So, we are heading back to Honduras, in multiple stages. The ahead team is arriving tomorrow in San Pedro Sula and the rest of the team arrives on Saturday. This is a big team, as it often is for our February Medical mission. We have a lot of different providers and folks providing care in many different areas. It’s a labor of love to coordinate but it’s such a blessing to be part of. Josie and I are part of the ahead team and we are going to take advantage of the time to reorganize and clean up our glasses inventory. I’m thrilled to be getting it done as it’s been a long time coming!
Leading up to this trip I try to spend a lot of time reflecting why we are on mission and where is God leading me. Most of the time I honestly don’t know where he’s leading me, but it always becomes clear why I am there. I was listening to our playlist for devotions and one of the songs which i have heard many times over, kind of struck me a little differently this time. It’s the song Change my Heart oh God. Some of the lyrics are “ You are the potter, I am the clay, mold me and make me, this is what I pray”. The potter and clay metaphor are rooted in scripture. Jeremiah 18, Isaiah 64:8,, Romans 9:21 etc. This is an illustration of Gods absolute sovereignty and creativeness and love over humanity. If I think of myself of the clay and God being the hand that molds me, there’s almost a sense of peace knowing I don’t have to have it all perfect and figured out, I don’t have to know where I am going or what I’m doing all the time, but one things for certain, God is always leading me. Sometimes I think he molds me in certain ways and my human self hardens and peace of the clay chips off. But he’s always there to reshape me and keep me going down the path that i need to be going, no matter which way I stray.
Spending time on mission with the people I have come to love, molds me in ways I didn’t think possible. It teaches me humility, and patience and reminds me to be in the moment and love people where they are at. Including myself. Even the chipped off broken pieces. They all have a place in our hearts and shape our future.
The theme for our week is Made for More. I’m looking forward to exploring what that means for me and for the mission and the lives we come across when we are in Honduras. Our ahead team devotions exploring “why are you here”. Whose mission is it anyway? The truth is I think we come into these missions thinking we are going to accomplish one thing and we often have a very different week. We are here for us, for them, for God for all of the above. Sometimes one more than the other. sometimes for reasons we didnt’ expect.
One thing is for sure, I know I’m a big lump of clay with bits of broken pieces stuck in me, that constantly needs to be re-molded. I’m not the one doing the molding, but I am the one who’s mean to listen and let God lead me.
Please be in prayer for the first round of team members arriving tomorrow, and especially be in prayer for a smooth and simple experience in customs. Lots of nuances there! Lots of work to do this week in preparation but it’s going to be a great week!
Blessings, Shelley.
