I don’t think I will ever be the same. We have been home from Honduras for a few weeks now, but the experience I had in Honduras, like a special radioactive isotope lodged deep in my heart, continues to burn through the cells of my pride and small vision. Don’t misunderstand. I’m SO glad to be home, but the exposure to the world beyond my world is changing me.
In some ways being home is bitter-sweet: I love my family and our church (and I am called to be here in Penfield, and I WILL remain here for as long as the Lord will let me), but my heart aches for the children and the tremendous need that still exists down there. I wish I could bring all those I came to love up here to New York (too bad my garage can’t fit a country in it–just a bunch of old boxes and a lawnmower). I thank God so much for my experiences, especially for meeting Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie, for Carlos, for Antonio, and Elmer and all of the other great people we met.
One HUGE blessing from our trip I want share with my friends is how open my eyes have become.
My eyes are open to the REAL NEEDS around the world, that make my “needs” seem selfishly small. Not only are my eyes open to the need, but my eyes have also opened to the OPPORTUNITY. I am convinced that the notion that it takes millions or even thousands of dollars to make a difference is misguided. There are people ALREADY serving their congregations and communities all over the world. Often, these faithful servants don’t need a lot to keep going. Looking back, I may have felt intimidated in the past by the idea that the small amount I can do would never make much of a difference. But viewing the profound need in the developing world first hand, I now see that I was wrong. Sometimes $70 for engine parts or a single word of encouragement is all it takes to change a life, a ministry, and even more.
For example, our church was able to send a small one time gift of just $750 to Brother Carlos that enabled him to buy a sound system for his city church. This small gift that our church ENTHUSIASTICALLY sent ahead (I’m so proud of pastoring a generous church–maybe the most generous church per capita I know), rallied the leaders and members of Pastor Carlos’s church more than one could imagine. They have more than the equipment they need; they have the encouragement of knowing they’re not alone. They feel connected, supported, and loved–and frankly, by giving, I feel even better than they do!
Another eye opener was seeing the GREATNESS of other men and women serving in other areas. Before going on the missions trip I think there was a part of me that felt a little proud of what I was doing and even sacrificing for the Lord. What a fool I was! As I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs, on our missions trip to Honduras I met a dear brother, Carlos Guzman, who pastors in the city of Choluteca. Meeting him, humbled me to the very ground. Carlos is a community leader and a friend to all who know him; he pastors a dynamic church in the city; he is a husband and a father; he speaks at least 2 languages (English and Spanish); he works a full time job driving a taxi to make ends meet; he leads and/or supports 5 other local churches, AND he does it all while being confined to a wheelchair–and, by the way, he does this all in a developing country!
If you haven’t found time to check out the pictures of Honduras and Brother Carlos on our Facebook page, please check it out!
With Love,
Your ever shrinking, Pastor Zac
