Backpack Blessings Abound in Honduras

Seven hundred fifty six days.

That’s how long it had been since I had traveled to visit one of our partners. Just over two years time. For someone who has spent the last 33 years always on the go, someone who is energized from visiting our partners, lets just say it was a tough stretch of time for me.

So when the Lord opened the door to visit POINT Honduras for their biannual backpack giveaway, I was thrilled to experience the joy of children receiving a rich blessing.

What I didn’t expect was for a short, hand-written letter from a child’s mother to impact me the way it did. More on that soon.

First you need to know how meaningful this giveaway is to the community. When you watch the video I’ve linked below, you’ll notice staggering stats about the Honduran education systems. It’s pretty bleak, which means the chances of these kids continuing in the cycle of poverty is high.

POINT Honduras exists to break that. And that starts by giving all 750+ children in their four ministry centers a specific-to-them backpack.

Each backpack had a name on it. Stuffed inside were clothes and shoes that fit that child, along with school supplies. You don’t have to imagine the excitement from these children zipping open something new for the first time, you can watch it for yourself below! You’re in for a real treat.

It was fun. It was exhausting. I loved every second of it.

Later that day, the POINT team received a short letter. It read this way:

Good morning. Perhaps for many people what the children received today is just a little bit of help. But for my home, for my family, this is not just a backpack. It is such a blessing. Thank you for making a difference amongst our children. There is joy when you see the faces of the children with the backpack that some cannot even afford. A thousand thanks to everyone we know by name, and to those we don’t know but who are always willing to help. Thank you for everything. May God bless you and may he continue to give you the will to help others. Thank you.

It’s a letter PACKED with thankfulness. It moves me because it gives me a glimpse into the heart of a mother who wants to provide for her children, but cannot due to poverty. All mothers want the best for their children. I’ve seen this reality countless times on every continent and in every situation imaginable.

It never ceases to move me that God allows us the honor of participating with Him to these Image Bearers. He allows people like us to be His representatives, His Ambassadors.

Oh that we would live up to that calling. Oh that we would join the adventure the Spirit can take us on if only we stepped out of our comfort zone and engaged in gospel witness to others around us.

Grace & Peace,

Wayne Sneed