First Trip to Honduras - March 7-14, 2006

On March 7-14, 2006 was my first mission trip to Agua Zarca, Honduras (Central America) with my home church Freedom Life Church(www.freedomlifechurch.com).

Our church partnered with International Aid (www.internationalaid.org) and our Honduran Host Vida Abundante Iglesia (Abundant Life Church www.vidaabundantehn.org) to sponsor Agua Zarca's development over the next ten years.

It's community development plan consists of: Water System Improvement, Latrine System, Village Pharmacy (Completed!), Sewerage, multi-sports court, constructon of a storage room for school, Kindergarten building, Electricity, improvement of homes, agricultural activities (started with teaching how to grow vegetables/fruits, need more education), road improvement, school fence, community center, testing and treatment for drinking water, reforestation, improved stoves (Completed!), water filters and water reservoir.

Agua Zarca is a villge made up of 34 homes and they are located deep in the mountains, southwest of the country. It is near the border of Guatemala and El Salvador. Because they are so deep in the mountains, they lack some basic conveniences like electricity and healthy drinking water. But slowly those things are coming their way, thank the Lord.

International Aid has already set-up a village pharmacy and trained a villager to be the local pharmacist. Most illnesses are related to unhealthy drinking water.

Last year we had the opportunity to help build (the family is required to be involved in the process) ‘hornillas’ or stoves also known as Lorena Stoves. They are made from sand, clay dirt, dried pine needles and very fresh manure, courtesy of the village cows. The reason for the manure it acts as a repellant toward mice and cockroaches so they won’t be encouraged to make the hornillas their home. We made 27 from scratch.

These stoves are better than the ones they had. One, the stovetop is made from steel. Two, less wood is used and it heats faster, so it’s environmentally friendly to their forest. Three, there is an oven and it is heated anytime the stovetop is lit. Four, the chimney pipe ventilates the smoke directly through the roof instead of into their lungs. Five, it’s stable, some stoves would collapse in the middle of making a meal.

Please pray for the community of Agua Zarca and pray about joining us on the next trip.