Honduras Mission 2008

The Final Mission Day - El Campo / Espiritu Santo / St. Martin continued

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:02:00 +0000

The day continued like all of the others, "stretching to give," because that's what we are here to do. Geoff (above top) and the rest of the team met with and provided medical, dental, prescription, and Christian Ed to the caring and thankful members of Campo Elvir.

George, Mike, and Dave (photgrapher), screened in a clasroom at St. Martin, and the working on the playground at the Episcopal School completed a great play area for the kids, with a geosphere play dome, swings, and decorated with a nice picket fence.

The Final Mission Day - El Campo / Espiritu Santo / St. Martin

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:47:00 +0000

The last day on the Mission was emotionally ans spiritually charged. While a lot of work was to be done with joy, the thought of leaving is on everyone's mind.

Above, Katherine teaches dental hygiene and Stewart applies fluoride.

The signs of what the impact this mission is having on the community are evident everywhere you look.

Yet, it is what these children take home and the long term effect their outpouring of loves has on all of those touched over the last week, that's on the mind's of the mission team today.

The Final Mission Day -

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:30:00 +0000

Monday March 3rd - El Campo Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:12:00 +0000

The team served more than 200 community members with medical and Christian ed services. It was a long and rewarding day and as they connected on a very personal level with God's children in the remote mountain village. Most did not have cars, the average house was pieced together with fragments of wood, metal, or native plants.

The look in the faces of the children says more than any words could convey. Please take some time to view additional pictures of the children and the village in the full album, by clicking on the Honduras logo to the left.

Monday March 3rd - El Campo Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:47:00 +0000

The SMAA Mission team spread out today to serve community on many levels, addressing important needs. The construction team continued building the playground at the Episcopal School, while Sheryl 9above) and the rest of the CE team led entertaining Christian Ed classes for the students.

Only eight miles but what could be a world away (see house above), the team was entrenched and embraced by the community members in the small village of El Campo. Along with volunteers from the Episcopal School the team served by providing, medical consulting, prescriptions, and sharing the message of Jesus's love with fun filled activities. People lined up around the mission clinic for services and found more than physical gifts, but the gift of love, from every person they met on the mission.

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:33:00 +0000

It was another sunny day and the team started iy out with a special morning worship outside by the beach with the background choir of birds and surf.

A few of us had an emotional and inspiring opportunity to visit the village of El Sauce'. This is the village the team has worked and shared with the community for the last two years. (typical house 2nd from top) The Saint Michael's team built the classroom, painted the mural, and installed the playground. We had a chance to return to a joyful reunion and welcome back from the children.

The children are truly benefiting from the earlier mission work and we could see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices, and feel it in their hugs. It is a moment we will never forget, and is a success story to be shared and felt by all who support the Saint Michael's Mission.

The bottom picture is a common scene in Tela with horses and donkeys pulling work carts.

Church Services at Espiritu Santo

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:41:00 +0000

The sun was shining and it was the perfect way to begin this beautiful day as we worshiped together in the Spanish language at Espiritu Santo, Episcopal Church. It was like coming home for the team as everyone enjoyed sharing Communion with our Honduran Family.

Geoff read the Epistle Lesson, David Loomis presented the church with a candle-lighter, David Martin presented a beautiful handmade hanger for the candle-lighter, made by Randy, and Becky presented a magnificent photo book with a collection of last years mission trip photos. The entire team got into the act, when they went to the front of the church and sang two hymns, one in Spanish and one in English. It was a great morning or sharing together, before the team took a day to relax, reflect, and enjoy Honduras, before more hard but rewarding work begins tomorrow at Campo Elvir, and back at the playground project at the Episcopal School!!

San Martin Village Playground Dedication and Blessing 3-01-08

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:25:00 +0000

No words can express the emotions felt by us all when thanked by the smiles on the children's faces on the last day.

They were not only on the faces every child but every adult as well, when the playground was blessed and dedicated by Elvia (Honduran Episcopal Priest) and the Mission Team.

Girls from the school (5-6grades) dressed in traditional Honduran dancing dresses and performed a special dance for the Mission team in appreciation. It was a beautiful expression of gratitude!

