Someone once asked me “How do I know God?” My first thought was because of Honduras.
There is a difference between knowing of God, believing in God, and knowing God. I would not understand that until I was in my 30s and had strayed far from what I knew about God. God was good, yet my life was not. God is love, but I felt love from no one. God created us, and I was pretty sure He had messed up when He made me.
Because of Honduras, God showed me He is good, He is love, and He doesn’t make mistakes.
I first learned of VER International on a medical mission trip in 2018 when I met Natán and Kristen Martinez. The country was beautiful, their work was inspirational, and I wanted to be a part of it and made plans to return the next summer. Looking back, I now see how far I was from God. At that time, I was just miserable and had no idea why, it was fun to escape my life and embark on an adventure to help provide
healthcare in a makeshift rural Honduran clinic.
A year later, I returned to Honduras for another medical mission trip and God used those Honduran mountains to lead me back to him (if I am being honest, it was actually more like dragging). I am so incredibly thankful for the people I served along with (you know who you are!) and the people I was supposed to be caring for that ministered to me in ways I could never explain. They saw me as good at a time when I felt nothing but shame - God used them to remind me he loves me no matter what I had done or how I thought of myself. I learned I could do nothing to make my God turn from me. The precious people I was serving looked at me with eyes that saw I had value
– I had not felt that in a long time.
I had no idea when I left on that flight south in 2019 what the next two weeks would hold. In my arrogance, I thought I was going to help - but God had other plans; He was planning to save me. I have never doubted that God chased me down on those Honduran mountains and even in times of uncertainty, I know He works all things together for good.
I could describe so many examples of the good VER does in Honduras; the countless lives touched through their health and hygiene, education, and entrepreneurship initiatives. I have seen children smile because they were given their first book, mothers weep when medications were provided that they prayed for, and pastors rejoice that God sent VER to serve alongside them and offer encouragement.
God has used VER in tremendous ways to show His love to the people of Honduras.
God is also using VER to show his love to gringos who are running from Him. He is working through VER to restore lives broken into a thousand pieces. You don’t have to have it all together to go serve with VER, you don’t need to know all the answers to partner with VER, and you don’t have to have endless resources to financially support VER. All you have to do is say “Yes.” But hold on, because God will take a simple “Yes” and change your life – even if means chasing you down a Honduran mountainside- all because of Honduras.
Rachel is a wife, mom, nurse, daughter, and friend just trying her best everyday to follow Jesus. She travels back to Honduras as often as she can and hopes to one day be a part of introducing hospice and palliative care there.