UHSM Honduras 2026 day 4
**Please read the photo gallery disclaimer at the end of this blog!
Today was one of those days that perfectly captures what mission trips are really like. There was hard work, lots of laughter, good food, some questionable food, and plenty of reminders of God’s faithfulness.
We started the morning with a devotion about choosing joy and rejoicing daily; Psalm 118:24, Philippians 4:4, and Psalm 126:3. Holly used bubbles as a visual aid, it was a great picture of seeing and celebrating joy in small ways.
After devotion, we headed to our work site. The team worked so hard Thursday and Friday that we were able to exceed Orsy’s expectations of completing the floor joists and raising 1 wall all week and did 2 walls by lunch! It was amazing to watch everyone jump in and work together, with nailing, cutting, handing things (nails, water, lumber) the job went smoothly. Elijah was up top climbing around like a monkey to nail in the support for the walls. I’m super impressed by his balance. Yesterday, we gathered up the scraps from the cuttings and used rocks to smooth the corners and rough edges down to create blocks for the kids, so we collected a few more today at clean up. It fills my mommy and teacher heart to see kids play in a way that builds and engages their minds. The drive to and from the site and mission is beyond beautiful as well as dangerous. Lots of twists, turns, and it felt like every one had a new view of the ocean.
Lunch was a win and we had worked up an appetite. Chicken wings and fries, salad and fresh cantaloupe. Each day our beverage has been different and today we had pineapple juice. It was so refreshing.
Later, we had some downtime at the mission house to rest, cool off, and recover from the morning’s work. Brody also brought a hammock and it very quickly became a go to spot! Shout out to Mr. Strickland for sending it. Listening to our 8 teenagers laugh together has been one of my favorite things. I love that they play silly games together and are so inclusive.
Today also included trying iguana. It was mixed in with rice and beans and served alongside tailpipes (sausage in a burrito with cheese). The iguana itself was pretty good, boney like fish so we ate it carefully. The iguana eggs, however, will not be making an appearance on meal plans anytime soon. Will, Maddie, and I each tried one. I did not like it. I’m glad I tried it, but once was enough.
One of the best parts of the day happened after dinner back at the courtyard. We spent over an hour playing with bubbles from our morning devo alongside the kids. There were so many laughs, giggles, and a lot of running. It didn’t require a shared language or an interpreter. It’s the language of play. Watching those kids chase bubbles and laugh like little minions was pure joy. The littles were the most precious with it. Benjy was wild spilling most of it on Mama J and the ground. Frequently asking for “mas!”
Tonight’s devotion we tried our hardest to read in Español and focused on Elijah and God’s provision. Even with the language barrier, the message came through clearly. During devotion, the kids were so engaged. Some memorable moments were: Joseph let Mama J rock and sing to him, Chris colored with Addy, and little Mauricio let Jessica and Trinity hold him!
As a mom, one of the greatest gifts of this trip has been sharing it with my daughter. We’ve worked side by side, eaten things neither of us expected to eat, laughed a lot, and watched God move in ways that don’t always fit neatly into a schedule. These are memories we’ll carry home with us.
**Photo Update & Child Privacy Notice
You may notice that many of the photos we share publicly from Honduras primarily feature members of our mission team. This is intentional.
The Honduran officials and children's home leadership have asked that photos showing the faces of the children not be posted on public websites or social media platforms. We are honored to respect those guidelines as we serve alongside them.
If you would like to see additional photos that include the children, we are sharing those through a private photo album using the PhotoCircle app. Don't worry—it is completely free to download and use.
Simply download the PhotoCircle app, create a free account, and then email BJ at billyjack@uhbc.net to request access to the private Honduras Mission Trip photo album. Once you're connected, you'll be able to enjoy many more photos from our time serving and building relationships in Roatán.
Thank you for helping us protect the privacy of these children while still celebrating all that God is doing through this mission trip!
Today was one of those days that perfectly captures what mission trips are really like. There was hard work, lots of laughter, good food, some questionable food, and plenty of reminders of God’s faithfulness.
We started the morning with a devotion about choosing joy and rejoicing daily; Psalm 118:24, Philippians 4:4, and Psalm 126:3. Holly used bubbles as a visual aid, it was a great picture of seeing and celebrating joy in small ways.
After devotion, we headed to our work site. The team worked so hard Thursday and Friday that we were able to exceed Orsy’s expectations of completing the floor joists and raising 1 wall all week and did 2 walls by lunch! It was amazing to watch everyone jump in and work together, with nailing, cutting, handing things (nails, water, lumber) the job went smoothly. Elijah was up top climbing around like a monkey to nail in the support for the walls. I’m super impressed by his balance. Yesterday, we gathered up the scraps from the cuttings and used rocks to smooth the corners and rough edges down to create blocks for the kids, so we collected a few more today at clean up. It fills my mommy and teacher heart to see kids play in a way that builds and engages their minds. The drive to and from the site and mission is beyond beautiful as well as dangerous. Lots of twists, turns, and it felt like every one had a new view of the ocean.
Lunch was a win and we had worked up an appetite. Chicken wings and fries, salad and fresh cantaloupe. Each day our beverage has been different and today we had pineapple juice. It was so refreshing.
Later, we had some downtime at the mission house to rest, cool off, and recover from the morning’s work. Brody also brought a hammock and it very quickly became a go to spot! Shout out to Mr. Strickland for sending it. Listening to our 8 teenagers laugh together has been one of my favorite things. I love that they play silly games together and are so inclusive.
Today also included trying iguana. It was mixed in with rice and beans and served alongside tailpipes (sausage in a burrito with cheese). The iguana itself was pretty good, boney like fish so we ate it carefully. The iguana eggs, however, will not be making an appearance on meal plans anytime soon. Will, Maddie, and I each tried one. I did not like it. I’m glad I tried it, but once was enough.
One of the best parts of the day happened after dinner back at the courtyard. We spent over an hour playing with bubbles from our morning devo alongside the kids. There were so many laughs, giggles, and a lot of running. It didn’t require a shared language or an interpreter. It’s the language of play. Watching those kids chase bubbles and laugh like little minions was pure joy. The littles were the most precious with it. Benjy was wild spilling most of it on Mama J and the ground. Frequently asking for “mas!”
Tonight’s devotion we tried our hardest to read in Español and focused on Elijah and God’s provision. Even with the language barrier, the message came through clearly. During devotion, the kids were so engaged. Some memorable moments were: Joseph let Mama J rock and sing to him, Chris colored with Addy, and little Mauricio let Jessica and Trinity hold him!
As a mom, one of the greatest gifts of this trip has been sharing it with my daughter. We’ve worked side by side, eaten things neither of us expected to eat, laughed a lot, and watched God move in ways that don’t always fit neatly into a schedule. These are memories we’ll carry home with us.
**Photo Update & Child Privacy Notice
You may notice that many of the photos we share publicly from Honduras primarily feature members of our mission team. This is intentional.
The Honduran officials and children's home leadership have asked that photos showing the faces of the children not be posted on public websites or social media platforms. We are honored to respect those guidelines as we serve alongside them.
If you would like to see additional photos that include the children, we are sharing those through a private photo album using the PhotoCircle app. Don't worry—it is completely free to download and use.
Simply download the PhotoCircle app, create a free account, and then email BJ at billyjack@uhbc.net to request access to the private Honduras Mission Trip photo album. Once you're connected, you'll be able to enjoy many more photos from our time serving and building relationships in Roatán.
Thank you for helping us protect the privacy of these children while still celebrating all that God is doing through this mission trip!
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
2023
March
No Comments