Insights from Lynn

by Lynn Baynes

When I saw Kenny Lamm on my caller ID one day, I thought he must have been calling about school. Returning his call and him telling me about this trip, I only had one question--"Why me?" What made Kenny call me about a missions trip Front Street was going on? I asked him for a few days to pray about it and clear my calendar, but I had barely hung up the phone before I knew the answer. Too many times before I had asked God to wait for my timing and when it would be convenient for me to serve Him. This time I knew I had no choice, I needed to answer His call without excuses. I never thought until after I said, "Yes," that "Wow, I may not know anyone but Kenny on this trip." It turned out that I knew several already and after the first Sunday meeting, I knew I was with family.

God has started working before we left Statesville. I truly did not know what to expect in Honduras, I knew we were in God's hands to protect, guide, and use us for His purpose. As the people were pouring into the clinics each day, and telling me thing I totally could not understand, I would take a deep breath, say a prayer, and could feel an instant calming hand on my shoulder, and I knew I was not alone.

Treating patients from two weeks to ninety-four years old was interesting and challenging. Their needs were great and our numbers were few. However, they were grateful and never complained.

A smile is a universal language. Our poverty is their luxury. I would like to thank each team member for allowing this new kid on the block to tag along and be a part of this experience.

I love you all and look forward to working with you all again.

Kim's Thoughts

by Kim Mayberry

There is so much to be said about this Honduran trip, I hardly know where to begin. I can say that this has been a wonderful and memorable experience, and I am fortunate to have had this opportunity.

I had always thought I would like to go on a mission trip, particularly a medical one. I knew some trips were coming up and was happy to find out there was a place for me. I signed up, and then thought, "What in the world have I done?" I had so many doubts, and there was that fear of the unknown. I wondered how my family could possibly get along without me, and what my father would think about the entire idea. I wondered if I could afford to go, and then someone at work asked me if I could afford not to go. Where would we stay? Would we be able to eat the food? Would we stay safe and healthy? I had to remind myself what I know to be true. I was not in control, but God was, and He already had all the details of the trip planned. All I had to do was to trust and obey. I had to turn it all over to the Lord, and know that He would take care of all of our needs.

The thing that impressed me most was how humble the Honduran people were and how grateful they were, for even the smallest things that we take for granted. We are so fortunate! For example, I cannot imagine having a headache and not having medicine to take or needing medical care and being turned away because I could not pay. This was the case with the people we saw. People walked for miles and waited for hours to get their needs met, while we complain when we have to wait, even for a short while in the U.S. This was quite humbling.
Again, this has been an experience I will never forget. I feel I know what is important. I worked hard and also had a lot of fun. I want to thank everyone that prayed for us and helped in any way to make this mission trip possible.

Beverly's Insights

by Beverly Wright

Hello from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America. After finishing up 5 days doing medical missions in Choluteca, it's hard to believe that I am here. Here where God called me to serve during the Acts 1:8 weekend at Front Street Baptist Church. After having a mini-stroke 2 weeks ago, many of your thoughts were that I would not be able to fulfill the mission God has planned for me. All on my thoughts were focused on planning my follow-up appointments after the mission trip was over. I knew that it was God's will for me to do this incredible medical mission trip. We were able to triage and medically treat Honduran people from 2 weeks to 94 years old. Not only did we try to meet some of their physical needs , we also tried to meet some of their spiritual needs. We treated approximately 1100 patients physical needs and we know of approximately 40 whose spiritual needs were met. When we saw a person that walked for 3 hours in the hot sun with the outdoor temperature close to 100 degrees, it made most of us think about our feelings and thoughts when we have to wait for 30 minutes in an air-conditioned doctor's office in America. We say a young boy who walked to the clinic by himself, waited in line with many others patients for about 1 1/2 hours before we were able to tell him his forearm had been fractured. He never cried, never grimaced as we splinted his arm and told him he would have to go to the hospital for treatment. He waited with a smile on his face for 30 minutes to get medicine for pain from our pharmacy. Keep in mind that all we had for pain was Tylenol- not Tylenol with Codeine as we would have in America, but plain Tylenol. I think God sent me here to see what pampered spoiled Americans we really are. Next time I have to wait in line or don't get the things I think I need, I hope God will nudge me and remind me to pray for all the people in the world and to remember that patience is a virtue. I came to know my teammates in a way that only we can understand. I love all of them and truly enjoyed the time we spent together in Honduras.

Last Day of Clinic

We had a wonderful last day of clinic, finishing up in the morning after seeing over 170 patients, bringing our total for the clinic to over 1050!

The team members have been absolutely awesome in their working together so cooperatively. There was never any complaining--just a desire to do whatever was necessary to serve God in this capacity. Each member of the team has come with a desire to serve God and to glorify Him through using their special training to advance His kingdom in Honduras. Be sure to read Kinnan's insights in the next entry for more understanding of what is going on in our team members' hearts.

We successfully made the journey through the mountains to Tegucigalpa, said goodbye to our wonderful Honduran friends, and enjoyed a great meal in our new home. Tomorrow will be a day for us to relax a bit after a very hard week of work. Thursday morning we will begin our journey back to Statesville.

Thanks, again, for your continued prayers. God's hand has definitely been on this team, and we know that your prayers have lifted us up and strengthened us.

