It’s an honor to have you on this small page of mine. There are new faces and faces I haven’t seen in years on this page – so I thought a new introduction would be appropriate.
Without further verbiage… Hi, my name is Jillian! I grew up as a missionary kid and have now been a missionary in Honduras since 2014. This country has pretty much become home to me, and it is a privilege to serve Jesus though loving these people. My deepest desires are to tell people about the hope that is found in Jesus, provide a wonderful home for children without one, and for people to see Jesus in me.
Jason is my wonderful husband who is the most patient man I have ever known (this is very needed for my crazy free spirit). He heads up youth meetings at our church and drives the truck (bus) route every Wednesday night. He is also amazing with all the kids that were already in my life and they enjoy him.
We are both teachers at Pure Words Academy. We are also working hard right now to get all the paperwork done for registration and all that the Board of Education here in Honduras requires. We pray the Lord will use us and this school to educate many young people from needy families and most importantly bring them to the Saviour.
We have two foster kids who live with us. They are seven and eight years old. They are fun, great kids and are learning well in school. There are however always many challenges as the effect of trauma and hard situations make their lives and emotions harder than the average child.
I pray this space on the internet will encourage you to find joy in Jesus and that you will be encouraged to continue serving the Lord where he has you. Because, He is worthy and life is best when done with Jesus.
We sit. Sometimes in chairs and other times on the cold dirty floor. Sometimes quiet, other times sharing our stories. Cancer. Dangue. Moto Accident. Drug overdose. Shot in the foot. High fall. Kawasaki.
Dirt poor. Driving an expensive car. A foreigner. We all come from extremely different situations and literally from all over the country. Yet, life has brought us all to a child’s bedside in Hospital Escuela.
Suddenly our differences are gone and only respect for each other lingers. As a foreigner I am often treated differently. But when you all sleep on the cold floor besides your child in ICU, no diffence is left. Respect, shared pain, encouraging words, hope in the Saviour: we all lift each other up.
Another mom loans me a hat for Juan. I give one some wet wipes. When food is given out outside the building I grab some for a single mom who has no way to leave her child.
Isn’t this what it should look like when sitting at the feet of Jesus. Isn’t this how the church of God should communicate and share each other’s burden’s?
“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Romans 10:12
We place differences on so many things without even realizing it or paying attention to what we are doing. But we all land in this room and we all should land at the feet of Jesus too.
This church or that church. Which standard is best. Different decision than I would make. Different callings from what I think is the best Christian calling. Our lives look different. God calls us to different things. We grow differently.
What if we left those differences at the emergency room doors? What is we unified in one thing? Mothers unify to encourage each other and help their children continue to live. What is we were unifed? How many more souls could be saved from the fire?
Everyone in respect and dependence upon the Saviour. No difference. Just sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Still. Respect. Trust. Together. Helping one another.
It’s been a year and a half – How I am not sure! I am clearly the world’s worst blogger. However, I still enjoy putting words on paper – even if that looks more like biology and lesson plans for me at the moment. I’m here to see if any of you are still around or have an interest in my continuation on this platform – so let me know if you read this!
Moving on. What in the world have I been up to in 2021 & 2022? How about I drop you a list, and you guys tell me which I should elaborate on and share pictures from first?
Started college (no. 1 reason I disappeared)
Started talking to a young man
Watched the home while my mom and siblings visited the US
Moved to a new apartment with a few kids (apartments are hard with kids)
Had a week with ALL the siblings home (first time in 5 years)
Finished my first year of college (still unbelievable to me)
Moved to a house (God’s answer to prayer)
Jason asked me to marry him (I said YES!)
Took a quick trip to the states
Opened Pure Words Academy in a new location with new students
Planned a wedding
Started a new ministry with my soon-to-be-husband
Married the love of my life (THIS I literally can’t believe!)
Fun travel for our honeymoon
Started a small business (pray the Lord blesses that)
Working on finishing my second year of college
Those are the big highlights. This time has been full of God’s blessing, provision, guidance, and help. Life has also continued in the normal but most important things as I continue to be a busy mama and reach out to those in this lost world with the hope that Jesus offers!
Let me know… How are you, friend? And, what should my next post be?
I am a week off with these, but we all understand life happens. I have been busy finishing up paperwork from this past school year, getting some things sorted for this coming school year, other ministries, some translating, and normal life. What have you been up to recently?
I have not read much lately so I just have two favorites for you friends today. A book and a website – but both of these are amazing resources.
Book – Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits is a wealth of information and motivation. James Clear does such a good job of giving you tools to make habits – several different ways because we are all different in how we form habits.
