Saige and Yeni

Saige and Yeni.

Today (originally posted November 6, 2015) was a hard day for Yeni and she was not in good spirits most of the day for obvious reasons. She was admitted to the hospital for an infection which is super dangerous based on her weak immune system.

So the initial prognosis was a 4 day stay in the hospital which would mean missing her big party tomorrow. 😔😔😔. Thankfully though the doctors seem to think she will be able to leave the hospital, if only for a short time, to enjoy the party. We are super excited about the chances of going ahead with the party!! That explains the big smiles in the photo.

This was actually the first time Yeni smiled all day. She had been looking for Saige but she was at school for the first half of the day. After Saige got out of school we explained the situation to her and she immediately said we need to go take Yeni lunch, be with her, and make sure she can still go to her party. Saige also decided to give Yeni a small, portable DVD player that had been given to her as a gift and two new movies so Yeni has something to occupy her mind while in the hospital.

All in all, today was a long, heart wrenching day watching Yeni suffer and not being able to do much more than just be present.

Yeni is a brave young girl fighting a nasty disease and yet still took time today to insist that she could stay at the hospital alone if it meant her younger siblings wouldn't have to be left alone for any amount of time during her treatment.

Being in close proximity to the suffering of kids like Yeni and others we've met this year has really broken my heart in so many ways.

I don't understand the place that suffering of this magnitude has in this world. I don't know what makes one kid out of a family of four have cancer while the other three just watch her suffer.

I only know that we are each placed here on earth to help ease the suffering of others in any way we can. We are here to be the reason someone can smile at the end of a day like this. We are here to love others in the way Jesus would. Fully and without prejudice. We are here to mend the broken hearted and bandage their wounds.

“Compassion without action is merely observation.”

— Javier Mendoza

Mendoza Family Update September

Thank You for your interest in our family. 

We had a great summer with our team coming in from Texas, Florida and Atlanta in July. Together we got to partner with several local organizations to provide support to their community work. 

We are preparing for our next team September 12th.

This team will drive to a village called Cusuna, Honduras. It is about six hours from La Ceiba. This village is the location of the very first mission trip Danielle and I went to together, 10 years ago. This village is very special to our family as it not only represents the first time we fell in love with this group of people but little did we know it would also be the catalyst to launch us into missions in the capacity we are today.

Choosing to live full time for a year in another country is a special privilege that we have not taken lightly.

Yes there are challenges and there are some days that are harder than others, but we have had a wonderful time so far. We have made new, life long friends all over the country of Honduras and are grateful to be able to strengthen the relationships we have made over the last 10 years. 

This year has given us greater perspective on how to continue working and serving this country for the future.

Our time has also given us up close opportunities to see past the news headlines that tell us that Honduras is nothing more than the murder capitol of the world. There are hardworking, law abiding, community serving people all over this country. Everyone we have worked with here has been wonderful. We have been able to make some great partnerships with self motivated leaders and directors. 

Please keep us in your prayers and keep Honduras in your prayers.

There is still much we can all do to help lend a hand to our friends here. If you would like to make a financial donation you can know that every dollar is going to people who are great stewards and are making every penny go as far as possible! Additionally, we are always looking for volunteers to come and give of your time, expertise and skill to augment the work that is going on in this community. 

Javier & Danielle Mendoza
Connect Global

Connect Global visit to the National Police Station of Honduras in La Ceiba

Javier and Danielle Mendoza along with Pastor Allan Lorenzana of CCI Church in La Ceiba, visited the National Police headquarters for the state of Atlantida. 

Javier Mendoza with Luis Bustamante in La Ceiba

Our time was spent observing the conditions of their medical clinic. The clinic serves all of the police officers here in the state as well as their children. 

We were asked to visit by our friend and Police Commissioner Luis Bustamante. He is concerned with the condition of the clinic and what they are able to do with the little resources dedicated towards police officer care. 

Commissioner Bustamante took notice of our completed projects at DINAF and at the Regional Hospital, and has asked us for help renovating and updating the Police Station Clinic. 

Pastor Allan Lorenzana, with the Mendoza Family meeting with Luis Bustamante at the police.  

