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We have made it back!

It was a little close in Houston making the connection because the immigration and customs lines were so long and it took a while to get through that. Just as we all made it through that we just made the last call for boarding on our Philadelphia flight.
Only 2 of our bags did not make it but will be delivered sometime this evening.

Thank you again for all of the prayers and support, it truly was a great trip and a great group to be serving with.

Phil's 2nd Go Around

Life is a board game, how you gonna play it? There are certain reasons everyone is on this trip and they vary from one side of the world to the other. I am truly blessed to be apart of such a strong team and also be a leader for the high school kids. I never would of thought I would of gained what I did on this trip until now. The way God works in my life is amazing and I couldn't be at a happier state of mind that I am in today. Everyday, we as a team have built a stronger relationship with God and He has moved each and every one of us in the direction of the light. The one on one talks with the students I had were not only important to me, but I feel that I have helped them believe in themselves and to be happy in life. The conversations that have come and gone with the the team will never be forgotten and I believe that all of us have picked the right card from the deck and are waiting to see what God has planned for us next. I think the biggest thing I have personally learned is that God has a plan and to trust in Him. No matter how many ups and downs you have in life, you will get to where you belong with God by your side. So now the question for you to ask yourself is, "What do ya think?"

Thursday "the extra day"

Today has been our "extra" day. If you are unaware after the trip was planning and tickets were booked the airline told us that they were not flying to Philadelphia on Thursday nights, we would have to spend the night in Houston. Spend the night in Houston was not in our budget so after a few tenthly conversations with United Airlines they switched us to an all Friday flights and no spending the night in Houston, because it is cheaper to live an extra day in Honduras than Houston.

We used this day to be our day of anything extra that we needed. Extra time doing the construction work that we may need etc. However, with the great work ethic of this group everything was completed by Wednesday and we had no plans for today. In the morning the group went to West Bay beach, which is one of (if not #1) beach in the world as far as beauty and not crowed. I contacted Coconut Tree Divers and they gave us a great rate on a 2nd dive that 7 people took advantage of and we had a morning and lunch of resting and having fun, recharging our batteries for traveling tomorrow.

When we returned home, several of the children from the children's home came to our house and were playing on the dock with our team members before we headed up to the orphanage for our dinner party full of pizza and fun.

Things are going very well, please continue to pray for us as a group and great travel tomorrow. Thank you, we love and appreciate you!

Wednesday

This morning was spent going to Brandi and Yougin's house to finish hanging and mudding the drywall. Part of the group was doing this while the other part was visiting again with others in their village, the rest of the group was helping Yourgin in his garden weeding and thinning out his corn crops.
Part way through the morning several of the team members went with Bethany to the medical clinic on Roatan and got to tour the facilities, and possibly where Bethany will do some of her practicums (medical residency) next summer.
In the afternoon the group went back to Corazol to distribute the supplies that the team brought down.  It was great to see the families from the first sports camp again.

Sydney's Take

Hey guys! First off, I hope everyone is doing well back in the States! I have experienced so many great things in such a short amount of time! Words cannot begin to describe just how kind and caring the people of Roatan are. It's so amazing watching people who have so little, give so much! So far we've been to a school, two sports camps, and we've been to the orphanage every night, and every second of it has been great. It's awesome being able to bond with the kids and people, and learn how they live. It's crazy to process just how much the people go through, and how strong they continue to be. Being on this trip makes me so thankful for everything I have, as well as the family that provides it for me. It's such an eye-opener, and I wish everyone could experience all of the amazing things that the team has. As we near the end of the trip, it's very bittersweet. Leaving the children that we get to meet is harder than I thought, they are so loving! As soon as we meet them, they run up to us and greet us with huge hugs! I feel so blessed that I had the opportunity to join the 2013 team and help make such an impact. Although I don't want to leave Roatan, I'm excited to return and be able to share more about my trip and just how amazing it was, and will continue to be! I love you guys, see you soon!
<3 Sydney

Sarah's thoughts

Hey its Sarah! I have been loving my time here in Roatan. The people here are so kindhearted and so welcoming. I love being here and the fact we only have a few more days here it breaks my heart! The culture here is so different then at home. Being here makes me realize how much more grateful i should be for what i have at home. All the kids at the orphanage are so much fun to hang out with and getting to know them has been a great experience. Im so glad i we could help everyone we have so far on this trip and im just so happy i got to be apart of it. I cant wait to tell everyone about the trip at home. I love and miss everyone at home. See you all soon!

