Three years ago, Francisco Ulloa was struck from behind by a hit-and-run driver. He was left bleeding in the road, with his right leg badly crushed. Blessedly, a medical missions team was in the area, and they were able to perform the surgery he needed to repair his leg. They also provided him free of charge with a special brace on his leg that would have otherwise cost $10,000.00.

Although Francisco was not a believer at the time of his accident, the kindness of the missionaries and the seriousness of the situation caused him to turn to God. He gave his life to Christ, and he has been a passionate Christian ever since.

Francisco is a single man, 28 years old. He lives with his mom, sisters, and three nieces and nephews. He is the primary breadwinner for all of them. Rather than giving up because of his serious leg injury, Francisco has worked that much harder to provide for his extended family. And he has proved himself to be a very adept businessman.

Eighteen months ago, he and his mother started a small pulperia (neighborhood grocery). They had very little capital to put into the store, and so they started out with a single small table of merchandise. Through careful management, in a year’s time, their store had grown from that small table to one of the better-stocked pulperias in Siguatepeque.

But Francisco has continued to look for other opportunities to provide for his mother and extended family. When so much of the economy of Honduras was disrupted by the lockdowns due to Covid, Francisco saw an opportunity to begin an economical freight delivery service using a Zmoto freight cycle. This is a motorcycle with an attached freight bed (see photo).

When Francisco heard about the ministry of the Society of the Good Shepherd, he approached us about receiving a loan to purchase a Zmoto. He had a good testimony from his pastor, and we could see how he had managed his pulperia extremely well. So last September, the Society gave Francisco an interest-free loan to purchase a new Zmoto. Normally, these freight motorcycles sell for $3000 in Honduras. However, the Society checked throughout the major cities of Honduras, and we were able to find Francisco a new Zmoto for $2680. With a heavy-duty 250 hp motor, his Zmoto can easily haul a full bed of freight. Even when filled with freight, it gets 40 mpg. So Francisco can deliver loads of freight at prices with which trucks can’t compete.

Through both the Internet and through word-of-mouth advertising, Francisco’s delivery business has really taken off. His main customers are the hundreds of other pulperias in Siguatepeque and the surrounding area. These stores need a way to restock their shelves, and Francisco can deliver merchandise to them cheaper than any of the delivery trucks. So the stores save money by using his delivery service. As a result of the pandemic, neighborhood pulperias have been booming in the past year because of the lack of transportation and because of restrictions on mobilization for the whole population. So this has been good both for the pulperia that Francisco owns and for his delivery service. In addition to servicing various pulperias, Francisco transports whatever other goods people request—from mattresses to refrigerators. Francisco charges customers based on distance.

Francisco has proved to be not only an adept business operator, but also a faithful steward of the loan he has received. He has promptly made each monthly payment, and after only six months, he is already a full month ahead on his payments. Francisco is scheduled to have his leg brace removed later this year, and he should be able to walk fairly normally thereafter. He asks for prayer for him and his family that they may continue to bless others as they have been blessed.

In closing my conversation with Francisco, he said, “Siempre hay dificultades, pero vamos adelante con la ayuda del Señor.” (There will always be difficulties, but we press on with the help of the Lord).

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