If you’re wondering… the Innes family may be the only family left on the planet that still plays croquet with great regularity. And we’re mean about it. Seriously. This is a real sport people. And we sail, as often as possible. The little boat in the summer when its okay to get wet and the big boat in the winter when you hope to not get splashed because its November and its cold outside.
And then there is this… nothing like it.
And this list is by no means exhaustive.
1. Favorite places to go when I’m in the states.
2. This lovely lady who loves coffee, Jesus, and me!
3. A chance to share about what God is doing in Honduras through Puerta de Esperanza in front of churches and brothers and sisters in the family of God.
4. This wonderful man who loves me and serves me and loves the Lord and asked me to be his wife!
5. A chance to see “not so little” Wes who let me play trucks and read to him
6. Good friends who have stuck by me for a long time.
My story is not incredible. In fact, some days I feel like it is downright mundane. Today I drove all over La Ceiba, about 8 times. Errands and bills and the courthouse and people and cars and dresses and so much more. And yet, as mundane as the daily to-do list can be, it got me thinking. First of all, about me and how much God has grown and changed me in the last year and a half. I had no idea that becoming a missionary would mean that I would become so many other things. I have become a mama bear that is fierce for her cubs. I love them dearly and want to protect and shelter them while at the same time preparing them before I throw them out into the real world. While an actual mom gets about 18 years of this living with her kids under her own roof, I will get about 3 living 10 minutes away. Sheesh. I have become a money tree making almost daily trips to the cash machine at certain times of the month to pay rent and utilities on my own house, the girls house, and the store. And then there is pay for all the employees and of course food money and doctors visits and graduation dresses. In the mix something had to get forgotten and this month is was rent on PDE. After having paid 6 months up front I had no idea I owed again this month, so its back to the bank for rent and the late fee. And there is the whole store thing, yep we started one and I still have not the foggiest idea how to run it. Whoops. But we’re making money, praise Jesus. And then there is prayer warrior. I’ve realized how really very little I have to do with God making these girls into who He wants them to be. I get to walk beside them and hold them up for a time and I pray that they will know in a deep way the God who walks with them for the rest of their lives through every step.
And then I also got to thinking about all the little things, all the mundane tasks. And I realized they have so much significance. Getting Y’s dress measurements today was just another thing on the to do list, but to her it means the promise of graduation and a future and a job that supports her daughter. And fighting with the electric company about the bill while having to double park my car and living in fear that someone would hit it seemed like an awfully big inconvenience. But, these girls have experienced life in a shack with no power or running water and fighting with the power company is worth it to give them that small luxury. Making copies and planning for my trip home is overwhelming at best, and yet when I think about how many girls and babies lives will be affected by the money that I will hopefully raise with these resources, I get a new perspective. And my now familiarity with the courthouse and those who work there is definitely unexpected, but today it meant that a social worker took 2 hours to talk to G and try to understand her and where she is coming from. And that she is worried for the little kids in the family and wants to work to help them. Yep… these things today meant “wasted” gasoline and retracing my steps a hundred times, nothing seemed to need to be done at the same time in the same place. But everything is worth it. It’s faithfulness in the mundane with an eternal perspective… that’s what God asks of us, every day, be faithful.
Friday night I am flying into Raleigh-Durham airport and the coolness of fall… yay! I’m spending a few weeks in the Carolinas to share what the Lord is doing here through the ministry of Puerta de Esperanza and also praying that the Lord will use this time to allow me to make connections for financial support. We are in need of one-time and monthly supporters for this ministry. I will be touching base with 9 different church in 2 1/2 weeks… how’s that for busy? But… if you are in the area, I would love to see you!
I will be sharing in Columbia, SC, Cary, NC, and Charlotte, NC. Here are some churches and dates and times. You are welcome to join us!
Columbia: November 11th at 10am for Sunday school and 11am for worship
Eau Claire Presbyterian Church
629 Wildwood Ave., Columbia, SC 29203
Cary: November 18th at 6:00pm
Peace Presbyterian Church
1777 W. Chatham St. Cary, NC 27513
Charlotte: November 25th at 6:00pm
Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church
3326 Archdale Dr., Charlotte, NC 28210
I would love to see you there :)
