TEAM 15 – Leaders: Harold and Joyce LaFever

Acts 4:32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” 

Part 1

Team #15 was a group of veterans in the faith. They were a group of brother and sisters who love the Lord and worshiped Him throughout the time they were here in Honduras. This team did accomplish a lot but I found them working along with us in many situations in prayer. Harold and Joyce LaFever organized this team that consisted of various denominations and different backgrounds. However they came together as one body of Christ. They worked together and tackled many projects that would seem overwhelming for such a seasoned group. They worked on finishing the sheetrock and tapping the ceiling out. The Lord sent us a man who felt comfortable in installing the electrical box for us and making all the connections needed from the rough wiring that the past team did. Also they found time to have fun and pray. Every day we start out with prayer and a song to worship Jesus. In the bottom photo represents this. However Pastor Giron and I love to joke around and usually we take off our hats to pray but I had to carry it one step further and throw in my wallet, my cell phone, and then other followed as well. It went as far as shoes. It allows the team to laugh and start out the day with a good start by laughing. I have found that the work and day goes so much easier when we laugh and enjoy each other and enjoy what God has so freely given and that is the ability to serve Him.

Part 2

One of the biggest projects the team had to build was a bridge or walkway that would connect a dividing walkway. This bridge would help the children to enter the kitchen area and then receive their food and then continue out and walk to another set of steps that the team built. This bridge was going to be interesting because I wanted it to be rounded and high enough so that the staff and the children coming in the morning can walk underneath it to get to their class rooms. Giron had asked me if I had any ideas before the team arrived and I said we have built rounded arches on homes by using plywood and wetting it down to make the curve. So that is what we did. However there was much more that needed to be done. There was rebar that had to be cut and tied together as you see in the second photo. Ramon is a boy that is back in my youth group and he has received Jesus Christ as his Savior and left a world of crack, marijuana, drinking and sex for Jesus. He is only 19yrs old. He now works with us until he can go to the technology school to learn Body Shop for vehicles. The biggest task was to mix and pour this concrete and to make sure the forms stay so we don’t have blowouts or any possible movement. After it was poured the teachers loved it. They knew it was going to be a huge help for the children and the blind children that study at this school.

Part 3

Last year we were approached by a group of parents that represented the kindergarten that is in the same community that the Fuerzas Armadas School is in. Actually this is the only Kindergarten in this area that has a population of more than 3,000. The parents asked us to go and see the conditions of the roof and pray about if we can help them out with a new roof. We went to take a look at this roof and found huge holes in the roof. I asked how long has this roof been like this and the teacher there said it has been in this condition for years. She explained that the local gang members and youth would throw big rocks and it would blow holes in the roof. The children attending would have to work around the rain. (The rainy season is from May to November.) We were also informed that this school is self-funded. The reason being is that the government had to make cuts and so they cut out the programs that support Kindergarten and the teachers. So the parents are forced to support the teacher and the up keep for the school. When Team #15 had received more money during their fund raising, we took the extra funds and applied it to changing this roof. This took the team exactly 4 hours to install new wood purling’s and the metal roof. We were blessed that this team was full of carpenters. At least we now can be sure that the children who study in this school will not get wet or sick.

Part 4

This team was getting closer and closer to them finish. They quickly installed gutters on the roof in which it was a blessing to have the expertise of David Pearson who install gutters in NY but he even said this is a first for him installing plastic gutters and using 3’’ PVC pipe for downspouts. At least the gutters will keep the rain off from the plates when the children are exiting the kitchen. There was a ton of sanding and painting that needed to be done and the ladies of the team went to work in painting the entire outside and inside so the school would have a clean and new finish. It is our mission to provide a turnkey operation and provide all the appliances and cooking utensils needed for the mothers to come in and start cooking. In the bottom photo you can see the completion of this kitchen. We want to say, great job and many thanks to all the teams and financial supporters who have labored and donated for this to happen. Now more than 380 children will be fed daily which makes it over 560 children between the two schools who receive hot lunches.

Part 5

I think if we did a poll in what every team member has liked the most in coming to Honduras would be the ability to get to play and interact with the children in Honduras. Team members may not know the language but they know the language of love. This is the heart of the Father (1John 4:8, 16) Not only did this team play but they helped out by providing instructions on proper hygiene for their teeth. Each classroom (12 in all) was given a class in how to take better care of their teeth. This is very important because many children have rotten teeth which are mostly due to neglect because of the lack of tooth brushes or toothpaste. Baking soda is horrible tasting and the children hate using that so they skip. So each child received a tooth brush and toothpaste. While the team was working Glenda was signing contracts for sponsoring new children to study. While signing a contract the mother in the photo right was explaining that she was just diagnosed with Lupus. Glenda called me in and I asked some of the brothers from the team to come and pray and lay hands on this mother. While we were with her she was explaining that her older daughter was having difficult time going to school because all her money was going to medical bills. So we were blessed that two of the team members picked her up with a sponsorship as well. The Lord provides for all His Children!

Part 6

When Cheryl Cleveland first started to come to Honduras in 2008 she brought an idea and a mission that has grown and blossomed into other teams. Her idea was to teach the women and men in the Barrio where we work new sewing project. Over the years it has grown into crochet, knitting, jewelry making and much more. In reality in each team that comes down a member of that team will feel led by the Spirit to bring a craft or sewing type project to teach the women. However what every leader of these projects will tell you is that the women come from various Barrios and they bring a bond of Love for Jesus and an appreciation to learn and receive the blessings that the team brings. In such a few short days we see the bond grow stronger and stronger. The women seem to have fun, laugh a lot and form friendships for eternity. It is amazing in what one woman had for a calling has turned into many blessings for teams to come.

In the bottom photo is a shot of all of us sitting on the completed steps. The “Bridge of Hope”.  The team is with the teachers of the school. This was the last day teams would be working at this school. We will always be working with this school through various small projects, the lunch program and our sponsored children but it was the last for teams. The Director and teachers spoke and we heard the change in their voices. It spelled Love, respect, and friendship for life.