On
June 16th of 2007, a team of five set out from Nashville International Airport
to join the work of Providence World Ministries in Honduras for nine days.
The Emmanuel Lutheran Church contingent (which consisted of Michael Frederick,
John Koch, Steve Sandfort, Anne Schuetze and Craig Schultz) stopped in Miami to
join with volunteers from other parts of the U.S.A. The missionaries spent some
time at the airport getting to know one another before boarding the jet for the
short flight to San Pedro Sula in the northern part of Honduras. They would get to
know each other even better as they spent the next week doing the work of the
Lord together.
Upon their
arrival in Honduras, the team was greeted by Alfredo Cerrato, who is
the President and Executive Director of Providence Work Ministries
(http://providenceworldministries.org/). One current focus of
Providence is the construction of La Providencia, an orphanage
campus in the mountains of Aquas Del Padre. Not only will the
property contain homes for the orphans and their new families, but
it will also include a clinic, a home for widows, a school, a
gymnasium, a soccer field, an Olympic-sized pool and a heli-port
which will be used in medical emergencies in cooperation with U.S.
troops stationed in the region. During their stay, the team would
be assigned the task of constructing a wheelchair ramp and sidewalk
for La Providencia's world-class medical facility.
Even though
it was the middle of summer, the weather was pleasant at the
elevated altitude of the location. The team honed their masonry
skills as they dug, leveled ground, tamped, laid rebar, set forms,
mixed concrete manually, and laid concrete blocks. Although an
interpreter was not always available, the Honduran foremen and the
volunteers found ways to break the language barrier with a series of
hand motions accompanied by the few words each group knew of the
other's language. If the Americans had any energy to spare during
the lunch break, they were welcome to join in the daily pick-up
soccer match between the workers. Everyone in the group worked hard
that week, and with a little sweat and some severe sun-burn, the
team was able to make real progress in the projects it was given.
The
volunteers also enjoyed developing relationships with each other,
the local workers, and with the residents of Aquas Del Padre. Some
of the volunteers were able to help out for two afternoons at a
vacation bible school that was held at a local church called Point
of Grace. The local children were led in Christian song, enjoyed a
musical puppet show, and marveled at one missionary's slight-of-hand
spectacular. Others set out in small groups to canvas the village
handing out Spanish New Testaments, Gospel coloring books and
crayons for the children, and invitations to a special movie night
at the church. Interpreters were not available for all of these
groups, but the materials helped to relay the Gospel message to
locals. At one point, a young boy named Levi volunteered to take
one of the groups around his neighborhood translating and warning
them about the houses with big, scary dogs in the yard. Many of the
villagers gathered at the movie night to watch "Facing the Giants"
under the stars. Everyone was worried about some foreboding clouds
overhead, but God in his grace held back the rain until just after
the movie ended. The movie was a treat, but more important was the
fact that Pastor Rockey, a member of the missionary group, took the
opportunity to share the Gospel through and interpreter with
everyone present that evening.
The team
finished the week with a Saturday trip to a park in the area. The
lush scenery was enjoyed by all, while some enjoyed walking through
a waterfall and cliff-diving into the river. On Sunday the team
woke up early for the bus ride back to San Pedro Sula for some quick
souvenir shopping before flying back to the U.S. The trip was a
wonderful and enriching time for all, and all were thankful for the
opportunity to show the love of Christ to those in need in Honduras.
Upon their
arrival in Honduras, the team was greeted by Alfredo Cerrato, who is
the President and Executive Director of Providence Work Ministries
(http://providenceworldministries.org/). One current focus of
Providence is the construction of La Providencia, an orphanage
campus in the mountains of Aquas Del Padre. Not only will the
property contain homes for the orphans and their new families, but
it will also include a clinic, a home for widows, a school, a
gymnasium, a soccer field, an Olympic-sized pool and a heli-port
which will be used in medical emergencies in cooperation with U.S.
troops stationed in the region. During their stay, the team would
be assigned the task of constructing a wheelchair ramp and sidewalk
for La Providencia's world-class medical facility.
Even though
it was the middle of summer, the weather was pleasant at the
elevated altitude of the location. The team honed their masonry
skills as they dug, leveled ground, tamped, laid rebar, set forms,
mixed concrete manually, and laid concrete blocks. Although an
interpreter was not always available, the Honduran foremen and the
volunteers found ways to break the language barrier with a series of
hand motions accompanied by the few words each group knew of the
other's language. If the Americans had any energy to spare during
the lunch break, they were welcome to join in the daily pick-up
soccer match between the workers. Everyone in the group worked hard
that week, and with a little sweat and some severe sun-burn, the
team was able to make real progress in the projects it was given.
The team
finished the week with a Saturday trip to a park in the area. The
lush scenery was enjoyed by all, while some enjoyed walking through
a waterfall and cliff-diving into the river. On Sunday the team
woke up early for the bus ride back to San Pedro Sula for some quick
souvenir shopping before flying back to the U.S. The trip was a
wonderful and enriching time for all, and all were thankful for the
opportunity to show the love of Christ to those in need in Honduras.
