2014 Kennebec Valley Association Honduras Mission Trip

4/24/2014

In a few days, members of the UCC Kennebec Valley Association Honduras Mission Team will be flying to the Island of Roatán in Honduras. We have members from the following Churches going on the trip: First Congregational Church of Waterville, Winslow Congregational Church, Winthrop Congregational Church and the Vassalboro Friends Church. We will be involved in three health clinics, a building project to help our partner church construct a retaining wall and visits to two local schools. Joining the team from the First Congregational Church of Waterville are Rev. David Anderman, Kim Drummond, and Paul Gosselin. Members from Winslow are Rev. Karen Byrne, Jim Nelson, Mary Morrison, and Katherine Smiley. Winthrop Congrgational Church members include Rev. Alice Anderman, leader of the team, Lisa deWolfe, Wendy Dennis, Cyndi Hall, Dana Hall and Linda Ruman. Also on the team are Ellen Bowman from the Vassalboro Friends Church, Jolene Newell, sister in law of Mary Morrison and Laurie Fitzgerad, sister of Lisa deWolfe. Jim Nelson has been in Honduras for two weeks taking a Spanish immersion Class. Lisa deWolfe and Laurie Fitzgerald arrived in Honduras on April 24th for some pre-work of the medical clinics. The remaining 13 members will fly to Roatán on April 28th from Boston.
Lord,
We pray that you will be with each of us as we travel to Roatán, Honduras. May your energy invigorate us, your word instruct us, your peace enfold us, and your love secure us. Give us the eyes to see Christ in our new friends in Honduras.
Amen. (Prayer from 4/27 Commisioning Service for the Honduras Mission Team)

27 Comments

Debbie Burns

4/28/2014 01:44:28 am

It was very exciting to see the eagerness of the Winthrop and Vassalboro team members load their gear this morning at 1:30 a.m. and head down to Boston for their flights to Roatan! Safe travels to all and have an amazing adventure! You will be in my thoughts daily!

Dana Hall

4/29/2014 04:29:41 pm

Hola!
Our group arrived safely in Roatan, after a very long travel day! The Winthrop crew was surprised with a send - off crew: Debbie, Carol E and Linda Tukey!
Lisa & sister Laurie met us at the airport along with Ada, Fernando, Judy, &Agnes. We have a nice bus to use for the week. Jim met us at the hostel lodging.
The day was very warm so it was difficult to adjust to that. Thankfully, there were some nice breezes to aid us.
At 5:30 pm, we went to the church for a welcome reception. After fruit cocktails, Pastor Otilio spoke. The church is very nice and they have worked hard to add on a nursery, office, kitchen, and bathrooms. Our groups socialized alot. They served us a nice meal and cake. It was Fernando's birthday and Alice & Dave's 35th wedding anniversary. They sang Happy Birthday in English even though they mostly speak Spanish!
Entry by Cyndi after much needed rest! Our 16 will meet for breakfast and find out plans for the day/week and have morning vespers. Bye for now!

Carol Ellingwood link

4/30/2014 02:17:41 am

Happy to hear you all arrived safely and had a nice welcoming. It was fun packing you in, taking pictures and seeing you off in the wee hours of the morning in that shiny stretch limo. I am sure you were all wired for the ride to Boston!
Enjoy the warm climate while you can. Only 43 here with rain coming in soon. Good wishes to everyone for a great week.

Debbie Burns

4/30/2014 03:01:17 am

I'm thrilled to learn that everyone arrived safely and were "warmly" received by Ada,Otillio, and others! I have fond memories of their cocktails, and am wondering who "broke the ice" this time!!!!
Looking forward to seeing pictures of the church and friends, and hearing all about your projects there. Have fun!

