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May 2002
Dear Friends,
The brush fires, heat, and lack of water have all been a part
of life during the past few months, as the dry season runs its
course in Central America. The rains are coming now, and with
them the hope of something better, of crops and more food, of
all of the things that come with the cycle of life we depend on
so much. These thoughts were with me during a recent trip to a
protected reserve where we have work with Heifer Project in several
nearby villages. The daily struggles of life can almost seem unbearable,
but as in so many cases, we found hope in the eyes and smiles
of so many people in this remote part of Honduras. As is so often
the case, the people to whom we minister teach us so much. And
in order to move into the future, we too need to have hope. This
message has been especially important to us personally this year.
Gloria and I had reached the end of a service relationship at
the end of the year 2001, and this year has developed into a new
opportunity to continue our work in Honduras under the auspices
of Heifer Project International (HPI) and the ten partner organizations
that HPI works with here. Tim will be devoting more time to Heifer
in his role as country representative and Gloria will coordinate
the mission teams and study tours that will come to Heifer and
will also do gender training programs. We are very thankful for
this opportunity.
You probably have heard of the financial difficulties that the
Worldwide Ministries Division of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
is having. According to the present trends, there could be shortfalls
for 2003 of $1.2 million and for 2004 of $4.5 million. Market
trends are affecting endowments, investment portfolios, and individual
giving. Congregations and individuals are giving more to mission
initiatives outside of the church. Globalization means that more
people are aware of things happening in other parts of the world,
some have made contacts directly and others have traveled and
seen for themselves as part of mission trips. Of course, many
of these initiatives have very positive aspects, nevertheless
for the PC(USA) to continue its mission initiatives there will
definitely be a need for more funding to come in.
Gloria and I are very thankful for the designated giving made
to support us in the mission field. This allows us to be involved
in the development processes that we have so often talked about
in our letters, the possibility of hosting mission teams, and
helping the sense of mission come alive to more people by participating
in one of them
The sustainability of mission work is like the life cycle necessary
for the environment to approximate sustainability: New life needs
to be breathed into it, and we need to nurture it. In our integrated
development programs we do this consciously by planting feed for
the animals, using manure on crops, and reaping huge benefits
for farm families to be able to feed their members. We are able
to do this in more than 200 villages now in Honduras through these
organized “mission” efforts sponsored by HPI. Farm families
may be raising cows, chickens, or even honeybees, but all have
the commitment of passing on offspring to another family. This
is the concrete way of showing solidarity
with other people and putting into practice their faith in everyday
activities. As we can see, there are many facets of sustainability
in all of these activities.
And now we have milk every day
The relationship between plants, animals, and people is important
in rural Honduras. After receiving an HPI cow, Fidel Brizuela
Bolanos, from the community of Nueva Tiburones Paguales in the
northern department of Colon, summed it up so well, “If God
had not touched these people or institutions, God would know how
we would have been with the difficulties of the dry season, this
animal has come to sustain us because before we did not have the
capability of buying a liter of milk for our children and now
we have milk every day….when we can we give milk to other
poor people.”
What about mission sustainability? Here are three new opportunities
to make this a possibility. Three special accounts have been set
up. Donations can be sent to:
Central Receiving Service
Section 300
Louisville, KY
40289
Write the title and number on your check and also on your cover
letter. Send a copy of your cover letter to:
Marian McClure
Director, Worldwide Ministries Division
100 Witherspoon St.
Louisville, KY
40202-1396
- International Mission Personnel (#E048024) for overall
funding of mission personnel needs.
- Special Opportunities in Overseas Mission (#E864015)
For special, one-time mission opportunities.
- Innovative Mission (#E047978) For new approaches to
mission.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers and for making this
real by supporting us.
Yours faithfully,
Tim and Gloria Wheeler
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 244
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