Honduras Mission Trip

A few months ago, my college roommate Lydia asked me if I wanted to go to Honduras on a medical mission trip this summer. Without hesitation, I said yes. I had never gone on a mission trip, I had no idea what to expect and I didn't ask any questions. I don't know what drew me to say yes so fervently, but I am so glad I did.

I recently returned from that mission trip, marking my first-ever mission experience, and I believe it won't be my last!

On our initial day there, we dedicated our time to preparing for village visits. This involved organizing bags of beans and rice, labeling medicine, and loading up the truck. Additionally, we had the opportunity to attend church with our translators and fellow Hondurans. I was fortunate enough to understand the service, but I was completely taken aback when an American man stood up to speak. Later, I learned that he had sold his medical practice four years ago and devoted himself to becoming a missionary. It hadn’t been 24 hours, and the locals asked me if I was from there because of how well I communicated with them in Spanish. Throughout the week, I discovered numerous chances to converse in Spanish, and I felt incredibly grateful to communicate directly without relying on a translator. Coincidently, the week before my trip, I encountered three Spanish-speaking patients at work, all of whom happened to be from Honduras. It's fascinating to consider the way God places certain experiences and people in our lives.

For the most part, I remained quiet and kept to myself during the trip, which prompted a few people to inquire about my reserved nature. Reflecting on it now, I believe I was both nervous and simply absorbing everything around me. While venturing into the villages, I took on various tasks, and it became clear that every individual on the trip played a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it all.

I wasn’t the only first timer – in fact there were almost 16 on our team of 50-55 people. That made me feel better but with it being my first time on a mission trip only knowing Lydia and her mom, I was unaware of the different steps and stages each person had to go through. In case you're unfamiliar as well, let me explain from the beginning what we did. Each person begins with registration, where they receive a card to take to each station containing their personal details and a list of available medications.

They initially go into worship where they learn about the Lord and His love for them. Their children are split off into children’s church for a story and coloring. Next, they proceed to a triage station, where their weight is measured, and they are directed to a doctor or nurse for diagnosis of any health concerns. If necessary, they can then visit the dentist or receive reading glasses or sunglasses. Once their examination is complete, they visit the pharmacy to collect any required medications, and we also provide them with a Bible, rice, and beans.

We stayed at this compound every night that I learned on the trip was a recent change and upgrade. Apparently, in years past, the team would go out to one village, stay in the schools for the week and then just come back to the old mission compound at the end of the week. Fortunately, we had toilets and showers, electricity, beds instead of cots, and breakfast and dinner served every day. This new compound was purchased in 2020 and so we got the opportunity to go to a different village every day which allowed us to see more of Honduras.

Day 1 in the Field -- Azaculpa

On the first day out in the field, I was assigned to work in the Pharmacy. My task involved receiving a card filled out by the doctor and locating each prescription. I would then hand them over to the pharmacist for verification and dosage instructions. I found this job enjoyable because it was straightforward and made perfect sense to me. What made it even better was that I got to work alongside my best friend Lydia. It was a relief not having to engage in conversation with anyone that day, as I felt uncertain about what to do or say.

In the village, there was a woman selling various items such as shawls, scrunchies, scarves, headbands, and ponchos. Despite having few teeth, her radiant smile exuded joy and pride as she showcased her creations. Of course, I couldn't resist and ended up purchasing two scrunchies and a headband. While in the first village, we came across a stunning Catholic Church. I knelt and prayed in the tranquil and spacious church, feeling a profound sense of peace that stayed with me throughout the trip.

As we were packing up the day, we encountered a man who was visibly intoxicated. In share time in our meeting that evening I learned that this man had visited the clinic earlier in the day. He was too drunk to go through the whole process but just wanted some sunglasses. He came back and was still drunk, but those who saw him earlier that day could tell he had sobered up a bit. He said he lost his glasses and was wondering if he could have another pair. Gustavo was a native, one of our translators, and a full time missionary. As someone was getting him glasses, Gustavo went up to him and started telling him the gospel. Several men in our group gathered around him, offering prayers as he expressed his desire to accept Christ into his life and be healed of his afflictions.

Throughout the entire week, I made it a point to capture photographs of everything, and by the trip's end, I had unofficially become the trip's photographer.

Day 2 in the Field -- Monquecagua

On this particular day, I was assigned to the worship team. During this time, I listened to the pastor deliver sermons, emphasizing God's love for each of us despite our sinful nature. After the sermons concluded, I approached each person in the crowd and inquired if they had accepted Jesus into their hearts and lives that day. If they said yes, I marked a little smiley face on their paper. It was a busy day, as we encountered nearly 600 individuals. It was on this day that everyone in our group officially discovered my ability to speak Spanish. This realization came about when I had to ask a man to take our photo and effortlessly slipped into my Spanish language tangent. As usual, everyone was taken aback, considering I am as pale as a bed sheet.

