A few thoughts from "just one person..."

Hello, and thanks for visiting the Kinship Radio blog. I'm really glad you stopped by.

I've been asked by many of you about posting my "final thoughts" about my trip to Honduras. I'll start by saying thank you to all of you who have been following my journey the past few weeks. I have never been so inspired and yet so emotionally drained as I have by this adventure. I also have to say thank you to those who were praying about the recent earthquake in Honduras, too. Reports from those I met down there are all good - our sponsored children are safe, there were no reports of damage to the schools and churches we visited and that is a real blessing. God is so good!

It's been almost three weeks since I returned from Honduras and admittedly the after-effects of the trip are still very heavy on my mind. When I signed on to this trip I told the Lord I wanted my heart to be broken and He answered that prayer of mine in abundance. I'm so glad He did, too. I have a better view of the realities of poverty, a renewing sense of purpose in my personal ministry to speak up for the poor and I have a new heart for missions. I told my parents as soon as I got off the plane that I'll be going back to Honduras in the future, and I believe there will be many more opportunities for me in the future to serve Him in this way in other countries as well. I say bring it on, Lord - bring it on!

I have been asked by some of you, too, to share what I would consider the primary thing I learned while I was in Honduras. I would have to say there are two things I would consider God's lessons to me during the trip. The first is the definition of poverty. As we talked with those we met in Honduras and made ourselves available to pray with the children and their families, we heard all kinds of prayer requests. I prayed with little six-year-old Jorge, who wanted the Lord to make his mother's headaches go away. I prayed with a mom who when asked for her prayer needs requested only that her children would have access to a solid education. I prayed with my sponsored child Jessica's mom, whose only prayer was that her husband would receive Jesus Christ as his personal savior. We prayed for changed hearts, health and well-being and educational opportunities but in all of those prayer requests I realized something was noticeably missing. I can't recall anyone asking us to pray that the Lord would give them more money. I didn't expect that, and that realization propels the message home even greater that the definition of true poverty is not just about the lack of money. True poverty is the lack of hope. Poverty isn't something you can just throw money at to make it go away. You have to provide hope - hope that is found in the future that our great and gracious Lord has planned for us. The struggle in poverty is more than just routing money into the right hands. It's fighting against the evil one who seeks to strip us of our hope in the Lord, our inheritance in His eternal home, our worth in His eyes and the high calling we each have in the kingdom of God. When we have the hope that is found in the Lord, we have the anchor in our souls that says there is a better way and God will make that way straight and clear when there seems to be no way. And for those of us who know and live in this hope we have in Christ, we have to share that hope. That hope can come in the form of a check, yes, but it also comes in the form of a letter, a hug, the word of God, a word of encouragement, rolled up sleeves and yes, nail-pierced hands. Hebrews 10:23 has been my devotional verse today: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

My other big takeaway from my trip to Honduras is a big one for me personally. The Lord spoke to me very clearly late one evening after meeting a young man who was finishing up his college degree thanks to being sponsored through Compassion International. One person a world away answered the call to sponsor this young man as a child, and he is already making an impact for the kingdom of God in Honduras. Watching this man walk away from me I heard the Lord say, "Look closely, Beth, and see what one person can do when they listen to Me." One person has made a huge difference in this man's life. One person sent him letters, telling him that he was special in their eyes and in God's. One person made the financial sacrifice to see to his well-being, health, and educational needs. One person made the commitment to pray for him, encourage him, and support him spiritually. One person - one obedient man or woman of God, wanting to serve Him in something bigger than themselves, changed this young man's life for the better. And I want to be that one person to someone else. I hope and pray I am that one person to my Jessica, the child I sponsor in Honduras. I hope and pray that I can lead and encourage others to be that one person in someone else's life. I hope and pray, too, that all those who are called to such a role will listen and respond to the Lord's call. It's the greatest blessing I can think of - not just to others but to yourself. We are blessed to BE a blessing. I won't forget that.

Well, that's my wrap up of my trip to Honduras for you. That doesn't mean I'm going to quit blogging, though. Our hope with this blog is that you'll hear from all of us at Kinship Christian Radio with stories of how the Lord is moving in our hearts and lives. I'm sure, though, that a little memory from Honduras will slip in from time to time in my posts. Thanks so much for coming alongside me in the journey, and know that I know that the journey is far from over. The Lord will certainly have another adventure for me sometime soon. When He does, you'll be the first to know.

