Connect Global has partnered with Global Advance to bring hope and practical insight to the business community of La Ceiba, Honduras

We are very thrilled with the recent trip our team took to La Ceiba. The focus was two fold. One tract was centered on empowering women of La Ceiba. The second was focused on business leadership and increasing the business acumen of the community.

As a part of the Business Leadership Conference, the team conducted several Marketplace Visits to local businesses.

The Marketplace visits included an assortment of local businesses. Paint stores, to private schools, to candy stores and printing shops. These business leaders and owners benefitted from decades of accumulated business experience offered by the Global Advance and Connect Global Team Members.

Some of the business owners have been in business all of their lives, while others for only the last couple of years. Despite the length of ownership each of the business owners modeled a very high caliber of ethics, a record of success, as well as clear plans and vision for the future.

Each owner was glad to have personal and intimate conversations about the challenges each face as well as be celebrated for the success they have created.

Our teams learned a lot about what it takes to build and maintain a business in the City of La Ceiba. Some challenges are very unique to Honduras, while others are obstacles we all face when launching something we are passionate about.

I believe everyone involved was encouraged by each other and we all gained a great deal more perspective on what each other has experienced.

No Idea What To Expect

Special Guest Post by CJ Palmer of PrepareMyMission.com

Preparing for a mission trip can definitely be a challenge. Packing all of the right clothing and gear, tracking all of the flights and times, and preparing mentally to embrace a new culture are all things that are running through my head as I get ready. This weekend my wife and I will set out on our second trip to Honduras with Connect Global.

Since my wife and I went on a trip with Connect Global last year, you would think that this upcoming trip would be less of a challenge. And in some ways it is. We remember what the country looks like, we know who our trip leaders are, and we’re somewhat familiar with the food. Knowing these things does make this trip a little easier. But no matter how many times you’ve been on a mission trip, it’s always a challenge to prepare.

It’s difficult to prepare for a mission trip because you really have no idea what to expect. We can prepare for the meetings we have at work tomorrow. We can prepare for the people we have staying in our guest room two weeks from now. But it’s nearly impossible to prepare for the people we’ll meet and experiences we’ll have during this trip.

This goes against everything we know and experience in the United States. We know what time to be at work. We know what we’re having for dinner. We know who we’re going to see before we see them. We know what time we’re going to bed and what time we’re setting our alarm to wake up and do it all again.

Wonderful job by these two as they helped serve up about 50 meals for people in need of a hot lunch. #GoServeChange #ServeOthers #Honduras

A photo posted by Connect Global (@iconnectglobal) on Jul 30, 2015 at 4:06pm PDT

You can’t plan and prepare for these things when you’re going on a mission trip. But, I think that’s exactly why we need to go. We need to practice what it feels like to follow Jesus, even when we’re not sure where He’s leading and what we’re going to do when we get there.

When Jesus asked His first disciples, Peter and Andrew, to follow him, they had no idea what He was up to. They had no time to prepare and no idea where He was leading. They were in the middle of their daily routine—casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee. But God had other plans for Peter and Andrew beyond their daily routine—plans they could in no way anticipate. God was up to something.

He’s still up to something. When we let go of our daily routine to see what God is up to in the world, we’re not only more open for God to work in us, but also for God to work through us.

My wife and I are so excited to serve the people of Honduras next week. We are excited to see what God is going to do in the Honduran people, in our team, and in each other. We have no idea what to expect next week, but that’s okay. We’ll find out soon.