The author also uses so many great real life illustrations to bring his points to life. He also introduces you to many successful people and their simple methods. I don’t know about you but I tend to be a all or nothing kinda person. If I am going to start a new task I am going to be all in but I need a balance of habits in my life and I have learned so much from this book.
The book is huge and expensive (I got a copy for free) so if it looks like a lot of money or a huge read to – I would recommend signing up for his 30 day email course for building lasting habits. It’s like the book but more condense and free. I signed up for these emails and would really recommend them first. If you like the emails you can go on and get the book to learn more.
Also, I feel I should say this is not a Christian book so their is some worldly examples. (If you are not an adult your parents may prefer you ask them before reading this book.) But all of these habits can be used in a Christians life – he gives you the tools you need to take and use in your life.
Website – Online Mentoring Program
I have mentioned Leslie Ludy on here recently and her podcast. Well, I decided a couple weeks ago to sign up for her online program. It was just $5 for a month with access to all of her online courses, all of their magazines and several other encouraging videos and posts from a few different people.
It was worth $5 – for sure. I am not sure if I will continue as I don’t normally pay money for things like this online. But, I have been taking her course on prayer and have been so encouraged in my faith. It has been a blessing to read through some of their beautiful magazines online. I look forward to taking another of her discipleship courses before the month is up.
You will be encouraged if you decide to do some of her courses. But, if you like for free her podcasts and the Set Apart Girl website and posts are also a blessing.
Have you ever read Atomic Habits or taken any courses from the Set Apart Girl website?
Quotes
“There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It’s as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly someone would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed.” – Charles Spurgeon
“I’m too busy not to pray” – Unknown
“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day.” – John Bunyan
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” – James Clear
“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.” – James Clear
Our 2020-2021 school year at Pure Words Academy has come to a close and our first year of the Academy is in the books.
This school year was a bit different then we expected, as we worked from home all year, but it was not a bad different. We quickly fell into our routine and it really was a great year. So much learning and new skills were acquired and we have kiddos excelling in reading and math. New songs were learned they memorized their first chapter of the Bible. I am so grateful for this past school year and all the Lord did in the kids lives and my own.
I want to thank each of you who sponsored a child from the bottom of my heart. I was humbled at how quickly you all jump on board last year and sponsored the kids. They had everything these needed to learn because of you sweet people.
Those who helped run the book drive – a huge thank you to you as well. We have a big pile of books waiting in the states that should get here right after the start of this next school year. Thank you for helping us start our library!
Last but NOT least thank you to those of you who prayed! That IS the most important work of all. There isn’t time in a day to share all the moments in which we need prayer but I know there is so many faithful saints praying for us and the dear people we minister too.
Plans have been made for the coming school year. We have almost all of the curriculum in country already. And, teachers are getting ready. We will need some additional sponsors for a few new children this coming year. Feel free to reach out for information if you are interested. I would love to chat with you about our school & sponsorship.
Question Time
Now… my question for you all – actually, questions from you all. I thought it would be fun to do a Q&A post soon. Drop your questions below (of you use the “contact me” page). Questions about the ministry, myself, the school, Honduras, food, ect. Whatever.
A few weeks ago Love What Matters reached out to me and asked if I would write a story from my time here caring for orphans. I was honored and threw it way back to how I the Lord brought it about that I started caring for orphans. If you don’t have social media (which I applaud – Good on you, friend.) below I have pasted the article for you to read. Have a lovely evening.
“You may only have 24 hours to get her to the hospital in the capital,’ the pediatrician said. ‘And if she gets a cough, 24 hours won’t be enough.’ I looked at the doctor, stunned at the gravity of the situation, and then proceeded to repeat it back to her, to be sure I understood correctly. I knew this baby girl was malnourished when we entered the doctor’s office, but I didn’t know how close to death she was. I was 21 years old and unqualified for the task ahead. I didn’t know a lot of Spanish. I didn’t know any medical terms in Spanish. I didn’t know anything about malnutrition or much about hospitals. But I knew one thing: there was a dying baby in my arms and there wasn’t any doubt in my mind—I would step up.
The doctor handed us a recommendation letter: ‘There is always a several day wait to get into this hospital. But it’s a good one,’ she told us. The sun was setting and mountain roads in Honduras are dangerous, so we planned the trip first thing in the morning. As the sun set, I rocked her tiny form in my arms on the swing under a tree outside. She was almost a year old and weighed 9 and a half pounds. It was incomprehensible to my mind, yet a reality lying in my arms. Her big eyes seemed to kinda smile as we swang and then they turned blank and lifeless again. She didn’t have much strength left. But I knew at this moment I would move the world to save her tiny life—a resolve I needed now before the long journey began.