I have posted a video sharing some of the pictures and stories from my trip to Honduras on my music ministry site for you to see and share with others. Just go to http://www.bethcrosby.com/ and click play on the video box. I also have more pictures posted on my gallery page there, too - feel free to check them out. And as always, if you have questions or would like to chat with me more, you can always reach me by e-mail at bethc@kinshipradio.org. Be blessed, my friends, and thanks for stopping by!

In His grip of grace,
Beth Crosby

http://www.kinshipradio.org/
http://www.bethcrosby.com/

P.S. The photo above is of a little girl I met at the Jehovah Jireh Student Center in Omoa - the Lord "provided" her with a yummy treat!

Earthquake in Honduras....

Hello, and thanks for visiting the Kinship Radio blog. I'm very glad you're here.

I was up early this morning praying and was just about to upload a new blog story for you from my time in Honduras but the news from Honduras this morning is prompting me to save that story for tomorrow. I confess my heart is aching right now. My heart and my prayers are in Honduras as a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of the country early this morning.

The earthquake struck off the coast 80 miles northeast of the city of La Ceiba. The epicenter was not close to the places I visited, but with the quake's size I wouldn't be surprised if it has had a far reaching effect. I'm already reading through reports from the towns I passed through. There are reports of factories being evacuated in San Pedro Sula, where our team was based, because of structural issues. I can only begin to imagine what one day of lost work would mean to those employees financially, much less if that becomes a prolonged length of time. I've read of collapsed wooden homes in the city of Puerto Cortes, a city which serves as one of the country's main ports. We were in Puerto Cortes just last Wednesday. If those homes are anything like the homes I saw (and I'm guessing they are) I would not be surprised to learn of their destruction. One report also tells of damage to Democracy bridge near the city of El Progreso. I can't remember the name of the bridge we crossed in that area but I do know that a large bridge we crossed was still being repaired from damage suffered from Hurricane Mitch - which struck the country over ten years ago. I was very encouraged to learn that a tsunami warning was cancelled for the coastal areas. I would be a wreck this morning if that beautiful coastline I visited and the villages that earned a special place in my heart there were ripped apart.

There's so much we take for granted in our country. Our infrastructure is strong and we have the resources to bounce back from such disasters. But I also look today to the situation in and around New Orleans and know that we fail miserably in rendering aid even to our own. I'm concerned and confused this morning, I'm questioning God and yet in my emotional funk I know this: God is in control. God's hand is on Honduras. This is no surprise to the Lord, and I'm believing that good will come out of it. It's His way, and I should know. His word is true.

Thanks for your prayers - and thank you for continuing to pray. If I learn more specifics, I will post them here. And tomorrow I'll share a story that brings me a great deal of joy. Hope is a powerful thing. Hope in God makes an impact. Be blessed in Christ, my friends, and stay tuned!

In His grip of grace,

Beth Crosby

http://www.kinshipradio.org/

P.S. The photo above is a photo of the northern coast of Honduras, near the village of Omoa. Beautiful, isn't it?

Nothing can separate us...

It was a long day on Sunday. After thirteen hours of travel and a nearly missed flight connection in Memphis, I'm finally back home - sort of. I'm in Wisconsin at my parents' place right now, getting some much needed rest. Or so I'd like to think.

I am admittedly restless today, and I was warned about that possibility by our trip leader, Sean. He warned us that we would go home wanting to tell everyone about what we saw and learned, that we may not find that perfect outlet to do so, and that we would feel some sort of separation anxiety. In my case he was right on all three counts. I know it's because my heart was broken in Honduras and it won't get fixed anytime soon.

I think that's okay, though. That part of my heart is the part that I think needed to feel something new, something necessary and something so near and dear to God's heart. I don't think it would be right to turn my eyes away from the sights I saw: Homes made with scrap wood and tin, with gaps so big any rodent or small animal could easily pass through. A young girl walking around in winter boots because it was the only pair of footwear she owned. Or, the kids who didn't own any footwear at all. And what about the sounds? I heard the sounds of modern business and industry whiz by me every day, and yet the silence of those positioned to speak up for the poor was deafening.

