Breakdown, Refill, and Reunion

This past weekend was a much needed break for all of us as a family to go back to where we just moved from (city of Siguatepeque) to enjoy a 3 day missionary conference and reuniting with friends.

The drive from our new home on the north coast is just a short 9 hours (heavy sarcasm) back to Siguatepeque. In the past back in the States we have made many trips of this length and longer from Oregon down through California and other states. The long, wide, smooth, well-lit, rest area-lined interstate freeways had given us the freedom to make these very safe, easy ventures to places all along the west coast and throughout the rest of the U.S. However, driving in Honduras is quite a different story! We broke up these 9 hours into 2 days.

On our second day leg we were just 45 minutes from Siguatepeque heading up the mountains when suddenly our thermostat gauge shot up and redlined above the "H". We pulled off the road while steam and loud hissing poured out from under the hood. We were told it is only a matter of time that you breakdown while being a missionary, so I guess after 13 months here this was our time! Fortunately, we pulled off the road in a wide gravel area near a pulperia (family owned small store). The owner of the pulperia, Omar, a very outgoing guy in his mid-30s, was very willing to help. We were able to encourage Omar with our hope and to help him know that God has a plan for him. He was also able to encourage us by telling us God allowed our truck to break down for a purpose. Little did we know at the time how true that was! After 4 hours of working on the engine to no avail, we called our friend from Siguatepeque for a ride. After another hour of waiting, our friend showed up with a tow truck and off we went.

The next morning, after a good night's sleep at the conference grounds, we attended the conference and got to meet new missionaries from around the country and see old friends as well. By the end of the weekend we were very refreshed with renewed vision and a deeper understanding of what God was doing. After the conference we stayed in a furnished cabaña at the seminary that our missionary friends work at while we waited for our truck to be repaired.
 
It may seem strange, but we are so grateful that our truck broke down and the Lord "forced" us to slow down and wait! And to be in a place where our "support" people live... only God knew! It has been such a refreshing time for us, connecting with our core group of friends and have time to pray and seek the Lord's guidance.

We thank God for his provisions and how He is so gentle to lead and direct. We look forward to the next weeks and months as we follow Him to begin work with the Garifuna. Please continue to pray for us, that doors would open and close as He wills and that we would be sensitive to His Spirit's leading.

In Christ,
Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret