My Mission Trip to Honduras

Mí Viaje Mission a Honduras

During the third week of March 1999, the Association of Baptist Students (ABS) at SFA took a mission trip to Honduras with the ABS at the University of Arkansas. We did many things, had many interesting experiences, and formed lasting friendships. We also learned what it truly means to serve God!! It was awesome!!!

On the first day of the trip, we were all excited. Many of us had never flown out-of-the-country before, so it was a new experience. We'd never met the ABS group from the University of Arkansas before, so we didn't know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised. Even in the airport, we began to make friends, snapping photos together and introducing ourselves. There were groups from other schools going to different places too. It was exciting to hear about where everyone was going. Some were going to Guatamala, some to Costa Rica, and of course, Honduras! When we finally got on the plane (which of course was delayed AND overbooked!), we settled in. Then I couldn't find my tickets! I was so upset. They actually delayed the takeoff longer as I frantically searched absolutely everywhere, even in my pillowcase!! They'd fallen out of my jacket pocket onto the floor under the seat in front of me, and we'd set our bags on them. What a relief!

We flew for what seemed like forever until we reached Guatamala, where we transferred to a small plane to fly to Honduras. Then there was a two-hour drive from the city San Pedro Sula to the little village where we stayed, Sula. That night I actually got to order a Burger King meal in Spanish in San Pedro Sula! When we finally got to the compound and saw the buildings where we were staying, I must admit many of us were in shock. I'm not sure exactly what everyone expected, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. We had electricity, running water, a phone, and most of the comforts of home, just not exactly in the manner to which most of us were accustomed.

Honduras is beautiful. It is so much less ravaged by man than the US in many parts. There's definitely an unusal smell, which you get used to after about an hour. It's a farmy, animal smell that city-people, even small-town people, aren't used to at all. The air is much cleaner. I had not one whit of trouble with asthma while I was there.

One of the things I did on the second day, which was Sunday, was attend church in the morning and then the evening. That morning, I got to see their Children's Church, which is as cute as ours.

That night, our director, Kenny, preached a sermon with a Spanish translator. Nine people came to Christ that night and we gave out witnessing bracelets after church. I got to talk to some of the people who'd gotten saved and explain the bracelets to them in Spanish!

The next two days, Monday and Tuesday, I spent my days working with a BMAA Medical Team. It was comprised of doctors, nurses, a pharmacist, translators, "witnesses," and volunteers from churches and our group. We went into two small towns, Seis de Mayo and Asaquelpa. They cleaned out classrooms in the school for us. The kids were excited because it meant the day off for them! The villagers brought their families and each was checked out for different illnesses and conditions by the doctors, then taken to a room where the "witnesses" talked to them about Christ and prayed with them and for their healing. Then they took their diagnosis/prescription sheets and brought them to us, where we filled the prescriptions and gave them to our translator, who wrote the directions in Spanish and explained the dosage to each patient. Some of the volunteers played with the children and gave out witness bracelets, while the trained medical staff and the brave filled prescription after prescription. I can now tell exactly what my doctor is giving me before I take it to the pharmacist! *LOL*

This is part of the medical team I worked with. For their privacy, I won't reveal everyone's names, but they were a great group of people to work with.

I met these guys while working. They are Dalaina, our translator, Johana, Juan, and Jesùs.

The children of Seis de Mayo. These children range in poverty level (note that they are ALL poverty-stricken), and some can't even afford shoes to wear to school. However, they are very friendly to outsiders and the kids LOVE to have their pictures taken! When I started to take this picture, there were only five children in it!

The children of Asaquelpa. They also love to have their pictures taken. I was wise this time and just called out that I was taking a photo! They all came running! These children love to talk to people outside their villages. They wanted to know everything about me: what languages I speak, everything about my fiancé Erin, my family, EVERYTHING! They are so easy to witness to because they are eager to hear anything joyful or hopeful.

I got to learn how to count and even cut puills. . .it is the most tedious job I've ever done! *smile*

The medical team running to and fro to get prescriptions done! At first, we were having a hard time, because those of us outside medical training were unsure what each prescription symbol meant. We got the hang of it quickly, however, and worked hard all day long, as people kept coming for medical treatment that they would otherwise not have.

(L)Our one actual pharmacist checks over each prescription to make sure we are giving them the right drugs. (R)Our translator Dalaina (the daughter of a permanent missionary to Honduras), translates our English prescriptions and dosage into Spanish for the people. They listen very carefully and are eager to comply with doctor's orders. They are grateful for the treatment and medication they receive and do not take it for granted.

Patiensts seeing one of the doctors. The mother is very eager to answer all of the doctor's questions about herself and her children. The little girl is more interested in me and my camera.

Everyone's got to take a break sometime! Since the water isn't safe, everyone drinks bottled water or soda or something where the water's purified. Most places in Honduras have two cola options: Coke or Pepsi, if that many (oftentimes it's one of the two). My friends especially love this picture becuase I'm an adamant Dr Pepper lover and never drink Coke. Well, almost never. . .

Traveling was fun, I think. Most of the time you had more people than vehicle, so everyone squeezed. We are in an average-sized minivan. . .all EIGHTEEN of us. . .

The next two days were spent with both ABS groups together working to add to a second-story addition to a church in La Flecha which would become a pastorate for the Honduran pastor. He was driving over 45 minutes every day just to attend to his duties as the church's pastor. For those of us who had been working on the medical team, this was the first day for us. We were only able to add to what was done, but we did not finish the work. However, we ran electric lines, started some plumbing, and put up several walls. The contractor working as our supervisor was very impressed with our work. It was handy that two of our group members were a professional roofer and his assistant. Everyone worked very hard, even those of us who are not kinestetically inclined."

Much of what you see in this photo was added by our group the first two days. They were awesome!

Though it was not part of the second-story addition, some of us spent the day measuring, digging, and evening the beginnings of a foundation for an outdoor Sunday School class area. Later, they were going to pour cement and erect a cover of some sort for the young adult class to meet outside on nice days. This digging was not as easy as it looks!

My trip was so great! Although I missed home and my fiancé (who wasn't my fiancé quite yet. . .he bought the ring over that week), I was not ready to come home. Many of us felt that our work had only just begun and were not ready to leave. However, we boarded the plane and came back, relearning how to eat American food, and recovering from climate changes. Many of us in the SFA and Arkansas ABS groups still keep in touch with one another. I can't wait until I get to go back again!

There are still many stories to tell and photos to go with them, but I simply have not had the time to acquire and scan them. This page will be added to as time allows.