One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things - Henry Miller
One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things - Henry Miller
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Church in Cusuna
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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 NIV)
Ten years! That's how long Javier Mendoza and I have been working in Cusuna, Honduras.
Some times it seems like we took our first trip only yesterday. I still remember the first time a seven year old Julio put his little hand in mine. I remember sitting behind Jorge Amador on the 8+ school bus ride getting my Spanish lessons. I remember the first time the children ran along side the bus as we drove into town.
The memories are fresh and clear and now coupled with the new memories of a 17 year old Julio lifting me up on his shoulders. Or watching Pastor Adonis (a 12 year child on our first trip) now pastor the Church of God in Cusuna. To see the children of my once young friends now serving God and full of the same Garifuna joy is simply amazing.
Pastor Adonis singing in the church in Cusuna
Not only amazing but also fulfilling. It is literally the fulfillment of 10 years of hard work. On this last trip we witnessed 2 especially amazing events. First, we watched as Pastor Adonis lead this outstanding congregation in worship. This is so significant because Adonis is the first Garifuna pastor at this church. Cusuna has been called the center of the Garifuna world.
The Church of God is the only evangelical church in Cusuna. So for this congregation to now have a Garifuna pastor is the fulfillment of a long-term dream. And the results are evident. You can see the new sense of life and joy in each church member and leader as they are being lead by one of their own people. I'm certain the exponential impact into the Garifuna people will be felt for decades to come.
Secondly, we installed solar panels and a battery system on the Aquaponic system. After three years of building Aquaponic systems in the most remote places it was truly a profound moment to simply watch the sun move the water. Solar power has become the new equalizer in the developing world and we are quickly taking advantage of this sustainable power source.
Today, this food producing system is now even more efficient and productive thanks to the power of the sun. It was a miracle to behold.
A final thought on these last ten years is how humbled we are to have not walked this out alone.
While Javier and I have been the ones physically going, we have had such amazing friends and family partnering with us every step of the way. From our amazing wives to our ever supportive parents to the friends who have spent countless hours praying for us and those who have put their hard earned financial resources to work on our behalf. We have never been alone.
I am proud to say that we have not given up and as promised, we are reaping a harvest. And that harvest fuels us for the next ten years and more to come.
Trip Update
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for and keeping up with our travels. We were just in Honduras and had a great time. Our travel involved assembling a team made up of Four from North Carolina, One from Texas, and Travis Moffitt + MYSELF from Florida.
We started our trip by meeting up in Atlanta and grabbing our flight to Honduras. It was pretty evident right away that we had a very solid team and that everyone made me very excited to be on the trip. This was the first time any of us had met each other in person all except for Travis who had met each of us separately.
Our flight and process through immigration was pretty smooth except for the loss of one Team bag (which was reclaimed at the end of the week.)
This team was great in so many ways, it is incredible still to think about it. Not only were we introducing them to a brand new experience in an uncomfortable environment but there were also some unplanned pit stops, and through it all everyone had such amazing attitudes. Even through a lot of tire trouble!
Aquaponics update
Team Member Shekina shows Javier and Jorge how to Hack their way through the aluminum on these IBC tanks
One of the major things on our to do list for this trip was to upgrade the already existing system at our friend Jorge's house. We brought with us a timer and other electric supplies to add solar power over to the system. This will allow for faster and more consistent movement of the water, and in turn will create bigger fish and veggies, faster. Over all we accomplished some big updates for this and for future systems. It was great to be able to work along side Jorge and hear his passion for creating and maintaining these sustainable systems.
Aquaponic Carrots sprouting
Medical Update
Several Hundred pounds of Medications and Vitamins were hand delivered by the Connect Global team to the Clinic in Cusuna Honduras
Another component of the trip was facilitating the delivery of several hundred pounds of Children's and Prenatal vitamins as well as several dozen Medicines and ointments. These were a huge blessing to the very ill funded clinic in Cusuna Honduras. Dr Enrique is a very humble and hardworking man who, as the only full time doctor, has his work cut out for him. He is very grateful for any and all support he receives and was more than excited to have one of our team members who is also a doctor in NC assist him with his patients.
