I remember being at Rawlinsville Camp Meeting and receiving a text message informing me that my sister, Marianne, and her family had decided that they were selling most of their things, packing up, and moving to Honduras. The first thing I did was ask God to grant my family peace about the trip. Then, after it started to sink in, I began to think that my sister had lost her mind and that she clearly misunderstood what God was asking of them. What could their one family, truly do, to make a difference in Honduras?
A few years later, I was sitting in my hospital bed, with a minor heart problem, on the night my sister was moving across Honduras toward the new region, to which God had called them. She was texting me and saying that everything was going completely wrong. It was raining; most of their things were still hours away; and the things that had arrived were getting wet and broken. Then, to top it all off, it was drastically cooler in this new region and the kids were shivering because they were so cold. This infuriated me, to the point where I began yelling at the devil. I said, "That is enough!" "Listen up and listen carefully, in the name of Jesus you will leave my family alone!" My nurse actually came in and asked me if I was okay because my heart rate had entered back into the “danger zone”. After I calmed down, I asked God "to put a hedge of protection around that home and their ministry." Then, I began to think to myself that my sister had lost her mind. What were they still doing there? I understood that they were doing great things, and that their help was needed, but what could one family possibly do in the grand scheme of things?
After they began receiving child placements, I was excited to have a new group of nieces and nephews. I was overjoyed that these babies would get to know the love of a family. God granted the Legacy of Hope Foundation an amazing opportunity to restore hope in these children's lives, and give them the peace and understanding that they would never truly be abandoned; because the Lord their God loves them very much. It was always in the back of my mind, however, that their impact would probably be minimal; because "What could one family truly do?"
It didn’t hit me until God called me there Himself.
Marianne and I had gone to pick up a newborn, emergency placement. We were in the car, on the way home, with DINAF workers and lawyers. I was sitting in the back seat,... holding this precious life in my arms and listening to the lawyers speak to Marianne about all of the wonderful things that she and Matt were doing in Santa Rosa de Copan, and how it would change child services, in Honduras, forever! I couldn’t help but smile. My family was making a BIG difference.
Sitting there in the back seat, God opened my eyes. He said, "How dare you have underestimated your family?" "This whole time, you doubted them." "This whole time, you refused to have Faith." "By underestimating them and the ministry you had underestimated Me."
I had no idea that’s what I had been doing. For years, I would pray for them and still doubt the impact that they could make. I had finally realized, even though one family may be small our God is VERY big and ever since that day, I stopped doubting His abilities, and the vision He has laid on Marianne and Matt’s hearts for their ministry, and I began dreaming big dreams for them. As I prepare to head back to Honduras, I am reminded to never underestimate the Will of the Lord: to walk by Faith even when I cannot see.
Their ministry has truly impacted so many lives in Honduras and I can honestly say that my life was one of them.
If you could help sponsor me, so that I am able to assist the ministry during this next year: please visit http://bit.ly/1cGF5fp and donate to volunteer Rebecca Irwin. The funds raised will be used for housing, utilities, food, and preschool supplies.
If you are unable to provide a monetary donation at this time, that is okay too. All I ask is that you take this photo and hang it in a place where you will frequently be able to see it. When you do, say a little prayer for me and for the Legacy of Hope Foundation; where Hope is being restored and lives are being inspired, everyday!
With Much Love,
Becca.
