My heart is so broken for some of the things we have seen here. These people work so hard for so little. I truly don't know anyone who would be willing to live under the conditions they do, and yet, it is a way of life for them. Yesterday as we walked up the mountain to Hacienda de San Juan I was asking Marcia, our Honduran friend, and sister in Christ, if the people realized the beauty of their surroundings. She said that some of them probably did, but not all of them. They are too busy trying to feed their families and survive. Once we got to the village (after about an hour of almost straight up climbing!), one of the older ladies came up and asked Marcia if we thought where she lived was pretty. I told Marcia to assure her we have nothing like this where we are from, and that it is muy bonito (not sure about the spelling, but it means very beautiful).
I know I keep going on and on about the climb, and how difficult the journey was yesterday, but I assure you, there is a point to this. Steve and Audrey Long have been coming to Honduras for many years. They began coming on Mission teams, but for the past several years they have volunteered to come down and work while the missionaries that were placed here went back to the states on leave. They generally spent about two months out of the year in Honduras continuing the work of Billy and Mary Collins while they took a much needed rest back home. Steve and Audrey have been a part of, and led, many medical teams, prayer walking teams, and evangelistic teams into this country. They have been very obedient to God's call for the Chorti people. But without mincing words I am just going to say, they are not as young as they used to be. Their intent was never to live down here for as long as they have. Last fall medical reasons prevented Billy and Mary from remaining in Honduras. The IMB (International Mission Board) had already determined that when Billy and Mary retired they would not be sending any more missionaries to this area. They (the IMB) believed there were not enough numbers to warrant spending the money needed to provide for missionaries here. I’m not sure how or why they play the numbers game, but I can assure you there is a great need for missionaries here. I don’t recall anywhere in the Bible where Jesus said to go and take a census to see if there were enough people to warrant entering a town. When Billy and Mary went back to the States Steve and Audrey’s church, Parkwood Baptist, decided to continue sending funds for the Chorti mission work to continue. Steve and Audrey agreed to live in the mission house, which their church is paying the lease on, and continue to minister to these people who have touched their lives, and ours, in such a way.
The work Steve and Audrey do (and Billy and Mary did for so many years) is not for the faint of heart. It is not work that has a monetary reward, nor are there many creature comforts. There is running water in their home, but you can’t put toilet paper in the toilets because the septic systems here cannot let things drain properly, and you can’t even stick your toothbrush under the water for fear of getting sick. Everything must be washed with bleach water. The electricity goes out at some point most days. When that happens it gets very hot in the Mission house. Not that it is ever cold. Most days the heat manageable (if you stay indoors), and at some points during the day there is a cool breeze blowing. But all you have to do is step out their door and you are hit with blistering heat. Most of the work done is outdoors…not only outdoors, but straight up in the mountains where the heat is stifling, and the bugs are plentiful.
We come here for about a week, and get our “feel good fix”, then return home to our air conditioned ways, our fast food meals, and our clean water and septic systems. While Steve and Audrey wave good-bye to us and begin preparations for the next team, which sometimes is catching a plane to come to Honduras as the previous team is heading home. When a team is here Steve and Audrey wake up before we do (and we wake up around 5:15 a.m.) and they go to bed after we do preparing for the next day. There is no rest time, no vacation time, and no time to themselves. People are constantly stopping by the Mission house needing medical assistance, a ride somewhere, or spiritual questions answered. They also hold Bible Studies in their home.
As we were walking yesterday, we stopped several times to rest. Audrey went as far as she could (which was quite a way), but finally had to admit she could go no further. When I got to the top of the mountain where the village was I looked back and saw Steve in his “Panama Jack” hat topping the hill alone. I must say I was moved to tears. He looked tired, and I could tell he was torn between coming on to help us, and leaving his wife behind on the log she had found to rest on. It’s not like she was on a city bench somewhere. She was in the middle of the Honduran jungle resting on a log! Don’t get me wrong. Steve and Audrey are not feeble people. They are strong and hard-working. They love the Lord and they love the Chorti people. But Audrey is in her late sixties and Steve is seventy. They did not feel called to full-time mission work, and yet, here they are. Why? Because at this point THERE IS NO ONE ELSE! Please understand, Steve and Audrey do all of this without complaint. They have not asked me to write this. I’m just giving my observations as God has laid things on my heart.
There is a great need for a younger couple, preferable who speak Spanish, to come and take over this work. I know that God has the exact people in mind to do this. Someone reading this blog right now is beginning to feel a stirring in their spirit. I know it. I sense it. I believe God is having me write this for that very reason. Someone is needed to come and continue the work that is being done here. God does not want these people to be abandoned!
In the meantime, please pray for health, safety, and REST for Steve and Audrey. Pray the teams who come here will be sensitive to the needs of the Chorti people who live in the villages in the mountains, and to the Hondurans who live in the towns. And above all, pray the name of Jesus will be proclaimed for all to hear!
We love you all and covet your prayers!
Trisha
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