Church Update
The Church in Cusuna, is a marvelous light in the dark. Newly into it's second pastor and after 14 years of existence it continues to be a place where good drives out bad. Many new faces were in attendance for our last minute service Tuesday, and during regular service times there are no open seats. Pastor Adonis has inherited a great congregation, and I expect him to continue the growth of the members.
Jorge Amador
Jorge Amador and His 1 year old Daughter Allison
Our friend Jorge and His Wife Janeth just celebrated their daughters 1st birthday. We all were very happy to see and meet her. Our week was decidedly better for having them all there. Please keep them in your prayers. They have a hard job and are still adjusting to living with out consistent electricity, and are in need of reliable transportation.
Pastor Nahun Flores
Pastor Nahun and Edenia Flores near their home in Trujillo Honduras
We also had the pleasure of traveling with Pastor Nahun, Edenia, Abigail, Danny, and David Flores. One of my personal favorite families of all time. They have worked tirelessly in Cusuna for over 14 years, and we have literally watched the kids grow up. This family is very special to everyone who has met them. They work hard and do it all with smiles on their faces. I know that none of my trips to Cusuna over the past ten years would have been nearly as enjoyable if they were not there.
Thank You
Thank You to all who have kept us and this community in your prayers. It truly means a lot that we have so many people both Cusuna Alumni and otherwise that care so deeply for the work that we do in Cusuna. We are very excited about what the future holds. Lets continue to partner together in order to positively create sustainable solutions for some of the problems that exist in Cusuna.
Featured Articles from Connect Global
The 2014 World Cup is taking place in one of the largest countries in the world - Brazil.
Brazil is home to approximately 190 million people. Street children are a particularly vulnerable group in Brazil as they have no home, no care, and no protection. While others, despite having a family network, are sent to the streets to bring money home however they can.
The World Cup is expected to attract 600,000 foreign tourists to Brazil, as well as encourage large numbers of people to migrate to the host cities for work. As a result, the risk of minors being recruited for sexual exploitation in the commercial sex industry has heightened and is expected to increase during the World Cup. The A21 Campaign, with the IT'S A PENALTY partners, aim to stop this.
In a bid to tackle the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, IT'S A PENALTY aims to raise awareness amongst soccer fans and those traveling to Brazil for the World Cup. If anyone is caught engaging in sexual exploitation with a child, aged seventeen and under, they will face prosecution not only in Brazil but also their home country upon returning.
The World Cup will be held in Brazil June 12 to July 13, 2014. Police authorities are concerned that young girls in Brazilian cities are at risk of being trafficked. Girls as young as eleven will be groomed for prostitution and offered to tourists. This is why we are taking action now.
IT'S A PENALTY is a partnership led by The A21 Campaign, Happy Child International, and Jubilee Campaign, working in conjunction with the UK National Crime Agency whose CEOP command leads in tackling traveling child sexual offenders in the United Kingdom.
If you see something, say something. You can call 100 from a Brazilian line. The call is completely free from any local or public telephone in Brazil and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, visit the official IT'S A PENALTY website.
via A21 Campaign
People love to travel, and for good reason.
Travel is exciting, challenging, rewarding, enlightening, and can be very inspiring. Travel can also be very productive. It can change you as a person. It can open your eyes to a new way of thinking or understanding. Travel can bring both independence and togetherness.
Traveling with Purpose takes intentional planning and preparation.
To Travel with Purpose means you don't just let the world happen, but you make it happen. You choose to take certain paths, and make specific decisions. Traveling with Purpose forces you to take notice of things you were once blind to.
Connect Global has decided that our trips would not just be expeditions for travel sake, instead, each would become a vehicle to lasting and positive change. Our purpose is to make bad situations better, good circumstances great, and to promote people who have been marginalized in life. To tell the stories of those lives and to make a difference for each one.
Our vision is to meet the Physical, Emotional + Spiritual needs of others and we do this through sustainable, project based service to those in need. We make every effort to travel well, and to travel with purpose everywhere we go. We support our friends and make sure they have what they need to live in success.
There is a big world out there in need of positive change, but we believe that together we can make a difference.
We invite you to join Connect Global as we Travel With Purpose
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