just a glimpse.

God was faithful to me in Honduras.  He taught me so much about myself, love, the body, faith and Himself.  The questions I have gotten most since returning home are these, “What did you learn?” and “What was your favorite place to go?”  Neither of these questions can be answered in a casual conversation. So I feel like this is the perfect place to answer both of these questions.

Question number one.  “What did I learn?”

The Lord taught me so much from the very beginning to the last day of our trip.  As we were stranded in Dallas for a few days and as our plans continued to change time after time, God showed me just how little I am actually in control of.  If you know me at all you know that I am not really a planner and I may be the most go with the flow person ever.  This is indeed how I viewed myself until those days in Dallas. My heart grew impatient very fast and the Lord showed me that I can want to have control over the situation all I want, but it is His perfect divine will that will be accomplished and I cannot change it.  When I arrived in Honduras without my luggage, the Lord sweetly whispered to my heart, “okay Mary Elizabeth, here is an opportunity to serve me and give me the glory even if something doesn’t go your way.” It is completely okay that I cried. I was tired and who wouldn’t have cried, but one thing that I tried very hard not to do was complain and feel sorry for myself.

The next thing God chose to teach me was not something I asked for Him to show me. It was a very hard thing to accept. My parents, family and friends have always told me that I am good at loving people. Well while in Honduras for the first week, the Lord revealed to me that I stink at loving people. In Honduras, the culture is very different. They greet and leave each other with a hug and a kiss. They are very loving and affectionate people. This was difficult for me to learn to do because I’m not a very touchy person. My friends in Auburn know that I have a “face bubble.” God graciously used being immersed into this culture and learning about my team members and how they give and receive love to open my eyes and heart. So Auburn friends get ready! I am going to love you better in the fall.

God blessed me with a wonderful team.  They taught me so much just by being around them. They have the sweetest spirits. Crista, Christina and I spent over three hours one night in a hammock at the mission just sharing with each other. Sharing our struggles and our sin. It was a beautiful picture of the body.  Sharing personal things like my struggles and sin with others is not a very easy thing for me to do. Some of my struggles were pride, selfishness and bitterness. Over the course of the three hours we talked about a lot. One thing that God had showed all three of us was how our circumstance often affects our relationship with Christ. I was so ashamed at this realization in my own life. It is so easy for me to praise God when things are going well and I am comfortable. My prayer immediately became and is still for God to make me uncomfortable. I want to suffer for the sake of Christ. I want to be made low. I want to be filled ONLY to be emptied!

I learned so much more than this. I wish I could put into words everything the Lord taught me through His Word, His creation, His precious treasures and the body.

 here is a picture of Christina, Crista and me. While in Honduras we memorized Philippians 2 together. It was such an encouragement. 

this is our team plus the original honduras team.

Question number two: “Where was your favorite place to go?”

CASITAS! CASITAS! CASITAS! Casitas is where the government houses teenage girls ages twelve to nineteen. They are in there because they are mentally retarded and the government sees them as unfit to live in society, they have been picked up off the street, their parents or families abandon them, they need protection from rape and violence and for getting into trouble. It is a series of a few cement buildings surrounded by four cement walls with coils of barbed wire lining the top. It is meant to house 50 to 60 girls but is currently housing over 120.

                         This is the entrance to Casitas. 

This is where the girls spend most of their time. To try and stay cool they will all lay in the floor with their faces against the semi-cool cement. 

I loved the children at Las Brisas and Nueva Esperanza, but it is the girls at Casitas that captured the biggest part of my heart. They have such a big part of my heart because the Lord completely transformed my heart while there.  I cannot write or talk about it with out being overwhelmed with emotions and tears. When I first went to Casitas, I was immediately depressed at their situation, I was confused as to why God would allow them to have such terrible life stories, I did not know what to say to them or how to act around the girls, I did not know how to love them and I had a very hard time seeing God’s faithfulness there. As I wrote in my journal after being there for the first time, I just repeated myself over and over. I told myself that there is no way I can do that everyday. I couldn’t be with those girls because I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to be there. God did a great work in my heart just in the night. I woke up the next morning and as I was spending time with Him, he reminded me that these girls are His creation. He reminded me that on my own, in my flesh, I am not capable of loving. So, I asked and pleaded with God to invade my heart and allow me to love the girls at Casitas as He loves them. Over the next few days my heart was completely renewed. Casitas had captured it within days. It was a beautiful transformation for me.