Insights from Kinnan Johnson

Jeremiah 7:22-24 (CEV)
At the time I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, I didn't command them to offer sacrifices to me.Instead, I told them, "If you listen to me and do what I tell you I will be your God,you will be my people,and all will go well for you.

As many of you know I was about halfway through the Experiencing God study when Kenny asked me if I'd ever thought about going on a mission trip. As I worked in the study I really looked forward to what God was going to do in my life to allow me to experience Him as I never had before. But, boy I NEVER expected it so soon! First, God wasn't suppose to start working that quickly , I mean I wasn't even finished with the study yet! Second, He wasn't suppose to ask me to leave the country. Well as soon as Kenny asked I knew deep down what I was suppose to do....obey! But I needed a few days to "make real sure." As I agreed to come to Honduras I knew that this was God's call for my life and that He would take care of everything. Now as I reflect back over the last 3 months of preparation and these last 7 days in Honduras, I am just in awe at the way God has worked in everything we have done. He has kept us safe, very well fed, and healthy. We all obeyed God in this call and He has been true to His word...""If you listen to me and do what I tell you I will be your God, you will be my people,and all will go well for you."
What a privilege it has been to serve our God with this team this week! I didn't know Lynn before all the trip planning and knew Jackie only as an acquaintance. I loved the rest of the team as my church family and my brothers and sisters in Christ. After spending this week with all of them I love each and every one of them so much more and am grateful to have shared this Honduras experience with them. Thank you team for the best trip I have ever taken with a group! What a true joy it has been to obey and serve God with you.

Kinnan Johnson

New Clinic Location Today

We moved to a city church today to start our 1.5 day clinic. We began at 8:00 a.m. and ran until about 5:00 p.m. We saw about 320 patients today--bringing our total so far to 880 people! Needless to say, everyone was really tired after a very busy day. You can see the masses of people waiting in long lines in today's photos. Tomorrow, we will run the clinic from 7:30 until noon. At that time, we will begin our journey back to Tegucigalpa. Our Honduran interpreters have to be back in their college classes on Wednesday, so we have to return on Tuesday evening. Since it is not safe for us to drive after dark through the mountains to Tegucigalpa, we have to leave early in the afternoon. Wednesday will be a day for us to unwind and see a bit of that region of Honduras before returning to the US on Thursday.

Thank you for your prayers. God has really been lifted up this week. Please remember us in our last day of clinic and all of our traveling--especially me driving the truck on the three hour journey through the mountains (totally different driving styles here).

We have so much to share with you. I hope to update you tomorrow night sometime after we arrive at our destination.

Sunday - a day of worship and rest

Sunday, March 1, 2009
by Linda Meadors

We got to sleep in until 5:45 for the cooks, and a little later for the rest of us. Walter cooked a wonderful breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit, our first time cooking in the morning. Then we dressed in our Sunday best and were off in our trucks, after pumping up a slightly flat tire.

Shortly after beginning our journey on the "rocky road", Kenny's vehicle beeped the one in front of his to a stop, after noticing that the tire was decidedly flatter. We disembarked and the men began their work of replacing the flat tire. We had the blessing of a slightly cloudy day, early morning temperatures in the 80's, water for everyone, and a spare tire. As we patiently waited, some walked off to speak to children living nearby, some looked for huge flat rocks to use as a jack for the truck, and others moved from shady spot to shady spot, took pictures, and ducked to the side of our vehicles to avoid the dust when other huge trucks went bumping by. All were praying. We were entertained by passing cattle, bicycles, ponies, and men traveling standing in the backs of trucks.

Finally we were on our way, thankful for the spare and our heroic tire changers. We arrived a little late to find the church service already in progress, complete with a balloon bouncing 2 year old and lots of singing and clapping. The Americanos were welcomed and the congregation sang "How Great Thou Art", bringing tears to our eyes as we tried to match our words to the familiar melody, and succeeded in joining our Christian souls together as one congregation, praising our Lord and Savior. Several members sang and the minister thanked us for our generosity, not only with the medicines, but also with our spiritual leading.

The minister gave his sermon using Acts and Luke, and emphasizing our need to come together in fellowship, sharing all that we have with each other. When his sermon ended, more were invited to sing and our team went to the front of the church and sang "Amazing Grace" a cappella with no practice and with many unsure of their singing ability. But our "joyful noise", blessed by the hand of God, was sweetly received by the congregation. Kenny sang "Here I Am to Worship" in Spanish and all of us were touched.

Several members of the church then stood and gave their testimonies, and graciously thanked us as we were told of 34 salvations during our 3 days of work. We were especially struck by one woman's sharing that it is because of us, and teams like ours, those who have come before, that she first heard of Jesus Christ, and is now a Christian. She said that she was not alone in that, and that because of what they have seen NC Baptists do in her community, their church has felt called to also plant churches among their people and to spread the Gospel. Through the grace of God, we are in this effort together--Christians worldwide doing their small part to share Jesus as the Saviour.

All too soon our time with these lovely Honduran people was finished. We were once again moved to tears as we said our goodbyes, hugging children, kissing ladies, shaking hands, taking pictures, trying to absorb the love and kindness of these fellow Christians for our memories as we waved a final goodbye.

We bounced off down the road and videotaped this last trip on the "rocky road" for our fellow mission travelers back home. God is good and we thank Him and each of you for your part in this ministry. Buenos Noches. Good night sweet friends.