                                                                                     

Tuesday

We have spent the morning working at Yourgin and Brandi's house. Part of the team spent the time  hanging drywall in their house and the other part spent the morning walking around their village try to help out anybody they can from raking leaves to making tortillas.

The afternoon we concluded the 2nd day of the sports camp in Jutagolpa (hoot-ta-galpa), which is an awesome sight where the field is in the valley of the jungle hills and the kids and teenagers are so excited to come because they rarely ever see people from the United States.

The team's health is in good shape. Please continue to pray for unity, grace, and energy as we wind down our time here. Please keep in prayer our travel arrangements, we do not have a long layover time in Houston and we want to make sure we can make it through US Customs and make our flight to Philadelphia.

Thank you for your love and support.

The View from the Skeye

Hey it's Skeye(: Being in Roatan has been such a life changing experience. So far this trip has been wonderful! I love having the opportunity to serve the people here. Everyone is so kind and welcoming. The kids are great too and just loving them is such a great thing to do! It's so different from anything I knew before. The culture here is so amazing. Yesterday we had the chance to go to a Honduran church, and it was so crazy! You could just tell the people are so passionate about God and their faith is so strong. It's been great having Todd and Bethany with me to help guide me in the right path to building a closer relationship with God. He is truly doing some amazing things for everyone on this trip, as well as the people here in Roatan. Today we walked around the colonia and it was a work out. The hills were so big and I couldn't even imagine having to walk up it everyday with groceries to my house. I can't wait to see how the rest of the trip plays out! I love and miss everyone at home! <3 Skeye

Emily's Thoughts

Being here in Roatan is amazing! I love getting to know all of the people on the team and creating new friendships. I was a little nervous because I didn't really know many people at the beginning of the trip other than my sister, but it was awesome how welcoming everyone was. Interacting with the kids is so wonderful and I am connecting with so many of them, I am going to be so sad when we have to leave and say goodbye to all of them. We went to a Honduran church service last night and even though I could not understand a single word they were saying, I could certainly feel the presence of God. This trip is definitely an amazing experience and worth every penny, scuba diving was unbelievable! I got to see God's wonderful creation under the sea and I will never forget that experience; I would definitely do it again! Mom and Dad, I can't wait for you to get to experience the Honduran culture when you come down here in the fall, I know that you will love it just as much as I do! I miss all of you and although I would love to stay here, I am excited to come home! Mom, I just want to tell you "happy belated birthday," since I didn't write on the blog yesterday. I hope you had fun at the game! I love you all so much and can't wait to come home!!
~xoxo Em

The View from up here - Gillian's view

Roatan is a hot spot for tourism and rightfully so; it's a beautiful island.  It's the people, though, that's what draws me back here over and over again.  The people here appear to have nothing, but to me, it seems like they have more than most in America.  They have a fullness of life and a joy that is contagious.  They are so generous and open to those around them, and especially caring towards our group.  From playing tag with the kids at the sports camp, to hanging out with the kids up at the orphanage, the people are giving fully of themselves.  One of my fondest memories so far is when we were sharing a story about Noah at the sports camp.  I got to explain God's promise and faithfulness to little kids, some not older than two and some as old as ten.  After Nora had helped to translate the story, I asked if any wanted to ask God into their heart and follow Him.  My heart filled SO fully when more than 3/4 of the kids raised their hands enthusiastically.  I prayed the sinners prayer with them and those kids were just full of smiles and happiness.  Roatan people are amazing and so is our group.  Both have impacted my life more than I think even I'm aware of.  I'm so grateful that I've been able to come on this trip and impact others while undergoing a change for the better myself.  Thank you for your prayers, we're definitely furthering the name of Christ here in Roatan!

