Lisa Simpson and I (Mary Ketcher) visited Roatan, Honduras in August 2019, on a mission trip for Maximizing Children’s Ministries. We were assisting in the installation of five playgrounds on the island. We were privileged to go to the Punta Caliente area of Oak Ridge. Wow, never did we expect the transformation in our lives.
The children, these glorious, impoverished, loving children touched our hearts. We knew we had to try to help in some way. We returned in September of the same year on a cruise planned back in April, not knowing God’s plan for us was for us to return to these children. We brought off four suitcases full of backpacks with clothes and other supplies. We coordinated with Pastor David Granada and his wife Heather who are missionaries with Bread for the Bight. They began a church called Capilla Punta Caliente. Heather showed us around more of the area and we met more of the beautiful, loving people there. Lisa and I were hooked. We knew we had to do more.
We got back on board the ship and, at dinner, discussed the day. We both looked at each other and said, “You got the same message I did.” We replied to each other, “Yes, from God. We have to do something to help these people.” The “something” we had no clue about…neither of us is ‘equipped’ in any ‘missionary’ capacity. Yes, God works in mysterious ways.
So, through prayer and God’s direction, we created this non-profit, Illumin8 Hope Ministries. We have already met some challenges with it but we are telling satan, “No, Not Today”. We asked Pastor David and Heather to join us as board members. We recruited Pastor Charly, a pastor in training under David Granada, and the youngest on our board, Cee-Jay Price. 
He is a young man who was raised in Punta Caliente, and is the translator for the church, as well as the Youth and Worship Leader in the church. A very wise young man did we get.
God didn’t call the equipped. God is equipping the called. Lisa and I are trying to follow HIS LEAD, be like Jesus’ hands and feet on earth. Thank you, God, for tender hearts and, Jesus, for your example.
