UHSM Honduras 2025 day seven
“The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” Charles Dickens
I hate saying goodbye to our Roatan family, but I already look forward to being back with them again next year.
Today, we started with a tour of the Sandy Bay facility—hearing Orsy share about this place and how God stirred their hearts and then their feet to take over never gets old. Under the leadership of Orsy and Banessa, Sandy Bay has:
—>space for 48 children in need of a safe home.
—>a school for Pre-K - 9th grade that educates their children as well as 150+ community children.
—>a church onsite.
—>mission housing for short term and long term missionaries, teachers, and dentists.
—>a dental and orthodontic practice that serves the community.
—>a fish farm that feeds the family and the community.
—>a garden and multiple fruit trees.
—>and so much more.
Thank you, Jesus, for the obedience of these two people and the way you are using their giftings to reach and prepare others to also love and serve you.
After lunch with the children, we went shopping Orsy style. There is nothing like it. Everyone should experience it. Better yet, everyone should shop like Orsy!
We bought food and cleaning supplies for 12 families. Our group divided into 4 groups, each with a translator, and met with one of the community churches Sandy Bay partners with. From there, each group began journeying to the 3 families we were visiting. Group members took turns introducing the team, telling them where we were from, explaining that we serve others because of all Jesus has done for us, and praying with the family. We also passed out dresses from Mike & Margie Aspland as we met families with girls.
My group was BJ, Trinity, Payton, and Orsy and Banessa. Our 2nd delivery was to an older man named Julio. His wife Marta has had health problems and is wheelchair bound. He is missing work to care for her, and life is just hard right now. Julio told us that they had just run out of food and had nothing more to eat, and we showed up. He recognized the miracle of Jesus and was so thankful. We prayed with him and for him. We also left him a miniature Jesus, like the ones we’ve been leaving in places all week, as a reminder that he is loved and never alone. He immediately put it near the door to his home and said it would be a symbol to him of how God provided for him through us. Hugging his neck brought me so much joy, and I snuck a picture of BJ and Julio hugging.
After some errands with Orsy and dinner, we headed up to play with the children and have our evening devotional with them. Tonight’s devo was over The Good Samaritan. I had one of the new students, Liam, who speaks no English. (Side note, I have been working on relearning Spanish for the past 2 years. This year, I have felt much more comfortable speaking.) I was able to read and then retell the story to Liam before he colored and completed some of the activities. He has the cutest dimples and most precious little smile.
After devotional, our team spent time giving out pictures to the children that BJ had printed for us. We decorated frames and both the team member and the child kept a copy of their picture together.
Shortly before the children’s bedtime, Orsy came in and asked us to lower our voice levels because Child Services was there with a new girl. The staff welcomed her, and afterward, Francis walked her into the Family Room on the way to the girls’ bedroom. Everyone greeted her, and then Banessa sent each of the girls in one at a time to welcome her. I can only imagine what she must have been thinking and feeling. Taken away from an unsafe home, yet the only home she’d known, to a strange place in the dark. Strange faces. A strange room. But safe. In our debrief time, we prayed for this sweet, new girl to know she is loved, to feel the peace only God can give, and to be able to relax and rest well tonight.
Hugs and goodbyes with the students is always hard. Several of our little friends are new and have never said goodbye to a team before. They do get used to it over time, and as Orsy says, “They don’t miss you when you leave, but they look for you to come back.” Come back, we will.
written by Holly McMichael
**REMINDER**
You will not see pictures of our team with the children of Sandy Bay. We found out that the Honduran government doesn't like pictures of minors in homes like Sandy Bay out for public viewing. We certainly do not want to get our Sandy Bay family in trouble so we will not be posting them to a public online place like our website or any social media sites. If you would like to view a private folder that contains all of our daily photos, including the ones with the children you can email me at billyjack@uhbc.net. Be sure to download an app to your phone called PHOTOCIRCLE. Once you do, I can send you a link to our private folder. Please do NOT post the pictures, this will be for viewing only.
