La Mosquitia is one of those places whose name understandably piques curiosity. Although the area has more than its fair share of mosquitos, the region was not named after the pesky flying insect. La Mosquitia, or the Mosquito Coast, is named for the Miskito people who inhabit this rugged region that spans the eastern coastlines of Nicaragua and Honduras.
Harrison Ford shed some light on this fascinating slice of geography in the movie entitled “The Mosquito Coast.” Ford played a character named Allie Fox, an inventor who felt that American civilization was unraveling so he moved his family to the rain forests of Central America to make a new start. Of course, things quickly unraveled for him in the Mosquito Coast.
La Mosquitia is indeed a fascinating place. The scenic beauty here is among the most amazing that I have seen on any of my travels. And yet it remains one of the most impoverished places in Central America, inhabited by the marginalized Miskito people. The Miskito have learned the keys to surviving in this place that is as difficult as it is beautiful.
Over the past several months I have been praying about new fields of service for the people of Kingsland. Our missions work currently spans several time zones across Africa, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia. As I was praying, God providentially allowed my path to cross with Melissa Fortin, one of our members. Honduran by birth, Melissa happened to say a word about a family from Texas working with Miskito kids in La Mosquitia.
A short time later I told my friend Selim Sabillon about my interest in La Mosquitia. Selim is also Honduran and was a pilot in the Honduran Air Force. “I know the area well,” he told me. As it turned out, Selim had flown missions all along La Mosquitia when he was in the military and later as a civilian pilot. He still has an extensive network of contacts in the area.
And so began my journey into La Mosquitia. Thankfully for me, Selim agreed to accompany me. After doing some further research and contacting the missionary family that Melissa had told me about, I arranged for us to visit La Mosquitia. We discovered that few teams venture into the remote areas where the Miskito people live, perhaps because it is logistically challenging to do so. To make matters even more challenging, the Miskito people speak their own language, requiring visitors to find a good Spanish speaking Moskito to aid in translation.
Although Moravian missionaries came to this area when doing so was even more difficult than it is today, there is still much work to be done here. I love what Alex and Laura Waits of Reach Out Honduras are doing to provide an education for Miskito kids. This family was living their dream on their ten-acre property in North Texas until God interrupted their lives. Alex recalls hearing God speak the words “I want more from you” — words that changed his life.
The rest is history for the Waits family. They now live among the Miskito and are committed to providing Moskito children with a quality education. And because they know the area, they kindly agreed to facilitate our visit to the remote village of Tumhtumhtara. My hope is to establish a collaborative initiative to assist the Waits with their good work while reaching deeper into the region.
Selim and I had a great visit with the people of Tumhtumhtara. They were beyond kind and gracious to us. They did, in fact, summon all of the families of the area to come and meet us since so few people visit here. I look forward to returning to La Mosquitia to begin this new engagement with the Waits family and the people of Tumhtumhtara. And, I remain grateful to God for connecting the dots that led me to the people of La Mosquitia.
Go Beyond 
I love it, count with my support!
By: Luis F sabillon on June 28, 2016
at 11:21 PM
Thanks, Luis. Appreciate it so much. Happy that Selim came with me. I have enjoyed our time and meeting so many nice people here.
By: Omar C. Garcia on June 28, 2016
at 11:24 PM
Omar,
The why of God putting this place in my heart around 5 years ago still baffles me. I have never been to La Moskitia and barely had contact with Miskitos before. Then, one day, I met with a former college friend, who isn’t even Honduran but she married one ( Suzanne Rajkumar) amd she told me all abou The Waits family and what they were doing for Miskito children. My heart began beating and get excited (I can compare it to the feeling of getting a new puppy as a child). Me? Excited abou the jungle? I’m a city girl as city as they can get. But the Holy Spirit was moving, and although the idea didn’t go anywhere beyond getting excited at that meeting, God had asked me to pray about it.
One not-randome day, I had to make copies for my ABF, and ran into you in the hallway. Fell in love with you office and somehow our small talk led to Honduras and La Moskitia…that puppy excitement returnes to my heart, 5 years later, and I could feel God telling me,”This is it. This is what the prayers were for.”
Selim and Liz (his wife) have been a fountain of fresh water for my husband Juan and I, having lived in Honduras they understand our “lingo” and we can let down and be “catrachos” (another name for Hondurans). I’m beyond thrilled that Selim is another soldier obeying God along with you.
Thank you for allowing God to take you where our human flesh wouldn’t dare to. Thank you for living the Great Commission without fear.
I’m still baffled as to how all this happened amd I stand in awe of God’s strategies, they are SO perfect.
By: melifortin on June 29, 2016
at 1:46 AM
Thank you, Melissa. I too am happy our paths crossed on that Sunday morning and that our conversation turned to the Waits family and La Mosquitia. How cool to look back and see God’s plan coming together. I look forward to how God will continue to lead on this new kingdom adventure into La Mosquitia. I already love the Miskitos and am so happy to finally meet Alex and Laura. My prayer is that many Miskitos will join us around the throne of God on that day when people of every language, tribe, and nation are gathered in heaven to praise Him.
By: Omar C. Garcia on June 29, 2016
at 1:56 AM
Thanks O, for going beyond in all that you do.
By: Gil Gray on June 29, 2016
at 7:02 AM
Thanks, Gil. It is a privilege to be here among the Miskito.
By: Omar C. Garcia on June 29, 2016
at 7:04 AM
You have made me feel as if I were in my beloved Honduras. For nearly 30 years I have prayed for there to be Hondurans (including Miskitos et al) coming to Jesus in such great numbers and seeing such transformation individually and corporately that they would be a Light to the Americas. May yours and Selim’s time there be a part of that as you partner with the Waitses in that remote place. I will be looking forward to the rest of the story from Selim when you get back tomorrow. (Selim is very beloved to us as our son-in-law, and he is a big reason for our deep interest in Honduras.)
By: Karin Thomas on June 29, 2016
at 12:03 PM
Thanks, Karin. Have absolutely had a wonderful time with Selim and have fallen in love with Honduras. I too pray along with you for a great kingdom harvest in Honduras and among the Miskito.
By: Omar C. Garcia on June 29, 2016
at 12:23 PM
Omar, thank you and Selim for coming down and spending time in La Mosquitia. Many people look at this area as too remote and too difficult to service. You and Selim looked past that and saw the need to serve, gain followers to Christ, and deciple those who crave to learn more. It was wonderful seeing you two interact with the people in their own language. We have prayed for your trip to Jordan and rest for your body once you return to the states. Blessings to all, Alex Waits.
By: Alex Waits on July 23, 2016
at 11:27 PM
Thanks, Alex. We enjoyed the opportunity to meet you and your family and to learn more about your work with the Miskitos. Thanks also for helping us to visit the more remote villages and meeting the people there. Great adventure! Looking forward to working with you to set a date for a return trip in 2017.
By: Omar C. Garcia on July 23, 2016
at 11:34 PM