Worthy of Worship
I think we can all agree that this time has been very strange. Unlike anything we have ever experienced before. There has been so much fear and isolation. We are all itching for things to get back to the way they once were, but I think that it's important for us to reflect on just how Worthy God is of Worship. A habit I’m growing in during this time is to focus on the things that can be easy to take for granted. Firstly, God’s love. In Romans 8:39 it says, “ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NOTHING! Meaning no laws, no virus, no amount of time, no loneliness can separate us from the love of the Lord. He is a loving father and creator. Secondly, God’s mercy. The compassionate lense of Christ’s blood that He sees us through that we don't deserve. He shows us his mercy by being our Savior and our Sustainer. Finally, God gives us peace and harmony. We can set our security in Christ when it seems like the rest of the world is falling apart. We can be secure in the fact that God cares and He has us in the palm of his hand. No worry is too small and no problem is beyond Him. He is never too busy or overwhelmed to listen to us. He is worthy, worthy and wonderful. These are the things that follow us day to day. We need to remember that God is at work. We need to praise Him for all that He is doing behind the scenes. We have to open our eyes to see His great works around us. It helps us to be still and know that the Lord is in control. Let the world see the light of Christ through your praise and your peace. Let our worship be known to God by our service to Him and service to others. Let’s not forget that our Father is ALWAYS worthy of worship.
“You are worthy, Father, Creator.
You are worthy, Savior, Sustainer.
You are worthy, worthy and wonderful;
Worthy of worship and praise.”
- Worthy of Worship by Terry W. York
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COVID-19 UPDATES
Since March 15th Honduras’ borders have been closed other than emergency repatriation flights for American citizens. While this was an option for me, I felt the Lord’s calling to stay and continue to serve my commitment at the bilingual school and our Children’s home. Even though I had planned to spend Easter with my family, the border closures caused me to change my flight! If all goes as planned I will be home the afternoon of June 1st. In addition to our borders being closed we are still under quarantine that started March 15th. I have not been to a grocery store in 8 weeks, there is no public transportation. This includes the bus provided by the ministry on Saturdays. BUT I have wonderful neighbors with vehicles who have been able to get into the stores and always take a list for me!
Another way that COVID-19 has affected lives here in Honduras is through the loss of jobs or work hours being cut significantly. For those in the surrounding communities surrounding our ministry, Hospital Loma de Luz and pastors of three local churches have teamed up to act as the hands and feet of Jesus through a food drive. For $25 a family can have food on their table for two weeks. It has been a blessing to see the amount of support that this project has received. On Saturday May 2nd we put together around 60 bags of food to go out in the community to families who are in need. This was Loma De Luz’s 3rd or 4th time preparing bags, and over 500 families have been fed. It’s a unique opportunity to share the love of Christ. This project will continue as long as the need exists and it is funded.
The last bit of information about Covid and its impact here is that our hospital still has not seen a COVID19 case, but is very prepared. The school will most likely be closed for the rest of the year, and the teachers have been hard at work putting together videos and work packets to send home to their students. This has been a learning experience, especially being heavily involved in the lives of the kids at Casa Santuario. We have all partnered together to help to continue the education of 12 of our Casa Santuario students. I have been working very closely with our kindergartener, and basically have become his homeschool teacher. I have also been placed in charge of the students' education hours on the computers. Making sure that they watch all of their necessary videos. I do this with our Kinder-7th grade students. The teachers would all agree that we miss our students greatly, and from numerous videos and letters we know our students miss their friends and teachers as well.
The last month...
Easter, wow feels like a long time ago. It was not at all what I had planned. I had originally bought a ticket to be home to celebrate Easter with my family. With borders being closed and wanting to finish out the rest of my commitment I decided that I would stick around here until after the school year was finished. I also did not want to travel through the United States and put my health and the rest of my family's health at risk. I definitely tried to make the most out of the situation. A dozen or so kids, my neighbors and I got up at 5am to do a sunrise service. After the sunrise service we came back and had Easter breakfast. Then we had a time where the kids shared about how God has worked in their lives. The rest of the day was filled with lots of different Easter activities. We had an Easter egg hunt and a potluck family dinner. It was a sweet time and for sure not an Easter that I will forget.
Also, this last month I was able to get all of the younger kids at the Children Center in the pool for swim lessons! I LOVED IT! The pool is owned by our ministry’s founders here, and they are so generous in allowing the community to use it. In some of my lessons there was more giggling then learning but the time was filled with so much joy and the kids loved learning new skills. It was refreshing (literally because of the heat) to get back in the pool and teach. It’s definitely a passion of mine, and I hope it's something I get to use for a very long time.
In the Bible Club with a hope to better help the boys in individual growth we decided to split up the boys to have special individual discipleship times. With the extra time on my hands I have been able to have four separate meeting times throughout the week opening the Word with some of my favorite boys. In addition to that I have been doing a Sunday School class with the Kinder-4th graders at my house on Sunday mornings since local churches are not meeting. It has been a blast. This week we talk about God's Everlasting Love. We spent time reflecting on “I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3. I shared an animated video with them that shared several verses about God’s love. After the video was finished one of the girls wiped the tears from her eyes and said “Mr. Chase that was beautiful.” I love their soft hearts and desires to grow in the Lord more.
Prayers and Praises
Truly, I want to start with praising God for the growth that I have experienced during this time and all that I have learned. Praise God for my family, and the people that God has placed in my life to serve as part of my family away from family. Praise God for the kiddos that I get to interact with everyday. They stretch in me in ways that I didn’t know was possible, but WOW I am so grateful for it.
Please be praying with me…
The kids. That God will continue to work in their hearts and soften them to His truths.
For Honduras and the officials to make decisions that are best for this country.
For more teachers for El Camino Bilingual school, and for decisions being made now to best serve the students next year.
That God gives me wisdom with every interaction I have with the kids.
That I continue to learn Spanish to be able to communicate better.
For the health of those in the surrounding communities.
For those in the communities around me without work and an income to provide for their families.
Pray for endurance and strength as I finish out my first commitment.
Let us grow in our desire to be with our Savior, and may we rejoice in Him always:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”- Philippians 4:4
Thank you!
Chase Gray
