What's missing? A RELATIONSHIP with Jesus.

I'm going to be very blunt and open in this post as I think it's important to do so. Reason being is for prayer mainly and so whoever reads this understands the depth of what we are in here in Honduras. This is simply an observation of the culture. But remember that "culture" is the people.

I have been mulling over, praying over, talking over things with myself, God, Kirsten, others on our team and more with myself and God... our nearly 2 months here in Honduras has revealed a lot about the country in general. But what I notice most is that the country has become the way it is because the people are in need of change. They need change in the most desperate way. There is no, absolutely NO, value of life here. Yes, there are pockets (or should I call them "bubbles") of areas around the country, namely in Siguatepeque, where it is more comfortable as far as security goes and where there is a strong church presence. But that is changing. As the city grows (and it has grown a lot since we were here two years ago), so does the unfulfilled desire in people's hearts. They are seeking and seeking wanting so bad for security and a reason for living. I read reports weekly of murders in the big cities, mainly Tegucigalpa, the capital, and San Pedro Sula. These murders are all linked to power and drugs. That is what runs this country. It permeates the government. But it also permeates the small towns and the entire culture in some way. The mindset of people here has become that of "me". This is not the same "me" as the U.S. "me", but an extreme version of it going as far as taking others life for "me". I haven't seen this personally, but I CAN see it lived out daily on smaller levels in how people live in every aspect. 

I have heard it said by other missionaries who have been here for a length of time that there is plenty of talent and skilled leaders and lay-leaders in the church to make a difference in their cities. But there is a huge lack of willingness to do so. There are a few really good churches here in Siguatepeque, but others lack in any kind of outreach. Imagine the church in the U.S. 60 years ago when they began to "close" themselves to the culture and only focused on those within the church. Legalism creeps in. Man's law becomes greater than God's grace. Jesus loses his place as the Spotless Lamb, the Perfect Sacrifice. That is what I see in my limited view of the church here.

Honduras has been named the most dangerous country in the world by the United Nations. 91 murders out of 100,000 people... that's 20 times greater than the U.S. average. A churched nation? Technically, yes. Nearly 100% of the nation calls themselves "Christian". But in these 2 short months I have seen that being "Christian" is just the "thing to do." Practically every bus, car and taxi says something about "Jesus Cristo" or "Dios se encarga" (God is in charge). But it is VERY difficult to see any form of Christianity lived out anywhere.

Bottom line? Please PRAY for us during this time to understand how God wants us to serve and to be salt and light to Hondurans. Pray we do not get frustrated at this aspect of the culture, but have it fuel us. Thank you, thank you! We COVET your prayers quite literally...