Osman & Leslie Echeverría

“Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” Luke 8:39 (NKJV)

Since Leslie was a young girl, she has had a heart for missions. It was hard to explain, but it was an urgent call to tell others about Christ: others who were in distant lands, others from different cultures. She got involved in local missions at her church and with other members of her family or church friends.

In 2005, she graduated with a BS in cross-cultural studies and felt confident God was going to take her “overseas” to be a missionary. She was happy about becoming a single missionary. However, God had other plans. After a short internship in Africa, God closed all the doors in foreign countries and sent her back to her own people. Leslie was confused and did not understand it. It took her a while to understand that just like the Gadarene demon-possessed man who was healed by Jesus (Luke 8:26–39), God wanted her to go back to her own people and be a witness to Him there. Also, God had a husband and family for her, so now they could serve as a team.

Osman, on the other hand, always knew his call was to serve his own people. When he met Leslie, he promised to pray about going to foreign lands, knowing God could make it clear to him if that was his will. One thing they did know was they wanted to serve the Lord. Back in Honduras and after seventeen years of marriage and three children, God has made it clear to them as a family that He wants them to be fully committed to ministry among their own people.

The Echevarrías are honored to join the World Gospel Mission team in Honduras to contribute the gifts and talents God has blessed them with. They want to put them to use in the projects WGM already has going on. God has also burdened their hearts to minister to pastors, couples, and young people who are struggling.