 

I don't know long term where this will lead.  Right now I'm viewing it as a one-time, year-long commitment.  I haven't gotten leading one way or the other there.  I will be there for one year.  I will be back here for at least a year.  I know I'm supposed to go, so I'm going.  There are probably those who think I'm crazy.  Others who probably think I'm a really good person.  The truth is, that I know if I stayed here and ignored this call, I'd be miserable. The first few months of this school year, I was miserable...because my heart wasn't here.  I was doing what I needed to do, but there was no joy in it.  God put a passion in me for the people of Honduras, for these children...to give them the opportunity of a lifetime - give them an education they "shouldn't" be able to get, based on their original circumstances.  And God is providing for me in ways I never could have foreseen when I started this.

The most recent actually happened today.  We had all my family in for Easter, including my brother who lives in California and flies somewhere every week for his job.  Part of what I've been praying about lately is finding someone to live in my house, and money to get home for Christmas this year, because I would love to see everyone then, and I'll have some time off.  I was told somewhere in the process that I should be able to take two weeks.  I just need to have the means to get back here.  In talking with my brother, I found that he usually flies one of the three airlines that have commercial flights into Tegucigalpa...and he gets frequent flyer miles...many frequent flyer miles.  So I asked him about the chance of using some of those to get home for Christmas.  He looked online, and provided the dates he checked work, he already has enough to get me home and back to Tegucigalpa...I'll just have to pay taxes, etc.  [And he agreed to let me use them.]  So right there is at least $800 I don't have to worry about getting on top of what I have to raise already.  And in talking with my other brother (and sister-in-law), they're talking with friends and seeing if anyone needs to rent out a house for a year.  Hopefully something will come of all this.  I know it's in God's hands (I'd just like to see it happen sooner rather than later!).

So even though I said I haven't technically had a lot of time to think about Honduras...well, developments are happening.  I got a bit more money donated last week.  I'm not expecting much (if any) came in this past week, mostly because I haven't heard from anyone saying they were donating.  I'm currently above 75%.  I need less than $1,000 more to officially get my plane ticket (or at least discuss getting my plane ticket).  And I need about $5,000 more overall to be fully funded.  God knows where the money is coming from.  I have been so overwhelmed by the generosity of my family, my friends, my church, and random people I don't really know.  It's been incredible to see how God has been working so far.  All the glory goes to Him.  His care for us didn't end with Jesus' death and resurrection.  He is still working in the lives of His people on Earth.  As we remember what He did for us...and as we see how He provides for us, we need to ask ourselves what we do for Him.