Saturday, April 23, 2022
Greetings from the Danville Team! After a 15-hour day of travel, we’ve settled into Alfredo's House here in Peña Blanca. The amazing staff had fresh cantaloupe and watermelon waiting for us when we arrived and of course the best coffee ever!
This trip marks my third time visiting this amazing country. As you can imagine, the COVID19 pandemic has brought about many changes and made it difficult for the FOBF staff, and most certainly for those we serve in the mountains of Honduras. We are the fourth Medical Team returning to Honduras since March of 2020. I will miss the smiling faces of the children behind their masks, but can’t wait to hear their laughter, as they run behind our bus as we pull into their village. For now, masks are required and necessary to prevent covid infections. Thankfully covid cases remain low in the remote villages. Painting the girl’s fingernails, blowing bubbles and playing with the parachute would be a risk for infections. The pictures that I have posted from previous years will give you an idea of why I love visiting the villages and remind me what will be behind the mask this week.
Today gave me many hours to think about why I left my family, friends and job for eight days to serve the medical and spiritual needs of the beautiful mountain families of Honduras. At 44 years old I am reminded that I live a life that most can only dream about. Something deep inside me feels a longing to spread love and happiness to those who don’t have it. After all…. the meaning of life is to find your gift...the purpose in life is to live it away!
When you visit a third world country and see the needs and opportunities around the world, it opens one’s heart and you want to supply these needs. When missions move from your mind to your heart, everything changes.
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts; it even breaks your heart, but that’s okay. The journey changes you, it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you and hopefully you leave something good behind.
This week as we go to the villages to serve the mountain people of Honduras. We will be tested both emotionally and physically! However, I guarantee, we will look back on our memories of this trip and all that we will remember are the many lives we touched, and the families we helped!
~April Barber
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