Reporting Back from Honduras!

Dear Brown Chapel Ministry Team,

I arrived in Indianapolis yesterday at 4:00 p.m. after a 14 hour trip. I was exhausted physically, but very excited spiritually. (Note: It won’t take us that long in July to get there).

The people of Honduras are very kind and warm; the kids in the Orphanage (they want us to call it HOGAR -- home) steal your heart immediately. They are fun, friendly and love the Lord very much. They ask you theological questions, sing with abundant joy and love stories. 

Kitchen

There are needs everywhere you turn. 80% of the country lives in poverty; 50% of them are in extreme poverty. When I say extreme, I mean extreme. I’ll show you some pictures and try to do my best to explain it to you, but still it won’t even start to describe the true reality of the poverty in Honduras.

Houses

  Our task will be to pick one of the many projects that they have and share our love with them that way. Another task will be to show what God’s love is like. The kids come from broken homes or non-existing ones; family is a big deal for them. That’s why they like to call the orphanage Hogar. They like to see themselves as a big family, where God is their father. They will call you "Uncle" and "Aunty," once they get to know you. They draw pictures and write their names so you can take it with you and remember them. One of the girls ran into her room and brought a framed picture of hers and a volunteer; she wanted me to take it so I could show it to my family. 

 

One little boy was all over me; grabbing my beard and asking to borrow my stop watch and digital camera so he could play with them. On my way out he would hug me and ask me several times when I was coming back. He asked me to write the names of all of his relatives and share that with my family as well. 

I spoke with the long- and short-term missionaries there; they all testify of how their lives have been changed. One High School girl volunteer told me that her luggage didn’t make it there (yes, we have to be ready for the unexpected); instead of having a ruined week; she said that she was having the best week of her life. She noticed how beautiful she really was without make-up; she couldn’t believe it; all the little girls of her unit reminded her of that as well. She said that she definitely was coming back. They also spoke of how this time in Honduras has changed their priorities and their future. They will definitely know what they are going to do with the rest of their lives: serve. 

There is an inexplicable joy in serving others; to love God and love your neighbors. I spoke with four other long-term volunteers; they all came for a short period of time. Some of them arrived in Honduras after the 1998 earthquake as volunteers and couldn’t leave the country, because their heart stayed there. They found meaning in their lives and a deep sense of calling there; they are still uncertain about their future; they just want to follow God’s leading.

Are you ready to be challenged to the extreme? Are you willing to be used by God in that setting? Have you talked to God lately about this mission trip opportunity? As the 2010 year comes to an end, I encourage you to spend some time with the Lord. Search for his will and I encourage you to follow his direction.

Have a great Christmas and a blessed new year. 

Keep the children of Honduras in your prayers….   

-Nelson

Operation: Love Drive -- Update

   Last Saturday, the churches of Brownsburg, Chapel West, and Indy Hispanic held and event for their adopted IPS school #49.
   Jen Bolejack and her Musical Team (Daniel, Tina, Amanda, & Leonid) prepared a beautiful session of Praise Music for the beginning of the event, to be followed by an inspiring message from Pr. Charlie Thompson.
   Helda Pounds and Katie Prevost worked hard at organizing and promoting the adoption between our church families and the needy families from school #49 and finding a special way for them to meet.
   
At the school, the families would enter and be greeted and given a small bag of candy with a card that had a colored sticker on it. Later, they would  be used as an Ice-breaker where each family would go around the room looking the the adopting family with the corresponding color.
   After meeting each other and receiving the uniforms for their children, the families were led to the cafeteria to partake of a delicious supper.
  It was an event where everyone was blessed, both the adopted families, as well as the adopting families.


Following are some comments by a few of the people at the event:


I always enjoy watching people, and it was interesting to note people as they arrived. The church people seemed pretty comfortable, but then we all know each other and were there as "givers". The families seemed a little aloof; but that would be expected. When we started the game of finding each other, the ice broke a little and people were more friendly. It was fun seeing "matches" being made and the handshakes and smiles. Adding a meal was a great idea too! I think it was a very good thing that we did and we should continue it. It would be VERY interesting to know what the school families thought!
-Tyanne Smock


Thank you all who was able to support us with donations of clothes, money, food, and time! May God continue to richly bless you and use you to do his will. No doubt we put a smile on his face today!
Lord,
I just want to thank you for the person reading this message. May you continue to bless them in all they do and may they be a shining light for your glory and honor. When people see their face, may they see yours instead. I thank you for sending Your Holy Spirit upon them and impressing them to do your work. May they continue to allow your work to be done through them. In Your awesome, powerful, and merciful name...
Amen.
-Jen Bolejack


Thank you for letting us help in that great mission.  May the Lord touch and fill their hearts with hope.
-Esther Ruiz


Here are some photos of the event:

Please be sure to leave your comments and experiences of this event in the comment section below.

The Votes Are In!

We showed the logos to both Brownsburg and Chapel West Churches and the votes have been tallied!

And the choice is:

The numbers were:

1. 54 votes

2. 23 votes

3. 6 votes   

4. 12 votes

5. 6 votes

LOGO for Brown Chapel Missions

Here are some logo proposals. Please vote!
It will be used to represent Brown Chapel Missions
for mission trips and other activities (to put on T-shirts
and the like).

Operation: Love Drive

Operation: Love Drive (OLD2NEW), is a mission put together by the Brownsburg and Chapel West churches to adopt the families of needy students in IPS School 49 and provide them with uniforms. Brownsburg, Chapel West, and lately, the Indianapolis Hispanic Church have families who have volunteered to adopt a family from the school and help provide the children with uniforms.

The first gathering will be September 25, at 5:30pm in the Cafeteria of School 49. Our speaker will be Pr. Charlie Thompson. There will be supper followed by the opportunity for the adopted and adopting families to get to know each other, and then the uniforms will be presented.

Pray that the Lord will bless this endeavor and continue to provide opportunities for us to help others.

Mission Trip: Honduras

We are beginning to plan for our big Mission Trip to Santa Barbara, Honduras!

Keep your eye out for further information.