Back in Honduras, living and learning

Cafecito-time with Garret

It was a dark and cold stormy night... well that's what it seemed like heading back to Honduras nearly two weeks ago! The first half of our flight back was uneventful, but delayed two hours in Portland due to the freezing temperatures in the eastern part of the States. We arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, and were delayed an additional 3 hours for a total of 6 hours in the Atlanta airport. As Kirsten and Gavin got as comfortable as they could on the benches at the international Delta gate snuggled under a blanket (with 7 degrees outside and not much more than 40 inside), Garret and I ventured into the food court to both move and for some hot coffee and hot chocolate to warm up. At 11:30am we finally boarded the plane and headed to the tropical skies of Honduras.

We approached Honduras three hours later to a tropical storm looming over the low, humid valley of the north coast. After our second, lower approach to the airstrip (to avoid the unexpected stormy clouds), we finally touched down. We collected our suitcases (minus one that got stuck in Atlanta that came several days later) and settled in for the 2 1/2 hour drive. Little did I know how thankful I would be that we had a shuttle service driving us back to our home in La Ceiba as it turned into a 4 1/2 hour journey. There was flooding everywhere and rivers were "creciendo" over their banks, and at times turning bridges and roads near them into shallow rivers. We arrived at our home a few hours after dark for a total of about 23 hours of travel time. What a relief it was to be back!

The boys' new friend Jordan.

Since we arrived, we have dove right back into life here and have, in many ways, a new appreciation for living here. We have reconnected with our friends here and the boys have made new friends as well. One boy in particular that they have connected with is Jordan, a Garifuna boy who lives down the street (who happens to be a Christian). He is originally from the island of Roatán and his first language is English. I was outside when he came up to our gate and asked if our boys could play. Gavin and Garret came out and they began to play hide and seek with him as if they had known each other for years! This was a direct answer to our prayers as we have been praying that the boys could make really close friends here in La Ceiba. They have since become good friends. Praise God with us and please continue to pray for our boys to make friends and to deepen these existing relationships.

This past week I met again with the Wycliffe missionaries we connected with back in November. These missionaries were pioneers with the Garifuna, leading the translation of the Bible into Garifuna (which was completed in 2008) and had a hand in forming ministries among them. I met all morning with them talking about the Garifuna and learning as much as I could about different communities and expectations of community leaders. One thing that was very clear to me and to them was that I need to learn the Garifuna language in order to move forward with ministry among them. It is true that most Garifuna, especially around the La Ceiba area, speak Spanish and many English as well. But among themselves in their communities they use Garifuna. To reach their hearts, one needs to speak their heart-language. So my goal over the coming months is to commit to learning Garifuna as well as refining my Spanish. The Lord has placed these missionaries and other native speakers in my path in order to begin learning and I praise Him for that. Please pray that I could begin to develop this language and master it!

Please also pray for how I might be involved with The OneStory Project. At this point I am unsure whether I will have any long-term involvement, but doors appear to be opening in that direction so I will continue to pursue this until I get other orders. The Lord has put this type of ministry on our hearts for years and would be very effective in the oral Garifuna culture. Pray how I might be involved, whether with Wycliffe or with one of the other partner agencies (C&MA, Cru, Pioneers, TWR, and YWAM).

In the coming weeks I will be meeting with various people in order to get to know leadership in certain Garifuna communities, so I ask for your prayer for this as it will be essential for me to work through community leadership. Our goal here in Honduras is to help empower those Christian leaders whom God has placed here and give them the resources that might expand the Kingdom in Honduras and among the Garifuna people. Our goal IS NOT to make a job for us here in Honduras, but to work OUT of a job. The Lord has placed us here for this time to accomplish His purposes. Please pray we may continue in His work with humble hearts and a willingness to be continually transformed by Him while being used to transform others.

On the lighter side, our family uses our weekends to get away to a beach usually to play and relax. These trips always present times to minister and love on people. Here is a short video of our last weekend trip to a local beach where we got to love on some local boys hanging out at the beach. Enjoy!


Weekend Fun from Corey & Kirsten Wells on Vimeo.