(Andy)
I fly out tomorrow morning, so I wanted to get in one more post. The past week has been fun but tiring. The team welcomed the third short-term group of the summer (a church youth group from Georgia), and in light of world cup pool play they’ve spent a lot of time on soccer-related activities.
On Tuesday afternoon we had a soccer skills competition (headers, hitting the crossbar, longest goal, etc.) on the town field in Armenia Bonito. I helped with the younger kids, and it was especially fun to see a shy girl and a 7 year old boy beam the crossbar twice in a row when almost none of the soccer studs could hit it once. On Wednesday morning we drove out at 4:30am to project the Honduras v. Chile game in the community center where we host most of our events. Honduras lost 1-0, but the event was a great success. Around 60 people from the community packed in to watch and cheer, and several unfamiliar faces chose to stay during halftime to hear a short message and prayer from a local pastor who we invited. The short-termers sat on the floor and served everyone drinks and popcorn. It was great to see the Gospel preached in connection with serving the community and celebrating culture.
By today I was a bit sleep-deprived, and we had a five hour med clinic followed by a 4 v. 4 soccer tournament on the town field. I was working with the younger kids, and I found myself getting easily frustrated with everyone around me. I was ticked off at the 14-year-old who asked me five times if he could play with the 11 and unders, at one of my favorite kids (yes, we have favorites) who refused to talk to me when I tried to say goodbye because his team had lost in the tournament, at the short-term team for not knowing enough Spanish to help more, and at myself for getting dehydrated and yelling too much.
Observing and talking with the missionaries and interns here the past two weeks has been helpful in seeing the need both to recognize my own sin (my need for control, my fear of failure, my pervasive self-focus) and to openly admit that sometimes work and relationships are simply annoying and disheartening. Even as I try to care for people, I’m free to be honest about my frustrations and lack of genuine compassion for those around me because I have a God who promised to finish what he started in my heart and who knows me but still calls me beloved. “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me” (Ps. 31:3)
The three of us, Josh Bolton, Jamie Jacobsen, and Andy Stuntz, delayed college for a year (08-09) to serve as missionary interns in La Ceiba, Honduras. We helped two new missionary families start up several ministries -- a medical clinic, a kids' club, and ESL classes -- in a community called Armenia Bonito. By God's grace and provision (in part through generous supporters and churches back home), we were able to build relationships with nationals in the community, with our host team members, and with each other. We messed up plenty, but we trust that God used us in our brokenness to display his mercy and power. 
One Comment
What an awesome God we serve – one who knows our weaknesses, but still loves us – and uses us despite ourselves. Thanks for serving the people in La Ceiba and Armenia Bonito!