High Tide
Walking the beach is an activity that has remained a favorite while living in Honduras. Whether it's alone (not often), with my kids from the children’s home, a friend or my fiancé (SINCE I LAST WROTE I GOT ENGAGED!!!) It's peaceful, and filled with conversation. Within my time living here, the coastline has changed and continues to change with the tides and the season, as have I changed with the seasons. Working and serving kids has helped me grow in countless ways. I can truly write that orphan and foster care has helped me to learn about God in ways that I never knew were possible. And in reality, it's the moments spent with the kids, the moments where I see the love of Christ filling our lives, the moments where I don’t know if I can continue but God fills me with strength. Those are the moments I cling to, as a reminder that this is what God had planned for me before time.
It has been a while since I sent you an update, and for this I ask for forgiveness and understanding. It's been a little wavy with high tides on this end, and I want to use this moment of calm to fill you in. First, the heavy, our home had a very difficult goodbye to a little boy that we hold dear to our hearts. On the night of May 7th, a member of our family went home to be with God. He ran joyfully into the arms of our Father after a long battle with a chronic illness. It seems so fresh to put into words, but God has provided an abundant amount of love, peace, grace and wisdom as our kids, workers, and leadership team navigate this loss. We grieve with the hope that we will see him again someday in his heavenly body that is fully healed.
CASA DE NINOS
We have been packed with events and activities. We threw a quiceañera for a very special girl at our home, and it was a huge success. A white little boxer stole everyone’s hearts and after a house vote he was given the name Max. Seven of our teenagers made the incredible choice to declare Jesus Christ as their Savior and be baptized. Four of those were the teenage boys who I have been given the opportunity to share life with for the last three years. This is a huge answer to prayer! We had a very busy Holy Week. We always try to seek unique experiences for the kids during this time and this year we traveled with the whole house to a town called Tela where we got to explore new beaches and go to an aquarium. From there the teenagers and I traveled to Tegucigalpa to attend a youth camp for five days.
EL CAMINO BILINGÜE SCHOOL
El Camino’s school year is coming to an end. Since my last newsletter I was asked to teach Bible classes to our preparatory class (kindergarten). This means I get to teach the Word of God to 10 grade levels at our school! Over the year each class has memorized a different verse weekly in Spanish and English, we dove into many different books and stories in the Bible. It is a privilege to teach these kids and watch the ways they have grasped onto the truths from God’s Word.
LIFE
Surprise! I sorta have a life out of the Cornerstone Foundation (SORTA), but on January 16th I got engaged! As many of you know, Reagan and I met when I first moved here and both work side by side in the ministry here in Honduras. We are excited, and have lots of exciting events in the months to follow. Our wedding is in less than 2 months, and hopefully we will be in our newly remodeled house before the end of summer. We will both be spending about 6 weeks in the summer with family and friends as we prepare to celebrate our marriage and take time to rest. With that being said, this website and all future newsletters will be from us as a married couple! We appreciate your prayers and ongoing support as we navigate this new season spiritually, emotionally and financially.
Prayers
Future finances and budgeting of Reagan and me.
My home is currently under construction for Reagan and I to live in as a married couple. We appreciate prayers that the construction continues to move forward quickly and safely and that it will be a great place of fellowship and ministry for our life together.
Prayers for the home as we navigate the loss of a loved one.
Strength and endurance as we finish out the school year.
Praises
The bond of the staff and our children at our home has strengthened significantly in the last 4 months.
I have been the witness to a lot of spiritual growth since the beginning of 2022.
For this truth “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Thank you!
Chase Gray