Rev. Karen Byrne

4/30/2014 01:19:24 pm

We gathered for breakfast and reflection in the morning. Each of us shared something about the journey to get here, and how we are now. We sang Here Am I Lord. Then we headed out to the New Life Church. We discovered that our work project was to build a 4 feet wide and 9 meters high rock wall at the bottom of the hill below the church. String tied to stakes marked the foundation of the wall. First, we cleared the area between the string lines of vines and trash, including a bent and rusty bicycle frame. Then a trench was dug and leveled. Gravel was delivered to the site to mix with cement. About 3 we stopped for the day, showered and rested before returning to the church for a prayer service. What a wonderful experience that was! Prayers, testimonials and songs. The pastor leads Sunday worship, but this weekly prayer service is lay led, including women. God's love was very present. In the service, they sang Happy Birthday to Mary Morrison, from the Winslow Church, in English & Spanish!

We are staying in various places run by the Roatan Backpackers Hostel. They are all different, with pluses and minuses. One has a screened porch that catches breezes (nice in the humid heat), and a leaky refrigerator. Another has a clothes washing machine (useful given how much we are sweating), and a rooster who crows each morning by 4:00am, and sets off the neighborhood dogs). The little house where Alice is staying with her esposa, Dave, is centrally located (handy for our trip leader) and has a pretty kitchen, but burned our first night when a fan melted and had to be vacated at midnight! Written by Rev. Karen Byrne

Cyndi

5/1/2014 03:47:11 am

Alice & Dave moved back in their house after minor damage was fixed.
Fire was caused by a standing fan, but caretaker put out quickly. Debbie, would you e-mail a message to Waterville &Winslow churches with blog info?

Debbie Burns

5/2/2014 10:31:27 am

Hi Cyndi- It sounds like another fantastic adventure in Roatan! I am excited about seeing your pictures and hearing all about it! I did send the blog info to Winslow and Waterville, so I hope my directions were clear and you will be hearing from some of these folks soon.
I also wanted to let you know that the class/luncheon at the church on May 10th has been canceled because of low enrollment. I contacted Carol W. and Marie H. with this information. So that is one less thing you will have to think about when you return!
Have fun and keep the posts coming! They are wonderful to read!

Tanya McLean

5/2/2014 11:52:26 pm

So happy you all arrived safe and sound! Now I can tell my father to stop worrying:). Miss you!

Marie Pettengill link

5/3/2014 06:24:49 am

Hello Rev. Karen, Sounds like you are enjoying your work. I know it is hard work, but, very rewarding for all that are helping.
The church services sound awesome. Great renewal for the soul.
Have a sare jouney home.
Peace and Blessings,
Marie P

Linda

5/1/2014 03:51:15 am

Hola! I can receive e-mail but not send them. Please keep comments & e-mails coming,

Debbie Burns

5/2/2014 12:22:05 pm

Sent you an email last night-hope you got it!!

Rev. Alice Anderman

5/1/2014 11:48:49 am

Thursday May 1
Last night we went out to dinner at the Blue Parrot, a restaurant between the hostel and the church.We had lots of fun eating local food and meeting local people. Today some of us are back to moving rocks, mixing cement, pouring it into the trenches, and then throwing first large, then medium, then small size rocks into the trenches. Next we pour cement over the rocks and start all over again. The wall will be 8-10 feet high and will be tapered in pyramid shape. We all worked together, youth, adults, Hondurans and Mainers. Today our medical team is at Children's Palace doing a clinic for, students, their families and the community. May 1 is Labor Day, a national holiday here in Honduras. School is out; We have lots of kids here with us helping us with the construction; 10 youth are helping with translating at the clinic. We renew old friendship and make new friends and we work, play, break bread, and worship. We all have experienced God's many blessings. Alice

Marie Pettengill link

5/3/2014 06:19:28 am

Alice, it is good to hear that all is well. Working with cement is a rough job. I know because I helped Alfred when he put in our foundation. My job was to put the rocks, in and move them around with a long board, to make sure the rocks would not cluster in one place.
It sounds like you are all enjoying your stay, and are making new friends, and renewing old friendships. The church services sound like they are very insprirtional and rewarding.
Take care and give my regards to all.
Peace and Blessings,
Marie P

Marie Hatfield

5/4/2014 09:47:11 am

So glad that you all arrived safely and are enjoying the fellowship along with the mission work. It is neat that the children are helping with translating, have a wonderful time and try to enjoy the warm weather, we have forgotten what that is like. May you remain safe and enjoy the rest of your work there. Marie

Sheila Bacon

5/2/2014 07:24:52 am

Hello, Team:

I've so enjoyed and appreciated your entries...All that you're doing and experiencing is incredible, and I will check in on a daily basis to learn about the latest events.

