I’m going back…

A year ago I went with a dozen other men to Honduras for a week long experience that I’ll never forget.

I made the decision last week that I’m going back to Honduras this April. It will be challenging, uncomfortable, and risky. All things of worth and excellence are. It’s in settings like this that I begin to feel like more of a man than a boy who can shave.

DSC_0137

DSC_0196

DSC_0228

DSC_0287

DSC_0300

DSC_0323

DSC_0363

DSC_0376

DSC_0400

DSC_0402

DSC_0410

DSC_0362

DSC_0425

DSC_0432

DSC_0440

DSC_0460

DSC_0462

DSC_0470

What are you taking part in that’s challenging, uncomfortable, and risky?

Say, why don't you post a comment, subscribe via RSS, or follow me on twitter?

36 Responses to “I’m going back…”

  1. Debbie says:

    Nothing as awesome as your endeavor but I will pray that God uses you to reach many souls!

    {reply}

  2. Jzbell says:

    I’m training to run a half-marathon (13.1 miles!) with Team in Training, the largest fund-raiser for LLS!!! Not as risky as your adventure, but challenging and uncomfortable to be sure. =)

    {reply}

  3. Kelly says:

    We very much want to go on a mission trip like this, and will someday. However, right now we are praying about having someone that needs a home move in with us. It’s been on my heart, but I was ignoring it. That is until Tim said this exact thing Sunday.

    {reply}

  4. Erin Hull says:

    Taking the next step and playing my guitar and singing in an intercession/devotion set. In front of people. That I don’t know.

    When you return you will surely be a shaving manly-boy.

    {reply}

  5. Kimberly says:

    Getting out of bed everyday is a risk & challenge for me. I live in pain everyday of my life. It’s like having the pains of the flu every single day of my life. For real, no joke. I use every minute of my day to do something to share my testimony or minister to someone. My pain is a path for me to pick up my cross daily and follow HIM. I model my life after Christ. Sometimes I may forget that because I just am being selfish. I admire you, Ryan and all those others, who can pick up and go to some foreign place and do whatever is done whilst you’re there. Walking out of my house is like going into a foreign land for me.

    {reply}

  6. James says:

    Dude, I would love to go. For a long time I have wanted to something where I can truly help people in need. And we all need Christ.

    {reply}

  7. Raising two boys. Nough said.

    {reply}

  8. Amanda says:

    This summer I am heading to Rwanda to take part in 100 days of compassion. I will be working within a medical clinic (on the logistical side). I am thrilled, excited, scared, and, quite honestly, ready to be outside the United States once again.

    {reply}

  9. Rachel says:

    Right now we are helping our daughter fight a rare blood disease that prevents her body from making blood cells. It’s a struggle but we know God is holding her hand everyday as she grows stronger.

    I’d be interested to hear more about what you are doing in honduras…i have family who has gone there to help in different efforts.

    {reply}

  10. MommyAmy says:

    I also went to Honduras for a week on a missions trip when I was in college. We went to the eastern coast, flew into La Ceba, and then drove a couple hours to a tiny little village in the middle of a Dole banana plantation called Tierra Blanca. We helped re-build a church that was damaged during Hurricane Mitch. It was an amazing week of mixing cement and hefting cinder blocks, as well as putting on puppet shows and doing crafts with the kids. It totally and completely changed my view of the world, and softened my heart for those in need (both here and abroad). I’ll never forget it as long as I live.

    May God bless your trip, and be with you and the others as you prepare for your journey.

    {reply}

  11. ksw says:

    Thought about venturing into a church. Then the lightning struck and the hail started. I can take the hint…

    {reply}

  12. Kelly says:

    Yea, Ryan!!! Our Compassion child lives in Honduras. I quit my job of 12 years last month to stay at home and babysit. It’s quite the challenge and the move was risky. The most uncomfortable part (risky, as well) is that the hubby and I now have no health insurance.

    {reply}

  13. Plano Mom says:

    No risks near like yours. I’m planning a trip to the Texas Gulf Coast to help with hurricane Ike/Rita (yes, there’s still trouble from Rita) recovery efforts.

    But I think the greatest risk I take is in choosing to reach out and love people who feel they are unlovable. I take the risk that these marginalized people will reject me, or that they will take advantage of me, or that they won’t respond at all. I was once one of those marginalized people, thinking I didn’t deserve to be loved, and it was the persistence of others stronger than me that saved me and brought me back to God.

    {reply}

  14. The Dan says:

    Well, I want to go to Kenya this year.

    {reply}

  15. WIll pray for you! Is this with Living Water? I hope to go to Ukraine one day with our church, but I’m afraid I’ll want to bring them all home! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
    kris

    {reply}

  16. Oh and Plano Mom….there are still lots of people reeling from Ike down here, PTL we are finally settled, but so many are not!

    {reply}

  17. beth says:

    Kimberly # 5 I was sad to hear about your health.. I will be praying for you. I guess for some, life can be full of risks and challenges. Twenty years later, I am going back to school to finish getting my degree…. I guess a bigger risk, challenge was bringing my friends baby back from China. I have never flown in an airplane before that trip, nor have I after… Good luck to you Ryan, going into a third world country is always a life changing experience. It’s amazing the simple things we take for granted on a daily basis… ❤ & ☮

    {reply}

  18. Kat says:

    These pictures are so beautiful. I hope you have a safe trip down there and have a great time helping others.

    As for what I’m doing that’s challenging and uncomfortable… I’m living in the United Kingdom for school. It’s not a bad country at all, and I love it here. But I am across the ocean from my entire family, and I worry incessantly about everyone while here. Not to mention – I’m still young. I’m only 19. Never before did I imagine I’d still be this young, living on my own in a foreign country. It’s hard.

