Staff and Kids from Proyecto Manuelito

Dump School Student returning Home

Rita, pray for our cook!

life in the dump

Jason, age 16, on the street

The Manuelito Five - success!

Roberta, Cori, Kim, Larry and Kathy

Jack & Ray

Honduras Team June 2008

Left to right:

• Jack O'Neill
• Larry Pentecost
• Ray Crisp
• Kathy Crisp
• Jack Wright
• Becky Wright
• Jerry Parker
• Kimberly Norris
• Roberta Hurt
• Cori Campbell

What we accomplished...

• Worked with the children in Manuelito to help them know they are loved.
• Ministered to the needs of those who live on the streets .
• Visited the dump and school there to look at how we can potentially assist a local pastor in his ministry there.
• Installed electrical conduit in the new dormitory.
• Repaired sheds and painted areas in the dining hall and computer lab.
• Led workship in an Evangelical Church in Talanga!

6/28  Saturday -- We all made it to Portland midnight!  Everything went very well and the team was grateful to see their families and friends at the airport.  All headed home for a well-earned rest!

Good Job Team! Special Thanks to Jack Wright, our team leader, and his faithful sidekick, Becky Wright!

6/27  Friday --  PTL we made it through Tegucigalpa without any problems.  We spent a good part of the day driving to Progresso, about a half hour from the airport. On the way, our host, Jorge Pinto, knew a shortcut but was concerned about the safety so he pulled us over and talked to the police who were sitting there.  The result was a police escort through the entire shortcut -- miles!  Once we settled into the Hotel Casa Blanca (with air-conditioned rooms!), we went a little tourist shopping and then had a meal at Pizza Hut to reacclimate us.   It was a fun day and everyone rested well as we traveled.  All have been checked in online and Jack O will go to the airport early with Jorge to complete the process to make sure everyone gets on the plane okay.

6/26  Thursday -- Today was our last with the kids.  We got a lot of work done on the buildings and cleaning up and then ended the day with a goodbye party.  Lots of singing, praying, laughing and crying, We are all tired and tomorrow we get on the bus at 5AM to drive to San Pedro. the busses and taxis are on strike tomorrow and plan to block the roads, so that is why we have to leave so early.

This will likely be the last communication until you see us at the airport on Saturday.  We will try tomorrow from our hotel.

Thank you for your prayers and you emails of encouragement.  We have much to share with you when we get home and get some sleep!

Dios Bendigos -- God Bless you!

6/25  Wednesday -- Rita was back in the kitchen this morning, feeling much better after getting some rest.  We talked about some changes she will make in her diet and she is under the care of a doctor.  She is back to her sweet self.  PTL!

In construction, a lot more of the electrical work was accomplished today!  Additional maintenance and building projects were also completed, while still leaving plenty of time to interact with the kids.  Jack W also took a tour of the 16 acres next door that will be acquired for Manuelito,

Jack O went to the school at the dump and did in-service training for the teachers as they deal with special needs students.  Plans for future medical teams were also discussed with Amor y Fe (Love & Faith) School.

All of the team attended church in Talanga led by our construction leader, Tivo, who is also the 70 year old pastor. The team (less Jack O) sang a couple of songs. Becky shared a testimony.  Jack O preached on "Serving Others" whil1e Cori translated!  It was a wonderful night.  The perfect ending to a great day.

6/24 Tuesday -- Sad news today.  While we were finishing lunch today, our cook, Rita Hernandez, suffered a small heart attack.  Cori & Jack O assisted her and were able to get her stabilized.  She is under the care of a physician and returned home for the day.  It is likely she will return tomorrow.  She did not want to let our team down!

More construction on the dormitory today.  Kathy Crisp ran the small jackhammer most of the day!  Others were placing conduit and painting.   Now there is more of an understanding on how important it is to complete it so that the 11 in the transition center can come here, and be replaced by newly rescued children.  Each day is a new opportunity to get to know the children better and to know their needs.  The staff at both campuses are devoted to serving their needs and the Lord as they do so.

6/23 Monday -- Our day began in the dumps of Tegucigalpa led by Pastor Jeony (Johnny) who has been ministering to children there for 8 years.  He established a school that now has over 150 kids who would be in the dumps working it he did not provide a stipend to their parents to allow them to attend.  The scenes in the dump were heartbreaking as we handed out water and talked with the many teens and some of the adults there.  Over a thousand people live their.  We listed to Pastor Jeony dream of how he would like to expand his outreach to even more kids there, as well as their families.  Challenged we headed back to Talanga where we worked a few more hours on our construction project and interacted with the children there, remembering how blessed there are because of Pastor Jose's vision to follow God onto the street with His Love, and the support of His people.  So much more must be done, here and elsewhere, and after seeing these two men in particular, we all believe it can be done!

