Our trip to Choluteca, Honduras in March 2006 was incredible. We had the opportunity to visit a poverty-stricken area of Honduras and reach out to people who often feel dispair and helplessness in regards to their circumstances.
Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras hard in 1998. Poor families struggled to rebuild houses that were completely wiped away. In Choluteca, a shanty town sprung up near the river. The homes are constructed of wooden pallets, cardboard & plastic tarps. Great Commission Choluteca regularly brings staple foods to the families at the river. We brought donated clothing, shoes & toys. Eventually, the church hopes to team up with a relief organization to help construct a new neighborhood for these families.
A member of Great Commission Choluteca lives in a small village called Linaca. She invited our team to come visit the village. We brought two piñatas for the kids, which was a big hit. We also repaired the public playground. We removed trash, rocks & cow manure, installed boards for the see-saws, hung new swings, and painted all the equipment. The church hopes to continue outreach in this village.
A group of women from Great Commission Choluteca began a ministry for women at a local prison. The week we were there, seven women from the program were being baptized and we were invited to attend. Each woman had a beautiful story of the transformation brought into her life by the love of Christ & the care of the Christian community.
During our stay in Choluteca, we visited the public hospital. We did a puppet show in the waiting area, repaired a few benches, and visited with patients in the pediatric and neo-natal wards. The hospital is government funded, but does not receive the resources it needs. They asked us to consider bringing donations of sheets & gowns when we return.