Karen, yes, I've received the blog info so that WCC members can be kept updated. I'm including it in today's eblitz and will be asking Amy to post it on our Facebook page.

I just realized that one of your group is a college friend - Ellen Bowman. Ellen, hello, it's been a long time! We'll have to catch up when you return to Maine.

Meanwhile, a hearty hello from Winslow, Maine! ~ SAB

Dana Hall

5/2/2014 05:17:44 pm

Today was a break from working. We started with a snorkeling adventure from Upchaya, an eco - friendly resort where Lisa and Laurie have been staying. Honduras has the second largest barrier reef. Some of the group hung around the pool, others went out to the reef by kayak, and the rest of us rode a pontoon boat out to the reef. We saw gorgeous coral, many different kinds of fish, crab, a seahorse and even held giant starfish. The tour included a wonderful lunch. In the afternoon, we went to Gumbalimba Park where many of us took the zip line tour. In the evening, we ate at El Bosque Restaurant in West End meeting some our Honduran friends. It was a long but fun day.

Dana Hall

5/2/2014 05:23:43 pm

Tomorrow, we will holding a second medical clinic, this time at the New Life Church. At Gumbalimba Park today, we had monkeys jump on us, we saw marvelous macaws. The monkeys were White Faced Capuchin Monkeys. One had a four week old baby hanging to its mother definitely a Kodak moment.

Margaret Imber

5/3/2014 06:26:23 am

Howdy folks, it sounds like you're doing wonderful work and I love reading the progress reports. But please, no more reports on warm weather :-). We had to crank up the woodstove twice this week!

steven meyerhans

5/4/2014 05:43:37 am

Great to hear all the news from Honduras. Praises for all that you are doing, for carrying on the tradition of our Partnership, for helping to promote peace, understanding & brotherhood in our world. Have a safe rest of your journey and a safe trip home. Gracia a Dios!!

Cyndi Hall

5/4/2014 02:15:39 pm

Group Journal for Sat & Sun
Hola, everyone! Our last few days have been very full and fulfilling!We did a clinic at the New Life Church today which was well received. Mary says we saw over 100 people at two clinics. Gerardo & Judy are optometrists and they did vision testing. Linda dispensed reading glasses. Jolene did registration and triage. Wendy dispensed meds at our makeshift pharmacy. Cyndi distributed toothbrushes & paste. Mary, Laurie, saw Kathy & Kim coordinated care before patients saw PA Lisa and Dr Paul. Ellen had a table set up for the kids to draw. And draw they did! Alice hung all their artwork on a line. Dave & Dana worked another day in the trench along with a church crew. They were filthy and grubby, and still went into the grocery store with the group on our drive back. After freshening up, we returned to the church for worship.
Our group sang Here I Am Lord and This is The Day and Rev Alice & Rev Dave gave sermons along with Pastor Otilio and Fernando. Linda described the Worship service as a spiritual rock concert!

On Sunday,we returned to the Church for a breakfast prepared by our hosts. We were supposed to go to the East end of the island to find some more rocks, but our hosts found out that the road to the quarry was not open this weekend. So, we stayed for a worship service, Gerardo celebrated his birthday. Rev. Alice read Bible scriptures from Dana's tablet. Ellen played guitar with the band and sang He's Got The Whole World In His Hands for the children's/ninos time. It was wonderful!
After a lunch, we headed for abeach at West Bay, many of our Honduran friends rode the bus with us. We swam/floated in the ocean.
Today, in Winthrop, the Search Committee shared the good news that the Winthrop Congregational Church, UCC is calling Rev. Christy Cataldo to be our next Pastor. Wendy and Dana shared the news with Winthrop members. Exciting news even from a far.