Faint glimmers of light ran across the sky and mixed with the thick fog the next morning as we left our mountain town. A few hours later, I stood in front of the hospital—it stretched out before me two city blocks about eight city blocks long. Solid brick walls lined the sides with one line after the next of people waiting at different doors. I started to ask around for the pediatric ward but found everyone was really on defense. ‘I don’t know, but I have been waiting here for 2 days.’ ‘You can’t cut here. I have been waiting since yesterday morning.’ I was only looking for information, but these poor people were living on the street waiting to see a doctor. It was heartbreaking—but I had to press on and find a way in.
I found a door without a line or guard so we went on in. I would learn later this door was normally locked and only for nurses, but I believe God was making a way for us. Once inside, we were met with concrete hallways packed with people, beds, and wheelchairs with the sick and dear family members caring for them the best they could. Rooms on both sides opened to the hallway and were packed full of beds. A smell of sickness and unmentionable smells met my nose, mixed with floor cleaner as janitors tidied around people and did the best they could.
There was no time to take this all in. I immediately started asking around and was sent on farther into the hospital. Another street block and I stopped at a nurse’s table to ask if I was going in the right direction for the pediatric ward. ‘Yes, just keep going to the back.’ After another two blocks, I stopped again to ask. ‘Just keep going to the back.’ And so we continued through one ‘ward’ after the next. In the back, before the tall brick wall, stood a very large building with large windows full of children’s cries and business. We got in line and waited for the next few hours to be admitted—including the time to fill out all of the paperwork by hand.
It was one thing to hear places like this existed in the world, but quite another to witness it with my own eyes. So much hurt and need and not enough help. ‘And the doctor said this is one of the best hospitals,’ I thought to myself. (I would later learn she was right, sadly.) When the baby girl was admitted and time passed still without seeing a doctor or nurse, a lady near the bed next to me said, ‘Oh, girl, you have to go find a nurse or doctor if you want one. Is it an emergency?’ I quickly explained she was so malnourished and I was told to get her here right away, but now it was afternoon and she hadn’t seen a doctor. ‘Oh, sweet girl, you have to go and bother the doctor and ask a few times and he will come.’
She was right. Not from laziness, but rather not enough doctors and nurses to go around. About 20 minutes later, a nurse came in and hooked her up to an IV, and the doctor soon followed, but a minute later he pulled me aside. ‘Listen, if you can pay I will do everything I can for the baby. But I can’t make you any promises she will live. I have never seen such a bad case of malnutrition.’ (Mind you, this is where the majority of bad cases of malnutrition are sent in the country.) For the next 6 weeks, I helped take care of this sweet little girl along with my parents. It was touch and go for the first few weeks but little by little, we saw her gain weight and make progress. Day by day, we watched our powerful God heal her body.
I expanded my Spanish like crazy and my heart broke more and more as I heard stories from the ladies caring for their children there in the ward. My world was forever changed. It all started in 2013 at a Christmas Eve party when a friend asked me if I would like to join her on a trip to Honduras to help out an orphanage. 2 weeks later, after God supplied money I didn’t have, I was down here with a couple of my siblings and a couple of friends at a children’s home of 120 children. I didn’t speak a word of Spanish, but I could wash dishes, sweep floors, rock babies to sleep, and mend clothing. It was there the Lord broke my heart for the orphans of Honduras. More children were entering the home all the time – with more broken stories.
The caretakers told of much larger orphanages not as well off as them—though I never would have said they were well off. I started to realize the need for someone to love little ones without family was bigger than I could imagine. My sister and I extended our tickets and stayed to help longer when requested by the children’s home there. 3 months later, my parents were moving to Honduras to a town with a Spanish school and I knew I had to learn Spanish, too. It was here the Lord brought the baby girl mentioned above to our gate. I never guessed she would become family, but when there was no biological family available, it was an easy yes.
Last week, my little girly shouted with glory, ‘I can read. I can read!’ When she left the hospital, I was told she may never really think or act normally. But as you can see, she is my walking miracle. A testament to God’s hand still at work today. Soon after this, more broken families and children showed up at our gate. It was a simple yes—yes, I have a warm house and food to share. Yes, I will help with medical care. Yes, I will love you. Every story is unique—some have come for a night and some to stay.
The Lord has allowed us to touch many lives—one ministry has led to the next in serving my community here. Our newest ministry is a bilingual school where children, who don’t come from well-off families, will be able to get the quality education they deserve for a brighter future.
Jillian's Pilgrimage 