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El Paraiso Ministry Team
SAMS Canada partners with 3 of the Ministry Team in the Deanery of
El Paraiso, Honduras.
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Jacaleapa
Rev'd. Alejandro Chiniros |
Ojo de Agua
Hilda Lagos |
El Pedregal & Corral
Quemado
Rev'd. Rafael Chavez |
Progress Report & Update on the Work in El Paraiso ,
Honduras
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Rene Crow is a
SAMS US missionary who has spent several years in Honduras. Rene has
assumed responsibility for administration of the Deanery of El Paraiso. Here are some of her
most recent reposts on southern Honduras |
Updates from Rene
22 November, 2003
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Tomorrow morning I will leave El Zamorano, headed home for the States until
January 8th. Probably will not post on this forum during my time in the US
as I am leaving the computer (and the list) here at home - so just wanted to
take a moment to catch up on the news and sign-off for now (I will monitor
email at episcopalian.org, so we can stay in touch individually that way).
SAMS=folk are here in celebration of the consecration of Cristo Redentor tomorrow in Tegucigalpa. It is a very special time of commenorating the work
of many people, the answered prayers of many more and the long-standing support from people in the States and here in Honduras that has helped grow
this particular church. We are celebrating the ministries that have grown
out of this church-plant, and the leadership that has been raised up;
witnessing the transition of leadership from SAMS missionaries to Honduran
clergy, and realizing one more step in the Bishop's strategic plan and vision for the diocese, that being independent churches learning to stand on
their own. It truly is an historic time and special event. We all give thanks to God for this important passage!
On a personal note these past few days have brought quiet joy and new insights about my time here. Yesterday when I wento to Villanueva to pick
up dona Esmeralda and her two teenage children to come stay at my house during my time away, my little god-daughter 2-year Alison came to me of her
own volition, with arms outstretched and gave me the biggest sweetest hug I've had since I was home with my own granddaughters last Spring. It was the
first time she was bold enough to come to me on her own, and we both cried
when I had to leave her. Last night at home, Wilson and Belkys and Esmeralda and I unpacked the Christmas tree and decorations and put up the
tree, strung lights on the front window and had a wonderful evening together. After dinner (Wilson's first bar=b-que assignment), the kids sat
on the floor working Christmas jigsaw puzzles and their mom read a Spanish
"cuenta" about Christmas. Today Belkys had to go into town for her computer
class, but the rest of us devoted the afternoon to finding a pair of used bicycles for the
kids. Wilson had the biggest brightest grin I've ever seen him share as he rode up and down the driveway waiting for his sister to
return from the city. As the afternoon grew long and the day grew short, we
all walked up to the highway to wait for Belkys to arrive on one of the many
busses traveling this way. We sat in the dark, watching every bus come down
the long hill towards us, and prayed as it passed that she would be on the
next one. I had decided that by 6pm (when it's very dark and time to roll
up the sidewalk if there were one) if she wasn't here we were calling for help, and Esmeralda decided we were going to town - but 5 minutes before 6,
Belkys arrived with her younger cousin from Villanueva and we all joyfully
walked back home in the dark, laughing and hugging and talking excitedly!
I feel like my family is at home tonight, and all is right with the world.
I know that day after tomorrow I'll be in a completely different world where
I learned to measure my "effectiveness" and "productiveness" by reaching goals, hitting the mark, completing the plan,
achieving ...but tonight I know that if I must, I can qualify my success here by these relationships
and the many others so important and precious. One by one, each of us are
transformed by God's love - and in being here to "work" in the vineyard I know that is certainly true for me. I don't know that I will ever be able
to look back and "see what I did" here. But I hope I can introduce you to people whose lives have touched mine and whose lives I have influenced and
helped make better. To mark the accomplishments achieved at/by/with/through
Cristo Redentor is to commemorate many transformed lives and each of those
who have touched and been touched by the ministry in this Mission can "see
what they did" there with satisfaction and certainty that God has used them
in a mighty way. But what is wonderful to know is that we none of us do it
by ourselves. We are a family - God's family.
I thank Him for bringing me into the relationships with people here and in
the States - far wider than that in reality - and for calling us all to the
vineyard to share in His work. Hope to see you or visit with you when I'm
in New Mexico = and wherever home is, I pray you are with friends and family
and know God's peace and love during this Christmastime.
