Monday, February 3, 2025: A Day of Waiting
In the morning, we went to the warehouse to get the remaining school supplies needed to fill the backpacks. After patiently waiting, they found our supplies; and then began the process of counting to make sure everything was there. We were missing a few items; so we went to two different school supply stores to find what we needed. A child could not go without!
After we finished getting the school supplies, we went shopping to buy what we needed for the snack and lunch part of the program. This again involved waiting as we sought the best deals and made sure we had everything we needed.
Finally, by the end of the night, the waiting was over! The team started to organize all the supplies and packed 20+ backpacks for one of the schools we were going to in a couple of days. Excitement and a new energy filled the room, and we accomplished a big task!
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (ESV)
By the end of our “waiting” day, we truly did feel a renewal in our strength. We patiently waited and waited all day, but the Lord was faithful to renew our strength.
Tuesday, February 4, 2025: More Packing and a Welcome Dinner
The next morning, our team went back to packing backpacks. With some experience from the first day, we were able to quickly organize and pack 40+ backpacks for a different school. Each backpack was filled with school supplies, textbooks, a New Testament, and their uniform. We were done by lunch time and were able to have a relaxing break.
That evening, our team of volunteers gathered together for an Ashes To Life welcome dinner. We took in the beautiful views of the Honduran mountains and enjoyed a traditional Honduran dinner while talking about the “Backpacks & Blessings” outreach programs we would be doing over the next two days. It was a great time of encouragement and team bonding.
1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (NIV)
Wednesday, February 5, 2025: Marco Aurelio Soto School
The day we have been eagerly anticipating finally came! This was the day we held our first of two “Backpacks & Blessings” outreach programs. We went to the Marco Aurelio Soto School in the rural village of Montañita el Edén. This is the school that Ashes To Life’s founder, Angelica Martinez, grew up in from 1st to 6th grade.
When we arrived, the students, teachers, and parents were already eagerly waiting for us to begin. In the midst of organizing everything before we began, we handed out a snack of delicious fruit cups. Then shortly after, the program began with an introduction from the principal. After a time of prayer led by one of the teachers, the team members from the United States were introduced followed by Angelica sharing her story. Then we sang a couple of worship songs before a gospel presentation was given. During the gospel presentation, a mother, who went to this school with Angelica when they were girls, started asking one of the pastors on our team questions about what she was hearing. This resulted in her praying to God and trusting Christ as her Saviour!
After another time of prayer, the Ashes To Life team presented over 40 backpacks to all of the students, grade by grade. The students were all smiles as they received their backpacks. Afterwards, we had a time of gratitude when a few of the students told Ashes To Life how grateful they were for the school supplies and when a mother gave a testimony about how her children could stop working in the coffee fields because Ashes To Life made a way for them to attend school.
Then it was lunch time! All the children, parents, and teachers enjoyed a homemade lunch of pupusas followed by a time of fun, hitting a piñata filled with candy (and yes we even got the teachers and parents involved in the fun). As we said goodbye, the children gave us hugs and told us thank you.
Psalm 9:1 says, “I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” (NIV)
Our team left that day feeling fulfilled. We accomplished the task set before us and encouraged one another in the good work the Lord did that day.
Thursday, February 5, 2025: Jose Trinidad Cabañas School
The next day, we held our second “Backpacks & Blessings” outreach program. This time, we went to a smaller school called Jose Trinidad Cabañas in the nearby village of El Tamagas. Because of Ashes To Life coming and supplying the school supply needs, the enrollment doubled from 12 to 24! Without these needed supplies, students cannot attend school.
Due to the strom the night before, the roads to this school were very muddy; and we were wondering how we would get to it. Praise the Lord that the sun came out and dried up the mud close enough for us to walk down the hill with our arms full of backpacks and food!
We set up everything outside, and held the same program as we did at the first school. Then to take a break from the sun, we moved inside to finish the program. A couple of parents gave testimonies, and a few of the students told us a special thank you message. These students learned how to say their thank you message in English just for us because they wanted us to know how grateful they were for the school supplies. This time for lunch, we served baleadas; and of course, we had a piñata for them to enjoy. Once again, the children gave us hugs of gratitude as they said goodbye.
Hebrews 13:15-16 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (NIV)
Being a part of Ashes To Life’s mission in the rural villages of Honduras was a wonderful experience I will never forget. I saw firsthand how providing school supplies, a meal, and most importantly the gospel, greatly impacted the lives of children, their parents, and their teachers.
Please pray for these students, their teachers, and their families; and please consider being a part of this great mission by either donating towards Ashes To Life or by finding out how you can be directly involved in the next “Backpacks & Blessings” outreach event.
From the View of a Volunteer,
Carie Bachel