Honduran mission trip - January 12 to 19, 2002.
Saturday January 12th
We left the church parking lot at 3 a.m. for the airport. Our first stop is Houston and then on to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Our expected arrival time is 12:32 PM.
We landed in Tegucigalpa at 12:57 PM, late but safe. All of our luggage and medical supplies made it too. It's a balmy 79 degress and cloudy. Our mission has begun.
Sunday January 13th
The team is beginning to function as a unit. Many are packing medicines, nurses are being informed by Dr Oscar about illnesses common to the Honduran people. Dr Gary Meier is working with Ed, Lucia and Michael Cook, Steve Barth, Peggy Sachleben and Ruth Ann Brinkmann on use of the eye refraction machine to measure eyes for glasses. Lacey Porter and Ramona Brockmeyer are teaching several people how to work in children's ministry and Pastor Groth prepares devotions for each morning. Orientations will soon be complete and the excitement is building as the team realizes their real work is about to begin.
Monday January 14th
Monday morning began at 5:15 am with
high excitement and anticipation in the team to begin ministry at our first
mission site. We drove across Tegucigalpa, pulled up in front of the church
and were met by 60 or more people waiting for us. The church members were as
excited for us to begin as we were. Americans and Hondurans joined hands, we
prayed together, then sang "This is the Day" first in English then
in Spanish. That was an experience in itself. We all then took our designated
places and got acquainted with our Honduran translators.
We went to work and were surpised when we looked up and it was noon. Time passed
so quickly. It was truly a humbling and wonderful experience to meet other Christians,
a part of the body of Christ, and get to talk to many of them, giving their
life to Jesus for the first time. These people are so appreciative of the new
glasses, healing medicines and dental care. The children were wonderful as they
got their hair washed and combed. So quickly, the day was over and we had to
leave. We got on the bus at the end of the day. Our concensus as a group as
we talked with each other is that this day was better than "awesome".
Everyone is tired, but all are already talking about tomorrow. The excitement
is building for tomorrow. We worship a great God!
Dave Hinkle
Tuesday January 15th
My first trip with the brigade has
been awesome. Of course the scenery is so beautiful, but the people are even
more beautiful. They are so appreciative, so gracious and warm. The country
and its people are so poor but appear to try to make the best of it. Yesterday
I worked in children's ministry telling the story of Jesus, giving them a bracelet,
washing and combing hair. You fall in love with each one. A little boy, Alex,
was by my side all morning. He was about 5 years old and got so excited he would
help tell the story. He left at lunch break, but came running to me, jumped
on my lap, gave me a kiss on the cheek and said "adios amigos". They
love getting the bracelet and many can tell the story of Jesus using it. What
a day!
Today I worked in evangelism. I was a little nervous about this as I have mostly
worked with children. I had a wonderful interpreter who was a fine Christian
man of 22. It was so easy to tell them of God's great love for them and share
the story of salvation. They prayed for me and blessed me as I was praying for
them. They thank you over and over for coming. I witnessed to children, 17 year
olds, which was exciting, and adults of every age. When we left the church tonight
hugs and tears were flowing freely. Wow! What an experience.
Our mission team here is wonderful
to work with. It has been a wonderful uplifting experience, one I will never
forget. I thank God that I had the privilege to come on this trip. The word
"missionary" has a whole new meaning to me. May God bless them.
Yours in Christ,
Ramona Brockmeyer
Wednesday January 16th
Hola, como estas? From Team Honduras
2002
We gained a greater understanding of WGO's vision in Tegucigalpa today by visiting
Centro De Vida and Rancho Ebenezer. Centro de Vida has 22 children living in
the facility. The closest thing that I can compare it to is our Department of
Child and Family Services, although the caretaker lives in the same quarters
as the children. The children are taught academic studies as well as religion.
The teachers and staff at Centro de Vida stress religion as much as I do in
my classroom- to know the love of our Father, and that Jesus died and rose for
our sin is not only taught to the children but lived by the staff that teach
them. The children are truly a blessing. I wonder how my students would fare
with barbed wire around their school and with armed guards standing as sentinels.
WGO's vision is to move all this to Rancho Ebenezer. The Ranch is beautiful
- it is nestled in the mountains, but WGO still has the safety of the children
in mind; and precautions are taken to protect them. At the Ranch the children
attend school and study almost the same curriculum as my students at Trinity,
with the addition of a Spanish class and Honduran history. Rancho Ebenezer is
a Christ-centered educational facility and the staff and the students enjoy
talking to you about their faith as well as our own faith - my faith. One other
important element is taught at the Ranch - that is the concern of the children
when they become no longer minors. Tailoring, carpentry and running of a coffee
plantation are offered to the children as life-skills just to name a few. The
growing of coffee is such an industrious undertaking. After a child graduates,
WGO's and our prayer is that that person will become a productive member of
the Honduran society, not only in employment, but furthering the kingdom of
God. The difference between the two sites can be seen at the Ranch. Here the
children live with a married couple in a house located on the Ranch. The children
are able to interact as a family unit which is important in their developmental
skills to become a parent and a good citizen. Today reminded me a lot of my
family. Tara and Sara we love you and we will see you on Saturday. May our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ bless and keep you. Please continue to pray for us
and WGO's ministry. Just an update - the men whupped the women at Pinnocle-
205 to 15. Sore losers - they went to bed.
