Jarrod's Thoughts

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to pipe in and give my two cents on the trip here. It's been a really fun and awesome journey this past week plus. At the beginning, I didn't even know over half of the kids' names that were going on the trip, and now I feel like I've connected with most of them in some way shape or form. I was really blessed on this trip, getting to help facilitate with Todd and lead the kids and watch them grow closer to the Lord in some very unique and awesome ways. From doing construction, hauling sand and concrete, painting, playing soccer and sports with kids, and reaching out to the orphans and widows, it has truly been a "complete" trip. I've been on a few very impactful missions trips, but never have I been so tired by the end of one as I am with this one, because we accomplished so much while we were here. All of the kids worked very hard and got a lot done.

Specifically, I wanted to highlight today (our last day here). We got to go to an area of the island that we hadn't gone to yet, and give out clothes, hygiene, and other supplies with Yourgin (Todd's main contact here in Honduras), and pray and minister over the people. Probably the most impactful moment of the trip for me was when we went to the island's main dump, and ministered to the absolute poorest families that live here in Roatan. They have nothing, and they literally pick through the dump every day for a living. We got to bless them with clothes and lots of other supplies and it almost brought tears to my eyes. After we prayed over them and blessed them, they told us to wait. They went back into a field and brought out these huge canes.... of sugar! They had nothing to give, so they went and got us what they could, and brought us back this amazing sugar cane that we all got to try for the first time and enjoy! It was such an INCREDIBLE blessing, and I was so honored that through our blessing them, they blessed us!

Todd shared something tonight that really rings true: When you bless someone with something money can't buy, they'll give you something money can buy.

Tomorrow we head out, but not before our last, possibly most exciting part of the trip yet: We're baptizing some of the kids in the ocean at dawn. Talk about a life changing experience!