Honduras Missions Trip

• Avery Arterburn & Sarah Farley
• Sunday, May 28

We made it! After many months of anxiously waiting, we arrived at the gates of Orphanage Emmanuel around 4:05 pm. For many of us, this is our second trip, but this time our parents tagged along! After our original trip in January, we knew immediately that we wanted to come back and serve as soon as possible. Our devotional for this trip is about how Jesus’ spirit and heart are “Gentle and Lowly” and this truly represents the humbling love you experience at Emmanuel. We are looking forward to the week and all that the Lord has in store for us. Please continue to be in prayer for our team.

In Christ,

Avery Arterburn and Sarah Farley

• Ella Fordham
• Monday, May 29

Today was our first full day at Orphanage Emmanuel! Unlike many others on this trip, I have not been to Emmanuel before so today was the day I got to learn everything. We started out the day helping serve the kids breakfast and getting to talk and catch up with old friends or make new ones! We got to watch a beautiful Mother’s Day ceremony put on by the kids, which showcased their many talents of singing, dancing, and even some acting! God’s hand is very evident throughout Emmanuel and we ask for you to keep praying that He will move in mighty ways this week. 

In Christ,
Ella Fordham

• Avery Arterburn and Ava Shaffer
• Tuesday, May 30

Today was our third official day at Orphanage Emmanuel! It was also the first day our team got to work around the orphanage. We had many members work on the farm helping with the pigs or staking the corn, some dug trenches, while others cleaned the gym and school to prepare for a fresh coat of paint. We then spent time with the kids around Emmanuel! Whether we were playing baseball and soccer with the boys, or making bracelets and playing in the yard with the girls, we saw much joy and excitement from the kids and our team. This trip has just begun and the kids are already leaving a huge impact on many of us. We cannot wait to see what God has in store for us the rest of the week! Please continue to keep Emmanuel and our team in your prayers. 

In Christ,
Avery Arterburn and Ava Shaffer

• Morgan Smith and Ava Shaffer
• Wednesday, May 31

Today was such an amazing day here at Orphanage Emmanuel. We started off the day early with some of us waking up at 4:30 a.m. to serve the children breakfast, and then moved into our Bible study and team meal. We then split into different teams and served around the orphanage, including tasks such as painting the gym and collecting eggs. The children were then treated with ice cream that we were able to provide them. Our free time included playing with children of all ages and continuing to grow our relationships with them. 

We were blessed with the opportunity to be invited to Wednesday night worship with the older kids and experience first hand God's presence in the church. 

We wrapped up the day with our daily devotion and dinner, while welcoming a new group of missionaries that we will work alongside with for the rest of the week. We can not wait to see what God has in store for us as we continue our week here. Please continue to keep our team in your prayers as we reach the second half of our trip. 
                               
In Christ,
Morgan Smith and Ava Shaffer

• Emma Grace Harris
• Thursday, June 1

We had a very eventful day that included Austin breaking three shovels while digging a trench, Mrs. Tara carrying three pigs, Mrs. Jennifer getting pecked by lots of chickens, and we had Ava convinced we had monkey burgers the night before for dinner (which was not true AT ALL). Throughout the day many of us got new nicknames from the kids and each other including “grade baca,” “pollo,” “sapo assassin,” and “JENNYFER!!” We finished our tour on the tractor today and saw the horse stables and soccer field. Our guide, Alexander, told us about their vision for the field and their hopes for stadium seating when other schools come to play Emmanuel’s team. To round out the evening, we had a water balloon fight of the Americans vs. the Hondurans … and Honduras smoked us. It started out with just balloons, but soon expanded to five gallon buckets being dumped on all of us, leaving us with a long squeaky walk home. We closed the night watching the sunset on top of the water tower, looking into the future of Emmanuel and the new seniors coming back in January.

• Dalton Harris
• Friday, June 2

Hola from Emmanuel! Today we had many different teams helping around the orphanage. One group worked on continuing to paint the gym and another group worked on the farm. The kids were out of school today, and there was a bake sale run by the teachers that had varieties of traditional Honduran foods and juices for us to try. At the end of the day, our kids had another water balloon fight with the grandecitos and played béisbol with the big boys. As we are wrapping up our trip we are starting to understand how many privileges we truly have, and how sad we will be to leave this wonderful place in Honduras.

• Sarah Farley
• Saturday, June 3

Throughout our mission trip to Honduras, students from different backgrounds came together to spread love, joy, and faith. The students at Orphanage Emmanuel are full of energy, whether we are playing baseball, soccer, dodgeball, or simply making bracelets and drawing. It's amazing how something as small as a game can bring people together, forming friendships that last a lifetime. We witnessed the true joy of Christ in the children. Throughout this mission trip we realized it wasn't just about changing the lives of others; it was about transforming our hearts. Through our interactions with the children and the relationships formed, we discovered a deeper understanding of compassion, empathy, and the power of unity. It showed us the beauty of embracing different cultures, the power of love, and the profound impact we can have on the lives of others. As we return home on Sunday morning, we carry with us memories that will last a lifetime.