How did I Know? June 2014
I have been asked the question many times and again recently, how did I know that God wanted me to move to Honduras. Unfortunately, the answer is not an easy one. I did not grow up ‘always knowing’ I would be a missionary. In fact, it was not until I had to fill out the application for Clemson and declare a major that after flipping through the curriculum choices, I decided to be a nurse. In God’s mercy, He must have guided that decision because I enjoyed my career choice.
My first foreign short-term mission trip was in 1994 to Bolivia in which I utilized my nursing skills. I can say at that time, the beauty and struggles of a different country and people group moved me. I returned to Bolivia twice and traveled to Peru before coming to Honduras for the first time in 2002. My husband, Sam, had come for the first time back in 1999 and fell in love with the people of the Qumistan Valley. We returned once a year and then bi-annually to Quimistan with a non-profit group we had helped to establish. While serving on the board for this foundation, I prayed for the Lord to provide a North American missionary to oversee the activities.
During my visits with teams from 2002 through 2006, God was watering the seed of mission work within my own heart. I began to feel a desire to be the North American missionary for whom I had been praying. When I mentioned it to my husband, however, he was not in agreement initially as he had recently retired and had other plans for his time. Knowing that God does not call one member of a couple without calling the other, I waited. And while I waited, I prayed and looked for confirmations of this ‘call’ for my life.
What would make me think that I should be a missionary to a third world country? That I could run a children’s home? As I matured in my Christian walk, I claimed 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 as one of my life verses: “ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. “
I chose this verse because Jesus had comforted me through many seasons of suffering: childhood abuse; the death of my fiancé at age 19; divorce after 7 years of marriage; single parenting; remarriage and separations (before God healed our marriage); depression; and the tendency to self medicate with alcohol. As God redeemed all these heartaches, I began to see that I could offer hope and encouragement to many who are or have suffered as I have.
In my visits to these third world countries where poverty, abuse, and abandonment abound, I saw the opportunity to glorify Him and to live victoriously in spite of difficulties. I could live out this verse of scripture. So who better to care for orphaned, neglected or abused children? (Confirmation #1.)
God was creating the desire in my heart to operate a children’s home in the Quimistan Valley.
In the summer of 2008, my husband was ready to say, “Yes” to the idea of us being full time missionaries. (Confirmation # 2.) As the long-term commitment of a children’s home did not mesh with the goals of the non-profit with which we were working, we knew we would need to create a separate one.
That fall, we traveled back to Honduras to visit 6 existing children’s homes and to look for land to purchase. Not surprising, my husband and I did not agree on what parcel of land to purchase so we decided to wait. Looking back, I know our disunity was used by God to slow us down. My mother, who had been a long time participant in our mission work, was diagnosed with ALS that December and our plans to move were put on hold. With a life expectancy of only 4-5 years, it was right for us to ‘Honor’ my mother and stay in the US. We did, however, continue to travel to Quimistan with the other foundation. In 2010, we made a unified decision to purchase 13.5 acres of land that had become available during the time of our waiting. (Confirmation #3.)
While overseeing the care of my mother, we decided to sell our home in Aiken in 2012. It was a terrible time to try to sell a home…truly a ‘buyer’s market’. However, we sold our house within 4 months for 96% of the asking price. (Confirmation #4.) And within two days, we had found a rental that would hold all our belongings. (Confirmation #5.) And the proceeds from our home provided the funds for the land purchase in Quimistan. (Confirmation #6.)
Following the death of my mother in September of 2012, we prepared to move to Honduras in January of 2013. Neither Sam or I were concerned about our safety or what we were leaving behind, having a joint peace that God had indeed called us to live in Honduras and to operate a children’s home. (Confirmation #7.) I have said many times, that God could not have chosen two folks who know less about this business than me and Sam …. me a nurse and he being an entomologist and knowing little about construction, electrical work, etc. God has faithfully provided others with knowledge to offer support. My older brother and his architectural firm donated the hours to design the children’s home and a site design. My younger brother and his wife visit Quimistan with the other organization and have helped us in numerous ways….he being an engineer and she, an accountant. God has called fellow believers to serve on our Board of Directors and to do volunteer work in areas of our weakness. (Confirmation #7.) And He has moved in the hearts of people to donate funds to support His dream for Tranquilidad, Home for Children. (Confirmation #8.)
And, last but not least, we are happy here in Quimistan! God has provided us with many local friends and families that we have come to love during our 13 years of visits here. He provided us great landlords here where we live. (Confirmation #9.) He has provided us a bilingual young man to be our overseer and aid. (Confirmation #10.)
Now, if I could wake up one morning and be bilingual myself that would be a confirmation and a miracle!
So how did I know? By listening to the Holy Spirit and being willing to be obedient and trusting God whom I know is ever faithful and trustworthy. Do we get overwhelmed, frustrated, and discouraged at times? Yes. Do we miss our family and friends in the US? Yes. How long will we be here? We do not know, but we know that until God calls us somewhere else, we will take one day at a time and we will work to fulfill His dream for a safe, tranquil home for children of the Quimistan Valley.