Connect Global at DINAF in La Ceiba Honduras

Connect Global Team at DINAF in La Ceiba

Connect Global April Team in front of DINAF in La Ceiba Honduras

Connect Global has been introduced this year to Dirección Nacional de la Niñez y la Familia (DINAF)  a community organization charged with the enforcement of the protection of children, adolescents, and families. They are the front line of child abuse, adoption, fostering, and family counseling. The local branch in La Ceiba has a school with the capacity of 90 and serves between 30 and 40 families a month though free counseling, light medical treatment, groceries, and daycare for working parents. 

The school currently has around 30 students, and between 5 and 10 preschoolers. 

Javier Mendoza, Mayor Carlos Aguilar, Director of Dinaf Rosa, and Travis Moffitt. 

Rosa, the director, has been great contact and has been able to guide us as we jump in and help. 

The Bathrooms at DINAF were unsanitary, hazardous, and in need of consistent running water.

In March we began the renovation of two bathrooms that were in very bad shape. The water was not running, the pipes were strewn across the room, and open drains caused not only a danger to little feet, but an overall health hazard to all. 

We also noticed that the kids area was in need of new dining tables for the cafeteria, a new medical table for their nurses station, and several pieces of school furniture needed refurbishing. 

The Connect Global team that arrived in April, was able to jump right into the renovations, and made a huge difference to the place. Sanders, Paint brushes and Mr Clean in Hand, the team made light work of the children's furniture, bathrooms, and medical area. 

Our team, and network of churches, individuals and local businesses made several monetary and physical donations including Medical Supplies, School Supplies, a new Medical Exam Table, and NEW School lunch tables made by a local craftsman and business owner, Oscar Canales. 

I am so proud of the team and their efforts. I am also grateful for the several local and international partners that came together to make the start of this partnership a success. Special Thanks to: Open Arms Church, Revival Temple, Joshua Nations, Oscar Canales, JIlma Molinero, CCI Church La Ceiba, Life Community Church, Dr. Oviedo, Smart Copy Honduras, and Luis and Juana. 

The team was joined on one of the work days, by the Lady Lee Foundation of Honduras, and the Mayor of the City of La Ceiba, Carlos Aguilar, to complete the donations and gifts. 

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"[DINAF is] a new paradigm of child protection consisting of a decentralized governance with the participation of churches and NGOs engaged in the care of children" - Creación de DINAF para atender a la niñez y adolescencia -

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Why Honduras - Price

This is from a blog series by Travis Moffitt entitled "Why Honduras". Travis Moffitt is Co Founder, President, and CEO of Connect Global. 

Price: $1800 + A changed Life

Over the last ten years I have had great opportunities to both lead and attend numerous short- term mission trips. Each with their own specific purpose, style, location and price. I've been a part of mission trips going to locations with the US borders and as far out as Western Europe. With projects ranging from VBS events, to construction projects, to medical relief. And with price tags from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Variety iIs certainly the name of the game when it comes to short-term mission trips.

Repeatedly I have found myself in the great nation of Honduras. For many reasons I have found this location to be an excellent destination for short-term trips. One such advantage is simply the trip price. At Connect Global we offer a 6 day missional adventure for the low price of $1800 + Your Life.

Let's break that down. $1800 covers your international airfare from your preferred US airport, all ground transportation, lodging, food and trip insurance. Comparatively, that's a pretty low cost threshold when it comes to a short-term mission trip.

The "Changed Life" cost calculates a little differently. At Connect Global we are very intentional about engaging each team member at a heart level. We do not hide the reality that a short-term mission trip is more than an international visit. I can promise you that through a trip of this nature your heart will be stretched and opened up to a whole new world. While we will bring you home alive and well, we will also return you to your family and friends as an entirely new person. The life perspective you once had will be all together exchanged for a new, missional world-view.

A recent study by the research organization, Barna Group, reports that 75% of short-term mission trip team members state that the trip "changed their life in some way." (http://goo.gl/ 7Zn7L8) Many of our experiences have some impact on us but very few could actually be described as "life-changing." Yet that is the most common description of a short-term mission trip.

We believe this equates to an enormous cost with an even greater return. The exchange of the old for the gift of the new. Life, that is. While most of us would say that our lives are great, imagine the fulfillment of an even great life. A change in a more positive direction. Greater clarity of purpose. More awareness of others. A enlarged perspective of the world around you. More sensitivity to the struggle of others and clearer perspective of your ability to actually lessen those struggles.

At Connect Global we say it this way: GO | SERVE | CHANGE.
As you go and serve someone else. Your life, as well as their's, is changed forever.

Our next international journey to Honduras is in April 2015. You can join us for the low cost $1800 + Your Life and receive the incredible life changing benefits. Find out more and sign up at www.goservechange.com/trips. 

The label "life-changing" is pasted on many things, but the description fits most short-term service trips. Only one-quarter of those who have participated on such a trip said it was "just an experience," while a majority said it changed their life in some way. The most common areas of personal growth that people recall - even years later - include becoming more aware of other people’s struggles (25%), learning more about poverty, justice, or the world (16%), increasing compassion (11%), deepening or enriching their faith (9%), broadening their spiritual understanding (9%), and boosting their financial generosity (5%). Others mentioned the experience helped them feel more fulfilled, become more grateful, develop new friends, and pray more. Source: Barna Group 

Why Honduras - Proximity

Proximity

This is from a blog series by Travis Moffitt entitled "Why Honduras". Travis Moffitt is Co Founder, President, and CEO of Connect Global. 

Honduras is Approx 882 miles away from our Home in Tampa Florida

I talk to people all the time about taking a mission trip to a foreign country.  So many will describe to me their desire for such an adventure followed by all the reasons that it's simply impossible for them.  I think over the years I've heard every reason to take a mission trip and every excuse not to. 

For many there is a concern of proximity.  Often times a mission trip can take 10 days or more to complete.  While international travel has become a regular part of modern life, many global destination are simply a long way off.  Jet lag, time away from family, from work, from personal responsibilities can become a very real and insurmountable obstacle to missions.  

While Jesus asks us to go the "uttermost parts of the earth" he also asks us to go to Samaria.  In the text Samaria represents foreign lands that are near by.  We need not neglect the parts of the world that or simply hard to get to because they are far away.  Just as we should not forget to reach out to foreign lands simply because they are "next door".

The city of La Ceiba, Honduras is only 882 short miles from Tampa, FL.  While that's certainly more than a "one tank trip" it's a lot closer than many other missional destinations.  Our upcoming trip to La Ceiba in April 2015 will take you away from home for only 6 days.  6 days!

“At Connect Global we are committed to impact the city of La Ceiba through sustainable efforts for years to come. We would be honored if you would join us. ”

Amazing that you can avoid the jet lag, skip the over-full inbox upon return, by pass the family/work/responsibility neglect and still change a life. (Insert sarcastic tone of voice.)  Seriously, while distance should not be a primary factor in selecting a missional destination; or taking a mission trip at all, proximity can certainly make a difference.

The reality is that within just a few hours and by giving up a few days you can take a mission trip that will radically change your life and the life of your Honduran neighbor.  At Connect Global we are committed to impact the city of La Ceiba through sustainable efforts for years to come.  We would be honored if you would join us.  

You can learn more about our ongoing efforts in La Ceiba and even sign up for a trip by Clicking the Learn More Button.

 Our next visit to La Ceiba will be April 6-11, 2015.  We are receiving applications right now.  We look forward to making our next trip with you. 

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