When Poplar Bluff High School Senior Josh Wilson boarded the plane in St. Louis, he was celebrating a number of firsts in his life. He had never flown, he had never been out of the country, and he had never been on a mission trip. In preparation for his early morning flight, his mother drove him to St. Louis and checked him into a hotel (Josh is 17 years old so he legally couldn't secure a room.) As he sat alone in his hotel room, Josh had second thoughts about the upcoming mission trip to Honduras. He had only met the leader of the mission team, Dr. Richard Wirz, Jr. of Dexter; however, Dr. Wirz was already in Honduras so Josh didn't know anyone he would meet at the airport. To his relief, Josh was greeted warmly the next morning as they all gathered for their charter flight to the Central American country.
"I was totally under prepared," Josh laughed, "for the entire experience. I had packed suntan lotion, bug spray, and my Bible along with summer weight clothes and one jacket. Everything else I left up to God."
Upon arrival in San Pedro, Honduras, the group traveled a few miles outside of town to Faith House -- a home which cares for local children. "We slept in bunk beds," Josh said. "Just like summer camp." Although mosquitoes are prevalent in Honduras, there was no netting for the beds. Bottled water was the drink of the week. Under no circumstances were they to drink the local water. Josh recalled, "The A/C didn't work and neither did the ice machine. However, the food was amazing. The fish, and I don't know what kind, was outstanding as were the tortillas or their local bread. I don't speak Spanish except for three words: gracias, por favor, and adios." He laughed, "And they made a fantastic macaroni and cheese! Imagine that!"
During his week in Honduras, the mission group provided services to the local people. First, they took their photos. "Most of them had never seen a photograph of themselves," Josh said, "and they were pretty excited." Next the team provided medical, dental, optical and auditory exams, wrote prescriptions, if needed, and resolved any problems. Before the locals left, regardless of whether they needed treatment or not, everyone was given a blanket, a bag of beans and of rice, and a Bible. Josh worked with Pete, the groundskeeper. Together, they checked in the locals and escorted them to the treatment area.
Josh works for a fast food restaurant in Poplar Bluff, so he is accustomed to impatience. "Nothing is ever quick enough," he said. What amazed him about the Hondurans was their patience. "It took us an hour to drive up the mountain to the treatment outpost. It had to have taken the locals, who walk everywhere, at least two hours to reach this area, then they spent 5-6 hours with us (a lot of this was waiting time), only to have to walk another two hours to get back home. I have never experienced such patience and through it all, they were kind. They smiled. And, they were grateful. The Hondurans are a happy people who trust God will provide for them. They seem content with their meager lifestyle. Their water isn't clean, and they walk everywhere." Josh reflected for a moment. "I learned humility and patience from these people."
Josh enjoyed the most the people he met. The mission team was helpful, accepting, and passionate about their work. "We had two people on the mission who were 75 years old, and they go on missions all the time. This was my first mission, but it will not be my last. I don't know if it will be a career choice, as I haven't decided what my life's work will be, but it will definitely be part of my life." Josh plans to attend college, but he hasn't decided where or what he will study.
As with most adventures, there is always something which could be better. For Josh, it was simple, "The weather! It was awful. It was either really hot or raining. We were caught in a torrential downpour and all I had was a jacket, but it was too hot to wear it." He explained, "once your clothes got wet, they never dried out."
Josh would encourage everyone to experience an international mission. "Don't just sit in front of the television. Get out. Try it. It will change your life. It changed mine."
Anyone interested in participating in a mission should contact Jim Pratt, Mission One Team Coordinator, General Baptist International Ministries, jim.pratt@generalbaptist.com