Returning to Choluteca: A Journey of Faith & Service

By: Doug Smith

Last month, I had the profound privilege of returning to Choluteca, Honduras, as part of a 31-member mission team from ChristWay Church in Ooltewah, Tennessee. This trip marked another chapter in a partnership spanning over a decade with missionaries in southern Honduras. Our collective efforts over the years have included building churches in remote mountain villages, conducting Bible School in public schools, constructing homes, initiating various construction projects, holding dental clinics, and strengthening local churches through ministry programs.

On this trip, our team constructed a new church building in a small village outside Choluteca. Additionally, we visited many surrounding communities, engaging in “Rice & Beans” evangelism. This involved going door-to-door, offering a free gift of rice and beans, and sharing the priceless gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

A highlight for me was the opportunity to share my personal story. Due to unprecedented rain, our plans shifted from visiting high schools to engaging with men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. We visited two rehabilitation centers, one in the city limits of Choluteca and another in the mountains about an hour outside of town, both facing the same challenge: a lack of visitors and investment in these men’s lives.

Sharing my own battle with addiction and my journey to overcoming it through Jesus Christ was incredibly impactful. We spent time talking with, listening to, and loving on these men, reminding them that they are not forgotten and are deeply loved by others and, more importantly, by God.

On the last day of our trip, I was also given the opportunity to speak to over 1,200 high school students. The choices I made in high school have significantly shaped my life, even now in my late 40s. Sharing this with the students was a chance to impact their lives at a critical juncture.

The ultimate goal of mission work is to spread the gospel and impact the eternal lives of those we meet. However, it is often we, the missionaries, who receive the greater blessing. This trip to Choluteca was no exception, reaffirming the profound impact of faith and service in our lives and the lives of those we touch.

Yo amo la gente de Honduras. Jesus te ama – todos los dias.