How to be on a DBH mission trip, stateside...

For those of you who know the DBH story, you know that my mom invited me on a mission trip with Bakerstown Presbyterian Church in 2009--- and I fell IN LOVE with Honduras. I could not wait to get back to this amazing country. So when I had heard of another group planning a trip to Pinalejo, Honduras later that year- I jumped on the chance. This time, it was a mission trip with "boyfriend" in tow. Brad had never been on a mission trip before, and was obviously head over heels in love with me, so he would have followed me anywhere. It was on this trip that we made lifelong connections in Pinalejo and joined the efforts already started by Graciella and Amilcar Paz to change a community while giving glory to Christ. In Grace's kitchen over a cup of my favorite drink (DBH Honduran Coffee), Dream Big Honduras was born.

To say that a fire had been lit in my soul is an understatement. I had known that this was what God was calling me to do since the 4th grade. It was just an extra blessing that I had met my soulmate and he was fully-in as well. I have been to Honduras now more times than I can count and it is always exciting to see old friends, make new ones, and of course--- see where God leads the next dream. We laugh because we always make plans for a trip and God ALWAYS blows our plans and reveals a Master plan we could have never dreamt. From building classrooms, literally moving a mountain to create Kelly Field for the kids to have a playground, to starting an online campaign to build houses, to creating an academy for junior high students, and most recently- to join with an amazing team of evangelical medical professionals to go beyond our town with medical care and the Gospel--- these are just some of the awe inspiring plans God has laid out for Dream Big Honduras.

So when you have 5 kids in school, work another job full time, and are still nursing your littlest one- the dreams of kids laughing and smiling at you in Honduras soon-- are just that... dreams. There is a bit of depression that settles in when I see facebook posts of reunions or hear of how God has moved Brad to do something radical while down there. So I have to counter that sadness with remembering 1 Corinthians 12:20-27----

As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.

21 The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without. 23 The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor. The private parts aren’t shown. But they are treated with special care. 24 The parts that can be shown don’t need special care. But God has put together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honor to the parts that didn’t have any. 25 In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.

27 You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.

My role has become administrative, creative, supportive, donation collector, speaker, social media director-- but most importantly-- prayer warrior. All hats that aren't as fabulous as traveling to Honduras, but hats that are important.

And it is not just my role. So many of you have played a part in sending this team down today, and continue to. Through donations of shoes, educational posters, medical supplies, vitamins, financial support, inviting us to speak, coming to one of our events, and most importantly PRAYER.

WE NEED YOU. YOU ARE A VITAL PART OF OUR MISSION.

So I am inviting you on a mission trip to Honduras this week...

Can you continue to pray for us? Can you share our social media posts? Can you donate financially if a need comes up this week? Can you invite us to speak at your church or school?

There are many parts, but there is only one body.

Come serve Honduras with us this week, stateside. Thanks in advance for your support.