As I learned the stories of some of the girls at Casitas, my heart broke for them. All I wanted to do was take them as far away from that place as possible. Then one night as we were driving home things became all too real. We were on our way home and turned onto a street. On the corner of the street there were four girls no older than fourteen dressed in nothing. Tears started instantly as I looked and one of the girls had on nothing but a skirt. She had nothing to cover herself. I found myself wanting to pick them up and take them to Casitas. As terrible as the conditions are, if these girls were not in Casitas, their conditions would be 10 times worse. 

I cannot express to you adequately in words how much my life and heart have been changed. The Lord offered me great comfort from His word while in Honduras. Some of the scriptures that blessed me were... 

Philippians 2.. The whole chapter. Crista, Christina and I would recite what we knew every day. When I would just be silent, I would say it to myself. I was truly hiding in in my heart.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, when you walk though fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah 43: 2

"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1

"Come let us return to the Lord, for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up." Hosea 6:1

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." 1 Corinthians 15:10

"...for i have learned in what ever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:11b

All of Psalm 62 but especially verse one. "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be greatly shaken." 

home.

I am home and I am overwhelmed with all kinds of emotions. It is wonderful to be with my family and friends and be able to share with them the wonderful blessings God has given me. Although my heart is happy it is also hurting. There is an intense longing to be back in Honduras. The people there have forever taken apart of my heart for themselves. 


I have so much I want to share with you so bare with me over the next few weeks as I try to share story after story with you. 

Like I shared before, the Wednesday I went to Honduras was one of the longest days I have ever experienced. I was in bed by 11:45 Tuesday night and woke up Wednesday morning at 1:30 to be in the lobby of the hotel at 2. Jane Ann and I got down to the lobby only to find out that the DFW airport closes for cleaning in the early morning hours. So, we sat in the lobby of the hotel until 3 and just had a good talk. We got on the shuttle to go to the airport and realized I left my phone in the lobby of the hotel. Jane Ann ran back and got it. She was my life savor! My plane left from DFW to Atlanta on time, we were actually a little bit ahead of schedule. This calmed my nerves a bit since I only had 40 minutes until my next flight took off. Then the pilot comes over the intercom and let us know that because of visibility we would be circling for a little while. A little while ended up being 45 to 50 minutes. The plane hit the runway two minutes before my plane left for Honduras. I got off the plane and went to my gate. They let me know I missed my flight and I went to the Delta desk. I wanted to cry so bad, but I held in my tears. When I told the lady at the desk what happened, she said that they could put me on the flight to Honduras on Thursday. I let her know why I was going to Honduras and that i was a part of a team and needed to be there today. She saw that I was about to cry and went to talk to her supervisor. Delta placed me on a flight to Miami and then I swapped to American Airlines to Honduras. I arrived in Miami around 2 and didn't leave until 8 that night. It was the longest layover I have ever experienced. I was all alone in an airport I'd never been in with nothing buy time to think of all the stress I was experiencing. I was on the verge of tears the whole time. I called mom and she talked to me for a bit. She shared a letter with me Will had written them from Alpine. It was such an encouragement to hear about the Lord's work in my sweet brother. I napped a little bit and just listened to everyone around me speak spanish. Finally my flight left. When I landed in San Pedro Sula, I was so relieved. I made it through customs fine and went to baggage claim. I waited until the carousel stopped. My bags weren't there. I choked back my tears and text Jane Ann. I reported my bags and then walked out into the lobby. The first faces I saw were Crista and Christina. I immediately started to cry. I couldn't stop them. I was tired. I was upset. I was relieved to finally be there. I was stressed. Then Roberto came walking up. gave me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. He wiped my tears and went to talk to the airline people. We went home with no bags. The girls had to give me everything. I went on for the next 3 days sharing with the others. Roberto talked with the airlines everyday! He worked so hard to get my bags. Every day they didn't come and I teared up, Roberto just hugged me and let me know they were going to be here soon. My bags finally came on Saturday. 


On Thursday and Friday Jenny, Anna, Eric and I worked at a school in Las Brisas. Las Brisas is a very poor part of San Pedro Sula. The children we worked with have families. Most of them are at school because someone is sponsoring them. As soon as we walked in the door they ran up to us and gave us hugs and kisses. We paired off to teach english in the mornings. Anna and I taught fifth, fourth and first grade. They were so cute. When we walked into the first grade class, they all yelled "good morning teacher!!!" That's the only English they really knew. So, we worked on numbers, colors, foods and how to ask and answer simple conversation questions. We taught them "head, shoulders, knees and toes" and played símon dice (simon says) and heads up 7up with them. In the afternoon we did VBS worksheets and had a Bible story. Jenny and I had the older kids and Anna and Eric had the younger kids. We also played soccer with them. They are so good!  It was a very good way to start our trip. We instantly fell in love with the kids. On Sunday we took the mission team that had just come in from Texas to church where most of the students go. The principle of the school is the pastor there. All the kids came and sat with us. There were kids everywhere on our pews. Seeing the humble life that these people live and the joy that they have was beautiful. Their worth is in Christ. They are a beautiful picture of faithfulness. 