I hate saying goodbye to our Roatan family, but I already look forward to being back with them again next year.
Today, we started with a tour of the Sandy Bay facility—hearing Orsy share about this place and how God stirred their hearts and then their feet to take over never gets old. Under the leadership of Orsy and Banessa, Sandy Bay has:
—>space for 48 children in need of a safe home.
—>a school for Pre-K - 9th grade that educates their children as well as 150+ community children.
—>a church onsite.
—>mission housing for short term and long term missionaries, teachers, and dentists.
—>a dental and orthodontic practice that serves the community.
—>a fish farm that feeds the family and the community.
—>a garden and multiple fruit trees.
—>and so much more.
Thank you, Jesus, for the obedience of these two people and the way you are using their giftings to reach and prepare others to also love and serve you.
After lunch with the children, we went shopping Orsy style. There is nothing like it. Everyone should experience it. Better yet, everyone should shop like Orsy!
We bought food and cleaning supplies for 12 families. Our group divided into 4 groups, each with a translator, and met with one of the community churches Sandy Bay partners with. From there, each group began journeying to the 3 families we were visiting. Group members took turns introducing the team, telling them where we were from, explaining that we serve others because of all Jesus has done for us, and praying with the family. We also passed out dresses from Mike & Margie Aspland as we met families with girls.
My group was BJ, Trinity, Payton, and Orsy and Banessa. Our 2nd delivery was to an older man named Julio. His wife Marta has had health problems and is wheelchair bound. He is missing work to care for her, and life is just hard right now. Julio told us that they had just run out of food and had nothing more to eat, and we showed up. He recognized the miracle of Jesus and was so thankful. We prayed with him and for him. We also left him a miniature Jesus, like the ones we’ve been leaving in places all week, as a reminder that he is loved and never alone. He immediately put it near the door to his home and said it would be a symbol to him of how God provided for him through us. Hugging his neck brought me so much joy, and I snuck a picture of BJ and Julio hugging.
After some errands with Orsy and dinner, we headed up to play with the children and have our evening devotional with them. Tonight’s devo was over The Good Samaritan. I had one of the new students, Liam, who speaks no English. (Side note, I have been working on relearning Spanish for the past 2 years. This year, I have felt much more comfortable speaking.) I was able to read and then retell the story to Liam before he colored and completed some of the activities. He has the cutest dimples and most precious little smile.
After devotional, our team spent time giving out pictures to the children that BJ had printed for us. We decorated frames and both the team member and the child kept a copy of their picture together.
Shortly before the children’s bedtime, Orsy came in and asked us to lower our voice levels because Child Services was there with a new girl. The staff welcomed her, and afterward, Francis walked her into the Family Room on the way to the girls’ bedroom. Everyone greeted her, and then Banessa sent each of the girls in one at a time to welcome her. I can only imagine what she must have been thinking and feeling. Taken away from an unsafe home, yet the only home she’d known, to a strange place in the dark. Strange faces. A strange room. But safe. In our debrief time, we prayed for this sweet, new girl to know she is loved, to feel the peace only God can give, and to be able to relax and rest well tonight.
Hugs and goodbyes with the students is always hard. Several of our little friends are new and have never said goodbye to a team before. They do get used to it over time, and as Orsy says, “They don’t miss you when you leave, but they look for you to come back.” Come back, we will.
written by Holly McMichael
**REMINDER**
You will not see pictures of our team with the children of Sandy Bay. We found out that the Honduran government doesn't like pictures of minors in homes like Sandy Bay out for public viewing. We certainly do not want to get our Sandy Bay family in trouble so we will not be posting them to a public online place like our website or any social media sites. If you would like to view a private folder that contains all of our daily photos, including the ones with the children you can email me at billyjack@uhbc.net. Be sure to download an app to your phone called PHOTOCIRCLE. Once you do, I can send you a link to our private folder. Please do NOT post the pictures, this will be for viewing only.
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