But yet there was a sound that was clearly heard, a song that at one moment on Tuesday pierced through cultural and language barriers to make a grand statement. A chorus of those who love the Lord singing one song with just one word: Hallelujah. My heart was crushed in Honduras because no matter the gravity of the situation, praise to the Almighty God was still being raised. And God inhabits the praises of His people.

My eyes have been opened to the very real need of the poor - those who are impoverished both in material need and in the need for hope. And while I am having a hard time "separating" from my experience in Honduras, I take heart in the fact that God has a hard time with separation, too. Remember His stand on that? "Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." He's got His hold on me - so I'm going to hang on to Honduras a little while longer.

There's so much more to share, and I'll do that in the next couple of days. I have one more day with Mom and Dad and the laundry room, and then it's home. At least most of me - there's still that piece of me in Honduras.

Blessings,
Beth Crosby
www.kinshipradio.org

P.S. Just a reminder that Jorge from my entry on Tuesday is still awaiting a Compassion sponsor. For more information, check out Compassion's website at www.compassion.com. Thanks!

Every cake needs icing...

Greetings from Honduras!

Well, this has been our last full day here in the country. We've had a chance to share our stories, we've had some side-splitting laughs, and we have certainly cried our share of tears. I'm going to save some of those stories for a few more blog entries, but I have one that has to be shared today. It all has to do with a man named Umberto.

We have had so many blessings come our way during this trip and one has been the excellent service of our bus company. Our trip was designed so that we each had assigned buses and drivers, and our driver for the week was Umberto. Umberto was quiet and reserved, he didn't speak English and as we learned early on in our trip, he was not a Christian. One of our team members, Philip, upon learning that news confidently said that Umberto would be a Christian by the end of the week. So we prayed and we waited to see what God would do.

I was also blessed this week to be in a bus with a lot of fun people - Philip and his wife M.J. were two of them. What a blessing, those two! Our bus had the most interesting rapport with Umberto, especially on roads with speed bumps. Philip and M.J. always rode in the back of the bus and whenever Umberto guided us over a speed bump without sending them flying out of their seats you would hear them say, "Gracias, Umberto" in this great elongated tone that got us all laughing. Soon the whole bus was doing it, and with every speed bump that was not so skillfully traversed we'd all say "Uh oh, Umberto" in the same elongated drawl. It was so sweet to see Umberto smile at oncoming speed bumps. He was getting into it, too.

Now I know that sometimes traveling in a group such as this might find people thinking that kind of behavior was annoying, but no one that I know of on our bus felt that way. I think that was by God's design. Somehow, in some very special way, our fun-loving antics and the spirit of God broke through to the deepest part of Umberto's soul, and the gate to his heart was opened wide.

Friday evening at dinner, before Philip and M.J. had to fly home, Philip felt led to approach Umberto and share the gospel with him. He enlisted the help of Abraham, a member of the Compassion Honduras staff and a pastor, to interpret and pray with him as well. All we saw from the other end of our restaurant were three men talking and bowing their heads in prayer, but what God saw was another heart wanting to come home. Umberto gave his life to the Lord at that restaurant table and we were overjoyed.

Philip talked to us later about his exchange with Umberto and how Umberto had said that in our presence he felt so unclean. That's a profound thought - especially considering the language barrier. All Umberto had for evidence was our love for one another, our love for God and the Christ in us to know that he needed something better. He needed to be the new creation that God longs for us to be and I am so blessed to have been part of the plan to see him come to the Lord. I have been thinking about that all day today and I have to ask myself this question: Are there others that God will place in my path, for even a short time, that need to know the love of God and need to receive the Son? My answer is of course there are. I pray that my eyes are open to those opportunities. I was privileged to travel over two thousand miles to witness one of the most beautiful things that can ever happen in a person's life - a person surrendering their heart and life to Christ. Now the way I see it, if a person has cake - and one of the yummiest cakes one can possibly have, I might add - you have to have icing, too. Umberto's salvation is the most delicious of icing on the cake that is this trip with Compassion International. And all the praise goes to God.

