January 20, 1999
Locals aide Honduras connection
By Jacquie Thomas
Herald Editor
On June 19 a process was begun that unwittingly began a concatenation of long term and far reaching proportions.
It was the day that the youth group from the Bible Baptist Church on Cass Road left for a mission project in Siguatepeque, Honduras with 13 students and 4 adults.
They had prepared for months, writing, rehearsing and producing a clown ministry; short, dramatic acts that pack an emotional wallop with no use of language. These drama scenes are broken up with a delightful chorus of hand puppets, crafted by members of the congregation, singing light hearted Christian songs in Spanish.
The students who went wanted to share their faith. "I am so excited to go and to encourage others in their faith," shared Dan McIntyre, a member of the group that made the trip.
They also wanted a cultural experience. "I wanted to go for the personal link--to see a different culture," said John Katana.
What they got was an affirmation of their own faith by seeing God's work in action and a deep cultural enrichment that can only come from living and interacting with those of a different culture in a close and meaningful way. Learning how different we live but how alike we are.
They returned feeling a connection to the people of Honduras, a relationship based on understanding, the sharing of common bonds and of having spent time working and playing together.
This fall, hurricane Mitch hit the Latin America continent, and the Hondurans with whom bonds had been formed were in trouble, serious trouble. It is estimated that 1.5 million of the 6 million residents of Honduras were directly effected, losing their homes and family members. 250,000 residents still remain homeless.
According to Tim Manzer, Youth Pastor for Bible Baptist Church, the members of the Traverse City group felt devastated and helpless as they discovered the situation in which their Honduran friends found themselves.
"It was personal, because we had been there," explained Manzer. "We are attached to what goes on there and with our friends. We stay connected with them through email in the World Reach office."
They contacted World Reach ministries in Birmingham, Alabama, the non-profit interdenominational organization that had orchestrated the groups trip to Honduras. They then set about collecting and organizing with Ryder donating the use of a truck, Mike Norton volunteering his time and expertise as a truck driver to drive it, Munson donating medicines, Meijer's donating food and Denoyer donating boxes.
On Friday, the group put 150 boxes of food, medicine, household goods, tents and water along with $2,744.00 on the road to Honduras by way of the World Reach warehouses in Birmingham, Alabama.
World Reach, with six full time missionary families already working in Honduras, normally operating a mobile training institute to give educational support to pastors working in rural areas, was already reacting to the situation. They were able to switch the focus of their operations to relief outreach and distribution efforts when the crisis demanded it.
According to Paul Talley, Latin America Director for World Reach, "It was a natural function for us. We had the people and the structure already there, and even though we never planned it that way, it was a smooth transition and we were able to serve a very valuable function."
"There are alot of organizations gathering food, clothing and medicines but they have no distribution system in place. We are very thankful we were able to fill that role," added Talley.
"You are talking about the third most corrupt nation in the world. It's citizenry cannot depend on governmental systems to meet their needs in a crisis of such proportions. We have sent five 40 foot containers and have collected and plan to send two more. Dole Fruit Company, normally harvesting crops in Honduras that have now been destroyed, donated the use of its cargo planes to transport items collected in the U.S.."
"Another role we are now taking, not by intention, but by fate, is that of the reconstruction of homes," explained Talley. "We never asked any of our network for money, but we have raised $50,000, soon to be $60,000, and have made the decision to repair homes with that money. We can build a modest dwelling for about $2,000 so we are able, once again, to fill a need that we did not anticipate--and we are very thankful."