His hives multiplied, as did his
earnings. In a year, he made $4,500 by selling honey, and he was
able to send his children to school. He no longer thinks of immigrating,
and people come to his model farm to learn from his experience.
Another story of the strong faith to overcome obstacles that
we see here in Honduras comes from Gloria’s work with mission
teams. Every year, she hosts about 15 teams. Almost all of them
work in rural community projects, and as part of the educational
component of the program, they listen to talks about life in Honduras.
In recent years, Gloria has organized some housing projects in
which people build their own houses. The Chorti-Mayan people in
western Honduras participated in some of these. With plans for
a new project, we went to the area in January to talk with the
people of Chonco, whose project proposal had been approved. On
our way to Chonco, a man from a community called Bonete overheard
the conversation about the new project. His name was Manuel, and
he had been named “supreme advisor” by his community,
the maximum authority in the Mayan tradition. When he talked to
us about his plans for Bonete, it was clear how badly he wanted
to improve conditions there, where people live in houses with
thatched roofs, walls of mud and sticks, and a dirt floor, just
as they have for hundreds of years. Cooking is done over three
stones in a corner of the house. The health problems are multiple
from these conditions.
The next day we met with Manuel and others in Bonete. It became
evident that a mission presence in this village was meant to be.
Not long afterward, we sent two machines for making cement blocks
manually to the village, and they organized into groups of six
people who make 200 to 300 cement blocks each day. Now they have
over 15,000 blocks and will start to build their own houses when
a mission team comes in July. The determination that they showed
at our first meeting has turned out to be just as firm as the
cement blocks that they are now making.
In our work with the Chorti people, I feel that we are receiving
the rest that Matthew talked about, in which people are so humble
in their service to each other.
Good news
Gloria and I have been reappointed for another three-year term
of service in Honduras, with some duties in other countries of
Central America. We know many of you have been wondering about
this, and now that it has been confirmed we also need to request
support from you. Mission funds for missionaries are at a new
low. You can support best by pledging to Direction Mission Support.
Write Anne
Blair to get a pledge form and brochure.
The focus of our ministry will continue to be community development
and capacity-building for programs in the Mesoamerica region,
and we will still host mission teams. We also will be resource
people for projects funded by the Presbyterian Hunger Program
and the Self-development of the People. We are very grateful for
this opportunity of continued service, growth, and personal fulfillment
in which we are so often on the receiving end.
Our daughters are all doing well. Grace has finished her second
year as a biology major at Carnegie Mellon University. Marsha
is getting her M.S. in Gainesville, Florida, and Pamela is doing
social work in Cincinnati. We especially appreciate your holding
them up in your prayers and for sharing the hopes and dreams we
put into the small actions we are part of in Honduras.
Yours,
Tim and Gloria
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
59 |
