Mission Trip - Jon Hoey

Getting to the orphanage this year was not easy! The jet crash that had occurred earlier in Tegucigalpa forced our team to find a different route to the Puerta Lempira and to find it as we counted down the days to our arrival. Diana Rodriguez worked diligently to rearrange our travel itinerary and the end result was a safe and easy trip. Our next trials came in the form of very rainy weather and upset stomachs. But nothing could stop God from working in the lives of those who went to minister or in the lives of those to whom we ministered. As we maintained our focus on Him and the children, obstacles were overcome and the joy of the Lord burst forth.

One of the greatest blessings for me was finally meeting Gustavo. I had heard so much about him, but before this year’s trip, I had never met him. God brought us together as brothers with like minds and hearts. I thank the Lord for this new friend.

One of our first-time team members was deeply touched by the plight of the orphans. When it was time to leave, he didn’t want to come back to the U.S. He had fallen in love with the children and with the sweet spirit of love they shared with him. Even though it is always hard to leave the orphans, we felt good knowing that the children were enjoying good health, eating well and wearing “cool” clothes. We always go with the purpose of sharing God’s love and we always leave feeling more of God’s love through the responses of the orphans than we could ever give ourselves. And we always leave ready to return again next summer.