Water and food: check!

Here's a quick update on what's been going on in Honduras!

Water Project

The water project we started back in January is still moving along in typical Latin style. Although water is a great need in Nueva Armenia, the main community we work in, locals have resigned to the fact that water just isn't available in their homes. They understand that the process of getting something done here takes longer, and in our case, this is true as well. We were blessed with the donation of the majority of the well pump and parts to go along with the installation. But with this comes the delay from shipping the pump and parts from the U.S.  The quality of this pump is way beyond what could be purchased here, so we are OK with waiting (as are they) and giving this community something that will last into the future.

Phase II:

Existing structure to house
the water filtration.

While we've been waiting for the pump we've been talking with two pastors of two churches in the community about starting a filling station for filtered water. One of the churches had at one point already had this idea and had started the project a few years earlier. Due to lack of funding and no water flow to the community, this project had stopped altogether. Because they had already started this project in the past, there is already a small cement slab, roof and semi-secure area next to the church. The next step will be to extend tubing to the street and create a clean filling area next to the main road through town. The filtration system can be setup in the already existing cement slab and then fully secured. The filling area will be a huge blessing to the community, and will be a way for these two churches to connect to people in the community on a different level.

Community Service = Food for the Hungry

Corey with the original members of the work group.

About one year ago we began work in Nueva Armenia by helping to supplement food to a community work group, which at the time was about 10 people made up of 2 to 3 families, mostly women. We provide food for the group in exchange for community service (cleaning up trash, clearing frequently used trails, repairing structures and/or homes for elderly, etc). Today it has grown to around 40 people including a larger group of men and young men who do the majority of the heavy work (construction, digging, etc.). The purpose of helping to expand this work group was to create unity in the community and to also expand the influence of our message of hope in Jesus Christ. Since October of last year, we've been able to include two churches in this work program expanding their influence as well by giving them a way to share Christ. We anticipate turning this project over completely to the churches by the end of the summer. Praise God!

Feeding Center

Feeding center location (cement slab) next to the church.

Because of our involvement with the community work group, we've made connections with various organizations and ministries who specialize in providing food for needy communities and people. We recently heard from one of the pastor's wives, Oneyda, that she has had a desire to start a feeding center for the children and elderly of the community. With our existing connections to these food sources, we are in the beginning stages of helping her start a feeding center in Nueva Armenia, centered out of one of the churches. Her dream is to build a center with a kitchen, food storage area, and dining room/eating area. The feeding center would start by feeding children a protein and vitamin rich breakfast and also teach them God's Word using the Garifuna Bible. By doing this, they are teaching their culture and language all wrapped into God's Word. Eventually, as God provides, they wish to expand the program to breakfast and lunch giving around 70 children and elderly at least one solid meal a day.

Transferable & Multipliable

One of our ministry policies working within Garifuna communities is that in everything we do, it must be transferable, multipliable or both. It must also be their idea, not ours—led by them, not by us. Ownership happens when the idea comes from them, even when we think our way is better. Our role is to help carry out their plans by connecting them to resources that are already here.

Our plan is to eventually turn the ministry over to a local group or entity. So far, God has grown this ministry very quickly (especially for a Latin country!). He has connected (and proven these connections through our projects) to provide basic needs of water and food to this needy community. Community leaders have responded to lead their people. Pastors have volunteered to use what God has provided to challenge and love their community members. THIS is what we desire.

THANK YOU!

We thank you for your continuing support for our ministry and for our family in so many ways, prayerfully, financially, and in the form of special gifts and help that many of you have provided. We thank God for you!

The Wells Family