On July 25 a group of 12 parishioners from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Hayesville will fly to Honduras on a mission trip to serve Honduran children. What has brought this trip to fruition illustrates the way God answers prayers in unexpected ways.

Last December some parishioners listened to Amanda Scott, a representative from LAMB Institute in Honduras, describe the needs of children there. After some prayer, the idea was born to sew quilts for the residents of a facility being built there for boys. Quilters at the church got busy sewing. Other parishioners paid for materials. Today 28 colorful quilts, all in motifs that appeal to boys, are ready to travel to Honduras.

But God was not yet finished directing the project. Just as the quilters realized that the project was for boys only, a call came from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wilkesboro. Parishioners there had hand sewn 25 dresses for Honduran girls but had no way to transport the dresses.

Still more direction from the Lord: A Good Shepherd visitor from California learned about the quilt project and decided to organize friends to make pillowcases to go with the quilts. Now 60 custom made pillowcases in both boys' and girls' themes are packed and ready to travel with the 28 quilts and 25 dresses.

Father Bill Breedlove, rector of Good Shepherd, who will be one of the missionaries, says about the upcoming trip, “While we are expecting to work on a new cabin at the children's home, sometimes the ministry of presence is the greatest gift one can offer or receive. We are making ourselves available to being used for God's purposes, and I am expecting something unexpected and wonderful for both our team members and our friends in Honduras.”

Other team members besides Father Bill are his wife Susan Morgan and their daughter Mary, Tom and Carolyn Griffiths, Suzi Herbert, Amy and Gil Nicolson, Jane Oliver, Kanute Rarey. Jim Reynolds, and Emily Thompson.

This mission trip to Honduras is only one example of the many ways that Good Shepherd is acting on its vision statement: Boldly engaging the world as God's shepherds, sharing God's blessings and creating Heaven on Earth one person at a time. For more information, see the website: www.goodshepherdhayesville.org.