by Trenton Richard
This past week, I had the opportunity to serve with Commissioned International alongside 48 short-term missionaries from local churches in the small village of San Matias, Honduras. Being my first time in a third-world country, I did not really know what to expect. Many people told me about their experiences, but reality does not hit until you find yourself in the middle of it all.
This experience was life changing. It is hard to understand just how blessed we are to live in America until we experience life outside of our comfort zone. Houses were made of scrap metal, windows were simply a hole in the metal, and the bathroom was a hole in the backyard. But one thing stood out: they were joyful, content with their living conditions, and grateful for what they had. Often, we find ourselves wanting the newest iPhone or the latest trending item whereas the Hondurans were grateful to wake up and live another day.
While walking the dirt roads of Honduras, we found more than poverty, we found a people group, lost, confused, and in need of a Savior. While they liked to tell us they were believers, after more conversation we learned Jesus was an idea but not necessarily a living savior who wanted to establish a personal relationship with every one of them. But the Lord works in mighty ways. He goes before us preparing the hearts of others to hear the gospel. I found joy, hope, faith, and the Spirit moving in power.
We partnered with the local pastor who allowed us to hold 16 church services throughout our 3 days in the village. In just three days, we ministered and supported 1,383 people by providing medical treatment, filling 6,896 prescriptions, and distributing 7,613 pieces of clothing, 1,289 pairs of shoes, and 146 pounds of beans and rice.
Most importantly, 69 people made the life-changing decision to follow Jesus and were welcomed into His family.
Also, I want to clear up the misconception I had coming into the trip. Just because I was not a medical professional or a pastor, there was still plenty of work to be done. Whether that was putting a new roof on the church or roping and vaccinating cows, everyone played an important role in sharing the gospel with the community.
For me, this trip was more than just the work in the village. It was about what I learned. Gratitude. Thankfulness for what we have, which we often take for granted. It has taught me not to complain because life could be much more difficult. Next time you find yourself complaining, reflect on your entire life as a whole. Vision your life from a different perspective.
I challenge each of you to experience short-term mission work at least once. I guarantee it will be forever life changing.
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For more information on Commissioned International visit: https://commissionedintl.org/
To learn more about what our team did, watch this video: 5 Minute Honduras Video