Interestingly, one of my fellow missionaries asked me if I was "saved" that day. This question intrigued me because, as a Catholics, we typically do not use that specific terminology. In Catholicism, we are baptized, and through that sacrament, we are saved. However, our personal acceptance of Christ as our Savior usually takes place during the Sacrament of Confirmation, which is typically administered around the 8th grade.

Day 3 in the Field -- El Pelon Ologoz

Day three marked a turning point for me in fully comprehending the positive impact of our efforts. Once again, I was involved in the worship activities, but this time I was accompanied by Lydia. After listening to a couple of sessions led by the pastors, Lydia expressed her desire to speak about salvation and the love of the Lord. She approached our team captain for permission, who informed us that in Honduran culture, men typically held the roles of pastors and preachers. He was unsure of how they would respond to women speaking in such a capacity. Nonetheless, we were granted permission to engage in discussions with smaller groups. Lydia spoke, and I translated her words.

We had the opportunity to address approximately three different smaller groups, and then we came across a whole gathering of women who were ready for worship. Surprisingly, the usual preachers who conducted the worship session were nowhere to be found. We got Gustavo’s attention to ask him what we should do and if he wanted to lead. Without Gustavo knowing about Lydia asking earlier to speak, Gustavo told Lydia that she should lead and he will do the closing prayer. She did incredible! It felt so powerful to talk directly to the people in that way. Due to nervousness, I stumbled over a few words, but overall, I believe I did fine, and the other translators commended my efforts. The response from the group was overwhelmingly positive. The Lord will have His way and use whoever is available.

Day 4 in the field -- Chiligatoro

On the last day, things were a bit slower as we only attended to a little over 300 people. I was assigned to work in triage, which, as mentioned before, was primarily a weighing station. Since Lydia was in Children's Church, I took the opportunity to sneak in and capture a few pictures and videos. It was heartwarming to listen to the kids learn "Jesus loves me" in Spanish; it was incredibly sweet.

Due to the low turnout, we wrapped up our activities earlier than usual. When we returned to the compound, local village women arrived, bringing with them woven baskets, headbands, keychains, and various other trinkets. It was delightful to see such an array of items representing the Honduran culture. This was also the day we had to say goodbye to most of our translators, which was so sad because we had bonded with them over the week.

On our last day in Honduras, we visited a small outdoor market and a grotto. Climbing above the grotto, we were treated to a panoramic view of the entire city, Initbuca, Esperanza. It was a breathtaking sight, and strolling through the city streets was an unforgettable experience. We shared lunch with some of the translators, celebrating our achievements for the week. Later, we visited what they call the girls' farm named "Project Talitha Cumi," and it deeply moved me. There are 3 “house moms” ages 25 to early 30s and they are missionaries who have taken on the role of being a mother to children who have been abandoned or abused. They don’t like to use the word “orphanage” because they run it family style. One girl has 8 kids ages 1 to 18, and the other 2 girls have 4-5 kids each. They are basically single moms and have dedicated their life to serving these children because of their love of the Lord. Keep them in your prayers and if you feel led to support them, don’t hesitate to reach out. Missionaries make their living through supporters who believe in what they are doing and want to financially be a part of it. Usually, this is just to support one person, but in their case, they are supporting an entire family through private schools, public school activities, braces, medical bills…anything kids need!

The day concluded with funny awards to a few individuals and the sharing of our most memorable experiences. One of my favorite stories involved a woman who received reading glasses. As she left the school, she immediately put on her glasses, pulled out her Bible, and began to read. It was evident that her faith had drawn her to that moment, where she couldn't help but stop and immerse herself in the words of her Bible. She looked to be in her 70’s…can you imagine being able to read for the first time in decades? The evening concluded with a touching gesture of washing the feet of the four senior members of our team.

This trip taught me to be comfortable in the uncomfortable, I continuously told myself I could do anything for a week; from awkward bathroom situations like not being able to flush your toilet paper to speaking frankly about my faith. I learned how much I relied on simple pleasures such as baths, air conditioning, brushing my teeth with water from the tap, and having Amazon deliver my every whim, simple things that I use daily that I took for granted. During this trip, I fully realized what it meant to truly feel appreciated and wanted, something I often find myself lacking in my everyday life. I was able to share my passions like photography, creativity, and fashion without fear of judgment. I learned to trust myself again and to fully realize my self-worth and even though worldly affirmations feel great in the moment they are only fleeting and my self-worth truly comes from God. I think after all this, I will certainly be going back next year, and let me tell you, I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this upcoming year.

And there you have it, my first mission trip experience. In those small towns of Central America, I rediscovered the essence of faith. I witnessed the light of Christ radiating through others and experienced unconditional love without judgment or questioning. After a week without heels, without Kate Spades, and without judgments, I finally found inner peace. I felt at peace with myself, accepting who I am. I found peace from the demons and insecurities that haunted me. I found peace in my relationship and love for the Lord. And I found peace in the knowledge that He will provide for me.

So, here's to always remembering to keep one foot in front of the other, and your heels as high as your standards...xoxo Suzanna Rita