A Sustainable Opportunity

We believe one of the strategic paths to positive, sustainable change in Honduras starts with Aquaponics.

(You can find the full definition of Aquaponics by clicking here). Aquaponics allows for the creation and implementation of a renewable method of raising healthy fish alongside hydroponically-grown leafy vegetation.

This will substantially provide both food and a practical trade for anyone interested in learnng and maintaining these systems. 

Connect Global's own National Director of Honduras, Jorge Amador, has built 5 systems in La Ceiba over the last year and plans several more in 2018 and beyond. 

To find out More Please Check out the Articles below on Aquaponics

---

To Join us, you can go with us to install the next system, or you can make a donation towards the overall cost of our next project.

Our Trip To Cuba

Our trip to Cuba was a great Success 

Thank you for praying and checking in on us. We just returned from our trip to Cuba, and it was amazing. 

Connect Global Team in Cuba

Thank You for your Support

We joined a team from an organization called Worldwide Voice In the Wilderness, comprised of leaders from Florida, and Texas. Our team visited 4 cities and hosted 3 separate conferences. 

People came from all over Cuba and represented every single province in Cuba.

People slept in the churches, or doubled up with families but the main focus was to be at these conferences. 

The Cuban leaders organized several segments of teaching In which our team jumped in and did a fantastic job. We also visited a dozen churches, and met with city leadership in Ciego de Avila, Santiago de Cuba, and Holguin. 

In Holguin there were over 500 Prison and Hospital Chaplains and Leaders that all came to be encouraged and equipped. We joined other keynote speakers from Chicago and California. 

We are excited about the potential that is upon Cuba for widespread positive change.

The people we met are hardworking, and dedicated to their cause. We are anticipating more opportunity to go back and would love for you to consider going with us. If you are interested please send us a message! 

CUBA INTEREST LIST

We will be traveling to Cuba

Travis and I will be joining a group from Texas, and Florida to travel to Cuba for a week.

We are partnering with Worldwide Voice In the Wilderness, a global prison ministry with over 38 years of visiting some of the baddest prisons in the world. Their founder, Johnny Moffitt, has invited us along on this, his third trip, to help lead, and document the wonderful work they have been involved with. 

Encouraging and Teaching church leaders and volunteers to continue serving the nation of Cuba and to share vision and hope for the future

We are going to be a part of the impact that is already underway through the teaching and training of some of Cuba's greatest volunteers. Helping to encourage leaders and also learn from their service will be a great joy for us. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers this week and next while we travel to Cuba amidst newly restored Cuban relations and our own U.S. Presidential election.

Please keep our families back in Texas and Florida in your prayers as well. 

Thank You! 

Javier Mendoza

No Idea What To Expect

No Idea What To Expect

Special Guest Post by CJ Palmer of PrepareMyMission.com

---

Preparing for a mission trip can definitely be a challenge. Packing all of the right clothing and gear, tracking all of the flights and times, and preparing mentally to embrace a new culture are all things that are running through my head as I get ready. This weekend my wife and I will set out on our second trip to Honduras with Connect Global.

 

Since my wife and I went on a trip with Connect Global last year, you would think that this upcoming trip would be less of a challenge. And in some ways it is. We remember what the country looks like, we know who our trip leaders are, and we’re somewhat familiar with the food. Knowing these things does make this trip a little easier. But no matter how many times you’ve been on a mission trip, it’s always a challenge to prepare.

It’s difficult to prepare for a mission trip because you really have no idea what to expect. We can prepare for the meetings we have at work tomorrow. We can prepare for the people we have staying in our guest room two weeks from now. But it’s nearly impossible to prepare for the people we’ll meet and experiences we’ll have during this trip.

This goes against everything we know and experience in the United States. We know what time to be at work. We know what we’re having for dinner. We know who we’re going to see before we see them. We know what time we’re going to bed and what time we’re setting our alarm to wake up and do it all again.

Wonderful job by these two as they helped serve up about 50 meals for people in need of a hot lunch. #GoServeChange #ServeOthers #Honduras

A photo posted by Connect Global (@iconnectglobal) on Jul 30, 2015 at 4:06pm PDT

You can’t plan and prepare for these things when you’re going on a mission trip. But, I think that’s exactly why we need to go. We need to practice what it feels like to follow Jesus, even when we’re not sure where He’s leading and what we’re going to do when we get there.

When Jesus asked His first disciples, Peter and Andrew, to follow him, they had no idea what He was up to. They had no time to prepare and no idea where He was leading. They were in the middle of their daily routine—casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee. But God had other plans for Peter and Andrew beyond their daily routine—plans they could in no way anticipate. God was up to something.

