July & August 2008 Photos > Next Page

Charlie Smith of Faith United Presbyterian Church, Tinley Park, IL and Hernán Ricardo Lopez (Hernie) of Christian Solidarity Programs for Honduras are working in Honduras. The following are excerpts and photos from one of Charlie's reports.

July 23rd was travel to Miami, and a stay with Betsabe's Aunt and Uncle.  It was a wonderful, rewarding time and a connection was formed that has already proven useful.  Among other benefits, Betsa's Aunt is capable of shipping things down to Honduras inexpensively from Miami.  She also donated some medical supplies to Flor, who is a friend to many of us.  We also shopped for supplies for various purposes, including another duffel bag to carry a larger allowance of items than were allowed in Chicago, and more donated materials.  July 24th was travel to Honduras, and a quiet night of scripture and prayer; and finally, after several weeks, a night of sleep uninterrupted by the phone or the Internet or visitation.  I actually got almost 8 hours of sleep!

Continued below.

A dead mahogany tree being donated to help the people of Los ranchos. Standing beside the tree is Hernie's mother, the current owner of the tree. The hope is that we can help the people make objects to sell from the wood.

Pastor Valan Robert/Retreage Mc'Field and family. Their names are: (back row) Valan Robert/Retreage Mc'Field, their 'blood daughter' Lizy Rackel, Petrona Guevara; (front row) Iris Oneyda (abandoned), Maria (taken from her abusive father), and Rosie (also abandoned).

Charlie wrote: "When I look at these children, I wonder what the circumstances of their lives were like,
and why it came to be as it was. That's when I cry. Now God has given them different circumstances, and their healing, hopefully, can begin. God bless them all and give them peace."

Hernie's grandmother and her brother, both experienced warriors in the field and harvesters of souls for the glory of God and the kingdom's work.

Hernie and Flor, taken while they were discussing her health. The bag contains diabetes supplies for Flor and her son, Roberto. Flor was our cook in 2004 and 2005. A dear friend and an excellent cook.
     On the 25th, I traveled to Tegucigalpa from San Pedro Sula, where I was met by Hernie and Adriana (his daughter), and taken to dinner.  After dinner, we went to several places getting supplies and working on unpacking.  It is the 26th at 10 PM, and I am still not unpacked.  Hopefully tomorrow will have some free time in it for that. 
     This morning (July 26), Hernie and his mother and grandmother and I traveled to Comayagua to look at a church that has asked for help, and also to visit Hernie's great uncle, who is retired from the ministry.  While we were there, we discovered a possible cottage industry for the people of Los Ranchos.  More on that as it develops.
     The church in question has 77 people who regularly attend, up from 6 people three years ago.  They are growing, and have already improved the building, but they need help with the roof, because they are spending most of their resources developing the congregation and preparing for an evangelism drive in their area, which is one of the poor, rough parts of Comayagua City. 
     The pastor there has one natural child, and he and his wife are caring for three beautiful girls until the government can find homes for them.  Two of them, Iris Oneyda and Rosie, were abandoned by their mothers, and the third one, little Maria, was being abused by her father.  I have enclosed a picture of the family and another of the roof.  That, and travel, took most of the day, and we arrived home after a very late lunch.  On the way to the house, we stopped to see Flor.
     Flor is not doing real well.  She has lost a lot of weight, and had to sell her car to buy supplies to start a business similar to the one that Lohanny's family has, out of her house.  While we were delivering supplies, she stated that her stove only worked on one coil (it's electric).  We got a second one going for now, and between church services tomorrow we will try to get the other ones going for her.  She has not been able to find work, and this is her attempt to keep her head above water.  She trusts God to provide, and is at peace with her situation.  She asks for prayers, and it was very good indeed to see her again.  She is the same Flor that I remember from 2004 and 2005, and her spirit is still sweet.  She asked after many of her friends, and says hello to all.  That pretty much brings it up to date.
     Please keep us (and Honduras) in your prayers.
     Tomorrow afternoon, we head toward brother Buranapong and San Nicolas Copan.

God bless,
Charlie
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