At the Altar

My hopes for my first out of country mission trip were simple: that I could be used in some capacity in the Lord’s work. Anything beyond that would be icing on the cake! To my delight (but not surprise) God’s blessings came abundantly and in a variety of ways.

Many weeks before departure I had asked my small group, fellow co-workers and family to pray for specific items in relation to this trip. I would certainly encourage anyone going on missions to do the same! Hondurans accepted Christ, our group stayed healthy, there were no mechanical failures and within the group there was harmony. It was a pleasure to work aside my fellow church members, several of whom I had not met before.

Knowing that we would be serving in a third world country I knew to expect poverty and primitive conditions. However, until one is actually in field seeing in person that the vast majority of Hondurans live in what we as Americans would consider primitive conditions, one simply can’t grasp the situation. But the humbling and startling statement came from one woman who with her husband and six children lived in a one room hut with a dirt floor stated that she was content! Hmmm, I wonder how many of us can say we are content?

As I reflect on the trip I could quote the stats (and they are impressive) on how many patients were seen, medicine prescribed and teeth pulled. But indulge me for a moment while I try to capture what moved me most.

On our day off we traveled to the (? Can’t remember the whole title) Baptist Bible Institute. While touring the grounds I happened upon the chapel where I observed a man at the altar in prayer. Silently I eased away from the door. Some time later as a group we were in the same chapel where the men attending the institute sang for us and described their life there. During the week classes are attended. On weekends they travel to villages to preach. While in the village they are at the mercy of the locals to be fed and housed.

The gentleman I saw praying earlier had just returned from a village where he had not been fed for three days. And yet his commitment to Christ remained strong. Unwavering. Focused. Can I say the same of my devotion? Would I be willing to give up home, career and creature comforts? My prayer is this, “Create in me a pure heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10

Carolyn Price