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July 2014

worldrenew.net/honduras

Irene Zepeda Country Consultant izepeda@world-renew.net

Eduardo Artica Program Advisor eartica@world-renew.net

Reyna Rodriguez Administrator rrodriguez@world-renew.net

Rolando Pinzon Constituency Bridger rpinzon@world-renew.net

Carol Moreno Volunteer caroljunemoreno@gmail.com

Caspar Geisterfer CRWM Missionary cgeisterfer@crcna.org

World Renew Canada 3475 Mainway PO Box 5070 STN LCD 1 Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8 1-800-730-3490 Fax: 905-336-8344

World Renew US 1700 28th Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 1-800-552-7972 Fax: 616-224-8060

World Renew Honduras Col. Francisco Murillo Soto PO Box: 2720 Tegucigalpa, Honduras Tel: (504) 245 4222 (504) 245 5683

Honduras

Fresh from the Field

Hello, I want to share about a “Familias Fuertes” (strong families) graduation I at-tended in mid-July. Familias Fuertes is an ASJ (Association for a more Just Society) program. ASJ is a partner agency of World Renew. It was a great privilege to partici-pate in this graduation.

The event had a big impact on me. I saw this group of parents sharing everything they learned from their children, and not only mothers. Some fathers were also pre-sent for the celebration and shared about what they and their children have learned about each other in the family therapy ses-sions that are part of the project. Fifteen families graduated at the event after they faithfully attended seven sessions where parents learned to set limits for their chil-dren with love and put to practice what they learned in their homes.

One parent, Osman Barrientos, said, “I learned how to approach, treat, and deal with my children. The goal of the family therapy sessions is to improve and fortify our family unity and communication—and we accomplished it.”

I was surprised by the great response from the parents regarding the program. One of them mentioned that his and his son’s lives have gone through exceptional change be-cause of it. He said that his son is more obedient, and as a father he has learned to treat his son with loving care, as a father should really treat his child. This father asked his son to forgive him and thanked God for letting him attend Familias Fuertes meetings, since he used to think that only mothers had to attend such programs. He has learned that in order to restore others, first he had to let God restore his own life. Praise God!

Strong Families by Irene Zepeda Country Consultant Honduras Team

World Renew Canada 1-800-730-3490 worldrenew.net

World Renew US 1-800-552-7972 worldrenew.net

New Experiences for a New Bridger

I want to share with you the love I have experienced during my first three months as a Bridger. Even though my first experience (and a beautiful experi-ence it was) with a group from North America was as a translator with New Westminster CRC from British Columbia, God had planned that the King's Univer-sity College would be my first group as a Bridger. This year´s water project took us to the community of Quebrada Hon-da, a neighborhood in in the Choluteca region, with Diaconia Nacional, one of World Renew´s partner agencies in Hon-duras.

On May 9, we arrived in this small but incredibly beautiful and hardworking community. I believe our first three days were our “hardest,” since during those first few work days we got used to deal-ing with the heat, coordinating with the local people, and just getting to know each other. The group had so many questions—and many of them were an-swered as the team talked with workers in the trenches, talked to women in the kitchen and in their homes, and ex-changed experiences during team devo-tions.

In the afternoon when we weren’t dig-ging trenches, we spent our time visiting homes, attending community meetings, hauling water from the nearby well, visit-ing a local cashew nut factory and a shrimp farm, and playing with the local children. The house visits and meetings with community leaders really helped the group get answers to their questions and get a broader understanding of some of the factors that contribute to poverty in the community.

I would like to introduce you all to Mama Doris. What can I say about this incredi-ble woman? She is the president of the

community board, on the school board and the water board, and currently train-ing to be a midwife. Upset stomach, back ache, severe sunburn or just need a hug…. ”Have no fear! Mama Doris is here!” She is one of the bravest people I have ever met. I pray to God that every community has a “Mama Doris.”

This King’s University team, which will forever be in my heart, had an incredible experience that exceeded their expecta-tions because they built strong relation-ships in the community. Most important-ly, they shared with the community the love of Jesus Christ.

On June 2, I traveled to the community of Corinto in San Lorenzo with a small but incredible group from inSpirit Church for a “Look, Listen, and Learn” assess-ment trip, again with Diaconia Nacional. It was another amazing trip, especially witnessing the way that these two com-munities came together to share experi-ences and worshipped our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In Corinto, we made home visits, met with community leaders, and played with the local children. Everyone was amazed at the similarities between the pastors: they were in the same profession, didn’t want to become pastors, and God called them to a life of service. Now, both com-munities are excited about the possibili-ties of a partnership and have started taking steps to strengthen their relation-ship with each other through a prayer ministry and regular communication. God willing, these two commu-nities will be another “match made in Heav-en.”

