You Have Been Warned

Consider this your warning. If you ask me how my trip is it will most likely include the following things. Tears, photos, videos, stories (and a LOT of them) laughs and most likely a desperate plea to sponsor one of the many beautiful children in San Pedro Sula so they may attend school. Also please understand I recognize to fit in the social norms the answer to this question should only take 1-2 minutes but honestly prepare for hours, it will definitely take hours. I am in LOVE with Honduras.

There. Consider yourself warned.

That being said I am sure there will be many Honduran blog posts as I am only beginning to process through the wide myriad of emotions and experiences that happened in those ten days. But there was this ONE experience I simply must share.

When we arrived in Honduras I was simply ill prepared for the welcome we would receive there. Our church (not me personally) has supported a little school in San Pedro Sula for years and the people there are so grateful. SO GRATEFUL. When we walked through the doors of the school on our first day in Honduras there was an incredible crowd of people who cheered, loved and welcomed us with open arms (quite literally). They sat us at a head table.

It was raised up with a tent over us. We were given the best seats (again quite literally) in the house. Families, children, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts uncles, friends all came up to greet us there. They took photos with us. I did not even know them and they wanted my photo with their loved one. Within minutes they delivered cold drinks which included the most delicious Coca-Colas. The tents were strung with lights it was literally one of the most beautiful sights I had laid my eyes on. (I am such a sucker for twinkle lights) We were then delivered HUGE plates of food. More food than I could eat in the ten days I would be there. It was all traditional Honduran food prepared especially for their “American brothers and sisters in Christ”. We sat and shared food and friendship which included drinks from a coconut. (by the way in my opinion coconut milk is way overrated and really not milk at all) It wasn’t long and the program began. The most talented amazing artists enthralled us with their traditional dances, poetry readings and even the most impressive mime I have ever seen which also starred Tim from our group and you can definitely say we saw a side of Tim none of us ever knew existed. Friends it was so beautiful and so amazing.

 So why was my heart feeling so broken? Why did I have this huge lump in my throat that prevented me from talking or even swallowing.

I saw all that was prepared before me and all I kept thinking was how unworthy I was. Why this big to do? I did not deserve this banquet set before me. Tears stream down my face even now as I recall the moment. What had I done? I flew on an airplane, which for the most part even my trip had been paid for by other hard working people. I did not deserve any of this.

 I am such a visual person. And I think this is such a cool thing about God. He knows us each so personally that He knows how to reveal Himself to each of us. He knows our triggers and how to get through to us. (even those of us who are harder to reach than others)

For many, many years I have known that “God loves me.” I know it. I teach it. I sit with little preschoolers once a month and I point to them and use their name and say “God loves Miles. God loves Greta. God loves _______.” I know this. In my head.

As I stared down at my plate of food not sure I could stand all this for one more second and God whispered to me “I love you like this Lisa.” Yes God I know. You love me. “No Lisa. Just like this. I wait for your arrival, I cheer you on. I welcome you with open arms. I seat you at my table. You are my precious child and I give you the best. Your hard work did not earn you a place at this table, all your good things fill me with joy but that is not why you are here. Your mistakes and failures they can’t remove your VIP status either, you did not earn your ticket Lisa, instead my son paid your cost. You are here simply because I love you.”

People the tears just started to flow and pretty much continued for the rest of the trip. I am loved not because I am perfect or because I have logged hours in a pew. Nope, simply because I am His child. My mind cannot even begin to understand this but the image of the Hondurans pure unadulterated unmerited love for me will never leave me.

Friends, God loves you. Seriously He loves you. He has prepared a table for you. He awaits your arrival with open arms. He will hug and kiss you. The food he has set for you will never run out. You have done nothing to deserve it nor nothing to remove you from it. As a parent waits for their child, He waits for you. All because He loves you.