Returning Home from Honduras

Saturday July 4, 2009

What an eventful day this has been!! We left Orphanage Emmanuel this morning at 6:00AM local time in order to try to get to the airport early and hopefully avoid any political demonstrations. About halfway throught the 2 hour drive, we encountered a roadblock and were stopped by the Honduran military. All the men were ordered off the bus and made to line up facing the bus and with our backs to the soldiers, presumably so that we could be searched for any weapons. Tito, our bus driver, explained to the men that we were Christians from America. After a few minutes, they decided that we posed no threat and allowed us to return to the bus. No harm done - these young men were just doing their job in a very difficult time for their country.

We made it to the airport, got checked in, and went to the food court to have lunch. Everything was going according to plan. The Alabama team was to depart at 12:15 and our North Carolina team along with Kevin Neely was to leave on the 2:20 flight. The Alabama team left as scheduled, but at about 1:00 pm those of us assigned to the second flight were told that the airport was closing and there would be no more flights out today. That turned out not to be true, but for a while there we were unsure exactly what was going to happen. What we later learned was that the situation outside was growing more serious and the military was about to take control of the airport. American Airlines rushed everyone onto the plane and we left about 45 minutes early, on what we understand was the last flight out.

It has been a week of fun and hard work, of good food and fellowship, and a total dependence on God to handle a situation over which we had no control. So now we are home in the relative safety of the United States, with a freedom that we often take for granted. We need to remember to pray for the Honduran people, as these folks have a great love for their country just as we do for ours. All of those I talked with are deeply saddened by what is happening in their country right now.

As for those of us on the mission teams, we must now struggle with returning to our "normal" lives, whatever that might mean. We will never be the same after this week - the Holy Spirit has taught us things we could not have learned in any other circumstance. Although our teams had never met before last Sunday, June 28, we have come together as brothers and sisters in Christ, something that just doesn't happen apart from God's work in our hearts and lives.

I think I can speak for the team in saying how much we appreciate Gary Clark. His faithfulness to God's call and his love for the people of Honduras is evident. It has been a joy to work with you again this year, brother!

And now, "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy!" (Psalm 67:3-4) May His Name be praised for ever and ever and ever!

Tim Kerley
Mountain View Baptist