He’s still up to something. When we let go of our daily routine to see what God is up to in the world, we’re not only more open for God to work in us, but also for God to work through us.

My wife and I are so excited to serve the people of Honduras next week. We are excited to see what God is going to do in the Honduran people, in our team, and in each other. We have no idea what to expect next week, but that’s okay. We’ll find out soon.

Check back this Saturday and follow along as we begin our journey to Honduras.

---

---

Suggested Articles

Preparing for the Arrival of the World Race Team

Preparing for the arrival of the World Race Team

This past weekend, Travis, Gina and Noah Moffitt began a one month stay in Honduras to host a team of World Racers and to continue the work that Connect Global has established in the city of La Ceiba. 

Danielle, Saige and My self spent 2015 living in La Ceiba establishing some really great relationships and working hard at creating some really engaging and sustainable projects with several locally run organizations. 

This month our Co Founders will continue in the work aided by a special group of traveling missionaries. The World Race is an 11 month journey that takes participants through 11 different countries, and pairs them up with organizations like ours who are making a great impact in order to support and increase their effectiveness. 

This month our team will participate in many outreaches that we have designed to be very locally impactful as well as augment our long term goals of equipping and empowering local ministries to continue reaching their community through sustainable programs. 

Over the past couple of days, our team, CCI Church La Ceiba, and several other individual volunteers, gave of their time, resources, and energy setting up a comfortable and clean place for these World Racers to Stay while they are with us in La Ceiba.

By utilizing the church rooms as dorms the team, as well as our staff, can spend a greater percentage of all fundraising efforts towards the projects that really matter. This helps us maintain a very high level of support directed towards the community. 

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for our team. This month will be a wonderful time of community outreach and personal growth. Pray for safety, energy, and increase of relational depth in La Ceiba. 

Thank You

Javier Mendoza,

Connect Global Co Founder

Zika Virus

The Zika Virus is gaining attention in South and Central America

Due to the recent news reports and stories bringing awareness to a mosquito-borne illness we thought it would be good to address our stance on this global health issue. I will reference directly to two sources, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, as well as World Health Organization, both of which we trust and have followed for over 11 years in our travels to Central, and South America as well as to Thailand. 

What is Zika Virus?

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.

Where is Zika Virus?

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde). In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus. Countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission

Should I avoid travelling to areas where Zika virus is occurring?

Travellers should stay informed about Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases and consult their local health or travel authorities if they are concerned.

To protect against Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, everyone should avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should follow this advice, and may also consult their local health authorities if travelling to an area with an ongoing Zika virus outbreak.

Based on available evidence, WHO is not recommending any travel or trade restrictions related to Zika virus disease. As a precautionary measure, some national governments have made public health and travel recommendations to their own populations, based on their assessments of the available evidence and local risk factors.

Our Specific Plan

Connect Global has traveled to central and south america for a little over a decade. While there have always been valid concerns surrounding mosquito-borne viruses in our travels, we have used the information to create plans of prevention rather than just avoiding travel altogether. With the new outbreak of Zika Virus the main concern is for women who are pregnant.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

There are several ways to prevent contraction of Zika and other viruses such as Malaria and Dengue Fever. 

• Wear long sleeve pants, and long sleeve shirts.

• Use a mosquito repellant with deet

• Spray or treat your clothing and bed sheets to repel mosquitos in addition to exposed skin

• We recommend bringing a mosquito net you can use over your bed

There are always concerns when choosing to travel outside of your home country. Here are a few tips to consider:

1. We suggest getting informed - The more you know about the actual threat, the more you know about how to prevent the threat

2. Bring your own personal repellant and look into treated clothing and or bed nets to bring with you. Zika Virus Prevention via the CDC

3. Consult with your doctor about any vaccines that may be suggested for your intended destination

4. Weigh out the pros and cons of any and all prevention methods and or vaccines versus the likelihood of contracting the disease and the symptoms of each disease

---

If you have any comments or any other concerns, questions or tips to add, please leave a comment below. 

Life Empowerment

By making Sustainable Solutions accessible, we are empowering life change in communities around the world in a dignified and lasting manor.

(via Connect Global)

Looking for an adventure? Join us in the Amazon.

May 20 - May 29, 2014 | $3000 

"Across the South American continent runs the mightiest river in the world, the Amazon. Leticia, Colombia, is strategically located on this river where the nations of Peru, Brazil and Colombia intersect providing the gateway into vast rainforest regions."

(via Trips — Connect Global)