In His Grace, Rene Crow
SAMS MIssionary to Honduras from Diocese of The Rio Grande
St. Marks on the Mesa, Albuquerque New Mexico |
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This will be the last note from Honduras for awhile, at least on Sunday
Night = as I will be traveling to the States on Monday, Nov. 24th - headed
for Albuquerque for Thanksgiving with son Patrick, then to Nevada for
grandaughters' birthdays and Christmas (oh, yes and to visit with their Mom
and Dad, too!). Will do my best to send an update once I arrive in the States, just to keep in touch as I learn how things are going
here ...meanwhile, the week ahead is full.
SAMS-folk arrive this week from Ambridge, PA for the dedication and blessing
of Cristo Redentor in Tegucigalpa. Some may recall or know that this marks
the end of the 10-year church plant mission that the SAMS team began and faithfully served, and many of the original team are still in
Tegucigalpa...others will return as SAMS missionary Fr. Juan Bernardo Marentes turns leadership over to Honduran
deacon, Dra. Rev. Elvia Maria Galindo. We ask your prayers of thanksgiving and blessing in this historic
time in the life of SAMS and the Episcopal Church in Honduras.
With this also brings opportunity for all SAMS=-folk in country to meet with
one another, as well as the Bishop. Beginning Friday morning, we have a full schedule through the weekend. I believe that Interim Director Stewart
Wicker will be visiting me in El Zamorano/El Paraiso on the 19th, and we are
eager for him to meet some of our ministry team and see first hand some of
the work we are doing and planning for the months and years ahead.
Tuesday, Rev. Dago and I will meet to review status of incoming teams (beginning in January just after my return), interim plans and projects. We
have a lot to cover, and hopefully with Claudia's help, we'll be able to stay in touch during my time away from El Paraiso...think I may go through
some withdrawal, but I'm leaving my computer here so that Claudia may come
read correspondence and exchange information so that we can maintain continuity in work...the last thing I want again is the break in ministry
that occurred last year with an extended time of leave! So, if you are in
process with work here, please continue to write = I'll monitor mail from wherever I am, respond and send instructions and questions back to El
Paraiso. Can you imagine what it is like doing this work without a computer?
We got a taste of that last month when my phone line went down, and even though it's back in working order - I am still not receiving all your
messages. I have learned this week of at least 6 or 8 emails that have not
gotten through to me = will try to remedy this tomorrow, but if you have written in the past week or 10 days and not heard back from me, please try
again in the next few days...and use both addresses, renecrow@episcopalian.org AND renecrow@turbonett.com = not sure which one
is up and which one is down!
Now here's some good news! Corral Quemado now has electricity!!! Municipality Yuscaran brought power to the village and this past week, it
was set to be "turned on" officially. This will mean great changes for these families - health, education, work, life in general - the future.
First things that come to my mind are to get a refrigerator for the kitchen
at the dormitory, hot water shower heads and an electric pump for a water well - now Padre Rafa and his family (and other families), can watch
television without using a car battery, the school kids can have a more enriched environment in their classroom (including lights to see their
lessons). On the other hand, for me and many others who know and love this
pueblo, it will never be the same again. For myself, the darkness was part
of its charm - sitting on the front porch with lanterns and flashlights, talking and praying and singing and listening to the toads and frogs and
watching the fireflies in the fields. We could even manage the cold showers
because we knew it was not forever, and they too were part of "the charm"!
Speaking of cold showers, the medical team from Baton Rouge arrived today to
go back to Guaimaca...where The One and Only Hotel in town has only cold showers...you always know who is up and at 'em early, cause you can hear the
shower song (sounds kind of like a lot of monkeys in an aggitated state!).
It was great to meet them at the airport today and at least get to say hello
again. I will miss working with them this year. They were the first medical
missions team I worked with when I arrived here, and just like bonding at Corral Quemado, I guess I bonded with this group as well. They always
arrive at this time of year, so it's kind of like ending the liturgical year
at the same time as ending the missions year at the same time. A sort of passage that I miss!