More gifts of appreciation are shared by Katherine, sharing a shirt with a local woman who graciously assisted in the clinic and Bob and Mike with surprised by several beautiful and personal gifts from Anna (left), and Luticia (right) a member of Espiritu Santo and a civic leader in San Martin (see full Mission Photo Album for close-ups).

More from San Martin Mission

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:11:00 +0000

Sally's guitar playing is the highlight of the musical scene on the mission! She had the children singing with joy and keeps the team spiritually charged with her uplifting collection of hymns for our daily worship meetings.

Mike offers a hat to a local San Martin friend who worked hard helping the team in any way he could. This fellowship with the community was truly appreciated by all of the missionaries and will not be forgotten. Many were even joyfully revisiting relationships from last year's trip!

The children formed a parade for a wonderful event to dedicate the playground and thanksgiving for what we have shared together.

San Martin Village Mission - Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:01:00 +0000

The team continued to offer services to the community on the second day of the mission to San Martin Village. Becky had all of the children laughing and playing with Christian arts and crafts (top). Stewart, Mike and many many others, painted the exterior of the building. Doctora Elvia(first name), a Honduran Doctor and Episcopal Priest, who gratiously joined our team for the week, offered services to patients, and Sheryl and Rosemond greeted all visitors to the mission with a smile in the clinic and pharmacy!!

Episcopoal School Playground Update Saturday 3-1-08

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:25:00 +0000

The construction team was hard at work this morning, digging and installing a french drain to help control the water at the new playground being build at the Episcopal School and Church.

They left this sight at noon to help with and attend the dedication of the playground in the small village of San Martin, where other team members where continuing with another meaningful day of sharing God's love with community by offering medical assistance, and Christian crafts, play and music.

Making a Difference with Micro Enterprise!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:37:00 +0000

The third FUN ED client we visited was Bernardner (in turquois top). She and her sister (left) both took loans to each open a Pulperia (neighborhood convenience store). This store is in the front room of her home. Pictured are four of her eight children. With the loan, she purchased a freezer, refrigerator, shelving and inventory. The third picture is the one bedroom with mattresses for she and her children. The

fourth picture is of the wood burning stove in her kitchen where she makes tortillas for sale in the store. She is renting her current home. The last picture is the larger home across the street. She has an option to purchase it and has applied to FUN ED for a loan which the loan officer later told us is likely to be approved based on her success with her business and repayment of the first loan. Like the other women, her husband lives and works in the US. He returns to Honduras periodically although she has not
seen him in nearly a year making her essentially a single parent to eight children.

With the ability to purchase her new home, FUN ED will have made Benardner's dreams a reality!!

The purpose of our visit to FUN ED is to determine how St. Michael might participate in making microenterprise loans available in areas of Honduras where it is active in its mission work. Saint Michael was introduced to FUN ED by Bill Bancroft, a parishioner and mission leader from The Church of The Incarnation who accompanied our mission team and drove us to Morazon, about 2 ½ hours from Tela, to meet with the FUN ED officials at the local office there.

On behalf of Incarnation, Bill did an exhaustive search of various microenterprise organizations serving Honduras before selecting FUN ED. Over a year ago, Incarnation made a $50,000 loan to FUN ED which in turn has resulted in 89 business loans to FUN ED clients in areas served by Incarnation’s Honduras mission program.

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:04:00 +0000

Grady Schlier & David Loomis visited FUN ED in Morazan Honduras to learn how FUN ED loans money to poor persons to help them become self sufficient.

This is Gloria who was able to open Anita's(her daughter's name) Restaurant bottom two pictures) with a $250 loan. When the initial loan was paid back, she borrowed again to build a room on the back for the kitchen which doubled the size of the restaurant. She is about to request a third loan to buy a new location for the business replacing the current premises which she rents. In about one year's time, Gloria's income will exceed what she was making at her old job at the electric company. Gloria's husband lives in Georgia. She hasn't seen him in 12 years. She is essentially a single parent to her three children.

The top picture is Rosy's variety store. Rosy sought a loan from FUN ED to buy more inventory to increase her sales. Like Gloria, Rosy is a single parent to three children. She now has tuition to send them to school beyond the sixth grade level education provided by the government.

The San Martin Mission

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:13:00 +0000

The team made a made a big difference in San Martin today, and San Martin made a big difference in the team. Profound changes that may be felt today, but not fully understood until sometime in the future.

