Spare Change

Time just seems to fly. It feels like it was just yesterday Gissela was welcoming me to Honduras, but I now sit in the Houston airport awaiting my flight back to Lexington. It was wonderful six days of ministry and God continues to use the people of Honduras to teach me.

Yesterday was just a perfect day of ministry to finish my time. We had spent quite a bit of the week planning and preparing for the upcoming summer, but on Sunday we switched gears and dedicated the day to just doing ministry.

We started the day at church, which was great (Rosetta Stone and I have a lot of work!!). It was Fathers Day in Honduras and it was great to see families worship the Lord. I missed having Tara and the kids along side, but I know they will be one day hopefully soon!

Next we headed over to the Bordos to just hang out and play with the kids. I got to see some of the children our family had been praying for and Justin shared a bible story with many of them. We played soccer, duck-duck goose, and spun kids until we were all wore out (try swinging two kids at once!) It is overwhelming at times, but I am convinced that God has created some of the most beautiful children in places just as this. While we were there a team of college students from Tulsa stopped by. It was pretty encouraging to see people coming to serve. It was as if God reminded me that we aren’t alone in this. My pray is that believers will flock to the Bordos, one day soon having a daily presence within the area.

Our final stop was to spend some time with a local pastor by the name of Ernesto. Gissela had meet him and just raved about some of the things God was doing through him. She was spot on.

Pastor Ernesto is silently and humbly making Christ known. He is investing his life in many of the Bordos, poorest communities, and rural areas outside of SPS. One of the interested things Gissela had learned was that Pastor had helped some of the poorer neighborhoods build a small church/community building. Building a ministry spot in the Bordos has long been a desire for Justin, Ashley, and Gissela so just hearing about it wasn’t enough. Pastor Ernesto graciously offered to show us one of the recently completed buildings.

We drove about 15 minutes out of town until we reached a very poor community. It was just before dark as we walked back towards the church when the light from the building filled the area. It was simple by any standards. It was basically a park shelter, with a concrete pad. But it lite up the entire neighborhood. Next thing we know, people are running over to greet us. One of them was the Pastor of this little church. He showed us around (one room!) and walked us back to a well that was also dug to give them water. His joy couldn’t be missed as he described the services they had and how happy he was to lead. As I stood there (like I said, me and Rosetta have some work to do), I was just struck with how “central” this church was to the neighborhood. There were probably 20 or so homes around, but the church literally connected all of them together. Everything revolved around that building and they were so proud of the space of worship God had blessed them with.

Heading home I couldn’t help but think of how cool it was to see families come together and BECOME the Church. It made me think about the Cracrafts. Are we connecting with those God has planted around us (our kids, neighbors, coworkers, etc) to BECOME the church. Not just GOING to a building, but our family actually BECOMING a church! The more I see people come to know Christ and respond to His gift of grace, the more I am convicted that MY family needs to be more obedient. As pastor Jeff would say, “Take the next obedient step.”

Lastly, I want to thank all those who have been praying and supporting my family. This trip was wonderful and I can’t wait until June when I’m back. My prayer for each person reading is to pray about taking a trip just like I did last July. Let God overcome any fears, worries, or questions you may have. Let him provide the funds you think can’t be raised and protect you from danger that you believe is near. I have no doubt it will change your life. And this kind change is Good!!

God Bless, Bo