Honduras July 2009 -- Three Questions

Three Questions:

---What is your purpose and motivation for going to Honduras?

--- Recount a fearful time in your life. Did you feel God's presence?

---What is fearful about the mission trip to Honduras?

At our last meeting, we broke into small groups to answer these questions.

One person suggested if God calls, we go. Another person, who had been there many times, said that the people call him back to Honduras, particularly the children, who have very little in the way of material things but are grateful and happy in spite of everything. They also have unwavering faith. What can we learn from them?

Many people in the group expressed fears about the trip to Honduras. What to expect? Will we be able to accomplish the physical tasks of building a desk and chair? Will we be able to communicate although we do not speak much Spanish? Some even mentioned the fear of it being too hot! And this from a person who lives in South Carolina! We must remember that Jesus said "Do not be afraid, trust in me."

By being in these small groups, we were able to get to know each other and to express our feelings.

Carol Hidlay

Honduras July 2009 -- Gissel

Gissel is the reason I am so happy to be going to Honduras. She is a smart, beautiful girl who lives in Quimistan and is part of the Agape Promises Program. This program seeks to help children remain in school and graduate by finding sponsors who will provide funding and create a personal Christian relationship with the child. I have sponsored Gissel for two years and can't wait to give her a hug and tell her (in Spanish, I hope) how proud I am that she is doing so well in school.

Joan Graham

Honduras July 2009 - Have You Seen This Desk?

One of the team's activities is to build desks and chairs for the villages that First Pres had adopted. Bruce Eberhard volunteered to build a sample for us so we would know what materials to order plus to learn how to do this. Bruce and his son, Brian, built the sample last weekend. The unveiling will be this weekend at church. Where will it be?

Honduras July 2009 -- Who Are We?

As our mission team builds desks and benches for the village school who are the ones most likely to be:

* Organizing a work plan and assigning jobs?

* Rapidly assembling and building?

* Listening attentively to the team member next to them?

* Eying the wood scrap pile for marionette material?


Well, that might depend on who are the lions, beavers, golden retrievers and otters among us! At our meeting on April 29 we took a personality inventory to gain an understanding of the different ways we might carry out our various mission projects, recognizing that who we are is a gift from God and what we do with who we are is our gift to God.

-Holly Shoaf-OKula

Honduras July 2009 -- La Merienda, The Picnic

Team Hondouras met for a much-anticipated barbecue where we had a first-hand chance to put our Spanish lessons into practice, especially for eating. We enjoyed los frijoles, los hamburguesas, el pan, and la fruta. (There was more food, but we haven’t learned those words yet.) We all declared: “La comida era sabrosa (the food was delicious)!!!”

After dinner, we had our first hymn practice. Our Choral Director Katie played her guitar and we sang “Come”—or “Ven” in Spanish. There were some interesting accents to be heard. Fortunately, we have three more months to practice.

Your Spanish lesson: los frijoles (beans), los hamburguesas (hamburgers), el pan (bread), la fruta (fruit).

Lenaya

Honduras July 2009 We're Learning Spanish

Buenas tardes clase…and we’re off with more learning from our profesora Chris Kupcha assisted by Joe Kupcha.

Chris is teaching us how to handle situations such as meeting people and introducing one another. Recently our focus has been on meals and the foods we’re likely to encounter in Honduras.

The next team meeting on April 29^th includes a cookout so we’re going to have an opportunity to practice our new vocabulary…hamburguesas anyone?

Honduras July 2009 -- Getting Started

Those of you who were in church on March 29 heard the Minute for Mission on our upcoming Intergenerational Mission trip to Honduras. Also, a story was told about the role of the chicken and pig in a ham and egg sandwich. The chicken is ‘involved” but the pig is “committed!”

We now have our roster of 16 folks from First Presbyterian who are “committed” to go to Honduras They will be spreading the love of Jesus Christ to the people of Honduras from July 20 – July 27, 2009. The 11 adults and 5 young adults are:

June Blohm Team Leader

Ken Blohm Team Leader

Gerry Depo

Joan Graham

Katie Gray

Carol Hidlay

Sally Jenkins

Ryan Maddrey

Brock McLeod

Alan Moses

Holly Shoaf-O’Kula Team Leader Clergy

Lenaya Raack

Ashley Reid

Carol Ryder

Aubrie Salzman

Allison Shearouse Team Leader Youth

It is now the time for the remaining 871 members of First Presbyterian to get “involved” and support the mission team and the people of Honduras on our trip. A list of ideas is being assembled and will appear at month’s end on the blog and the Mission Bulletin Board. Be on the lookout for ways in which you can become involved.

You can follow the activities of the team on the blog as we meet each month to prepare for our trip. Please pray for us, that we may guided to do God’s will.

Blessings,

Allison, Holly, June and Ken