Trevor & Hannah Martin
The Good
It was a great joy working alongside our local partners. We worked well together and were able to help give a boost to their long-term work. There were also some other volunteers from Canada serving there longer term. Working alongside them was inspiring and allowed students to see that there could be more opportunities for them to return to Honduras to serve.
Our Team worked well together. Everyone was encouraging to each other and had great attitudes through times where we needed to be patient and persevere. A great answer to prayer was that no one on our team got seriously ill!
We saw students taking steps of faith to trust God during the week. Sam was nervous with his Spanish skills going into the week, but with Trevor's encouragement, Sam was able to translate for the team and use the talents that God has given him for God's glory. Charis was reminded many times that she had to choose God's mission over her own comfort, and she as she stepped out in faith, God used her to build many great relationships with the local people.
Dental care/hygiene in Honduras is lacking, and many children have poor teeth. We were able to provide fluoride treatments for ALL the kids in not only the school we were at, but also the local public school and high school - that's about 425 students! And 50+ more in the remote areas we went to visit.
Construction was hard in the 35 degree heat, but the team did a great job under the leadership of a local leader. They were able to dig a trench and then pour the foundation for the walls that will be a future expansion of the school.
An Education team led students in the school in devotional and health lessons, as well as helping them to prepare for their science fair. Sometimes we would hear the students singing the songs taught to them earlier that day.
1) 7 of the 425 fluoride treatments given to students at the school.
2) Leading worship at a chapel service.
The Hard
Travelling with the family has been difficult. Security at the Toronto airport the day we left was so long that it made national news! We had 24 hours of travel split between 2 days. That's a lot for a toddler (and her family) to handle!
Some others on the team missed their flights for uncontrollable reasons - one of those was a legal minor. As they were waiting in the airport for their next flight, one of the girls lost her passport and had to stay behind. Since the school we were serving at is not near the major airport, coordinating lodging and transportation for these team members took a lot of extra coordination. We are very glad for great crisis managers!
The work days were long and there was not much space for us to rest. Avery was tired, a little sick and cranky, which brought on more stress.
Trevor was in charge of co-leading this large team of 36 during a short week where we wanted to make the biggest impact we can. This meant there were many balls up in the air at all times.
A girl confided in a staff member that she was feeling lonely when everyone else seemed to be having a good time. It was difficult to hear that she didn't feel included.
Due to the above and more, Trevor’s mental health suffered and reached a low point around the middle of the trip. This trip has been the most pressure Trevor has experienced on his mental health since 2019. We are thankful for your prayers that supported us and allowed Trevor to continue to lead.
1) Bringing the Gospel by acting 'David and Goliath' in a remote village
2) The team of 9 from our home church (Wallenstein Bible Chapel)
The Divine
Even with those who missed their flights, we saw God's hand at work. The one staff member who missed his flight knew Spanish and was able to meet up with the female students en route to help them. As for the last passport, the airport SOMEHOW found the it and the girl was still able to make it on the missions trip.
All of our bags made it to Honduras and back! This included 4 large suitcases of donated medical supplies. It is common for medical supplies to 'go missing' in transit because of how valuable they are.
On our trips to the more remote areas, we saw God do amazing things.
Charis was able to understand and speak Spanish to the kids on a level that she had never done before, and could never replicate again.
On another team, people were bringing the sick to be prayed for and healed.
God was shining through the team so much that the local guides, who aren't Christians, were asking questions about God and also willing to come to the church service that our team led (which they have never done before!)
Although one of the teams had to leave the remote area early because of incoming storms, it allowed them to lead another chapel service at the school and say a proper good bye.
15+ students got to share their testimony at some point on the trip. We pray the story that God is doing in their lives will resonate with the story of those who heard of God's life changing work!
1) Selfie time with the local guide from the remote area
2) Half of the medical supplies that we brought
3) Amelia making coconut bread
4) Stuck in the mud!
We partnered in Honduras with Adventure in Mission. Here is their website if you are interested in learning more or even going on a trip there yourself!
https://adventureinmissions.com/