Finally on June 9, I received one of the most special birthday gifts in my life as I traveled on my birthday with an amazing group from Inglewood CRC to the com-munity of La Avispa in Olancho, again with Diaconia Nacional. This is a commu-nity which I have on various occasions referred to as “a hidden paradise.” This time we were there to build pilas (water tanks), latrines, and floors. Thinking, “You had me at Hello,” when I hadn’t yet set a foot in La Avispa, I already knew that

God had something beautiful planned for all of us!

As usual, in the morning we worked on construction projects alongside the vil-lage families, and we were able to share experiences and really connect together. In the afternoon, we visited more homes, met community leaders, visited the school, and participated in lots of activi-ties with the members of the community, especially the children. I feel like this trip was a very special birthday gift from God.

These first three months as a bridger with World Renew in Honduras have been an incredible blessing in my life. God has allowed me to see how groups from North America and the local com-munities come together to share in the love of Jesus Christ. It is has been my great privilege and honor to have worked alongside these groups and to have learned so much from them. The work they do, the time they spend in the communities and the lives they touch will forever be a blessing to us all, and I feel so blessed to have witnessed that. They will forever be in my heart.

I have seen the faces of the groups that come from North America, I have seen the faces of the people and the children in the communities, and most important, I have seen the power of God’s love when they come together! What an in-credible first three months! I can’t wait to see what God has planned for the next three years!

by Rolando Pinzon Constituency Bridger Honduras Team

World Renew Canada 1-800-730-3490 worldrenew.net

World Renew US 1-800-552-7972 worldrenew.net

In Honduras, it was reported that by the end of 2013, 63.6% of the population between the ages of 12 and 20 are active consumers of alcohol; 58% of tobacco; 16.8% of marijuana; and 10% of cocaine. Marijuana is the illegal drug most com-monly used by young people, according to oRcial government investigations by IHADFA (Honduran Institute for the Pre-vention of Alcoholism and Drug Addic-tion).

Diaconia Nacional, a partner of World Renew in Honduras, is working in the community of Laure which is being greatly aSected by the sale and con-sumption of drugs among many of its youth. I asked Noel Larios of Diaconia Nacional about the situation and he said, "I feel sad every time I go to the commu-nity of Laure and see so many young people on the streets under the influ-ence of drugs.”

In response, Diaconia Nacional and the local Christian Reformed Church joined forces to work on drug prevention. They are helping at-risk youth through group meetings where values, biblical teaching, and vocational training are promoted. Let me share with you the life-changing story of one young man in Laure.

Lester Ordoñez is a 23-year-old man who lives with his father Santos Isabel Ordoñez (60). Lester has two sisters and a brother. His mother died when she was

35 years old and his younger brother was killed when he was shot in the head at the age of eight.

“My mom and dad immigrated to the north coast and that's where I was born. When I was three years old, my mother died of a disease that to this day, I still don’t know its name. At the age of nine, I came to Lau-re to live with my grandmother Alejan-drina, and she enrolled me in the com-munity’s elementary school. When I was 13, I went to high school and that's when I started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. At the age of 14, I was already into abusing cocaine and crack. I used drugs for seven years," says Lester.

"I remember one day I was very drunk and had also used marijuana. Suddenly, Pastor Apolinario and Brother Noel Lari-os invited me to a youth meeting and with lots of doubt, I went to the meeting. I was surprised, because the topic that was being taught was drugs and their eSects. I was upset at first because I thought it was because of me that brother Noel was teaching this topic, but suddenly I felt something in my heart, and it was that day that I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Six months later I was bap-tized, and my interest in working with other at-risk young people grew. Since then, I have helped with the formation of

an "Impact Club," in Laure, and I remain involved in most of its activities. I have now learned to make nylon thread bracelets and I took a training class in upholstering furniture. "

Lester concluded his story by saying, "I now make bracelets and sell them for 20 Lempiras each, and I also repair furni-ture. I am able to eat every day with the income I’m earning. I thank God for res-cuing me from drugs. I also thank Pastor Apolinario and brother Noel for all of their support. I have been serving the Lord for three years now. Here at the church, I found my life partner—and soon I'm going to marry her. Thank God I am now a new person in Jesus Christ. "

Lester's testimony shows that the com-bined eSorts of the Christian Reformed Church in Honduras and Diaconia Nacional in drug prevention are promis-ing. Now, Diaconia Nacional has expand-ed its prevention activities and is train-ing children in the local schools. Current-ly, 72 children have already received training and counseling to prevent drug abuse.

Seeds—more food and a better diet. Encouraging fami-

lies to raise home gardens helps reduce food shortag-

es and improves diet. Families plant vegetables such

as onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers,

radishes, and more. $2$2$2$2

Giving Idea

Health Kit for Children—Nutritional deficits and result-

ing illnesses among children are a growing concern in

Honduras. Provide a kit that of soybeans (for nutritious

milk), vitamins, and medicine. $17$17$17$17

Giving Idea

A United Effort in Drug Prevention A Story of Transformation

by Eduardo Artica Program Advisor Honduras Team