Mejias leave Honduras for Michigan
After spending much of their lives leading an Episcopalian parish in Roatán, Honduras, the Rev. Kara Thompson Mejia and the Rev. Nelson Mejia are moving on.
This fall, after their visas come through, the couple will set up in Midland, Michigan to launch a Spanish ministry at the non-denominational Living Word Church.
That decision, to leave Nelson’s country, to leave their parish and all the hard work they put in building it up, did not come lightly.
But it was prompted by their children, both of whom are now in Canada. Stephen is married, a father, and lives in Ontario. Kelly has just begun her first year at Mount Allison University in Sackville.
Kara is the daughter of the Rev. Gordon and Bell Thompson. Gordon is the honorary assistant in the Parish of Restigouche.
HISTORY
Kara was a student at St. Stephen’s University when she felt the call to missionary work. After hearing a guest speaker from the former SAMS-Canada, the South American Missionary Society, she knew that was the life for her.
Her first year was spent teaching in Paraguay. That was 28 years ago.
“When I got off the plane, a sudden peace came over me,” said Kara during a presentation at Stone Church in Saint John on Aug. 31.
“But teaching was not for me,” she said. “I wanted to work among the Latin people. That’s where I wanted to be.”
She moved to Honduras, met and then married Nelson. Together, with their two children, they have poured their lives into leading people to Christ and building up his church in Roatán, a resort island off the coast.
A few years ago, when Stephen graduated from high school and moved to Canada for further study, Kara and Nelson began thinking seriously about the future.
“We considered a lot of things. We began praying,” she said, adding they even considered taking a parish in this diocese.
But the worldwide pandemic put a stop to all plans.
“We knew it wasn’t the right time,” she said.
Five years later, their lives have changed considerably.
“Roatán was our life. Deciding to leave wasn’t one made just like that. We wanted to do what God wanted us to do. If it wasn’t God’s will in the first place, we’d be kind of walking away.”
But God put all kinds of people in their paths to make the way straight for them. Still, leaving Honduras has required great faith in his plans.
THE PLAN TAKES SHAPE
It was during the pandemic that God sent a woman to Roatán. They’d met at a missionary conference, and she was looking for a place for a couple of weeks to help out.
Because so many of their parishioners relied on tourist traffic for employment, many were jobless. The parish responded by opening a soup kitchen, which this woman helped at.
But when it was time to leave, a hurricane closed the airport, and she was stuck there for a couple of months. A solid friendship formed.
This woman’s church in Michigan subsequently sent a mission team to Roatán to help install the floor in their church. Kara and Nelson heard about their annual Holy Spirit conference, and hoped someday to attend.
The mission team returned to Michigan, and the church sent money for Kara and Nelson to attend the conference.
“As soon as we arrived at the church, I felt that same peace come over me. It was an overflowing peace. I said, ‘Lord, what is this?’ So we began to pray.”
The minister told them he wanted them to head their Spanish programs. Kara’s translation skills were noted by the mission team, and that skill was what the church needed.
THE PRESENT
“The easiest thing would be to come back to New Brunswick, in a parish,” said Kara. “But we knew God was speaking.”
Still, there is some fear and a lot of unanswered questions. The work visas they applied for have not arrived, as of early September. The position they have accepted is not a paid one.
But Kara described their mindset this way: “’I’m going to follow you and you will open the doors.’ We have to step out of our comfort zone. This isn’t about us. It’s about God.”
Kara flew to Michigan in June, with Nelson finalizing things in Honduras and joining her in July.
In Michigan, God began opening a lot of doors. One member of the mission team is a realtor and helped her find a duplex to rent, even though at first, there was nothing available. The owner is a member of the church, as are their neighbours.
Kara found a TV stand at Goodwill for $5. When the neighbours saw her bringing it in, they asked if she had a TV. The TV stand was literally the only piece of furniture she had.
“They brought over a TV,” said Kara.
Another couple told them, ‘We have a storage unit. Whatever you need, it’s yours.’
“The only thing we bought new was mattresses,” said Kara.
There is much to do once they arrive in Michigan. The plan is to establish a Spanish ministry through the church there, but they also need jobs for cashflow. And of course, they need the work visas.
“We know God will continue to provide,” said Kara.
Back in Roatán, the local leaders they have nurtured have led the parish through the summer, and a new minister is on the way.
Any money donated to the Honduras ministry will go to the church Nelson and Kara left behind. If you wish to support their new ministry, you can send funds via e-transfer to revkara@yahoo.com. Kara noted they cannot provide income tax receipts.
At the end of the service at Stone, Rick Larder, on behalf of the Stone mission team, presented them with a cheque. The Rev. Jasmine Chandra invited the congregation to come forward and join her in a prayer for the Mejias.
Kara thanked Stone parishioners for their support through their many years ministering in Roatán.
Photo captions:
1. The Rev. Nelson Mejia teaches children at his former church in Roatán, Honduras. Submitted file photo
2. Rick Larder, right, a member of the Stone Church mission committee, presents a cheque to the Rev. Kara Thompson-Mejia and the Rev. Nelson Mejia that will help them as they begin a new ministry in Midland, Michigan. From left: Kara, the Rev. Jasmine Chandra (incumbent at Stone), Nelson and Rick. McKnight photo
3. The Mejias began a food ministry during the COVID pandemic to help feed their parishioners and others, most of whom rely on tourism for their employment. Submitted file photo
4. Kara and Nelson Mejia cut a cake after the service at Stone Church. They are taking up a new ministry to Spanish speakers in Midland, Michigan. McKnight photo