July 15 – July 24, 2011

John 6:54;57 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.” “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.”

Part 1

It is hard to believe that all 4 teams have come and gone. So much has been accomplished this year and we still yet have to report on teams 12 & 13. Team #12 was led by Steve and Lisa Caracci that came from Victory Highway Wesleyan Church. It was a team that was young and willing to work all hours to accomplish as much as they could in 10 days. Picking up where team #11 left off and trying to get this project closer to be finished was a task that this team took on. They had many things planned in not only working on this building but to have afternoon knitting/jewelry classes in the other school (Venezuela School-Barrio Rincon), meet all their sponsored children, and be apart of a special day that is celebrated in Honduras. Like all teams we try to take time to explain what has transpired from the beginning of the project to the point that we are at. We also give a quick run down in all that is left to do. This is a great opportunity for us to show the need for more classrooms, the overcrowding, the need for a kitchen to cook lunches, the poverty that a public school has etc. The interesting aspect of this team was that we had two women who are Horseheads School teachers. They were able to see the difference between our schools in the states and what the Honduran children face. The team broke into different groups and went head on with the tasks at hand. They finished running the wiring for the 2nd floor and started the wiring for the 1st floor. There was framing left to be done in the hallway and above the stairwell. (All seen in the photos right) The most interesting thing to share and most teams have this, is that most of the people on team are not professionals in construction but are willing to learn and try new things. They have a heart to serve the children, not themselves nor the school system. They learned how to become broken bread and poured out wine. This is was the theme for this team at the end of their journey.

Part 2

What is one way a person can demonstrate Jesus to the Honduran people? It is by the sacrifice of leaving their families, country, freedom, jobs and taking on the responsibility to fund raise and plan on working hard in conditions that aren’t their own. This team showed that they can do a lot by working together. They didn’t need to be supper strong nor experts but having a willing heart to “do”. Hanging sheetrock in 2 of the 3 classrooms, an office ceiling, and a hallway that was 70 plus feet long was a task that could have been the entire project for most. This team hung 1,400 sq. feet of sheetrock in a short time. While the “sheet rockers” were hanging sheetrock the rest of the team was sanding the plastered block walls, running wiring, and priming. During this time I was tapping out the ceilings so they could be ready by the end of the week for priming and painting. Most of the schools in Honduras usually have open ceilings. The problem I have found is that with open ceilings it makes it very hard for the teachers to teach and the students to hear while a rain storm passes by. The drywall eliminates a lot of the problem and it allows the children to learn with out distraction. While the work was going on teachers and students would come up to the second floor and take a look at what was going on. They would smile and make a comment that they can’t wait until they can teach in these new classrooms. Can you imagine what the teachers and students must have been feeling, thinking on the inside as they see ample classrooms and with a new style. These classrooms don’t have computers in them, nor shelving or new desks, but they are an answer to overcrowding.

Part 3

Becoming broken bread and poured out wine is a transformation one must take on. It is a dedication to discipline oneself to say, Lord you can have it all. You can use me in any form. It is also saying I’m willing to sacrifice myself for the Kingdom. Each team has a nightly devotion. Usually a team member has a different night to share what the Lord has placed on their heart. Usually it ties in with what they are experiencing on the trip and also how God is speaking to them. We use the devotion time to witness the will of God in each short term missionary’s life. During the 10 days a team is not here to see how much they can get done, nor how many souls can be saved or about themselves. It is about Jesus and His will for their lives and for the Hondurans lives. God uses the time they spend with Him through song, testimony and in community in bringing them closer to Him in a stronger relationship. It is amazing the see how the Holy Spirit changes 12 people in 10 days. He takes people that come with and without expectations and gives them His expectations. Another way a team shares their faith is by participating in the Church service at Pastor Giron’s church. This year Lisa wanted to share her testimony in why she comes to help and what brought her to that point of becoming broken bread and poured out wine. I know that the congregation was impacted by her testimony. In the photos on the right you can see what Giron’s church looks like inside and out. It is very basic but full of love. Pastor Giron says, “It is an amazing thing to see our brothers and sisters in the USA praying for us and us praying for them during there time here in Honduras and during there time at home.” He also encourages his congregation to continue to pray for each individual team and their churches. We and he both believe this is the heart of the mission. “Bringing the Heart of Christ to the hearts of those in Honduras and the USA.”

Part 4

Some of our teams now offer sewing classes in the afternoon to the neighboring communities that they work in. This is a tradition that started in 2008 by Cheryl Cleveland. She wanted to offer her talents in sewing to women or men who wanted to learn. The idea is that the people who learned a new skill would take it back and use it to earn extra money and or to be able to make things for their families or use them for gifts. Team #12 wanted to teach the women in the Barrio Rincon and Modesto how to crochet, knit, and make jewelry. I believe this is a great avenue to form community between two countries and also in a faith that they all share. It is a time of learning, laughter, frustration when the project has to be redone, and a time of bonding. The women love it when the teams can offer a new and fresh idea in how to make something. I do know that the ladies on team would come back every evening and talk about what had happened and how lovely the Honduran women are. Through the donations of spools of yarn, knitting needles, and jewelry boxes the women walked away with more than sewing equipment but with memories that will last a life time. In this group there was a young lady who is suffering with cancer throughout her entire body. She goes to school and tries to study. Her passion is to be a designer. She takes our sewing classes on Saturday and made it to every class with team #12. Esther is only 15yrs. old. She loves life but suffers tremendously. The week before the team arrived, she had surgery done on her neck to remove a lump that was not cancerous. While in the Hospital she looked forward to the classes that the team was bringing. I believe that these classes offer more than the above. It offers healing. It allows the women to come, relax, talk, and escape their hard lives that they have back in their homes. It is healing because it increases their self esteem.

Part 5

Dia de Indio. The day of the Indian. This is a special day in Honduras. It is the day of the Lempira. Lempira was an Indian who rebelled in Honduras. Kind of like our story about the Apache Indians. It is a tradition the schools use to continue to remember their culture, dance, food, music, and poems. The Fuerzas Armadas School wanted to include team #12 in this celebration. The team took off from work early on Wednesday to inter act with the various customs and culture of Honduras. They witnessed dances by various grades like the one seen in the second photo from the top. The boys would dress up to look like typical farmers during that time. (As seen in the 3rd photo) The girls as well would put on dresses, jewelry, and make up to look like a typical farmer’s wife. Many of the children would offer solos in tradition to the music back then. The Fuerzas Armadas School is also the 1st school to help blind children to receive their education. Some of the teachers had to take classes to learn how to read brail and how to teach the blind. In the last photo you see a boy named Michael. He is one of the two boys who attend F.A school that is blind. He plays the piano and sings. It was so touching to see him play and sing. What a talent he has! He loves life and loves to laugh. As I close on my report on team #12 and all they accomplished and learned. Culture, friends, hope, tradition, different food, music, and Love are the reason why short term missionaries keep coming back.

Download Mission Team #12 Docs

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