The Cooks
Thursday January 17th
Buenas Dias Amigos
Today was another amazing day. The Team went to Good Samaritan Pentecostal Church.
The people of the church were just as friendly as the other, but the location
was in a poorer area. The facility was quite a bit nicer and had 2 building,
so we could spread out a little more and it didn't seem as congested. Everyone
put forth their all and did a wonderful job. However, the teams seemed to be
feeling a little tired and slow to start today. Many people were able to experience
different stations at the brigade today in order to see how the other areas
were helping people. Some found these new areas frustrating and others enjoyed
visiting and helping in a new area. All the work we do at these brigades, no
matter what area, gives glory to God and we feel the blessings as we see the
impact God has on these people. Thank you for praying for us and please continue
to do so, as we have another brigade tomorrow and then the trip home. We can't
wait to share our experience with you.
Love in Christ
The 2002 Honduran Team.
Shirley and Jason Gillihan.
PS Hello to our loved ones, Amanda and Bill, and we hope all is well. See you
soon!
Friday January 18th
Greetings once again from Honduras.
The week has gone by so quickly it doesn't seem possible we will be back in
the USA by this time tomorrow. We have had an exciting week- one thing different
this year is that many of us got sick. Even though we were all very careful
with handwashing, many of us struggled with headaches, stomach aches and what
have you! I think we are all healthy now that its time to come home. We spent
the day today once again at the Good Samaritan Church. Today I spent the morning
in evangelism and the afternoon in optical. I enjoyed listening to the fellow
members of our mission team exchange stories of their day. Ed told stories of
the patients he saw in dental. He assisted with many extractions today and as
he described the procedure to us everyone had painful looks on their faces as
they listened. Lucia described a little crosseyed boy whose eyes lit up and
straightened out as she fit him with his first pair of glasses. She said his
face beamed. Jason described a patient that had a very troublesome tooth pulled
and after the very long ordeal could not thank Jason enough by shaking his hand
and saying Gracias, Gracias. Steve described the comical site of his bathroom
door which could not open because I was in stuck in the bathroom. We have had
some very good times, some very emotional times, some very touching times, and
some very memorable times.
I have enjoyed living this week with this group of brothers and sisters- getting
to know them and share with them. I know that we will all be different people
because of it. Please pray for our safe trip home, and I know everybody joins
me in saying that we can't wait to come home and share with you. Thank you for
your prayers and support, and we'll see you on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
Yours in Christ,
Debbie Rathert
Saturday January 19th
The group arrived safely in St. Louis at 8:31 PM. Praise God for a safe and rewarding week.
Our Mission Trips are organized through the efforts of World Gospel Outreach of Humble, Texas, Peace Lutheran Church in Lombard, IL and Trinity Lutheran Church, Edwardsville. Peace and Trinity have been blessed with the privilege of 3 weeks of mission work in Tegucigalpa out of the 21 weeks WGO provides brigades. Each of these Evangelistic Missions provides Medical Brigades in and around Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
WGO
has also built Rancho Ebenezer in the mountains surrounding Tegucigalpa, to
raise up young people in Christian homes, after they have graduated from Centro
de Vida. Centro
de Vida is a orphanage for homeless and unfortunate children from Tegucigalpa.
My
name is Paul Darr.
I am a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
I have been honored and extremely blessed by God for the privilege of
assisting WGO with their Evangelism Mission / Medical Brigades for the last
6 years. During
these years, I have been to Tegucigalpa 7 times.
Each time I make this journey, I am again enlightened by the kind, gentle
and open spirits of the people I meet.
From the interpreters were work with, some of the sweetest young people
and strongest Christians I have met in my entire life, to the wonderful dentists,
Dr. Lizeth, Scarleth and my friend Nancy, to the Honduran, Jimner managing the
brigades with ease and skill, I am humbled and blessed at the same time.
Most importantly, I am in awe of the strength exhibited by the matriarchs
of the families I see.
These women, by and large have raised children on less per year than
most of us spend for Christmas.
Most have no husband, or if they do, live in abuse.
And yet, they will stand in line for hours to get to medical, optical
or dental care for their children and then listen intently while rich, fat Americans
tell them how much they need Jesus in their lives.
They will then say they accept Jesus, and then pray for us and ask God
to bless us.
Through Christ, these people are our brothers and sisters and I personally
thank God for getting to know them.
Centro
de Vida, Rancho Ebenezer, and New Life Deaf Ministry and Church are 3 strong
shining beacons of Christian Hope in the bleak existence of many in Honduras.
The entire WGO organization is funded through donations.
If you are moved to assist this real and true Christian effort, I urge
you to contact WGO at 218-548-7222, or contact me through Trinity Lutheran Church,
600 Water Street, Edwardsville, IL
62025.
I will send you a WGO brochure and a pledge form to assist you in beginning
a relationship between yourself, Christ and the people of Honduras.
Who knows, maybe next year, you will be walking down the steps from the
plane, looking forward to your appointment with Jesus in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
with a group of missionaries.
I hope so, as you will be surprised by how much God has to teach you,
if you watch, listen and pray.
If you would like more information on future trips please contact the church office at (618) 656-2918 or e-mail tlchurch.tle@gmail.com