Kayla's Thoughts

Being here had been a great experience, from learning about people of Honduras, seeing how they live their daily lives. Getting to interact with the children has been so amazing, they open up to you so quickly. Yesterday we went scuba diving it was so cool to see all of the things underneath the water surface. I want to tell all my family and loved ones that I miss them.

Happy Birthday mom!!! I'm not there to celebrate with you but I am still thinking about you I love you so much, I will see you soon.

Haley's Thoughts

Today is Sunday and we are going to have church at the main house and I'm really looking forward to it! Today, I also want to send my birthday wishes to my mom! Happy Birthday Mom!!!!! I'm sorry I missed your birthday and I hope you have an amazing day! I love you and miss you so much! Being in Honduras has blessed me in so many ways I didn't even think was possible. I love the people, the food, the culture and I just love being here. It's kind of difficult to sum up my experience in Honduras in one post, but I'm going to try. It is so great to create many new relationships with the team members and share our stories and grow closer to each other while growing closer to God. I wouldn't want to experience that with any other group of people. When we got here, I wasn't too sure about how I was going to react to being away from home for so long because I never do well being away from my family, but I am having such an amazing time here, learning so much about myself that I didn't know before and I believe that we all have created another family here. I am so excited to come home, but I don't want to leave Roatan at the same time! I love you all and miss you so much! I can't wait to see you all next week!

Val's Thoughts

Hey it's Val! I just love waking up every morning looking out at the dock and the ocean that can be seen till the horizon. There's just this knowledge of the coming of a new day and the curiosity of what it will bring. I love waking up to Izzy saying my name, and going down to give her a morning hug. I feel like I've always known this place, like it's a long ago familiar home. Even though I came on this trip not knowing anyone beside the Browns and the Masts I can feel a love for every single person whose come along from just the short time we have gotten to know each others story. The kids here just warm my heart and every time I see them this intense love inside me burns. When we went to the school in the mornings of two days last week I got to see the generous hearts of the kids who have so little but still just keep giving. It's almost like they have a sense that the things on this earth are tied to this earth but giving hits the heart in more then just an earthly way. In the afternoons we started a sports camp with all the neighboring kids and it was great to see their happiness in just being able to play and spend time with us. It's like a dream being able to serve them by doing what I love: simply being and playing with them. I can feel the sense of God and his face just smiling down on each and every kid, and even though I wasn't able to communicate with them I could love on them and use my time for them. Through all of it though I know God is pursuing them. In the evenings we head over to the Orphanage where we play along with the more kids! Most of them know English so it's easier to communicate. I just pray that we can bless them and have an impact on their lives because they're so valuable! I've also been able to connect with this awesome team, and it's great to learn more about their lives. Today I also went Scuba diving! Which I have always wanted to do. It was out of this universe. Another world down under where the fish swim in all their beautiful colors and coral is their home. I thank God for all the experiences I've made, for all he has done and is doing, for his amazing plans for each and every person here; He deserves all the glory!  

Scuba Time

Today was our "off" day we spent time SCUBA diving, snorkeling, swimming in an awesome beach, shopping and napping.

Everybody is healthy and going strong. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

From Bethany - Then and Now

It was a Sunday evening, and our team had just met for last time before we departed for Roatan. I was so excited; it was my first missions trip! I had just graduated high school a few weeks before at age 17. I was sitting in the sanctuary of the Lord’s House of Prayer watching some girls practice a dance for the trip. Someone behind me said…

“So…Bethany…you graduated from Octorara this year?”

I turned around to a guy I had never met before. He was wearing a Coatesville baseball shirt, so I cleverly replied…

“Yeah, I did. Did you graduate from Coatesville this year?”

“No, I graduated from Solanco…and I graduated in 2000. I just got this shirt at Goodwill.”

That was June 29, 2003. It was ten years ago today that I met Todd. We didn’t know it that night, but God had just penned the first lines of our love story.