Along with aesthetic upgrades like paint and fixtures, we plan to provide more up to date medical materials and supplies. Since this is also for the families of police officers, we want to make it something especially nice for these officers, who put their lives on the line each day. 

Javier Mendoza with his daughter on a tour of the Honduran National Police station in La Ceiba Honduras  

We also plan to organize first aid and CPR training for these first responders. Very few are trained in basic CPR or first aid and when in the field and on missions, time is critical in the care and preservation of lives. Without proper training, these officers are being placed in extra danger which could be prevented. 

The Commissioner told us of a recent tragedy where one of his officers died in the line of duty, because of injuries he sustained while serving on a mission outside the city limits. His injuries should not have been life threatening, but due to the distance from a hospital and the lack of training in first aid or the needed supplies, he suffered and ultimately passed before getting medical treatment. 

Along with this new training initiative, we hope to outfit each company vehicle in the city with a properly equipped medic bag. In depth training combined with proper medical supplies will save lives in La Ceiba. 

We invite you to join us in this community service to these officers and their families. Make a donation online or join us on an upcoming trip.

You can be the difference in making sure these officers come home each and every night. 

Thank You 

Mendoza Family Update

Saludos from La Ceiba Honduras.

Map of Honduras  

We have been here in La Ceiba for just under two months and have hit the ground running. The way of life is different in many ways but we have already gained a greater knowledge of the work set before us. Our days are full and we wouldn't have it any other way.

We enrolled our daughter in school the first of February. She Is thriving in her new environment. We are so grateful to God that she has gracefully accepted a new country, a new home, a new school and a new set of friends. She and I both are working on learning the new language!

Javier is busy volunteering throughout the week at a local church whose primary focus is church planting and showing God's love in action throughout the community. Javier and I together will be giving FREE English classes at the church each Saturday starting in March. We are told that this will be a big deal to the community!

We are doing this in addition to our time spent at Casa Cielo. Casa Cielo is an orphanage about 25 minutes from our home. I am teaching language, spelling and grammar as well as loving on the kids.

Javier is currently rebuilding a website for them and will be taking over a class of his own in March.

On Thursday nights we are a part of a local Honduran small group that is determined to ask the right questions and do the right things within this community. We are very happy to be involved with each of them who have knowledge, insight and ideas for their community. Plus they are a lot of fun too!

Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras Main Entrance

Regional Office for Dinaf

Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras Meeting with Regional Director

Meeting with loca leadership of Dinaf to come up with Strategy on support and work projects. 

Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras Office

Following Regional Director José Luis Martínez into the Family Counceling waiting area. 

Connect Global Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras

A chalkboard sign anticipates welcoming a new group of children once repairs are made to building. 

Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras

Work Being done to maintain and improve the Dining Hall.

Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras Kitchen

The kitchen that will be used to create meals for the children and families who come for school and services like counseling.

Connect Global Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras

Chairs and Desks in need of repair and replacement for the school. 

Connect Global Dinaf Visit school room

This class sits waiting for children to fill it with laughter and learning. 

Connect Global Dinaf Visit School Toys

Here a pile of toys wait to greet incoming students who may not have many toys of their own 

Connect Global Dinaf Visit La Ceiba Honduras

the Nursery at Dinaf serves the community by allowing working parents to drop children off during work hours for no fee. 

Connect Global Dinaf Visit Outside Repairs

A Gentleman repairs and reinforces mosquito net around the dining hall. Mosquitos are one of the number one health concerns in all of central america and the world. 

Connect Global Dinaf Visit Playground

Playground equipment in need of serious repair or replacement. 

Connect Global Dinaf Visit Storage Room

This storage room is in need of clearing, painting, and equiping to become a school nurses station. 

We also met with the Director of DiNAF which is best described as a social service to families in need with the great focus being on the children. Local family's ( many from single parent homes )  bring their children there during the day so they can either work or search for a job. DiNAF gives the children a safe place to be, along with meals for families that do not have the means to pay for childcare or education on their own. We have been invited to partner with them through our time and resources. Javier and I along with the rest of the Connect Global team are thinking through how we can best help this local government organization.

