Honduras Lovelink Update
Christmas Gift Distribution October 2007
Hello Sponsors,
It’s a joy to write and share about our most recent gift distribution to your sponsored children in Honduras.
Fourteen women traveled to Honduras to be your ambassadors and to share Christ’s love with the children and their families. And it was very rewarding. We spent one and one half days at each Colony/School and one day at the Children’s Home. The trip was a great success. The children loved our skit on Adam and Eve. We were able to perform it in the new church at Ocotillo, which is very large and all the students could gather together at one time.
Also at the Omoa Children’s Home, after we performed it for girls there, they were “casted” and performed the skit for us and everyone had a role. Brenda Johnson does a super job writing these light-hearted Biblical skits and the girls at Omoa had so much fun. They got in to character easily! It’s awesome to see what God has done at Omoa and in the lives of the girls at the Home.
A special blessing for Bob and I personally was to pick up the new 15 passenger Mazda van and deliver it to the children’s home. The girls and staff were elated and immediately got in the van and checked it out! Note that we are still seeking 4 more donors willing to make one payment a year on the van for 4 years; we have contributions committed for 8 months out of each year. The loan has been acquired and contributions to Lifeline for a payment a year (4 payments), for a total of $1600.00 over 4 years are still needed to have full funding for this vehicle that was necessary when their shuttle bus just quit working and couldn’t be fixed. The primary use of the shuttle bus was to take the girls to school. Each van payment is $400.00.
Some additional highlights of the trip included touring the oldest fort in Honduras. It happens to be within walking distance of the Children’s Home at Omoa and it was a gorgeous view from the rooftop of the fort. Distribution of baby layettes at Colony Gonzales, attending worship services at Ocotillo and Gonzales, and holding Ladies Day for all 4 of our churches were very special activities. The renovations and repairs at Gonzales have made a difference in the appearance and most of the flooding has been alleviated there. Our theme for this Ladies Work Team was “Bad Girls of the Bible” and for the first time the Honduran pastors’ wives and several other leaders in the church taught the lessons using this theme. Our gals from the U.S. handled the games and crafts but our Honduran sisters taught and did an awesome job!
At Ocotillo we were delighted to see the new Library under construction…Darwyn Sanchez, Director of the school, raised the funds to build the facility and now Lifeline is pledged to furnishing and equipping the facility. For more information on how you can help us, contact Gretchen@Lifeline.org . We need books in Spanish, computers, desks, shelves, air conditioners, chairs, benches, and more. During this trip we had the pleasure of hosting a graduation party for Darwyn at CaryHill. He has an additional degree now in journalism1 Although he’s the first to admit he has no intention of becoming a journalist! J
We found the children to be in good spirits and good health in general. There were no outbreaks of any diseases like malaria or dengue fever or flue although it did rain a lot while we were there. We did arrive just on the heels of one of our former students being killed by a gang member(s). We don’t know all the details but one week ahead of our trip we learned to was shot at Colony Ocotillo. His last sponsor happened to be on the women’s trip and she learned of this and of course was very saddened. Of course there are always serious social issues behind the scenes in the lives of these precious children but knowing that they get some joy and help through your gifts means so much.
The teens in our churches in Honduras are gearing up for the Christ In Youth (CIY) Conference in Guatemala. They must raise about $25.00 each to go there and they are excited! It is expected that about 50 or more will go. The church at Ocotillo is bursting at the seams with youth on Sunday mornings and evenings too!
Thank you so much for the gifts, money, purchases and correspondence that you sent for your children in Honduras. We convey their gratitude through this letter. And the photos also express their thanks.
Enclosed with this letter are the photos that we took of your children receiving their gifts. Sponsors sent hundreds of gift packages, money for over 100 basic food baskets, a dozen Bibles, several story books, and thousands of dollars in cash. The children have received everything and we had the pleasure of seeing their reaction to their gifts. We spent over 1200 on extra luggage fees to get all the gifts in to the country. If anyone out there reading this has any “connections” with Continental Airlines for waiver of excess luggage fees we could certainly put the money for this type expense to good use in the future instead of paying the airlines this extra fee for the luggage.
In most cases the sponsored child has also made you a small Christmas gift/communication and you will find it in this envelope. Please enjoy it and as you look at the photo of your child and at the gift or card they sent you, please think of them and pray for them and their families.
Also we humbly ask you to pray for Lifeline and our financial needs. In 2007 we expended over $1,158,000.00 in children’s ministries among our works in Honduras and Haiti. And there are still many unmet needs. Yet we praise God because of the spiritual work we see taking place and that is what matters most. The growth in the lives of the youth and their families was really evident this year as we had dozens of youth come to Christ and be baptized. Yet it takes funds to meet the physical and educational needs because through these tools people come to Jesus. Lifeline has a need of over $200,000.00 a month and a remaining need for over this amount as the year comes to an end.
A special “thank you” to those who have given to Baker’s Dozen this fall. This is a program designed to send a plea to sponsors to consider giving a 13th payment each year to cover all those things not covered by the Basic Child Support of $30.00 month ($360.00 year). We also express our gratitude for your willingness to increase your giving for this child support to $30.00 month.
Lastly, we want to remind you to let us know if you have any questions or concerns about the enclosed photo, Christmas card or letters. If you received a photo that is not of your child, please return it to us. In some cases you may have received a photo of a “formerly” sponsored child. That means we were able to locate that former student and distribute your gifts. This is always our first objective. When that fails we give the gifts to the new/replacement student.
Direct all inquiries about your specific child, their family or problems with the gift photos to our Lovelink Stateside Coordinator, Erma Hartman: Erma@Lifeine.org.
Note too that the next gift distribution period will be the last part of January. The gifts distributed then will be for the October gift deadline. This means you will receive the photos in early March.
Whenever possible it is a good thing to send money for your sponsored child and their family but gifts are always welcome and bring the child personal joy.
Thank you again for all you do. We simply could not minister without your support and prayers.
We invite you to consider a trip to Honduras with Lifeline to visit your sponsored child and their family.
Wishing you and yours the merriest and most blessed of holidays and praying that you will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and enjoy the peace and tranquility that only Christ can provide.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Lifeline Christian Mission