It has been an amazing year for the Society of the Good Shepherd. And we take great honor and joy in reporting to you the details of the things God has done—thanks to your help and investment in the people of Honduras!
We began the year with a newsletter about the sanitary units we have been building for poor families in the area of Taulebé, Honduras. Throughout 2025, we continued to build more of these units. The sanitary units, along with many of our other ministry projects in the area, have been aided by the mayor of Taulebé, Dennis Membreño, and his wife, Brenda. He has been re-elected for another four-year term, which will be a big help to our ministries in the Taulebé area.
In February, our construction team from the U. S. came down to build a health clinic in the rural area of Las Conchitas. Work on the project continued after the team left, and the clinic is nearly ready to open. Some of the final items, such as wiring and painting, are now nearly finished. So we anticipate doing a newsletter on the grand opening shortly. Meanwhile, another team plans to go down in February 2026, to build a dialysis clinic.
Throughout the year, the Society continued to make interest-free small business loans to various Christians in Siguatepeque. At the beginning of the year, a young brother named Jairo received a loan to begin a small cafeteria on the campus of a non-profit organization that provides a school and medical clinic to Honduran children.
Among other people, we helped Carlos Hernandez to establish a welding business. Also, Carlos and Stephany Estrada received a loan for a video camera to help them in their expanding photography and advertising business. This year, they have added holiday photos to their many offerings.
Among other notable loans this past year was the one granted to the partnership of Jose Ramon Leiva and his neighbor, Liliana Matute. Liliana operates a very successful graphics art business, and the two partners purchased a large-scale commercial printer that can be used to print banners and other large media.
From time to time, we like to do newsletters on some of our past loan recipients who have done especially well with their businesses. This past year, we highlighted the lawn equipment business of Alvaro and Karlita Bautista. When the Society gave them their loan in 2007, their shop measured only 4×10 feet. Today, it is a large, highly successful lawn equipment business that sells lawn mowers, weed trimmers, and small tractors. It also offers parts and repair services.
One of the most touching projects our donors were involved with this past year was raising scholarships for students at the local charitable special needs school. Our readers donated enough to provide for all thirty scholarships that were needed so that these students could remain in the school.
I (Julie) attended their “day of the child celebration” and watched these children thriving in a setting very unique to Honduras. The donated funds were received with heartfelt gratitude and many tears. I praise the Lord for your support of “the least of these” in this way. We plan to continue to work closely with the school this coming year.
Please continue to pray for the ministry of the Society of the Good Shepherd. And, as I write, I have a special prayer request. Our presidential elections were held on November 30, and the results have yet to be finalized, as of December 17. The uncertainty has plunged our country into political limbo. Tensions and protests are mounting, and confidence in the electoral process is eroding. Please pray that God will bring matters to closure soon.
Julie Nyhoff de Valladares
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Honduras Donations
Leave a Reply