Moving to La Ceiba is the best opportunity we have been given to reach into the lives of many families in need.

We thank you for your continued support and prayer. 

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Beauty in Honduras

"To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." 

◄ Isaiah 61:3 ►

Our family has now been in Honduras for 12 days. We have been getting settled in and becoming acquainted with our new town and with some really great new families. 

Each time we have traveled to Honduras over the past 10 years we have been in awe of the natural beauty as well as the beauty in the love and the grace that surely abounds here. 

We have chosen to focus on the beauty and not the ashes. There are families here serving others, there are business leaders improving the community, and there are churches concerned with outreach and not just warehousing believers. 

Yes, there is still crime and hurt and disease but there is also peace, and love and good people willing to do what it takes for light to defeat darkness. 

Our intention here is to highlight the good going on in this community and embrace solutions rather than dwell on the problems. 

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we integrate with this community and pray that we would be successful in our pursuit to exchange beauty for ashes. 

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Moving Abroad

Many of you have questions of how this move to Honduras has come about.

I will create notes here on FB from time to time while we are away to answer the common questions we get like WHY ? As well as post about what our day to day work looks like there.

Ok, where to start...? Yes we are nervous, in some moments it feels like my heart may just jump out of my chest.

In other moments there is such an overwhelming peace about it that I just want to cry ( but I don't because I have a great poker face. ) The fact that I can experience that type of peace and to that degree beside the fact that we have never laid eyes on our soon to be dwelling, or that we don't have a solution for transportation in a country that has been known as the Murder Capitol of the World is nothing short of faith and a miracle. I can tell you peace does not come from having all the answers, all the resources or everything always going according to plan. In my life it has come from faith and trust, believing and knowing we will be ok. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. Matt 10:29. The greatest JOY in what we are embarking on is that it is NOT ABOUT US... Ahhhh how refreshing. It is about what we feel we were not only called to do but that it is something we were created for. To our delight we are seeing that as a family unit we have this desire, calling and will to GO.

Now for those who feel like " well this is sudden " rest assured it is not.

Javier and I have been on the mission field separately for 15 years now and on the field together for the last decade. Here is a fun fact... Javier and I fell in love on a mission trip... True story ! It is about the ONLY thing we have in common ha, but what a great thing to share the same passion for. Really my greatest concern on this journey is that my daughter will feel a strong sense of community. I pray she has double the play time with friends and a double portion of love and security in her little heart. I pray this lays a strong foundation In the makeup of who she is and who she will become in life.

Thank you all for reading and letting me share a few thoughts. Your prayers, support and friendship are always valued and respected.

Peace be with YOU!

Photos from Our First Trip to Honduras over ten years ago

Mendoza Family In La Ceiba Honduras

The Mendoza Family will be spending 2015 in La Ceiba Honduras as a part of the Connect Global Connected Community Initiative.

Myself, Danielle and Saige will be living in La Ceiba Honduras to aid in implementing a new plan for bringing sustainable solutions to the city. We have many friends and partners in the area and look forward to meeting and making acquaintance with several more this year.

The overview of Connected Community is structured around helping and supporting
four main groups within the community: Churches, Schools, Local Business, and Children's Homes. We believe that each of these community entities holds
the key to unlocking exponential positive change and growth for La Ceiba. This community will be a shining example of what can happen when we all choose to work together and focus on sustainable solutions.

We are Currently recruiting high caliber Church leaders, Educators, Medical Professionals and Business leaders to come volunteer alongside us in this initiative. We need you to serve by sharing your skills and talents with the Community.

Come be the answer to a prayer you didn’t even know someone was praying.

Ready to get involved, Drop us an Email or join an Upcoming Trip to La Ceiba, Honduras

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Mendoza Family Contact Info:

Javier Danielle and Saige Mendoza

CONNECT GLOBAL
PO BOX 47381 Tampa, FL 33646

GoServeChange.com 

Mendoza Family is on Twitter

@Javi_Mendoza

@TheSaigeMom

@Saigeisms