Fabiola. :) 

Jonathan. :)

Any y Fabiola. :)

a prayer request.

precious friends... 

i have a favor to ask. i leave honduras a week from tomorrow but i am in no way ready to come home. i can feel my heart becoming bitter at the thought of returning to a life of privilege and comfort. i don't want to be comfortable. i fear complacency. my heart has been forever captured by the people of honduras. i am farther away from home than i have ever been but have never felt so at home. 

i was reading in "Knowing God" the other day and Packer reminded me of this... 

"He seeks the fellowship of his people, and sends them both sorrows and joys in order to detach their love from other things and attach it to himself. Still he teaches believers to value his promised gifts by making them wait for those gifts, and compelling them to pray persistently for them, before he bestows them."  

it was exactly what i needed to hear. it is very easy for someone to come to a country like honduras and fall in love with it. throughout my stay here i have prayed faithfully that i would see clearly the Lord's plan for me here in honduras. it is a very huge blessing that God has placed a discerning spirit in me. i always wanted to do short term missions but that was a selfish desire. He is calling me to a life of being uncomfortable. He is teaching me patience. He is showing me what it means to recklessly pursue His will. Oh the things that he is showing me. 

so, i just ask that you would pray for my heart. that i may serve the Lord faithfully and with gladness in the states while my heart waits patiently to return to the people of honduras.   

just a little bit.

once again.. i am sorry that this is going to be short and not in depth at all. we just do not have time to sit and blog or email. we have very long, busy, tiring and AMAZING days! 


this week we will be working at Casitas all week with Tod Bush and his amazing team! Casitas is a home that houses girls from ages 12 to 19. These girls are teaching me so much! i cannot wait to share it with you. 


i have only been sick once. last thursday night i woke up with a bug. it was a 2 day deal but my precious friends took really good care of me. like i said before, i love everything about this place. smells, people, landscape, language, food... EVERYTHING. 


i love you and cannot wait to share pictures and stories!!!! 


you can be praying for me over the next little while. my heart is already beginning to feel a bit of bitterness at the fact that i am going to have to leave. i am so excited for Caitlin to come and experience what I have; however, it is going to be a constant struggle for me not to be jealous that she is with the people that i love so much. 


fun fact. my dear friends, Crista and Christina have decided to memorize Philippians chapter two while here. we can now say from memory verses 1-13. it has been such a treat! i find myself reciting it over and over again in my head throughout the day and it helps me so much! 


PS... MOM CHECK YOUR EMAIL!!!!! :) 

in love!

sorry this is only a few sentences but...


i am head over heels in love with honduras! the people. the smells. the food. the sounds. the weather. the amount of sweat it produces. all of it! 


i am learning so so SO much!


i may or may not be over head lice! :) (i'm beginning to look at them as my little friends. they've been faithful company the past few days.)


my luggage came in on saturday.. there's a great story i can share later!


i love my team! 


i love roberto (buckner staff)!


i love our translators!!!!!!


i love our drivers!!!! 


i LOVE honduras! 


PS.. Caitlin, Kimi has driven us the past few days and says to tell you he loves you!!!! 

just a quick update!

HOLA!!!!


This is going to be very short and I wish I could share more with you, but we have very limited access to the internet and everyone needs to email.


So... here's what's going on. On Wednesday, I missed my flight to Honduras because my flight from Dallas was late. After a lot of work and a very long and stressful day I got to San Pedro Sula around 8:00 Wednesday night. I got there and the Lord decided He was going to stretch me just a little bit more. My luggage wasn't there!!! As soon as I was finished reporting it I walked out and Christina, Crista, Elizabeth and Roberto were waiting on me. I began to cry. Seeing the faces and hearing the voices of people that I have only known for days but love so much was overwhelming!!!


Thrusday and Friday I worked with Anna, Jenny and Eric at Las Brisas teaching English to the children in school there! They are wonderful! They have so little but have so much life and joy! It was a very humbling experience for me. 