I think there is something incredibly special about this trip, and I think a part of it is that the foundations for it were laid 10 years ago. For your son, daughter, sister, brother, friend (whoever you read this blog for), this trip probably started a few months or years ago, but God had this in mind for them long before that. When I said yes to following Jesus, I had no idea where He would take me or what He would do in or through my life. I can truly say, I cannot imagine living out a story that I could have enjoyed more than the one I live now.

Graduating high school 10 years ago and meeting Todd 10 years ago have caused me to spend a lot of time reflecting over what the last 10 years of my life have been like. If anyone had described this life to me when I was 17, I wouldn’t have believed them – in part because it wasn’t what I was planning, and in part because this life is crazy!

One of the young people on our team described making the decision to follow Jesus like deciding to go sky-diving. You really want to jump out of the plane, but it is terrifying and you have no idea what will happen because you’ve never jumped before. I know that one day (hopefully a long time from now), my parachute will open and my feet will land firmly on heavenly ground. In the meantime, I am just enjoying the fall with my Savior – taking in the thrill of falling through the atmosphere and enjoying both the beautiful and terrifying aspects of it.

Your young people are amazing. Thank you for trusting us with them on this trip; they are a blessing to us and to the Hondurans! God has done and is doing so much in all of our hearts – teaching us how to be rooted in perfect love, to feel His spirit, and to be able to give love to those around us. I won’t say too much, because I know they will want to share these things with you personally when they get home.

I just want to leave you with this challenge…

Have you taken the jump yet? Fall into perfect love, and life will never be the same again!

Roy's View

     Hey everyone its Roy. This morning we are preparing to head out for our scuba diving adventure. There is definitely an excited atmosphere in the house this morning as everyone is pumped to go scuba diving. It has been so awesome to get to know the people in the group that I have never really talked to before. So many friendships are getting stronger and new ones are beginning. Last night we did devotions out on the dock together as a group and it was so cool to be out there enjoying God's creation as we worshiped Him. I can't believe we are already to day 6 of the trip, its halfway over! No one even wants to think about going home yet, we are all loving this experience. Yesterday we had to say goodbye to the kids at the sports camp as it was our last day for that. We might go back to that village later when we do distributions but none of us are ready to end that chapter of the trip since we have made so many new friends in Corazol. Its pretty cool to see how many kids already have God in their lives and how many more are willing to listen to our stories and accept God into their lives. Also, yesterday some of the guys and Bethany played soccer in front of the orphanage against Honduran men, and even though we lost 3-1 we had so much fun and it is cool to play them in there own game since they live and breathe soccer here. Of course we let the Hondurans play a couple games against each other before we play them so that way they are a little tired and we don't look quite so bad compared to them. I think what the people here don't understand is how much we get from them. We are supposed to be here to serve them but in the end they end up giving us so much more in return then they realize. A couple days ago we were walking around trying to find kids and tell them about the sports camp and we walked up to one house where the mom of the family was making mango jelly. Someone who has so little by no means had to give us a container of it but she did. At night we all love going up the the orphanage and seeing the kids. Tight bonds are starting to form between us and the kids. Between that and devotions evenings here in Roatan are definitely something to look forward to. God has been doing some great things in my life already on the trip. We all are growing closer to or finding a new relationship with Him. Todd and Bethany are amazing people to organize this all for us. Its truly a life changing experience especially the second time down here. Miss everyone back home!

Hailey's Thoughts

        Hello everyone its Hailey, today we had some free time to go shopping and visit West End beach, since we finished all of our painting at the orphanage yesterday. It was so fun to have some bonding time with everyone on the trip and to get to know one another. Last night a few of us went out on the dock and sang and just had a really fun time after we were done devotions. The time is flying by and i can't believe it's already Friday! I can't wait to go to the sports camp in a little bit, we are having a water day. The kids there are amazing and such a blessing. Yesterday we met this little boy Morris who told us all about his experience with God and about how he knows God loves him and he hears him talking to him very often. Morris also told us that he tells his friends about God and that he goes to church. Hannah actually had the chance to pray with him after he was injured while playing soccer. It's amazing how good these kids are, and that I am scared to play against 10 year olds! It is so amazing to see how happy these people in Roatan are even when they don't have a lot. They are always trying to help us out in every way that they can even when we are trying to bless them. We have all been having the times of our lives and are excited to see what the rest of this trip brings us. My relationship with God is growing stronger and stronger each and everyday. Keep up the prayers for all of us as we are blessing the people in Roatan and as we go scuba diving tomorrow. Love you Mom, Dad, Brandon, Caden, and Nanny,and all of my friends, i miss you all! God Bless, Love Hailey (:

