In June 2014 I visited a feeding center in Mercedes, Lempira, Honduras. I would forever be changed by the faces, smiles, laughs and reality I encountered that afternoon.
As we drove on the winding frontier roads local women carrying rice in their Dutch ovens got a covering of dust as we passed.
Make shift kitchen
After a time of games and fun those women set up kitchen on the stairway platform, serving 100 or so children a nutrient packed bowl of rice from those Dutch ovens.
They ate it up and it did smell yummy.
The children used their fingers to scoop the rather yummy smelling meal into their mouths. Some images are best taken in your mind, I happen to also capture this one on my iPhone.
I now sponsor a girl from that town and church. For $15/month she is being fed that same meal at that same location where I sat 2 short years ago. I may have already met her. I hope to officially meet her in January. I could learn Spanish.
Outside the feeding center/church
To learn more about Manna for Lempira and to sponsor a child click here.
Want to help a Honduran child get school supplies?
Stayed tuned... or contact me asking about the Back Pack Campaign: helping send Honuran children to school.
I am not a fearful person,
yet I am easily frozen by fear.
A few years back I had a dream and some ideas that I shared with someone close to me and was met with a negative, "you can't do that" response and it really froze me.
Around the same time I was told by a family memeber that my blog was too "high and mighty sounding" and that I was making myself out to be a "goody two shoes Christian who was better than everyone else", none of which was my heart intent.
I began to shrink back in many ways and fall prey to the enemy who desires to shut me up and keep me secluded and locked away.
Since being diagnosed and healed from breast cancer things have changed.
Not only in my physical body but in my mental and spiritaul state.
I have already started by writing more personally on my blog again, putting feet to my ideas and dreams and now I want to share with you all my family's love for the people of Honduras and why Steve and I have become Ambassadors to Honduras through an organization called The Foundation for Missions.
Our desire as Ambassadors is to bring awareness to the needs in Honduras.
There are 4 needs that stand out to us:1. a need for chldren to have nutrious meals2. quality medical & dental attention3. spiritual needs4. financial help.
Honduras is a very corrupt country and when we partner with The Foundation and the Sowers family we can help bypass the corruption and get needs actually met and help where it's needed.
We believe that we can share the needs in Honduras
- though face to face talking,
- pointing people to the blogs and social media pages of the Sowers Family
- by taking people down to Honduras where they can see first hand the people and the needs there
Here is a brief summary of our personal experiences in Honduras:
In June 2014,Steve and I traveled to the frontier of Lempira, Honduras on a medical and construction mission trip; this was the trip that bound our hearts together as a couple to the Honduran people and the Sowers family ministry.
Rice feeding "station" at Mercedes feeding center church
On this trip we participated in a feeding program where children were fed, enjoyed and were thankful for a bowl of nutritious rice.
We visited Catholic run orphange for girls and another for babies and toddlers.
Steve helped construction on a remote clinic
I helped entertain children while they and their parents waited to receive medical help
I also helped in the pharmacy where patients received everything from vitamins to ibuprofen.
MK kids getting to be kids
We returned in August of 2015 Steve, Aubry and I, along with three other people from our home church, this time to help the Sowers family run a camp for the children of missionary kids whose parents are serving in Honduras. What a wonderful ministry and unity of the body of Chirst this was as the Sowers family does not discrimintaed between who can come to camp, if you'e a missionary family your children may come.
3 stages of the bridge, bridge, partial, completed
Then in January of this year Steve again traveled down with a team of men to help build a bridge in a week. A bridge that cut the travel time from one small village to another larger one with medical facilities by and hour and a half. This my friend is life changing.
So why am I sharing this? Well, because I want to bring awareness to you.
Since our first trip to Honduras two short years ago several exciting things have happened...
- Kimberly Hall has started a child sponsorship program called Manna4Lempira that you can read about here or visit thier FaceBook page here.
- Churches here in Florida are desiring to not only sponsor children but for whole churches here to sponsor children from the same church in Honduras- connecting not only individuals but connecting whole groups of people. How exciting!
I want to challenge you to give by sponsoring a child,
going on a trip
helping to buy a motorcycle or horse or just simply by giving.
Contact me with any questions, upcoming trip info or with any questions oyu may have. mspanos74(at)gmail(dot)com
A current need is to fund Missionary Kid Camp this summer. You can view more on the FaceBook page and blog.
Here's a good video made for a specific church but does a great job with an overview of the Sowers4Pastors Ministry we love and personally support.
Wow, it's August already.
Can you believe it?
I looked at my chalkpaint covered back door and thought, "I should probably erase the snowflakes I painted on there last winter"
then I realized winter is closer than I care to think,
maybe I'll just leave them.
Steve, Aubry and I returned from a 10 days in Honduras where we served and attended Missionary Kid Camp. I lead craft time, as well as a game during daily game time, Steve set up ropes courses and lead games as well as made town runs for pizza and water, ice and supplies and Aubry attended her first summer camp, sort of.
When I return I reminded of how blessed I am.
I can flush my toilet paper, eat my fruits and veggies with our soaking them in bleach,
my home has hot water, air conditioning, we have reliable, honest health care and so much more.
Honduras is a country in need of reform, in need of finances, opportunity, education and Christ.
I am so thankful I had the opportunity to meet the people, hear the stories and love on last year the birthed locals and this year the transplanted ones.
MK's are a unique breed. From the outside they look and act like you and me,
but they've seen so much,
they've learned to love on a different level
and they band together like a tribe, truly having each others backs
and understanding each others pains, struggles and joys.
When I return I just want to give more and more away.
Returning from any trip reminds me of how little I need to live.
And now, as summer comes to an end we are preparing to say goodbye to the "boys of summer" as they head back to college next week.
My boarding house will close down for the time being, although it seems to always be open for business.
Aubry and I are gathering supplies and ideas for a year of relaxed home school pre-school
and I am preparing to take my travel blog live for all to see and glean travel information and idea from.
How has everyone else been?
I wonder and if you are still reading let me know.
And now... some pictures, cause let's face it, we all prefer pictures!!
the team from Florida that we traveled to Honduras with
Aubry in her camp t-shirt
Aubry playing "gato" with her friend at San Pedro Sula Pizza Hut
a group selfie with our new found friend from Maryland, a bonus team member
Currently the plate of my life is fairly full with things I love. Trip planning and investigating make me smile. I am currently planning a spring Cali trip to celebrate my nieces college graduation!!
and then
move her either to a few towns over in SoCal, or to Colorado!!
I am also working on several signs for my granddaughter's 4th birthday party ~ yes I said 4th!
Also investigating home school curriculum,
~hey I take years to make decisions~ PLUS ~ i heart investigating
even considering purchasing their "in a box" option.
I used KONOS with the boys and I really liked the character trait focus. Ya know, cause character matters.
Lastly I've been finalizing the details for a summer mission trip to Honduras; I meet with a partner who I am hoping will travel with us and help with the logistics on Friday. I am praying all goes well and that God really brings together just the right team with the perfect skills needed to love on the Honduran people for Christ. Please pray for me as I take these steps of faith.
I didn't really blog about my trip to Honduras. Some time certain experiences can be difficult to put into words. Here are some pictures
