Arrived in San Pedro Sula, Honduras!

Hola mis amigos y mi familia!

Greetings from San Pedro Sula, Honduras! I have arrived safely in the city! Below is a map of my travels today, except... i didn't drive around the Gulf of Mexico ;)

Mom and I woke up around 6:30am to get to the airport by 7:00am and I was off to Miami, Fl. Saying goodbye was tough, but getting on the plane was like a leap of faith into this journey. I have been praying against nerves and anxieties through out the day and the Lord has been faithful in meeting me. I can truly say that He has been my strength in this day of transition. Though days like this seem rough, it is a blessing to be near to God and to sense His loving presence along the way. During my 7 hour layover in Miami, I was able to pray and read more. The time alone in a crowded place was much needed and I know it was helpful for me in the transition. On the flight to Miami I sat next to a woman from Peru. We tried to talk to each other in my broken spanish and her broken english but eventually stopped. I felt embarrassed but it was a good experience that helped me to see how difficult it must be for speakers of other languages to try to speak English in the states. I could tell that she appreciated my small efforts to meet her half way on the language barrier. It was interesting to be faced with this barrier so early on, but it opened the opportunity for me to begin praying against this as an issue in my stay here. When I arrived in Honduras I was met by a couple from a local church who are acquaintances with the600. This was one of the parts I was most nervous about all day. I didn't know if they would know English or if we would be silent most of the drive to the pastor's house. Thankfully, everyone I have met thus far knows a good amount of English and it has been easy to make friends. I know that I am in the city though and I feel this will not continue to be the case throughout my trip. The people here have been very hospitable and it has been great to learn more about the culture from observing this evening before meeting everyone at the600. 

I ask that you would pray for my Spanish to be strong in this time and that God would help me be part of this community despite the language barrier. Thank you for all of your prayers today! Continue to journey with me in prayer though out. I love having you all as support. 

I am tired. More to come soon! 

Goodnight!

Beginning the Journey

Even though I'm not in Honduras yet, my journey started Sunday morning around 8:30am when I made my trek from Home to Home. This is a picture of the 551 miles I've covered so far!

It's been so nice to be back in Greensboro and feel the support and security I have here. Chloe and mom greeted me with hugs and kisses at the door Sunday evening. Then I took a moment looking around the house for all the changes mom has done since the last time I was home. Mawmaw and Pawpaw are living in our house and there is a bedroom in our dinning room, handicap poles along the walls in our bathrooms, extra railing along the stairs, and little rubber mats scattered throughout making the house grandparent friendly. Upstairs, my room has become the new garage for storing our dinning room table and chairs making way for the new ramp that's been installed in the garage. All these changes just add to my list of transitional things I've been feeling in my life these days, but in a good way. I am excited for my mom that she gets to spend this time with her parents at this time in their lives. She's getting to give back to them in a special way that not a lot of people these days get to experience. Even though its tough at times, I know that she is going to appreciate this time looking back. I know I already am appreciating it. Its fun to be part of your grandparent's lives in a more intimate way. They need us and they depend on us in this time. I'm glad to be part of conversations about diapers, supervision in the shower, morning and evening dressing and undressing, evening devotions...etc. Praise God for my family's faith. I found out that Hillary gave my mom the Jesus Calling devotional which inspired my mom to buy it for my grandparents. This is also the devotional that I've been reading from since January. God has spoken to me in loud volumes through this devotional and I was excited to hear that my family has been listening into the same words as well. The power of the Holy Spirit connecting us is amazing!

(My grandma was in the hospital this week from pain in her back, she had a kyphoplasty yesterday to repair one of her vertebrae. This is my grandpa saying "goodnight sweetheart." I just missed the kiss when taking the picture!)

(Battling cancer, back issues, and still a babe!)

I fly out of Greensboro Wednesday morning, at 8:10 am! Here is my flight itinerary if you'd like to track the flight online.

Yesterday I also ate lunch with Christa between her time at camp! She's growing up and it weirds be out sometimes, but I love it too. And I got to spend time with some of my friends from High school in downtown Greensboro! It was so great to see them and catch up on the new happenings of their lives. There is so much life in my community here. I miss being a part of it, but I know there is purpose in what God is doing through my community in Indiana and purpose in the community I will get to partake in while in Honduras.

Please continue to pray for me as I work through the jitters of packing and preparation today. There isn't much more to do, but there have been times of anxiety through out. 

Love you all!

Pre-Honduras

Hello Friends and Family,
I have created this blog to keep you all updated on the events of the trip and what God is teaching me through these events. I am excited that you are tuning in to this very exciting experience in my life. Just to give an update of my life thus far, here is a copy of my prayer letter. I feel that God has been teaching me a lot about dependence on Him as I've been preparing for this trip and I am excited to continue learning about and practicing this dependence. My prayer letter expounds a little on this. Here it is...

Dear friends and family, 

I am writing to inform you of an exciting opportunity I have in completing my degree at Indiana Wesleyan University. There is a 3-credit international internship that is required for my major of International and Community Development. Therefore, I am receiving my degree in August after an amazing internship with an agricultural development organization called The600 (http://the600.info/index.html) in La Ceiba, Honduras. Here I will be able to work with a missionary and local Honduran farmers in sharing the gospel by means of agriculture. Through service based mentoring, the missionaries have shown local farmers sustainable techniques in agriculture and have been able to build relationships, share the gospel, and meet basic needs. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store and wants to teach me through this internship. 

I will be in Honduras June 27-July 24 this summer and I would love your daily prayers as I am on this journey. As I have prepared for this trip, I have been learning how reliance on God must be my energy and strength. It has been amazing to see His hands working on me leading up to this trip and I can only hope that they would continue to guide me as I work alongside Larry and Allison at The600. My request is that you would pray for my dependency on God to continue to grow stronger. 

Many of you may know that I have committed to living with some friends off campus in Marion, IN for this next year. I am working at a local used bookstore and I hope to work with something else in Marion where I can use my gifts in a more meaningful way. I also ask that you would pray for me to find this more purposeful job in the future. 

I am blessed to say that my cost for airfare and the three credits have been payed in full! Praise the Lord for His providence! The remaining expenses total around $1,000 and I have been pulling form my savings and working with my parents to cover these expenses. If you would like to help me meet this goal, please send whatever you’d like to give to my home address: 

5809 Watercrest Dr. 

Greensboro, NC 27407

The contents of this letter have only touched the surface of the lessons God has been teaching me as I prepare for this trip and as I’ve been looking for more purposeful jobs in Marion. I cannot wait to see all of what He has in store on my journey to Honduras and how He will use this trip to prepare me for my future career. I will be updating a blog (http://missionallyminded.blogspot.com) as much as possible during the trip and I would love for you to follow it and read more about the journey thus far. If you have any questions feel free to call or e-mail me, I would love to share more of my life with you. 

In Christ, 

Kayla Johnson

Email: kaylamjohnson4@gmail.com      Phone number: 336-455-1319