    {reply}

  19. Mary says:

    Walking with my mom through her illnesses. Her kidneys failed, unexpectedly, in December. Then we found out that the cause of the kidney failure is because she has lymphoma. While she was in the hospital, she contracted an intestinal-type infection that she hasn’t able to shake, and was re-hospitalized for last week. One of her doctors told her that if she doesn’t get over the infection, they’ll have to remove her bowel. It’s just one thing after another.

    {reply}

  20. Challenging, uncomfy, and risky? Uh, marriage and parenting!! And trying to keep my sanity on top of everything else I’ve got going on inside my head. The voices are competing for space these days, I tell ya.

    I kid. Mostly. I’m trying to be a better person, which means opening myself in ways I don’t like to do, and that’s incredibly hard and uncomfy for me, and risky, considering the people I’m opening up to.

    Your Honduras trip sounds awesome!

    ~Brea

    {reply}

  21. Bonnie B says:

    Well, I’m not crossing an ocean or having to put up with hazardous living conditions … but in my own way, it’s taking a risk. I’m teaching CRAFTS to KIDS ages 5-12 for FIVE WEEKS at our church’s mid-week “Family Night”. O.M.G. I am 45, never been married, no kids in my life, and I *volunteered* for this??! What the h*ll was I THINKING???? ;p This is definitely out of my comfort zone, but actually I’m already 3 weeks into it, and so far, no trips to the ER … Pray for me. ;p

    {reply}

  22. Dyan says:

    Raising 2 children and trying to persuade my husband to have or adopt a third . . .

    {reply}

  23. naomig says:

    Hmmm…nothing as cool as what you’re doing… I would love to do something like that with my girls some day tho. Right now I am trying to happily be there for my husband and daughters, head towards homeschooling them, and being type 1 diabetic adds its own challenge to my daily life that I’m not dealing with very well right now… so, hopefully I’m becoming the person God would have me to be in the process.

    {reply}

  24. Erin @ t5m says:

    I’m going to Ethiopia in April. We are visiting orphans, in hopes of bringing back the “community to community” sponsorship model (through Children’s Hopechest) to our circles of influence here in the US(ie: my church, EBC). If you’re reading this, please send a quick prayer up to the Big Guy on our behalf.

    It’s so exciting to see how others are living “dangerously” for the Lord (especially Bonnie B).

    {reply}

  25. Sheila says:

    Well mine is challenging but not risky, other than taking on more responsility. We have decided to adopt another dog, bringing our total to 3. With 3 kids, 2 lizards, a bird & a hedhog it is for sure a challenge. We have noticed so many unwanted animals there are, with the economic crisis and foreclosures, dogs and cats are being left to fend for themselves at an alarming rate. We have room in our home and our heart, so we are going to do it! (again)

    Everyone, if you want to see what I am talking about check out Petfinder.com and search for the animals in your area.

    Sheila

    {reply}

  26. Lo says:

    gorgeous. scary. exhilerating. jealous!

    sadly i realize i’m doing nothing. what’s up with that??? i think i need to make myself uncomfortable and risky sometime soon.

    it seems i get so wrapped up in the day-to-day that i forget what day-to-day really means to the rest of the world. today i am thankful for so much, and dissapointed that i haven’t thanked anyone else. or helped. as always, you inspire.

    {reply}

  27. karla says:

    trying to talk to folks about Jesus!!

    {reply}

  28. Philly says:

    Taking care of my 84 yr old dad with parkinson’s is challenging in itself.

    ps….that hairy guy is kinda turning me on

    #1

    {reply}

  29. Troy says:

    You are man…and i am happy to hear of so many “Real” men on this trip. I am anxious to get going!

    {reply}

  30. Samantha says:

    Hmm…scary, challenging, and risky.

    I work full time, have my family I’m taking care of and I go to school full time.

    This is scary, challenging and risky for me, but there are days I feel like I could do more.

    {reply}

  31. Kelly says:

    What an awesome trip!

    Right now, everyday living is a challenge and is uncomfortable. Although, not particularly risky.

    {reply}

  32. Sina says:

    Although not risky or uncomfortable my challenge this year is to do more volunteer work in my community.

    My physical challenge is to do more rocking climbing and biking …and I’m thinking about trying to do a triathlon again – but I really don’t like swimming.

    {reply}

  33. Michelle says:

    Going back to school for my PhD, but I wanna go to Honduras!

    {reply}

  34. eclecticdeb says:

    I’m training for a triathlon, my 8th with Team in Training (try fundraising $3K eight separate times), and also will be “doing” Escape from Alcatraz.

    Skeery.

    {reply}

  35. Ruth says:

    Haiti. I’m going to Haiti in less than three weeks. That country is on the State Dept’s “do not go unless essential” list! yeah, risky. Challenging as it will be my first time on a mission trip and I am also tasked with helping lead the young adults in the group. I think uncomfortable goes without speaking…though we’ll have it better there than most people.

    I do believe I will experience God… :-) !

    {reply}

  36. elizabeth Flanigan says:

    explaining to my patient that she is in her home again today for the 5th time in a loving way, trying to make her last day’s injoyable and easy as she has demetia and I live with her in her home, realizing that all my wordly goods can now fit into the trunk of my car and not really caring, being set free of materialism is great, living here is very rewarding and challenging but mostly rewarding, I am blessed to be with this woman named Lilly in her last day’s here on this earth, and will see her in the next.

    {reply}

Leave a Reply