More good news. While I was in Ojo this week working with Claudia, we needed
to make some copies of materials used by an attorney giving a talk to the women's groups on human rights...so, we went to the copy place at the Esso
Station (.50 centavos/page), but found it moved into Segovia's new "Kiosk"
on the corner by the bus stop at the highway...while waiting for the copies,
I met and got into a discussion with Mr. Segovia, "por casualidad" - as
Hondutel was there installing a new phone line!!! This is as big a news item
as electricity in Corral...people here have waited for YEARS for new phone
lines, and here is evidence it is actually happening. Hopefully this means
the church will get their requested lines in the year to come...we can pray!
But more, Segovia is also putting in 5 computers with email access and international calling access as well. This is a first in Ojo and also means
that the church will have increased ability to communicate with you all in
the States. It also means that the church can better communicate throughout
the deanery and diocese as well and may not have to drive into or out of Ojo
to reach each other with questions, messages, updates, news, plans, etc. My
guess is that's going to be a very busy telephone line!
Dr. David's wife, Alice arrived today from North Carolina. they will spend
this week in El Paraiso (Kellogg Center), then next weekend in Teguc, then
back home to the States. It looks as though his ministry will be based in the Tegucigalpa deanery, at least for starters. As much as we would like to
have this ministry start in El Paraiso, for lots of good reasons, it is good
news in a way, that the communities here are in "better health" than those
in the mountains of our neighboring deanery. However, we will still benefit from regular visits from Dra. Elvia and Dr. David as they take what
would be the "next step" in community based health programs, and work with
the already existing health guardians - please keep this work in prayer as
well because it not only benefits all the people in these isolated communities, especially the children, but opens the door for the church to
strengthen it's relationships with the people as well. Rev. Dago is well known throughout the region and always well received, and that helps a lot
in establishing new ministries. It looks like we'll have plenty to do this
coming year!
During his visits here, Dr. David and I encountered a young boy in Ojo de Agua who has a heart murmur. David has been able to connect with
Samaritan's Purse (in San Pedro Sula), and get young Hector on their registry for possible care. Last week we received word that Hector needed
to travel to San Pedro Sula for exams and tests, so we swung into high gear
and got him and his grandmother into town and put them on a bus. They were
hosted by the diocesan office in one of the dorms there, and a diocesan driver met them at the bus and delivered them back and forth for their
tests. When I met with his grandmother, Isle this past week she was very encouraged that Hector appears to be a good candidate for surgery in the
States, and we are hopeful to hear the official word very soon. Maybe before we leave for the States next week. Please pray that this child will
be able to receive this essential medical treatment and that he will have a
full recovery and long, healthy and happy life1 Right now, at age 12 he is
unable to walk back and forth to school, can't play or participate in activities. He is worsening in his symptoms and eventually, with out
corrective surgery, will likely become more and more inactive and isolated.
But this is a corrective condition and he appears to be a good candidate to
receive help. We learned that Samaritan's Purse will handle ALL of the details, including Visas, travel, housing, translation, meds, recovery,
return - the works. Join us in prayer of thanksgiving for this wonderful ministry and once again, the Lord putting people in the right place at the
right time...Dr. David's neighbor/friend in North Carolina is connected with
Samartian's Purse, and so it goes, as it always does. HE needs us all, working together, to do His work!
Finally, how could I sign off without an update on The Car. It was returned
to me last week, so ever hopeful I returned the diocesan vehicle to town and
got a ride back home. Next day, drove into Ojo and had no more than just barely passed don Paco's garage/workshop when = yup, you got it - the car
started making those same horrible sounds again! Later in the day Paco drove me back home just so he could check out the car once again, and now
has it back in his custody one last time. So I took the bus this morning into town, and have the Big Truck back in service once again. Oh well, it
was a fun bus ride because as a traveler and not a driver, I noticed something I have missed for these past 100 trips on that road into town - I
now know where at least one of the two famous water buffalo is living and grazing - Right along the roadway! One day I'll stop and ask if they bought
it from Roger H. Can't be too many of those animals around here!
See you soon! In His Grace, Rene Crow
SAMS Missionary to Honduras from Diocese of the Rio Grande |
16 November, 2003
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7 November, 2003
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Life in the country! Moved on the 10th; on the 20th the phone line went
down/out/away...and the internet. it has taken 3 weeks and 3 days to get the
government phone company to come and fix it...just learned yesterday they won't send a crew from the city until 3 lines or more are out of service.
