Hello from Roatan, Honduras!
When you wake up in Oklahoma and go to bed a few feet from the Caribbean Sea… it’s a blessed day.
All 20 members of the St. Luke’s mission team are feeling that way after settling in at our home for the next week. The mission house here in Roatan is in the middle of paradise. Waving palm trees, a sandy beach, gentle waves, a beautiful sunset… it’s like living in a painting. But reality is not far away.
On the drive from the airport, we passed by extreme poverty: a tiny house made out of tarp, two women washing clothes in rusty buckets, clotheslines attached to trees, run-down businesses, a disheveled man walking along traffic with a crooked staff. We will see more examples this week. It makes you grateful for what you have.
Our host, Carlos, welcomed us and announced projects for us to work on this week: construction, painting, installing a septic tank, Vacation Bible School for the kids, etc. But more importantly than the projects… are the people we are going to meet. Ten members of our team are coming back to see old friends – to continue building upon relationships rooted in kindness and the love of Christ.
The rest of us who are experiencing Roatan for the first time hope to begin new friendships with residents that will grow over the years as well. We are here to work alongside people who are just like us.
Julie Robinson provided us with great material that really puts this experience in perspective: “… our work must extend beyond physical buildings and reach into the lives and hearts of people. Our work is that of eternal matters, seeking to expand the kingdom of Christ in the hearts of all people. Construction is a platform that we use to meet families and build relationships. May we push ourselves to view each individual we encounter as a part of the body of Christ, believing that each part is valuable to the overall function of the body. In that, we will inevitably build relationships that suffer alongside those suffering, and celebrate alongside those celebrating.
Can’t wait for church Sunday morning – Roatan style! Thank you for your prayers. What an honor and privilege it is to be here.
– Ed Doney
