By Tyler Ferguson
Last May, I traveled to Honduras with a mission team through Corban. Our team consisted of seven students – myself, Jenna Harbeck, Heather Simpson, Katie Worley, Kristen McMillan, Ally Brudevold and Caley Hubert – as well as Professor Johnson. Throughout the ten days in Honduras, we were able to serve at a seminary, hospital, orphanage, multiple schools and a feeding center.
Our ministry was very child-oriented through crafts and a mime we had prepared. The mime was also useful in reaching adults and was performed to many in the hospital and at the seminary. At the seminary, we were also able to build and create a water tank and kitchen table set using our carpentering and masonry skills.
This opportunity, to go to Honduras, was presented to me through some strange circumstances.
Originally, I had planned on going on the Israel trip through Corban and had taken out a loan to do so. However, God had different plans for me and after the trip was canceled, I had the money and time to be used in other places. God directed me to this ministry through the encouragement of friends and team members.
I didn’t know what to expect out of this trip. I had served in other countries before but never in Central America and never with so many different types of ministry on our plate. I did expect to have to get over humidity and bugs, which happened. I was pleasantly surprised to live with great accommodations while we were there and have the support of such amazing people, both on my team and through the seminary we stayed at.
I was fearful of being in a mime that would be performed in front of many other people, but God used me and helped ease my fears. He helped me realize that mimes are a way of communicating cross-culturally and it is not about me, but about those we were reaching. We were able to impact the lives of many in Honduras.
One of the projects, being the water tank we built, helped the seminary in striving to be self-sustaining. Their goal is to get the seminary to a place where it will be able to support itself, without foreign aid, and raise up leaders for God’s Kingdom in Honduras.
We were also able to build a kitchen set for a family consisting of a single mom and several children. In partnership with the Hope Coffee Project, we were able to provide for this family’s physical needs.
The mime was also a major point of positive impact. In the hospital, especially, we were able to perform a mime about Christ’s saving grace to many who are physically afflicted with illnesses among other things. This mime stretched me to get out of my comfort zone. Because I was the only guy on the trip (besides Professor Johnson) I was asked to play the role of Christ in the mime. For this major role, I had to overcome stage fright and not being a good actor. It took several practices and peace that only God could provide that helped me get through the skit.
This experience has helped me understand that God can and will provide for you when you live a life of service for Him. The lady who ran the orphanage we went to had many amazing stories about God’s provision. I have been praying about teaching in Indonesia after I graduate but was worried about the amount of loans I will have. This trip has helped me realize that God is big enough to take care of even fiscal matters if we are willing to serve Him and follow His calling.
This was an experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.
I was able to serve an awesome God with awesome people in an awesome place. We were able to share the love of God, and what He has blessed us with, with those who need to experience God and hear His call. I am not worried about my future knowing that God is the ultimate provider and that nothing is out of His control. He has done some amazing things in Honduras and can do amazing things in my own life too.