Seems strange to me that I could get a washing machine delivered for free out here but can't get a phone line fixed, but then as the man said, this is
Honduras where cork sinks and iron floats!
Meanwhile, we have convened and confirmed the Strategic Plan for the deanery
of El Paraiso and turned it over to the Bishop. This plan looks at projected
growth, evangelism, ordination, new lay pastors, planting new churches, construction, education, health, micro enterprise and salaries through 2012.
It includes things like starting another 49 churches (for a total of 70), calling/ordaining another 51 clergy (for a total of 56), building a
theological center, a micro enterprise development and training center in Ojo
de Agua and a Bed & Breakfast-type hostel to house teams in Yuscaran. We're
even contemplating how to go into Olancho and start new churches there (this
will become a new deanery at some point, but right now the Episcopal church
has no missions in this part of the country). The deanery vision to become
self-sustaining is very integrated into ministry, the needs of the people and the area, practical but innovative. You would be very proud of this
ministry team to see their vision and how it correlates with the Diocesan Strategic 10-Year Plan. Well, I am anyway! It is a large "file" but if you
have an interest in a particular mission area and would like to see their plan, let me know and I believe I can send you individual pages...rather
than sending the entire document(s).
We are actively seeking long-term (3-5 years or more) partners and companion
churches to work with each mission to develop a relationship that can help
the missions realize these strategic plans. We have already seen dramatic
results from these types of partnerships and long term planning (Villanueva
and Santa Cruz), and know that together we can make a huge difference in the
life of the people, the church and ourselves in the process. It's pretty
exciting and there's plenty to do! So as another man said, "Come on down!"
I also attended the Conference on Honduras in Copan along with a couple hundred other volunteers who have various ministries in the country, and
come from all over the States, all different denominations. It was extremely
helpful and interesting and I think we accomplished at least in part one of
its stated purposes, we did a lot of networking! I even met a woman who is a
neighbor of mine in El Zamorano, working in the same areas we work and doing
a lot of the same sorts of health and micro enterprise projects, but she is
not with a church. so after the conference Dr. David tagged along with her
team one day and saw a Honduran dental team in action in the mountains. P.S. At the end of the conference, I got to see the Copan Ruinas and hear a
lecture one night by one of their foremost and renowned archeologists. It was pretty
interesting...but to me, it was more interesting to go with Dr. David on his last day in Copan to help a very poor family that lives
literally across the street from the entrance to the ruins.
Someone at the conference had asked him to go see this single mother and her
4 sons. The oldest, a 9 year old, had just been "invited" to go to a private school next door to where they live (on a scholarship). He is placed
in the 1st grade - and likely has never gone to school before. I did not meet him, but his little brothers were eager to have the friendship of us
strangers (except for the baby). The little three year old took me by the
hand and led me around to the front of the house - firmly, and with determination. He didn't say a word, but I asked him where are we going? He
just looked down the roadway and the shady sidewalk that lead into town, and
pointed "there"! It nearly broke my heart to think that a 3 year not only
knew the way out, but knew he needed and wanted "out" - even with a stranger! I have seen a lot of tough living conditions here, but none so
sad as this. They live in an abandoned shack that is literally falling down
around them. No water, latrine, no income, little food, no security of any
sort whatsoever. Just life under the trees in the mud, cold, rain, heat,
bugs, filth. Dr. David left vitamins and medicine for the kids and enlisted
a school teacher to make a daily visit to administer the medicines. We gave
this young lady, a new volunteer to Honduras, a lot of suggestions and ideas
how to help Mom - and together with help of other teachers, they are already
pooling resources to buy fruits and vegetables and provide daycare for the
younger kids half day each day. Can you believe it only costs a few
lempiras/day!? less than a meal costs, really. It occurred to me that the
Episcopal church is beginning a new mission church in Copan and it would be
so easy to bring a team here to build this lady a house. I hope that can happen somehow. It seems there are lots of ways to help her and others like
her - and her neighbors at the school are reaching out. Keep them in your
prayers as well!