Friday Morning

Because the group worked so well this week and we finished the work early, we were able to spend the morning shopping, drinking smoothies, and swimming in the ocean and saw some pretty cool fish while snorkeling

Sports Camp and Group update

Yesterday at the sports camp, 32 people decided to give their lives to Jesus. It was awesome to see and be a part of this.
The group is also experiences great spiritual breakthroughs.
Thank you for your prayers and please keep praying, great things are occurring.

Hayden also had a great 16th birthday here yesterday. He said "this is the best place to spend a sweet 16th birthday ever."

Orphanage Painting

This morning we spent at the children's home painting 4 rooms and a living room. This was supposed to take 2 days. However, with the awesome group that we have we finished it before the time on day 1 ended.

Alyssa's Thoughts

HOLAAAA! Me llamo Alyssa(: Today we went back to visit the school we were at yesterday and I met the sweetest girl. Her name is Claudia and I don't think I've ever made a connection with someone so fast. She is so adorable and it was a struggle to have to say goodbye to her. I hope her and all of the children know how wonderful they really are. Yesterday, Tori and I, were braiding the little girls hair at the school and they loved the attention. It made me feel like they don't realize how beautiful they all are, inside and out. They are all so innocent and loving, and they deserve so much more than what they have. Once we had to say goodbye I couldn't let go of little Claudia. I just kept hugging her and she told me she loved me. I couldn't say bye, I hugged her so tight and I basically had to force myself to get into the van. And even once I was in the van we locked eyes until we drove away. It looked like she was about to cry and it made me tear up. I prayed for her once we got back to the house and I just want God to watch over her and her sister and to keep them safe. I prayed for all of the kids at the school and for the teachers who were so loving to the kids. I hope they are all watched over and kept safe. I love Honduras. I didn't realize how quickly I would fall in love with this place and the people here. It's a surreal feeling being here. I've wanted to come on this trip for the past three years and now that I'm finally here I am ready to jump into anything that God has to offer me. I feel like I'm already starting to connect more with Him and learn more about Him.He works wonders and I want Him to work wonders for the amazing people on this island, the Roatan Kids, our leaders on this trip, our families at home and also myself. I love it here and I can't wait for more life changing experiences to come. God Bless! <3

2nd Day

The morning we went to a public elementary school and did a program of lessons, story and games. The program went very well. The afternoon was the 1st day of the sports camp where the activity of the day was baseball. An estimated 60+ kids attending the first day of the sports camp.

Everything is going well, everybody is healthy and going strong. Thank you for your prayers and support

 

1st Night

Our first night at the orphanage consisted of some good food and fun. Things are going well, and early bed time for everybody tonight for a day working at a school tomorrow morning and then the 1st day of our sports camp tomorrow afternoon.

Arrival

We have arrived here in Roatan. All of our bags made it and we are settling in. We took a short trip to the grocery shore, and had a little speghetti for a snack and we will be heading to the orphanage for dinner at 6:00. Thanks for checking in and for your prayers,

Philadelphia Airport

We made it through security and are waiting for our flight. Right now our flight is delayed about 45 minutes. We should still make our connection in Houston if everything goes well.

2013 Team Prayer Card

Here is the prayer card for the 2013 team. Please keep us in prayer for the duration of the trip.

2013 Honduras Trip

This blog will be used to update family and friends of the Lord House of Prayer missions trip to Honduras as often as possible. The trip will occur between June 24 - July 5.