My roommate is giving a beautiful handmade bookmark to Umberto in the morning. On it are the most important three words the world: "Cristo te ama." Christ loves you. Jesus loves you. He always has, and He always will. Now I'm definitely ready to eat some cake.

Tomorrow is our big travel day home so I won't have a post for you until Monday. Like I said, I have a few more stories I'd like to share with you about this incredible experience and I will share them on a few future blogs. I appreciate your prayers as we all make our long journey home tomorrow. Thank you, be blessed, and I'll write again on Monday. Gracias!!!

In His love,

Beth Crosby

http://www.kinshipradio.org/

P.S. That's me and Umberto in the picture at the top. We joked that we had to include the name of the bus company in the photo "for advertising." I think God got the greater glory, don't you?

Not exactly Dinty Moore....

Hello again from Honduras – and thanks for stopping by the blog! I would have posted sooner, but internet service is pretty spotty in our current location. You could say it makes it easier to remember that I’m in a third world country. As if the rest of what I've seen here didn't give me a clue....

Friday was the last of our Compassion International project visits for the week. Our journey took through the town of Villanueva and into an area known as the plains of Barrio Martin Fajardo. I had a hard time thinking of it as a plains area – our project was actually quite a trek into the hillsides of the community. I have to give some praise here to Umberto, our bus driver, for getting us in and out of there without tipping the bus.

The Compassion project, Profinvi Student Center, is housed with the Sinai Christian Ministries Church and it is a bustling center. Nearly 350 students attend this project and we arrived just in time to see one group of kids making beautiful jewelry and another preparing what looked to be a triple batch of cake batter. How fun to see these kids doing something constructive and income-generating and not turning to the gang activity that is so prevalent in this area. It turned out that we would actually get to enjoy both of those things – the cake was to celebrate a birthday in our group, and we each were presented with beautiful pieces of jewelry to take home.

Today was designed to be more of an opportunity to be immersed in the culture of Honduras and to better understand the day-to-day struggle in an impoverished community. It was also my most grueling day physically – it was the hottest and most humid day thus far and I don’t handle that kind of heat well. We did a lot of uphill climbing which I also don’t do well. I was also stinging from a pretty bad sunburn. Combine those factors and I was a wreck. As soon as we were on the bus again I was fast asleep, exhausted from the day.

But today was also very, very enlightening. We walked (uphill!) to the home of a family who has two children registered in the Compassion project. There were nine total in the family with children ranging in age from eighteen to approximately nine or ten months old. We were assigned to help the family with chores, which in our case was to cook the primary meal for the family. The menu was stew with pork, green banana, cabbage, maize, yucca root and one other vegetable that for the life of me I can’t identify. Now I have very little skill in the kitchen so there were several laughs from the members of my group as well as the family as I tried to peel the half gourd half cucumber-like vegetable I couldn’t identify. I was actually quite glad the knife I had was so dull or else I would have needed a medic. But the work got done and the stew was on the fire to cook.

Participating in this activity with the family made me really come to appreciate what we have here in the U.S. If I wanted stew I would go to my cupboard, pull out a can of Dinty Moore and with the microwave it would be ready to eat in two minutes. Here, you have to go to the pulperia (or the local grocery) to buy the meat you are going to use that day. There’s no electricity so there’s no refrigeration. You have to go get water to use in the stew – there’s no running water here. No electric stove, so you have to go out into the forest to gather firewood for the fire. Only then can you prepare the meat, prep the veggies and cook. It’s easy to see how long one meal can take to prepare. And what if you can’t afford things like meat or fresh veggies? It’s a humbling thought.

Our group had a great conversation last night about what we would do once we traveled back home to the states. It was pretty much unanimous that we all would share the stories of the many people we met here and what we have learned along the way. For me, I think this verse from 1 Timothy chapter six remains as my sentiment:

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

I never really considered myself to be one of the rich. I have my financial struggles from time to time. But none of that even begins to compare to the struggle here in Honduras, where 80% of the people here live below the poverty line and 50% are classified as living in extreme poverty. Lord, I hear the command, and I will obey.

Saturday is a day of rest for us as we begin our travel home on Sunday morning at 3:00 am. For me, it’s a day of rest and reflection. I have so much to process and if you know me well, you’ll know that part of that is to share my story with others. If you’re willing to listen, I’m willing to speak. (And I’ll share a bunch of pictures with you, too – I have a ton!) Thank you for your prayers and God bless!

