February 2003

Dear Friends,

In previous letters we have mentioned the women's groups that have been organized in rural communities called "Circles of Friends and Neighbors" and how important they have been in providing both a practical and a physical presence through which benefits can be distributed to more people.

The circles are a motivational and psychological framework through which members learn together and receive encouragement, build self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is an important part of the development process, since in Honduras the sense of community is being lost. There are street gangs in cities and rural towns without young people. The large factories around cities attract young people. Governmental indifference and corruption are part of everyday life.

When compared with the seemingly insurmountable national problems, progress on the local and individual level stands out more vividly, because on the local level we are able to see a sense of hope for the future.

Everyday life in Honduras is so difficult that we are often challenged to find a real sense of hope. But we think we've found hope present in the circles of friends and neighbors, which offer a better future and a sense of community. People who receive animals pass on offspring to others, so chickens, pigs, and heifers are continually changing hands until all in the community have animals. As animals change hands a fabric of community solidarity and organization is woven. There's a heightened concern for others, increased self-esteem and leadership, and greater community participation for the common good of all.

Don Sotero Dominguez tells of the experience of the circle in Quebrada Honda:

The circle began in 1998. The women organized themselves and now have an organization of 150 women. There are 10 organized circles. Each circle has its own name. These groups are formed according to the families that are involved and are grouped according to these nuclei. Five promoters have received training in order to work with the circles of women. The promoters analyze the problems, arrange the problems by priorities, and decide what they can do to solve them. More than anything it is family work. This has helped us to evolve to the point where we now have several animal projects. The work is done voluntarily within each family, and now 58 families have been benefited. In the chicken project, 98 families are benefiting. The project has increased in size. It was began by the women making a decision and now they have their own communal project.

This year we have seen many positive developments on the local level and in individual lives. With the assistance of some mission teams, we have witnessed the completion of a housing project in Las Mercedes. The doors that went on the adobe brick houses represent doorways to new hope in people's lives. In three areas of the country communities have joined together for mutual advancement by forming regional committees. These committees have their sights on becoming cooperatives in the future so that all the member communities will be able to receive greater benefits.

In other communities we have seen hope expressed in simple terms. In a community in the mountains of Santa Cruz de Pasguare, a man who received a cow through the program said he had never even dreamed of owning a cow. Now he hopes that others in the community will have a chance to benefit, just as he had. That same community also has a chicken program with some families getting eggs every day. "Now we see the difference for our children too," they say.

Changes come slowly, but we are thankful for the change that does take place. We are also thankful for the support that has made it possible to reach 200 communities and 3,500 families in Honduras through Heifer programs.

Family News

We are very thankful for the well-being of our family. Pamela is an economics major in college in her final semester. She's considering continued study in languages. Marsha, also a senior, is a biology major with her eye on graduate school. She thoroughly enjoyed last semester, which she spent in Kenya. Grace, now a high school junior, continues to enjoy academics and athletics, especially soccer.

Gloria and I send our greetings and our sincerest thanks for prayers but more importantly for being in solidarity with people in Honduras. You can visit our Web page at www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/wheelert.htm for other stories and information.

Tim and Gloria

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 249