Another highlight of ministry life is seeing God’s provision for the children of Rancho Ebenezer. The Lord has blessed the Ranch with two new vehicles, which provide safe transportation for activities with our kids. Otniel and I worked hard doing research and visiting dealerships to find the right vehicles for the Ranch needs. We enjoyed experiencing the kids’ excitement when they went to pick up the vehicles at the dealerships. ​

Recently I've been working on gathering some general information about our children at Rancho Ebenezer for one of our ministry partners. The two questions asked of each child were, "What is your favorite food?" and, "What is your dream for the future?" 

I always love hearing our children's responses to questions like these, their child-like perspective on future goals they may have. I received everything from, "My favorite food is pizza and I want to be a soccer player" to "My favorite food is Chinese rice and I want to own my own company".  Other responses included wanting to be a doctor, a firefighter, a U.S. naval officer, a police officer, a teacher, a mechanic, learning how to drive a motorcycle, and so on. 

The one that struck me the most, however, was this... "My favorite food is chicken tacos made by my Mentor Dad and my dream for the future is to build a big house for people who cannot afford it." This came from an eleven-year-old. 

In this country of Honduras where the realities of violence and brokenness do exist, where hope may seem unattainable and there are conditions of extreme desperation, I am humbled by the opportunity to work with children coming out of some of the worst of circumstances to find that hope indeed is very attainable and circumstances and conditions are not immutable.

The children growing up at Rancho Ebenezer are being raised and cared for in family style homes, receiving the same love that you would give to your own children. How beautiful it is for our children to hope, to dream, to have a desire within their hearts to help someone else in need going beyond fears of whether they will have something to eat today or where they are going to sleep tonight.  Quite frankly, it is humbling. 

How often are we wrapped up in our own minds, our own agendas? Do you ever wonder where that child-like faith goes as we "grow up"? That innocent desire to help someone else in need and placing their needs before your own?

Maybe this is why Jesus gently reminds us, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. " -Mark 10:14-15 

If only we could build "big houses" for people that cannot afford homes... or can we? We may not be able to change the world in our lifetime, but can we change one life, who then in turn could change another?

How I desperately long to hold on to the desire to help the needs of the less fortunate, to always see the potential for good and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and to not let go of hope. Maybe then I can take part in impacting at least one future for good. 

Have you ever felt like you were in a drought? I'm not talking about places like Honduras during dry season when everything is dusty, brown and scorched... I'm talking about in your soul. That feeling of being totally empty, dry, exhausted, thirsting for something to quench the burnout... that type of drought. 

Maybe you're the stay at home mom, having young ones demand your attention every moment crying out, "Mommy! Mommy!" You've had one too many sleepless nights, comforting a child who suffered from a bad dream, or cleaning up vomit or pee-soaked sheets again, or having a child yell at the top of their lungs, "You're the worst Mommy ever!"  All you want to do is sleep and someone is demanding you're attention.... CONSTANTLY. You feel like you've got nothing left. 

Maybe you're in ministry. You've tried so hard to balance ministry with family life, but once again, the need comes knocking on your front door in some state of crisis. You've tried so hard to please everyone, giving your all to only find that there is still someone that cuts you down. You may find that pouring yourself into the church,  the children's program, the worship band, or your job demands the attention that you know your family so desperately needs back at home. Perhaps you're single, and loneliness has crept in. 

Maybe it doesn't come from busyness at all, but from a heart-breaking circumstance... death of a loved one, loss of a dream, divorce, the cancer that has returned, a diagnosis you've received, depression, feelings of inadequacy, the list goes on. 

If you're anything like me, you've been there. You've experienced the burnout... the drought, the deafening voice in your head telling you, "You've got nothing left..." 

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

Friend, let me just say this... you are not alone. The Lord is with you. His love envelops our souls in ways that we can't even begin to comprehend. Soak it in. Your pain, your exhaustion, your frustration, He sees it all. I believe that sometimes He allows us to experience difficult things so that we can be drawn closer to Him. 

We cannot give the best of ourselves to our spouses, our children, our friends, our ministries, or our jobs without first being strengthened and filled up by the Lord. 

How do we become like a "spring whose waters never fail"?

1. Prayer
Cry out to God! It's OK. Let Him know all of your trials, your worries, your fears, your inmost feelings. He's a big enough God that He can handle it. The enemy wants to deceive you into thinking you have to deal with this alone, that you have to be strong... it's a lie! The Lord is right there with you, ready to guide your every step. 

2. Reading His Word
The Bible is God's communication with us and how we get to know Him on a personal level. You will find scriptures of encouragement, ways to live, testimonies, and God's promises for YOU. Grab your cup of coffee and start your morning off by spending the first few minutes of the day reading His Word. 

3. Worship
So often we get caught up in making our requests to God and asking Him for things. Take some time to simply worship Him because He is the Almighty God. Turn on your favorite worship songs and just praise Him. By quieting and humbling our hearts to lift up and praise His name, we can let go of what we are carrying and lay it all down at the foot of the cross, with hands held high praising the One who holds us in His Hands. 

Life is not easy. It is tiresome and hard and sometimes downright devastating, but know that whatever you are going through, you are not alone. 

Even in the drought, He will satisfy your needs. 

Last night Otniel and I had the opportunity to represent WGO at the inauguration of the Foreign Volunteer Attention Office of the Ministry of Governance and Justice of Honduras. This office has been set up to assist  NGO's and missionaries working in Honduras in expediting customs, processes for people as well as process to bring in supplies needed for outreach. This office works with 15 other government agencies, amongst them the Secretariat of Security to provide safety for the teams coming in to serve in the rougher neighborhoods of the cities. The government is now recognizing the importance of the work that international ministries and NGO's are doing in Honduras and they are opening their doors and welcoming efforts to address social needs of the impoverished communities. 

After the ceremony, we then had the opportunity to meet the President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez one-on-one after his inauguration speech. We are looking forward to the collaboration the government will provide ministries such as WGO in their efforts to reach out and address the physical and spiritual needs of the people of Honduras.