In His service,
Beth Crosby
www.kinshipradio.org

A Day at Wonderland!

Hola from Honduras! Thanks for visiting the blog!

When the Lord began to speak to me about this trip, I knew that I wanted to do two things: I wanted to serve Him in a way that was far beyond my comfort zone, and I wanted to meet the child I sponsor through Compassion International. I won’t get into the details, but the Lord orchestrated this trip so beautifully for me – so much that I have been able to do both things at once. We have been ministering and serving the people here in Honduras for the last several days, but today was a break from all that. I got to meet my Jessica today and she is an absolute sweetheart!

We were all very excited this morning as we boarded the bus to Wonderland – an awesome water park here in San Pedro Sula. Our buses were chock full of gifts for the kids – I could barely fit into my seat with mine. When we drove up to the entrance to the park, there were all of our kids. What a beautiful sight.

In the crowd I couldn’t really see Jessica. It had been while since I had received a picture of her and I knew she was growing like a weed. I didn’t recognize her for the longest time – we had already filed into the park and we were waiting for our tour leader to give us instructions for the day. Then I saw her – it shouldn’t have been so hard to find her because she had made a huge card for me with my name in glitter on the front. I mean, this thing was big – a full sheet of tagboard! I saw that and I fell apart. Others in my group, knowing that I was a vocalist, joked about how I seemed to have fans follow me around and I have to confess that was a neat thought. It turns out that I do have a pretty awesome fan in Jessica. She knocked my socks off with her bear hug greeting!

I was also blessed to meet Jessica’s mother, Dora, and a representative from the Compassion project Jessica attends by the name of Naomi. Dora is generally a quiet person, but she was so warm to me and so grateful to me for sponsoring her daughter. And Naomi, she just radiated her love for the Lord in everything she did. I also think she was thrilled to be at the water park. She was the one I had to pull out of the water when it was time to leave.

It was a great day – our translator was wonderful and we were able to communicate very well throughout the day. Jessica and I spent a lot of time teaching each other words in our respective languages, we taught each other a couple of songs, and we played in the water constantly. I also have to tell you, those big, huge slides in water parks? Yeah, we did them – and that is WAY out of my comfort zone! God answers prayer, and I prayed for our safety a lot!

At the end of the visit, I had a chance to pray with Jessica and her group. Powerful stuff. I asked them about their physical needs and they seemed to be okay there. (Thank you, Compassion!) Their biggest need was actually the biggest one I think you can possibly have. Jessica, her mom and her three siblings all know the Lord. They are all active in their church, they attend every service they can and their relationships with Jesus are strong. Jessica’s father on the other hand is not a Christian. I only saw Dora really cry hard once and that was when she talked about her husband. We’ve heard so much on this trip that the one chronic problem socially in this country is the absence of the father in the family structure. Jessica has her father and he is active in the family, but there is a spiritual absence in this family that I would love to see filled. We prayed for Jessica’s papa today. We prayed for his salvation, that his heart would be opened to the love of the Lord and that he would become the man of God he needs to be. I firmly believe that’s a prayer that God will answer, and I wait in expectation for the news of his salvation.

I’ve been telling a lot of people here that I’m not just learning Spanish here, but I’m also learning some international languages – things that cross over borders and are shared among nations. They are music, worship, laughter and love – all things that translate so perfectly. Oh – and if you ask Jessica and me, chocolate chip ice cream does, too. Nothing beats a good chocolate chip ice cream cone.

We travel on tomorrow to another Compassion International project here in Honduras. Tomorrow will also be a special day as we are going to be working alongside families near our projects as they go about the activities of their day. Thanks so much for your many prayers. Now I’m off to go get some aloe vera for the sunburn on my back. Ouch!

Blessings to you!
Beth Crosby
http://www.kinshipradio.org/

P.S. In case you haven’t figured it out, that’s me and Jessica in the photo. Isn’t she a cutie?

Jesus loves the little children...

What a day we have had today! Lots of travel, lots of children, lots of tears and the musical performance of a lifetime. Jesus loves the little children, and he proved it to us once again in Honduras.

