No Turning Back Now

As I look out my small oval window, I am captured by the amazing site. It's dusk just over the Gulf and the low-lying clouds are slowly devouering a beautiful bright orange sunset. The flash of a red light beats like a heart under the wing of the plane, a steady reminder of our movement in what seems like a land of clouds.

We're on our way to Honduras. We left Miami, Florida about thirty minutes after planned, but there's no turning back now. Our next stop is San Pedro Sula, Honduras where we will wait in a LONG line to go through customs and eventually board a bus and retire to the Hotel Casa Blanca. Yes, I am staying at the white house while in Honduras. ;)

Arianna and I arrived in Miami early this afternoon. After a while we met up with my friend Emilee, who we knew from church before she moved away from Clarksville. The three of us wandered around the airport for a few hours before the next group of our team members made it in from Chicago. We geared up in our neon yellow shirts and boarded the plane. Did I mention the shirts? Think hi-liter yellow. BRIGHT BRIGHT yellow. It's almost 8 p.m. and I think I could get away with wearing sun glasses...they're that bright. While they are not the most flattering of colors, it certainly ensures that we will know where everyone is...and I guess that's the point.

I am not sure what tomorrow holds. When I was here last year, we attended a church service at one of the villages and visited an orphanage that afternoon. Last year's visit to the orphanage was probably one of the hardest parts of my trip. While I found extreme joy in every smile and giggle, I couldn't help but think of home. I pray that the love-sick feeling that I have when I miss my own children can be transformed into a joyous love to share with each and every child I have the privilege of meeting. I pray that they grow up to know the love of Christ because of simple things like our visits with them. I pray that they have opportunities to share Christ's love with others like I have. I pray that I never forget what that opportunity really is...and that I never miss one.

I want to close tonight with the scripture that inspires these efforts. The call to action on Jesus' behalf.

The Great Commission
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."