6/22 Sunday -- We made it to the Amor y Vida Church by 830 exactly after a 1.5 hour drive.  The highlight of the lively service was the celebration of 5 of the Manuelito Youth from age 17 - 20.  Maricella and Rita are studying to be Teachers, Maribella wants to be a missionary (to Africa she us later), Emerson is destined to be a pastor, politician, musician or all of the above.  Bryan's biggest dream is to have his own family.  All lived ont he streets and shared of their worst stories and what Manuelito and Jesus means to them, as they now move onto adulthood.  It was very touching and there was much to celebrate!  We then took a tour of the transition shelter which is above the church and met the 11 children who are there, including four "babies" 1-4 years old.  Duncan is one of the babies who was found in a box when he was a couple of weeks old.  We all went to Pizza Hut and had a wonderful time!

In the evening we were escorted by the police to visit some of those kids who live on the street.  The three girls from Manuelito went with us and ministered to those they were once a part of.  It was very touching.  Exchanging food for the glue they were huffing.  Seeing young teens very pregnant.  This is a rough crowd and yet Pastor Jorge and Jeremy had many strong relationships with the kids from their many years of ministry and trust.

6/21  Saturday -- Another great day sharing with the kids and doing some work.  We uncovered the concrete columns we poured yesterday and they stood all by themselves!  We poured the last one and got going ont he electrical work.  But the real "work" was playing with the kids, helping them plant the garden, and walking into town with a few of them who became our caretakers.  All of us have sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit on this adventure. Our hearts are challenged and inspired as we see what our Honduran brothers and sisters are doing to help those children who are otherwise lost and desperate.  Of special mention is Jeremy, our overseer.  His devotion to the Lord and kids is incredible and he is in his eighth year with the project.

Tomorrow we will go into Tegucigalpa leaving here before 7AM to get to church by 830, or close to it.  We will then meet the children who live in the transition house that is above the Amor y Vida Church as well as several who are now in college!  Between Talanga and Tegucigalpa, there are 27 in the project with another 5 at El Sembrador for vocational training.

We will spend the night in Tegucigalpa and then we will hopefully all go to see a ministry that is occurring in the dumps of Tegucigalpa.  We will be looking at potential resources that we can offer them especially in the way of medical assistance.  We will be back at Talanga by Monday night.  Our next communication may be then.

Thanks for your prayers.  All are in good health and great spirits and the weather has been very good, and the food has been incredible!

6/20  Friday -- Up and at 'em early.  Our task for the day was to build columns on the porch for the new dormitory.  We cut the wood, made forms, made concrete, and filled the columns by mid afternoon.  It was good weather, just a bit hot after noon.  Everyone found lots of work to do and plenty of time later to play with the kids. 

Praise the Lord everyone is healthy, but pray for Jack Wright as he get his bp under control.  No major sunburns and lots of excellent food.  All this and heaven, too!

This is Jerry of the Larry and Jerry.  To demonstrate our versatility we worked in a number of areas.  We started with building (actually, helping to build forms!) for con crete columns,  moved to putting new floor model fans together for the rooms and then on to putting some new drawer pulls for the kitchen. 

6/19  Thursday -- Well, we spent the night flying to Houston.  A few us slept.  Then we got to Sand Pedro Sula at about 1115 and made it through customs and onto the bus by 1pm  We rode and we rode and we rode and we rode.  Very slow, beautiful scenery. At about 730PM we finally made it to Talanga and we were all pretty exhausted.  Off to bed!

6/18 Wed nite -- we all made it through the airport security and are doing just fine.  Our flight leaves about 1AM (Red eye for the red shirts) and we should get to Honduras about 1015AM PST.  Looks like our flight is full of other teams!  We are right in there with the best of them!

Everyone is getting to know one another while we wait.  We are all anticipating our arrival at Talanga where the children are.  We have been praying for them for so long.  It will be good to see them.

Stay tuned for more!!

Bueno, estamos esperando el avion para irnos a Talanga... Bienvenidos a Honduras! -- Cori