By the way, Dr. David spent a few days here writing an action plan for the
community based medical ministry, before going into Tegucigalpa to investigate their deanery projects...we still hope he will be able to place
his ministry with us in El paraiso, and it looks fairly promising, but no decision has been made for certain yet. Keep us in your prayers!
This past month has been especially challenging for our Dean as his father,
Pedro came to the end of his battle with cancer. Pedro went to be with the
Lord this past Monday - the deanery gathered around Dagoberto and his family
(pretty much all of his very large family were able to be at home) in support of them all in this time of loss. People deal with death in a very
different manner here - nonetheless a loss, but it seems so much more relational. Everything that was planned stops and everyone turns around and
heads for the family. It doesn't matter whether you knew Pedro or not; if
you know the family, they need you and want you to be there. I expect there
may have been upwards of 200 people at one time in and around the little house in Yuscaran where we gathered and held the
funeral service and shared our condolences and stories. I think everyone was fed, or could have been
if they wanted to be; somehow anyone who needed a chair had one inside or outside, as neighbors and family kept bringing them along the cobblestone
street to accommodate the crowd. Pedro rested in repose in his casket, placed on the table in the living room, surrounded by flowers and candles
and friends and families. Burial must happen within 24 hours, but there isn't any sense of hurriedness. Several of the brothers prepared the
above-ground tomb for burial, and once it was ready the services were held
at home. Rev. Dago and Rev. Rafael (brothers, you know) celebrated the Eucharist, supported by the other clergy in the deanery. There is a real
sense of passage and comfort and hope in the Episcopal liturgy for burial,
and it was a privilege to be counted as friend to this special family.
But you all know my life isn't doesn't have a lot of "down" time - so even
as this day drew to an end, the Izusu Saga, (car saga), continued....Paco had delivered
the car to me Monday morning, confident that repair of the wheel bearings had solved my long stranding (grinding) problems. I drove it and friends to
Yuscaran and before we arrived, knew once again that all was not right with
the car...so Paco drove it back down the mountain so that he could drop me
off at home (12 miles the other direction), and take it back to his shop (13
miles the opposite direction). Before we got to the turn-off, the clutch went out and we barely made it back to Ojo de Agua! I stood in front of
Hector and Hilda's to wait for them to return from Yuscaran with the bus, and "hitched" a ride home that night!
Thank goodness the Bishop has kindly loaned me a church vehicle (a huge diesel 4 wheel drive pick up truck), so I'm not stranded, but good grief
Charlie Brown!
By the way, my expired driver's license only added to the drama...(I really
did try to get it renewed in Danli one day recently, but they said I had to
go to Teguc since that's where it was issued. So much for trying). We were
stopped at two Postas on the way to Yuscaran...the first I just prayed Lord
take care of me - and He did. This posta police always inspects my license
and registration, even though they may recognize me by now. The last time it
was too dark for them to read it clearly. This time, they waived me through! The next posta, where they NEVER stop me, they did. My Honduran
friends were eager to come to my defense and explain everything, but I said
don't say a single word. Wait...We all had a rather casual visit. Told them
where we were going (they knew Pedro and the family too). Then the police
officer looked inside and said, well it looks like you don't have a big crowd with you...can you give me a ride to Yuscaran? So
I did. It was a strange ride! Don't you just love the Lord's sense of humor?
Well, speaking of humor - I've just been cast into darkness. The sun sets early and by 6pm it's pretty much pitch black here. At 5:45 the power went
off - the last time this happened it was for about 3 hours. Now, just when
I finally got the TV hooked up and could look forward to sitting back and watching something besides any of my few videos again! Asi es la vida en el
campo! (That's life in the country.) Now where's that flashlight?
In His Grace, Rene Crow
SAMS Missionary to Honduras from Diocese of the Rio Grande
(new address: renecrow@turbnonett.com; but try to reach me on
episcopalian.org also).
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YES! I would really like to help the
team in their work in Honduras.
Please send details of your financial/ prayer/ other
commitment with:
Your Name; email address; mailing
address; and Phone Number
to
SAMS- Canada
PO Box 21082, Barrie, Ont., Canada, L4M 6J1
SAMS Canada will not share this
information with anyone other than the officers of SAMS Canada, the
Mission Partner concerned, or anyone required by law to have this
information, (eg: Revenue Canada)
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