Austin's Year in Honduras!

Hello friends and family! My name is Austin Burke and I have just been accepted to be a student missionary in Santa Bárbara, Honduras at an orphanage called Hogar de Niño's! I will be leaving in September and will be gone for 8-10 months. I am going through an organization called Reach International. Above is a video that the orphanage made a couple of years ago. At this point in time, I'm not sure what I'm doing. But as I've been talking to past student missionaries that have traveled there a lot of the men have just been working long days cutting grass, doing maintenance, cooking, being present and available for the orphans, immersing themselves in the culture, and building relationships. There is a possibility that I could also be teaching some elementary school kids! These things are exactly what I'm looking to do. Also I will absolutely love learning the native language.

Since I will be going as a "volunteer" and not actually a worker I won't be getting paid from the people or organization in Honduras. Your money will be used for a monthly stipend, housing, travel expenses, emergencies, food, insurance, and packages that will be sent to me from Union College with letters from friends (and good old american treats)!

I would like to raise these funds as soon as possible, as plane tickets only get more expensive the later you purchase them, but I know God will provide and give me the funds at just the right time.

This experience means so much to me because I have been looking for some way that I can step out of my comfort zone and not have anything or anyone to fall back on but God. I want to watch him work in my life and I feel like these last couple years I have been wavering. I want to serve these Hondurans with all that I can give and then more. I want to be changed by the culture and the people and to watch Jesus to work on my heart and my soul and my mind during this time and I know He will. 

Not too many students get to take part in such an experience as the one that I will have, and I thank you so much for supporting me! When I return from my mission I will be sure to share lots of pictures, experiences, and how God worked through the people and through me. I can't wait!

Anything and every little bit helps.

Please feel free to call me at anytime to ask questions about the process or to hear updates. I am so excited and honored to be able to take this opportunity and thank you in advance for your prayers and support!

-Austin


And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said,
Here am I; send me!
Isaiah 6:8