Blog - 61 Isaiah

Welcome to The Team!

October 13, 2023 by Lindsey Moreno Leave a Comment

In the craziness of summer teams, Jaaziel was brave enough to join our team as part of the office support staff. If you come on a mission trip you’ll probably meet Jaaziel exchanging money or buying some of the cool 61 merchandise. Join us in welcoming her to the team!

Hello, dear readers. My name is Jaaziel Chavarria, and I want to take a moment to share a bit about myself with you. I was born and raised in the enchanting town of Gracias, Lempira. Recently, I returned to my hometown after graduating with a degree in International Relations in the bustling city of San Pedro.

My interests are a captivating blend of family, friends, my dogs, and literature so you’ll often find me lost in the pages of a gripping novel. But my story goes beyond these personal interests. I’ve had the privilege of knowing the Hopkins family since I was just 14 years old. I met the Hopkins through Abundant Life Christian School where I had both Shannon and Kristi as teachers. Working alongside them and the dedicated team at our ministry feels like second nature to me. Through this ministry, I’ve found a way to give back to my community, sharing the transformative message of faith and the acceptance of Jesus as our savior.

I started working for 61 Isaiah in June. I had been going to Bible study at the Hopkins, and one night Kristi asked me what I was planning on doing now that I had graduated. I was on the verge of an existential crisis because I didn’t know where I was going to work. Kristi mentioned that the ministry had a position open if I was interested. One thing led to another, and I joined the team.

Within the ministry, I have the role of managing finances, and I also oversee the sale of merchandise for the mission teams who come to serve. It’s a responsibility I hold dear, as it allows me to support the ministry’s growth and its mission to make a positive impact on our community.

I have unwavering faith in the direction that God is guiding us as a ministry. I believe that we are on the brink of something truly remarkable, and I’m excited to play a part in realizing that vision.

Homesick for Two Homes

September 29, 2023 by Lindsey Moreno 5 Comments

And a few days ago I said goodbye to home again. You would think that after three years of the same trip, the same goodbyes, the same routine that things would be easier. But it seems that each time we say goodbye it becomes harder to leave– harder to leave my family in the states and harder to leave the family I’ve found in Honduras. Funny how that works.

I think one of the hardest parts of being a missionary is feeling like you have two homes, like your heart is in two different places. If you’ve ever moved far from home, you’ve probably felt the same way.

Home has always been an important concept to me. Home is a place where despite your shortcomings, you are safe, you are welcomed, you belong.

I remember three years ago, when I moved to Honduras how hard it was. I missed Texas. I missed my family. I missed my home. Transitioning to a new home in Honduras was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I came across an old passage in my journal a few weeks back. I was wrestling with God. I felt so isolated and alone. I missed home. I missed knowing I belonged.

“Father, I feel stripped and bare in so many ways. You never promised easy, but You did promise that You are good and Your ways are good. Father, my heart in so many ways is breaking. When left to myself I feel the breaking. I feel the pieces falling and crashing.

Loss. I feel the loss of the things I didn’t even know I loved. These things that I didn’t believe I loved, taken away. And I realize how much I loved them. Oh Father how much I loved them instead of You.

I didn’t know. Or maybe I did and chose to ignore the signs.

My hypocrisy was so deep inside of me I couldn’t see it. I couldn’t see it. I couldn’t see that my identity was not in you. I believed it was. My heart told me it was.

But liar. I now call the liar, as everything is ripped away– my friends, family, reputation, job, status, home, country, belonging, power, language, culture– everything. In this I realize that I had leaned into these things. I looked for life where there was none. I thought chasing these things was good. I didn’t even realize what I had let myself do.

Then it was gone.

Strong. I used to think myself strong; we can believe that when there is nothing causing us to break. But when we have the floor ripped out from under us, then what? I have been gripping white knuckled to the remnants of the foundation of dust which I had built my identity on.”

God worked on me in that season. He had to strip me bare of my old identity to bring me into a fuller understanding of who He is and what it really means to be home.

“‘Let go, my child,’ He was saying to me, ‘Let go. You cannot hold onto My hands when you won’t let go of what has already passed and gone.’

And He sits in sackcloth beside me, the King of Kings sits in the ashes of my old identity. And He holds my hands in His. The scars of my salvation staring back at me. Can I look into His eyes knowing what I have done?

‘Guilt is not your portion, and neither is the shame. I was broken for you, and I broke you for my kingdom.’

He motions to the dust around me, the ashes of my broken kingdom.

