Missionary's Journal Honduras

"Why are we helping?" – November 2007 >>

"The Honduras Report" – April 19, 2007
A team of organization inpectors went to Honduras April 12 through April 16 to observe the work being done by Bob Wilkerson and to assess condition of the operation and facilities of the day care. The operation was found to be in excellent condition.

Supervisor Marvin Romero is doing an excellent job overseeing the operations. Suyapa Barahona is the teacher of the children. She was observed working with the 27 children and displayed exceptional capabilities in handling her duties.

The team spent an entire day with the children, ate with them and gave them blankets and beanie babies. They also provided Suyapa with additional teaching materials.

In assessing the needs of the facility, the team found $600 worth of repairs needed for the pickup, $300 for new mattresses for the children's naps and another $300 for building repairs. These needs have been addressed.

"The Honduras Report" – October 13, 2007

Dear Fred,

Bread for a Hungry World became involved in the establishment of a home for homeless children in 1989. It began by caring for a few children in a private house. Soon property was bought which could house a greater number and the growth began. Early on a family of 6 was accepted. The oldest of these, Suyapa, is director and teacher of the children in our present program.
The childrens’ home operated 13 years, until 2002, when we faced the fact that we had neither the space nor training equipment to manage children who had now reached ages 15 to 19. We closed that operation but have continued to assist the children economically as they studied and prepared themselves to compete in the labor world. Suyapa’s younger sister is employed in another orphanage as teacher of children. Another of our ex-children is in process of completing her university studies. Still another lives at present in Spain and, to express her thanks for the years of help received, contributes $25 per month to support of our present program.
When in 2002 we closed the Home as such, we began a DayCare program to fill a pressing need in this underdeveloped nation. To appreciate fully this need, one needs to know that 60 to 80 percent of a mothers in Honduras are single parents, often with 4 to 10 children. Most of these mothers have never had benefit of an education—illiterate. They wash clothes at the river or sweep the streets to buy what little food they consume. We tend their tots so they are free to work out of the home.

Our day care program began with about 15 tots 2 to 5 yrs old. It has continued to grow until at present we are tending 41 children ages 2 to 7. Almost daily other mothers are at the door begging help for their own children. Our goal is to grow to tend up to 60. Our facilities and money available will not accommodate more. Almost all the children are undernourished and meals they receive with us have a strong influence on their ability to participate in studies when they begin school.

Bread does more in Campamento. Every school day each student in all the schools in our area receive a glass of milk. Since 65% of these students suffer from malnutrition, we are making a great difference in the educational progress of the community. Each January we provide 200 or so children with school supplies without which they would not be able to attend. We provide basic foods for 20 to 30 of the most needy families each week. In colaboration with medics in town we buy medicines and try to provide for the health of the children in our charge.

I personally became involved in this work in 1995. I had heard much about the needs and the good work Bread was doing and was led to become involved. After having served as pulpit minister in various congregations in the U.S. for 18 years, having served as missionary in eastern and western Europe for 10 years and having been in private sales business in Fort Worth for 15 years, I decided to take early retirement and help with Bread’s benevolent programs and with the fledgling congregation in Campamento. God has richly blessed both of these projects and we have confidence that He will continue to move the hearts of those in the U.S. who provide the necessary funds to meet the needs. The only salaries provided by these funds are those of the honduran workers who do the work. We of course have needs as we wish always to do more. But nothing is so much needed as to be remembered daily in your prayers for the continued blessings of our Lord.

Bob