Our day today took us north to the coastline, through the port city of Puerto Cortes and on to Pueblo Nuevo, where we settled in the village of Omoa. There we visited the Jehovah Jirey Student Center, a project operated by Compassion International and the local church there. What a wonderful project - lots and lots of beautiful children with a pastor and project coordinator who love the Lord and are completely sold out for their kids. We wasted no time in beginning our service work with them. I led worship for the children there (actually, one class led me in a song which was really neat) and after that it was on to serving lunch. I'm so thrilled to see how well these kids are cared for - we spent some time in the project office learning exactly how Compassion's development program is implemented. Every interaction with the child is recorded - from social and emotional goals to medical checkups to communications with their sponsor families. And every letter received from a sponsor or written by a child is saved - I can only imagine what my Jessica's file looks like.

Our schedule then allowed us to walk to the shoreline - it was the first time I was actually able to touch the Caribbean sea. It was quite picturesque. So here I am, standing under a palm tree with a mountain range on one side of me, an ocean on the other and what's the one thing I can say? "I am SO not in Minnesota!"

We had lunch and then we were off to make some home visits. Part of Compassion's goal with these trips is to help us get more acquainted with the work of the local projects, so we were scheduled to visit the homes of two children who attend the schools. We delivered food and supplies to these homes as well, which of course were well received. Our first home visit was absolutely wonderful, but our second home visit was a life-altering experience. I will never, ever forget Carolina.

Carolina and her parents met us on the small porch of their home and through our translator we visited for a time. After some simple exchanges, Carolina's mother went on to tell a lengthy story (in Spanish, of course) and as she did, I watched Carolina slump over in her chair, ever slowly, as if she was ashamed of what was being said. After the mother finished the story, our translator told us the details. Carolina was not this couple's daughter. They were not even related. At the age of five, Carolina was abandoned by her parents and forced to live on the streets of her village. She spent her day wandering the village, alone, with no one to care for her. This couple had noticed her and began to offer her meals, a place to sleep at night and to wash her school uniform, basically opening up their home to her and Carolina would not do it. Finally, late one evening, Carolina came to this couple's door sobbing and begging to stay with them and take care of her. This couple opened their doors wide for her - and believe me, we were thankful. My first thought was, "Is this girl sponsored through Compassion?" and thankfully, she was. Carolina is eleven now, and looking through the stack of letters she keeps from her sponsor, her sponsor is doing a great job. We're all crying by this time, but the Lord prompted me to ask her what her favorite subject was in school. She said she loved to sing! I then asked her if she knew a song she could sing to me and when she couldn't come up with one, I did one for her. In my best broken Spanish I knelt at her feet and sang to her, "Jesus Loves Me." There wasn't a dry eye in the house and my heart was completely broken. We prayed for Carolina, we prayed for her family and we thanked the Lord for His provision as well. What a blessing to have two wonderful people willing to take in this girl, a girl who was abandoned and forsaken, and give her a home. What a joy to see that Compassion International is giving her a place where she can see her immediate needs met. And what an honor and privilege to be the person who God placed in front of her to show her the love of her savior in music. I am humbled and blessed by the experience and I know I will never be the same.

Isaiah 1:17 says that we are to "seek justice and encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." I've never met an orphaned child - and Carolina was orphaned not by death but by choice - but her story and my impromptu performance will forever be an indelible mark in my life that I wouldn't dream of letting slip away. Carolina knows now that she is loved - not just by Jesus and her surrogate parents, but also by six Americans who have committed themselves to pray for her in a mighty way. Like I said, lots of tears.

Tomorrow is a BIG day for us - it's a fun day in the middle of the chaos of the VBS. Tomorrow those of us here who sponsor Compassion childen will get to meet their sponsored child. I will finally meet my Jessica face to face tomorrow. And who knows - maybe there will be another musical performance from me to an audience of one. Jesus does love the little children - and I do, too.

That's all for now - thanks for keeping up with me on the blog and God bless!

Beth Crosby
http://www.kinshipradio.org/

P.S. The photo at the top of the page is Carolina, her "surrogate" parents, and the six of us who prayed for her today. Please be praying for her and her family. Thank you!