Our translators (Erin, Issac, Santiago and Abraham) are AMAZING!!!! Isaac was so much help and the children loved him! Anna picked up the role of  transaltor for us on Friday! She was awesome! 


The Lord is teaching me a lot and I cannot wait to share it with you!!!!


Roberto quoted his favorite scripture and I am now praying and hiding it in my heart each morning. That it may become my attitude!!!
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." -1 Corinthians 15:10


PS... It is Saturday morning and I still have no luggage and our whole team has lice. :)

MAY 31st. (journal entry)

Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8
"My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; i shall not be greatly shaken... My soul, wait in silence for God only. For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES, O people; pour out your hear before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah."


Psalm 62 had been such a sweet scripture for me! A friend of mine suggested I read through it when I was overwhelmed during finals week and since then I go to it quite often!!! It is good for me to be reminded to "wait in silence for God" silence shows a trust in the Lord that is both patient and uncomplaining! And because of the confidence I have in the Lord, I will not be shaken! I think to myself, patient and uncomplaining! It is a hard way to approach a trial especially when my heart wants to be in Guatemala so badly!


And so the plot thickens!!!... When Jenny got the call from American Airlines around four this afternoon, our hearts sank! Our flight for the 2nd (wednesday) got cancelled. We keep reading the news of the now 100+ deaths in Guatemala and find it hard to be sitting here in Dallas not able to do anything. I will admit, it is hard to continue serving here in Dallas with a completely happy outlook. I am thankful for the spirit of the Lord at work in me and pray that He will continue to grow my attitude to be one that is like Christ and thankful to serve wherever I am! 


I am running to James 1 for encouragement today. "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach , and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." -consider it pure joy: The human response to trials is not rejoicing and happiness. That is why we MUST make a commitment to face them with joy and gladness! -trials: this word in verb form literally means "to put someone or something to the test" We are being tested! God allows us to experience these trials to prove and increase the strength of our faith. -ask in faith: Prayer has to be offered with a confident trust in our sovereign God. -without any doubting: We cannot ask with a distrust in God! Our belief that He is sovereign goes void if we do not trust in that sovereignty! 


God never ceases to amaze me!!! His provisions for our team are unbelievable! Our plans have changed completely! We are now leaving for Honduras on Wednesday. 


Before I go on I have to just praise my awesome Father! He has been so sweet to give my team and me this time in Dallas! until 10 o'clock tonight, I was really struggling with why God had me here for the past few days. But oh how sweet He is to open my eyes to see His beautiful plan. Before I left home I was so nervous about flying alone. Not because I am afraid to fly but because I was afraid of having to play catch up with my team to get to know them since they would have the hours of traveling together. I allowed all of my insecurities to flood my mind. I was worried they would already have this love for each other and I wouldn't be able to break into the group. When our flights got pushed back to Sunday (May 30th) I was thrilled to find out I was going to be flying with my team! I hadn't prayed specifically to be with my team but for some form of bonding before we were in the hustle and bustle of interning. Five whole days (that's 120 hours) together in Dallas will do it!
Here is where God so graciously revealed a little piece of His plan to me. Wednesday morning at 2:30AM I will be heading to DFW airport ALONE! ALONE! That word that haunted my thoughts days ago now has no hold over me. God is so good! 


So, we will be serving the beautiful children of Nueva Esperanza orphanage in San Pedro Sula Honduras. Isn't God sweet to allow me to travel to the exact place I was supposed to go one year ago? I am overwhelmed by all God has blessed me with! Thank you so much for all of your prayers!!!


"Oh Father, You continue to amaze me with your plans for me. you have taught me so much in such a small amount of time. You have been so sweet to bring me to this time of trials Lord. god I know that it is only because of your goodness and grace that I am able to proclaim boldly Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am!" God I am content! I am satisfied! You are my sufficiency! God I will remember 1 Samuel 7:12 "Thus far the LORD has helped us." you are the one responsible for bringing me to the place I am at. You are my provider. You are there for me in times of faithfulness and rebellion. You help me fight my battles and You provide me with blessings beyond my belief! You are my comforter and my deliverer. You are my Beloved. You are my King. Oh God continue to stretch me! Stretch me as far as you see fit God! Grow me. Reveal Yourself to me in ways like never before! Give me your heart for the Children and people of Honduras. Be with Crista, Christina, Jenny, Anna, Elizabeth, Brittany, Eric and me as we travel on Wednesday. I pray that if it is Your will that we will make it there without complications. Thank You for Your Son and Your grace. I love You and Thank You! Amen"