Fluoride was carefully applied to developing teeth of children. Team doctors worked with community members and prescribed treatments for their ailments. Children were given a gift for active play with a cool jungle gym, and families and team members alike shared themselves personally as equals in Gods Kingdom!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:04:00 +0000

More team members spent the day at San Martin, continuing their mission outreach in this small village outside of Tela. The team was busy building a jungle gym for the children, and providing, medical, and dental services for all community members. Christian Education worked with children whose parents were meeting with Doctors.

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:36:00 +0000

It was great to see the sun again. The team working on the excavation and construction of the playground was happy to be out of the mud, but there was still a lot of dirt to move and put in place in order to turn a rough back lot into a safe and fun place for the children at Espirtiu Santo, the Episcopal School. It was a highlight for the team when they were joined by smart and hard working sixth grader, Ronald (red shirt, second pic from bottom) who pitched in shoveling dirt, moving the wheel-barrow, and clearing big rocks. Thanks for your help Ronald, you are Awesome!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:02:00 +0000

The construction team cleared rock from the site of a future playground for the children in the Episcopal School. The heavy rain did not slow them down and they worked hard while enjoying the beautiful music of the school children singing and playing with the Christian education team in the room adjoining the sight.

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:49:00 +0000

The Christian Education Team had a great program working with the children from Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit Episcopal School) as they studied the miracles of Jesus together stories songs and crafts!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:27:00 +0000

The team started the morning, with coffee conversation and uplifting worship with song and
prayer, after sleeping (or not) through a night of heavy rain and high winds. It was a a great treat to have guitar music for the inspiring hymns.

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:11:00 +0000

The team enjoyed reuniting at the hotel to discuss plans for the week. We are thankful for this opportunity to work and share together. The food here is terrific. Seafood and vegetables (all I've had so far) are particularly fresh and delicious

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:00:00 +0000

The team arriving Monday has been busy working at the construction sites and preparing for the Christian Education, and Medical Clinics. The mural on the wall (above) was painted by a team from a previous year, while the construction sight on the bottom will be the location of a new playground for young children at the Episcopal School.

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:37:00 +0000

The second half of the mission team arrived today to join the others who arrived on Monday. Tela is approx. an hour and a half from the airport in San Pedro Sula. The drive was through a lush landscape with beautiful palms. We will post more pictures of the community and neighborhood in the future. We are all staying at the Cesat Maricos Hotel on the beach. The hotel has a lot of local character and the people are very generous.

Prayers Answered

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:11:00 +0000

Medical / Health Assistace Project:
As part of the mission, medical experts on the team will be meeting and consulting with community members, trying to help in ways they can and by offering guidance if further attention is needed.

Prayers Answered:
There is always so much need in the medical/health area and when faced with this challenge, the advance team relied on faith, prayers, and their determination to seek out contacts, referrals, and volunteers. They reported today that all of the prayers were answered when they made contact with an Angel, in the form of Doctora Elvia Maria Galindo. Dr. Galindo is a Doctor in Honduras, and also an Episcopal Priest in charge of the medical component of the Bishops outreach for the country. She has agreed to travel from Tegucigalpa to Tela and stay with our mission team all week!! She will be a great asset to our medical team, as she is very familiar with the regional health issues and has seen it all in her work throughout the country. She will add so much to our work and we are humbled by this blessing and thankful for her presence.

Bathroom Project- Before Pics

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:52:00 +0000

These are before pictures at the location for a new bathroom project at Campo Elvir. The new bathrooms will be built of cinder block against the wall, and the old ones will be demolished for a new playground!!

The team will also complete the hand trenching and installation of a water line to bring chlorinated water into the school bodega.

The Advance Team / Holy Spirit Playground

noreply@blogger.com (The Mission Team) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:30:00 +0000

It's quite a feat of planning to organize a large group of international missionaries, identify the work needed, plan transportation, housing, and put the tools in place to accomplish large projects in a relatively short time.

The advance team has made several trips to Honduras in preparation and they just finished putting the last pieces in place for the team arriving next week.

As in life, the advance team faced changes in plans, locations, and support, and like life, they could not have done it alone. They are thankful to have been blessed with prayers answered and witnessed many small and large miracles along the way.

The bottom photo above is the location of one project; where the team will erect a playground at the Episcopal School, just outside the Sunday School Building built by last years team.