Cyndi Hall

5/5/2014 10:37:39 am

Hi, I'm back again to give you another update. We held a screening clinic today (Monday) at the Canaveral School in a section of the island called Wild Cane. Our medical crew did the I magic from 9-12. There are about 40 students at this nursery school, with half in morning session and half in afternoon group. The young children were all dressed in their navy pants/skirts and white shirts.The building was very tiny and sometimes the class is outside. Ellen played with the children, making instruments out of natural items from their surroundings (palm leaves, coconut shells, etc)
Dave, Alice, Cyndi, Linda, & Kathy worked at the church helping the work crew of 4 throw large rocks over the hill to be used in the trench.The group united at lunchtime and we had reflection time. People expressed joys and concerns. Several have taken their turn skipping portions of the day (s) due to illnesses relating to the heat, food, and coral abrasion. We have returned to our lodging for our mid - day showers and siestas. Most of will be going out to eat tonight.

Lee Gilman link

5/6/2014 07:38:46 am

I'm guessing I should use the church's website as I don't have one :). You are working hard-so glad you get a chance to relax and explore. Praying you are able to leave all illnesses behind when you head back to USA The presence of all of you was felt in church Sunday Good news from Search Com.; sad news from Pat and Diane--both are selling their homes and leaving the area !! Can you bring back some voices for our choir ? Blessings on your work and for your journey home.

Debbie Burns

5/7/2014 12:19:01 am

My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you as you wrap up this productive trip to Roatan. I hope you leave the the illnesses behind and have safe travels back to Maine. We've missed you!

Lisa deWolfe

5/7/2014 01:39:00 am

Hello,

The medical clinics were a big success ! I just returned from visiting the School where our last clinic took place. The children had their beanie babies in hand and ran out to hug and greet me!
Many thanks for all the donated items. They have all been put to good use. The staff at Esperanza clinic were overwhelmed with the medical supplies we left with them. We examined about 160 in all and many will be following up with the local clinic. The team worked really well together and were so organized and positive even when they were over heated and tired. We are looking forward to this last day with our church here on the island.
Blessings from all here on beautiful Roatan Island.

Dana Hall

5/7/2014 01:57:44 am

I'm writing this on Wednesday morning while there are a few minutes before we start heading back home. Yesterday was a day of many gifts from our Honduran friends. We started with breakfast at the Church and then we climbed on the bus along with Pastor Otilio, his wife Ada, Orlin, and Christian. We first visited Maya Key, Arch's Iguana Park, then we drove to Oak Ridge and took a boat trip through the village's water streets and through the mangroves. At night we attended the Tuesday night Prayer Service. Rev Karen, Rev Alice and Rev Dave spoke and we sang three songs as a group. Our Honduran friends bid us a fine adiós with many hugs and a few tears.

Ellen Bowman

5/8/2014 02:42:49 am

Blog entry on our final day by Ellen Bowman aka "Elena"-

I found each of our three clinics to be fascinating and inspiring.
Needless to say ... it feels so great to be truly present serving where there is such great need.
As a child therapist who uses the expressive arts as therapeutic tools, I was especially intrigued to set up an ongoing creative niche during the clinic time, where children who were waiting could come by for a while to freely express themselves.
Sometimes parents would join their children in the process, which was interesting to see, too.
My materials were simple: blank paper, crayons, markers, watercolors.

In this open realm of art language through which we met, any chance of obstacles evaporated.
As they were working, I made little art-gifts of sketch books which they could take away with them.
Indelible in my mind .... is working under the palm tree on an old board propped up on bamboo scraps and old tin cans to form an art center. This was at the Canaveral School, our final well child clinic.
The children's precious faces looking to me
for another sheet of paper will be forever with me.
This scene was electric with creativity
and naturally led to music-making from all sorts of found objects.
All of this took on a life of its own that day, under the big palm tree.

Dana Hall

5/8/2014 02:51:15 am

Hello!

We're back in Maine! We had a pretty long travel day yesterday and early this morning, arriving at the church parking lot around 2:30 am.
We're glad to be home!

Winthrop Congregational Church, UCC

2014 Kennebec Valley Association Honduras Mission Trip

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