‘These ashes will grow gardens if you let them. Life will spring forth in a place where there was only a wasteland. Mourn no more. This is my promise to you.’

He wipes the tears from my face and I look into His eyes.

‘Are you brave? I will be with you every step of the way.’”

When I wrote these words, I wasn’t sure I had the strength to be brave. But God. He does more than we could ever ask or imagine. It’s been several years since I wrote these words, and I have seen gardens spring forth from the ashes. His promises ring true. The loss I felt was filled with blessings. Once I let go of my own kingdom, It made space for God to show me a piece of his kingdom, a part of his home. I’ve found a place where I am safe, I am welcomed, I belong.

Now, home is here in Honduras and it’s back in Texas, and I am so thankful for the deep relationships I have in both places. It is hard at times to feel my heart in both places, and it’s a funny problem to have. Only because of God’s blessings and goodness can I call both places home.

I know that my homesickness for two homes will be a struggle for as long as we live in Honduras and even when we say goodbye. But I also know that one day the Kingdom of Heaven will be a home where my heart doesn’t have to be homesick, where there will be no division between Honduras and Texas, where my Heavenly Father will look me in the eyes and say, “I am so proud of you for being brave, welcome home my child, welcome home.”

New Beginnings

September 8, 2023 by Joshua Dykes 1 Comment

It has been only a little over a month that Abigail and I have moved to Mt. Pleasant, Texas. There are many things to do and many things to process. It is overwhelming. I feel both warmly-welcomed and foreign in my own town after being in a different country for the past 5 years. I am blessed to have good friends and family here to both receive me and wait on me as I process. I am carrying new cultural perspectives into new responsibilities and trying to seek life and love amidst all of the movement.

Abigail has had a more difficult time adjusting to a new place away from family, but she is strong and courageous. We are trusting in God’s grace for each day. We do not understand all of the answers nor do we know what the future holds. What we do know is that our King is always faithful.

I am teaching a 7th grade history class while we figure out residency for Abigail. God has been what we need each day, even on the days we haven’t noticed it. Many of you reading this have been part of God reminding us of His presence. For that, we thank you for your obedience.

Our prayers are with our friends and family of faith in Honduras– especially our ministry family in Gracias.

So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God.”

John 6:67-69

Hard Goodbyes

August 25, 2023 by Nelsy Paz Leave a Comment

Saying goodbye is not fun, but as one of my friends says, “Every hello ends with a goodbye.” Two years went by too fast, and they always do when you love what you do. My time working with 61 Isaiah Ministries was an incredible experience that I will treasure for years to come. I met wonderful people, including some of my best friends. Being the ministry’s Field Logistics Coordinator gave me a lot of great experience working with two different cultures at the same time. There were fun times, like when we had pillow fights that made me laugh until my stomach hurt, (which was a great stress reliever!) There were also less fun times, like calling lawyers, waiting in line at the bank, and solving logistical problems on the fly. To be honest, I miss all of that!

Now, we are sad to announce that Jason and I have to say goodbye to the ministry. We moved back to the United States this past July. After more than two years of paperwork and waiting, my residency was approved last August. We were very excited as this allowed me to come visit family and friends in the US for the first time since 2018. But in order to maintain my residency, we could not be outside of the US for more than a few months at a time. Because of this, we decided to move back to the US this summer. Jason has already started his accounting job with Tyson Foods in Springdale, Arkansas, while I will be taking some time off to take care of Addie and to adapt to a new place. Addie has been keeping us all busy as she has been walking, talking, and growing quickly!

We are so thankful that we were able to walk with the team over the last few years, and look forward to visiting in the future. For now, we will be walking with them from afar!

ALCS Teachers

June 15, 2023 by Kristi Hopkins 1 Comment

As many of you know, by the way, that I speak about my students, I truly love my job. But it’s not just my students who are great. Last week was our seniors’ last week of school, and I invited our teachers to come and pray over them. Through tears, I watched them lay hands on these students that they have guided and loved for the last 12 years. Some of the teachers had this set of students in 1st grade. Some have only come to know them in the last couple of years. But regardless, each teacher has poured their heart into our students. As a coworker, I am appreciative. As a parent, I am eternally grateful. My children are who they are largely because of this set of people who have given their time, their love, and their knowledge of the Lord. I asked this class to keep 2 Timothy 3:14-17 in their hearts as they leave our school which says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” It is because of these teachers that I can say with confidence our students have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood and are thoroughly equipped for every good work. I look forward to seeing how God uses them in the future. Thank you, Abundant Life Teachers, for your role in this.

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