The Unexpected Encounter: I Am Ready

Nine hours later and we had finally reached our destination. We had turned into a dirt road and drove on it for about twenty minutes. Finally we reached the river boat that waited for us by the river. We streamed over to the island of La Fi Fi under one of the most beautiful night skies we had ever seen. The team did not know what to expect but as we walked through the village towards our settlement we noticed a village made up of bamboo walls and palm leaf roofs. The people welcomed us with an amazing crab soup and rice. In a matter of seconds we had been completely emerged in the lifestyle.

The following morning we were awakened at four thirty to go cast the nets at sea for fish. The experience was unreal but there was still more to come. We were completely isolated from civilization. We came to this island expecting to give and serve yet we we received the much more in return. We came into the village to provide medical help, install outdoor stoves in three of the houses, and most importantly to love and share Gods love and gospel. This was our plan yet God had already been working on His plan way before we even set foot in Honduras. 

Installing outdoor stoves

The plan was to remain in this village from Thursday to Sunday but when Saturday arrived we were offered the opportunity and welcomed to stay until Tuesday. The team was not sure about whether to stay or leave. We did not want to alter the schedule or affect the plan but little did we know that God had a greater plan. 

Three houses down the village there was a women who was debating the same thing. She was supposed to leave on Sunday yet finally decided to stay until Tuesday. After much prayer, our team felt that there was more to be done and decided to stay.

The next morning, once again awakened to go cast the nets, one half of our team started the day by working on one of the stoves while the other half had a plan to visit homes. We wanted to visit the twenty houses but God had another plan. Around two thirty in the afternoon we stumbled upon one of the houses and watched as people gathered to listen or maybe just be polite. We talked about the island, their lifestyle, hurricane Mitch which had completely destroyed the island, but there was one topic yet to be mentioned. Little by little many stood up and left. All but two remained, the man of the house and a lady in the corner of my eye who sat quiet, yet listening. The man walked away and there we were, us and this women, Delkis. 

 
We began to speak with her and at first she was non responsive and very quiet. We asked her what church was like at the village and she said that she did not know since she was not from the island but that there was only a Catholic church. We continued to talk with Delkis and met her daughters. We found out that she was supposed to leave that morning but decided to leave Tuesday instead, the same day we decided to leave. God had a greater plan. 

One of the team members shared her testimony. Something she had said sparked an interest in Delkis because not much later, Delkis began to talk and share her story. One of the most harsh pasts I have heard. A past full of rejection from her parents since she was young, abandonment, abuse, locked up for seven years as a hostage, and simple lonesomeness as she went on through life. As the conversation continued we asked Delkis why she thought we were there and she responded: "Because I cannot continue to run away from God.” 

The conversation continued for three hours. More stories about her past came up yet more examples about how the Almighty God had taken care of her and had not forsaken her. By the end of the conversation she said the three words ignite a celebration in heaven: “I am ready.” Delkis had been laughing and smiling during the last hour of the conversation, something she said she had never done. We knew God was working in her. On that Sunday night around six thirty, Delkis accepted Christ into her life and decided to walk in the path of light. We continued to visit Delkis until Tuesday and even took her with us and took her to her next destination hours away.  

We might not know where Delkis finds herself now but we do know that she is no longer alone. She walks with an Almighty God that will not forsake her. As it says in Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Delkis will be confronted with her past and now more than ever be troubled by the evil one but she now walks with angel armies. We had a plan yet He had a greater one- a plan that led to this unexpected encounter of strangers who met in a small island in Honduras and then continued on their journey.

• Pray for the team now that we continue on our journey and have parted from La Fi Fi. 
• Pray for Delkis and her daughters as she continues to walk in the path of life. Pray that God may fill her and encourage her.  
• Pray for the teams safety and health and that God will give us peace in our decisions.  
• Pray that we will continue to be unified and work together for His glory.