Living Sacrifice

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

— Romans 12:1 NIV

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We drove until the wheel actually fell off. 

I recently spent a week in Honduras working with some very dear friends.  On our second day I had the opportunity to drive for several hours with Pastor Nahun Flores.  His truck was having some trouble and we needed to take it to the service station three hours away.  We had a great time traveling and talking about life, family and ministry.  During the ride I shared with him a worship song that has been very touching and encouraging to me.  It's a great song of worship to God.  I listen to it every day. 

Once we arrived at the service station we discovered a few extra items on his truck that needed repair.  Fortunately we were able to get all the expected and unexpected items taken care of for him.  When we left we had exceeded his expectations and he was blessed.  I know because he told me so. !

Pastor Nahun Flores offering his gift of worship and his love for one another to children in Trujillo Honduras.

So which part of the day was worship?

Like most people I know, I love worship music.  I love the feeling of an outstanding team hitting that right chord, that perfect key transition, powering out that awesome chorus.  Like most people I know, I literally get goose bumps when the music is just right.  The song I played for my friend brings me to tears almost every time I hear it.  I love to experience worship music. 

But the faith Jesus calls us to, is about more than an experience.  Life with the Christ is not as much about what I can experience from Him as it is about what I can become with Him. 

The excerpt from the book of Romans says that my life can be lived out as a sacrifice of worship to God.  It's amazing that my simple, seemingly small life can be worship to the God of the universe. 

Don't get me wrong, it feels a lot better to sing out a great worship ballad then it does to pay for car repairs.  So, at times, true worship feels more like work, or ... sacrifice. 

I believe that our Father in Heaven loves to hear us sing to Him.  And I believe even more that He loves for us to serve His greatest creation, our fellow man.  He has been so kind to us.  Let us each then make sure we worship Him purely by our kindness, our sacrifice, our life lived out for the care of others. 

Connect Global Team In Honduras

Trip Update

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for and keeping up with our travels. We were just in Honduras and had a great time. Our travel involved assembling a team made up of Four from North Carolina, One from Texas, and Travis Moffitt + MYSELF from Florida. 

We started our trip by meeting up in Atlanta and grabbing our flight to Honduras. It was pretty evident right away that we had a very solid team and that everyone made me very excited to be on the trip. This was the first time any of us had met each other in person all except for Travis who had met each of us separately. 

Our flight and process through immigration was pretty smooth except for the loss of one Team bag (which was reclaimed at the end of the week.)

This team was great in so many ways, it is incredible still to think about it. Not only were we introducing them to a brand new experience in an uncomfortable environment but there were also some unplanned pit stops, and through it all everyone had such amazing attitudes. Even through a lot of tire trouble! 

Aquaponics update

Team Member Shekina shows Javier and Jorge how to Hack their way through the aluminum on these IBC tanks

One of the major things on our to do list for this trip was to upgrade the already existing system at our friend Jorge's house. We brought with us a timer and other electric supplies to add solar power over to the system. This will allow for faster and more consistent movement of the water, and in turn will create bigger fish and veggies, faster. Over all we accomplished some big updates for this and for future systems. It was great to be able to work along side Jorge and hear his passion for creating and maintaining these sustainable systems. 

Aquaponic Carrots sprouting

Medical Update

Several Hundred pounds of Medications and Vitamins were hand delivered by the Connect Global team to the Clinic in Cusuna Honduras

Another component of the trip was facilitating the delivery of several hundred pounds of Children's and Prenatal vitamins as well as several dozen Medicines and ointments. These were a huge blessing to the very ill funded clinic in Cusuna Honduras. Dr Enrique is a very humble and hardworking man who, as the only full time doctor, has his work cut out for him. He is very grateful for any and all support he receives and was more than excited to have one of our team members who is also a doctor in NC assist him with his patients. 

Church Update

The Church in Cusuna, is a marvelous light in the dark. Newly into it's second pastor and after 14 years of existence it continues to be a place where good drives out bad. Many new faces were in attendance for our last minute service Tuesday, and during regular service times there are no open seats. Pastor Adonis has inherited a great congregation, and I expect him to continue the growth of the members. 

Jorge Amador

Jorge Amador and His 1 year old Daughter Allison

Our friend Jorge and His Wife Janeth just celebrated their daughters 1st birthday. We all were very happy to see and meet her. Our week was decidedly better for having them all there. Please keep them in your prayers. They have a hard job and are still adjusting to living with out consistent electricity, and are in need of reliable transportation. 

Pastor Nahun Flores

Pastor Nahun and Edenia Flores near their home in Trujillo Honduras

We also had the pleasure of traveling with Pastor Nahun, Edenia, Abigail, Danny, and David Flores. One of my personal favorite families of all time. They have worked tirelessly in Cusuna for over 14 years, and we have literally watched the kids grow up. This family is very special to everyone who has met them. They work hard and do it all with smiles on their faces. I know that none of my trips to Cusuna over the past ten years would have been nearly as enjoyable if they were not there. 

Thank You

Thank You to all who have kept us and this community in your prayers. It truly means a lot that we have so many people both Cusuna Alumni and otherwise that care so deeply for the work that we do in Cusuna. We are very excited about what the future holds. Lets continue to partner together in order to positively create sustainable solutions for some of the problems that exist in Cusuna.