Peanut Butter and Cantaloupe Sandwich

On the last day of last year's mission, our food stock became very limited. Meals at the beginning of the mission are actually pretty good, but as we get to the point where there are more days spent than there are remaining, we begin to see evidence that the good meats and better ingredients are more sparse and that the ingredients that were acquired with some sort of planned coordination served their purpose and are spent.  

So, on the last day, we walked up to the table where the food is available and we saw what I would call a "hot mess"... Or cold mess, because most of it was cold food.  I basically stood there with a question mark standing over the top of my head wondering if something was missing. The staff at the mission house take so good care of us, but by the world's standards, we are so spoiled, us Americans, that we seem to feel the need for some FDA color-coded portion American meat and potato meal presented to us. Not on this day though.

Anyways, last year, I stood there and saw a small left-over mystery smorgasbord, of sorts.  I saw some dry cereal, bread, peanut butter, and cantaloupe among other seemingly random things. Then in true missionary style, I made do and the metiohorical lemons became lemonade. Well in this case, it was a peanut butter and cantaloupe sandwich with the bread toasted just a little to add a special crunch and dimension to the dicoverrd dietary delight.  Now, we did have some good food on the mission trip, but in reflection a year later, this is the only meal I can vividly remember and one that I can still taste in my mouth, and I think of it now with warm affection. 

In true fish story fashion, that peanut butter and cantaloupe sandwich meal becomes much better each time I think about it.  "Why is that?", I ask myself.  I've come to believe that it isn't the fact that I discovered gold by inventing the next best thing like pizza or a hamburger. It's because the meal symbolizes so many times on the mission trips where God empowered us to do so much with very little. Whether it is seeing Tony hammer a nail with a stone, because he hasn't received a hammer yet, or how a bag of rice and beans delivered to a dirt-floor garbage shack family had them glowing or digging that hole for the latrine with a broken-tip shovel, or grabbing large tree branches and nails to create makeshift water bucket carriers, or our Julie becoming a Honduran MacGyver with using some random piece of something as a makeshift finishing tool... All of those things... Are peanut butter and cantaloupe sandwiches. It just worked... By the grace of God... The job got done and someone was blessed in the process. 

My thoughts then go to all those who have donated this year. Some gave a little and some gave a lot, but every bit counts. Whether it is a suitcase or the school supplies that went in them or whether it was a monetary donation. Our missional partners' sacrifices of their money or possessions will be compounded in impact upon our arrival. Of that I am sure.  Like when Jesus fed five thousand with 5 loaves of bread and two fish, so does God meet the needs of the Honduran people with the donations of our missional partners. I look forward to sharing our journey this year through this blog so that others may vicariously see into the window of God's kingdom that is opened in the midst of missional works such as this. 

God bless,

Seven

SEVEN—This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see Lev. 25:4; 1 Sam. 2:5; Ps. 12:6; 79:12; Prov. 26:16; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4). The feast of Passover (Ex. 12:15, 16), the feast of Weeks (Deut. 16:9), of Tabernacles (16:13), and the Jubilee (Lev. 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2 Chr. 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Lev. 4:6, 17; 8:11, 33; 14:9, 51), of forgiveness (Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4), of reward (Deut. 28:7; 1 Sam. 2:5), and of punishment (Lev. 26:21, 24, 28; Deut. 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Prov. 26:16, 25; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 12:45. It is used also to mean “abundantly” (Gen. 4:15, 24; Lev. 26:24; Ps. 79:12).

                       M. G. Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893).

     Ancient cultures (including the Israelite's) were fascinated by numbers.  Numbers were much more to them than just a means of counting.  Another biblical way of interpreting the number seven is that it is a number of 'completion.'  Someone or something or some event has come 'full-circle.'  On the seventh day God rested....He had completed creation.  The Elevate mission team going to Honduras this year is small.....and perfect.  I am very happy to be part of this team.  A group of seven brothers and sisters in Christ going to another part of the world to be shining examples of His light to others and to be influenced by other examples of His shining light.  God is the eternal teacher.  I cannot wait to see and hear what He is going to teach the Honduras mission team.  10 straight days of being surprised by God....I can't help but to smile every time I think about it!!

Sovereign Heavenly Father,

Please be with this team as we travel Lord.  Watch-over, guide, and protect us Lord as we work to serve you.  Holy Father, help us to keep our hearts and minds open to you; that you may more freely work your will through us.  May your name be lifted up and praised in all that we say and do.  In all things Father;  may Your will, not ours be done.  It's in your Son Jesus Christs' name we pray; Amen.

Peace and Blessings,

Eric

Light of the World

This past year (2015) has been the most difficult year of my life. I’ve learned a lot about myself, but also about God. I look back on everything that has happened, and I am overwhelmed with all the blessings given to me and the lessons I have learned through this storm. The Bible says if we seek God with our whole heart, we will find Him. I think sometimes we take that for granted. Every time I called on Him, He was there waiting.

I had to remind myself over and over that the enemy was attacking me so ruthlessly because he saw me as a threat. He knew that I trusted God would carry me through that situation one way or another and that both angered and terrified him. He was willing to do anything to break me down, to turn me against my God. Once you are able to see the whole picture from a heavenly view, it is so much easier to let go of the bitterness, anger and pain and sincerely forgive people and move on. Colossians 3:2-3 states “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” This perspective taught me to find my worth in Jesus. Even when I was lonely, I felt comfort. When I was feeling unattractive and unwanted, I felt loved. When I was unappreciated, I felt purpose.

I am living proof that, even when things get difficult and you are being attacked left and right, God is already there – waiting. Nothing comes to you without going through Him first, which means that He is already prepared to help you through any situation if you let him. Sometimes He does calm the storm, but sometimes He lets that storm rage and calms you instead. Never, ever forget the big picture. Do not get caught up in the self-centered mindset of the culture we live in. Things will happen in life that are not fair. Do not allow yourself to give into self-pity – this is one of the easiest deceptions the enemy loves to use.

Call on Him, trust Him, and do what He says – putting aside your own fears and the opinions of others. Because I kept my trust in Him, even when it seemed as though there was no end to the storm, He delivered me in His perfect timing, blessing me every step along the way. He has put this mission trip on my heart and I cannot wait to see the plans He has! Psalm 18:28 says that our “God turns darkness into light.” In turn, we need to be His light to the world (regardless of how it treats us).

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden…In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14 & 16

Blessings!!!

Emily

Mustard seeds are small

God uses small things for his Mighty purpose all the time. Throughout the Bible, you see seemingly insignificant things such as a staff, a jawbone, or a stone be used for mighty purposes. Jesus illustrates how something very small can do great things when faith is involved when he explains the power of the mustard seed.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew‬ ‭13:31-32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This year, our mission team is a small group of 7. We are still set up to build a house for a family while in Honduras.  7 is a small number, but I pray that God plants a mustard seed for this family, their neighborhood and Honduras by using us. May God make our backs strong, our hearts full of love, and the logistics of the project be kind.

Returning to Choluteca Honduras

Julie and I are very blessed to be returning to Choluteca Honduras.  We will be working to serve our God by blessing those who can never repay us in human terms, but who bless us in ways the world can not understand.  We will be returning this year to work in Brisas Del Rio to construct a home for a family that does not yet know we are coming.  The local church is building a Christian Community in one of the poorest areas of the city and it is truly a blessing to be a part of their mission to reach the people of Choluteca with the good news of the saving grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Our team this year is small, but might.  We have 5 returning team members and 3 first time missionaries that can't wait to board the plane.   Please follow us as we record our thoughts and experiences on this blog sites.

John and Julie Huie