Last month was a full and productive month for the Society of the Good Shepherd! We are excited to report on the enthusiastic work team that visited from the States. A group of 26 volunteers from the U. S. arrived to work on a new health clinic located near the Lake of Yojoa in a community called “Las Conchitas.” For the construction of this clinic, the Society has been collaborating with the mayor of Taulabé and its city engineer. Las Conchitas is a small rural community near Taulebé. All the funds for the clinic have been provided by the Society.
The community of Las Conchitas is in desperate need of this medical clinic. In fact, the community is so eager to have a medical clinic that most of the labor done on this project in the first two months was provided by volunteers from the community. Accordingly, before the work team even arrived, about ten volunteer workers from the community had laid the foundation for the clinic. So once the team arrived from the states, the U.S. volunteers were able to immediately begin laying blocks for the walls.
Despite a rough stomach bug that passed through the team during their nine-day stay, they managed to get the interior and exterior walls half-way completed. The U.S. volunteers worked alongside Honduran workers. As a result, both English and Spanish were spoken on the job site. It was a great experience for both the work team from the States and the local volunteer workers. By pointing to objects and using hand gestures (and a little help from a translator) the workers from the U.S. and Honduras were able to work together and accomplish a common goal. Everyone worked hard and enjoyed their time!
Near the end of the week, the men from Las Conchitas, who had been working with the team, wanted to express their appreciation to the team and to the Society. So one evening, they pooled their money together and surprised the team by taking them out to a local restaurant by the lake, where they all enjoyed a supper of freshly caught fried fish from the lake, coupled with fried plantain chips. The team was deeply touched by this gesture.
This new medical clinic will be over 3000 square feet with a waiting room, examination rooms, bathrooms, and storage rooms. It will provide a wide-range of medical services to this rural community at a minimum cost to the patients. While the community of Las Conchitas will benefit physically from the construction of this clinic, the young people on the work team received a greater blessing. They were able to experience the blessing of serving others!
After the U.S. team left, a paid Honduran crew picked up where the team left off. As of now, the walls of the clinic have been completed and this week the concrete floor is being poured. It is presently the dry season here in Honduras, which is the best time to work on building projects. Between the fully committed volunteers, the clear vision of the local leaders, and the financial support of the Society, this new clinic is projected to be up and running by early Fall.
While the men on the team (and some of the women) were laying blocks for the building, some of the other sisters from the States painted the health center in Taulabe with a new coat of blue paint. Meanwhile, Kevin Brechbill (the team leader) and Luis Vega (one of our directors in Honduras) were able to inspect a number of sanitary units that had recently been built. Since the mayor of Taulebé was sick that day, his wife took them around to the various installations. Luis and Kevin were able to meet many of the recipients of these sanitary units. They were also able to provide some ideas for modifications for future units. Donations for more units have been pouring in, so things are in motion to keep building more of these sanitary units.
Lastly, the team brought fun and camaraderie to the annual meeting with all the current microloan recipients, held in Siguatepeque. The work team sang several hymns for the group, and they all participated together in various wholesome and fun games. It’s always encouraging for the loan recipients to receive this kind of spiritual and moral support. These new business owners continue to trust the Lord with their businesses, as presently Honduras is going through a trying time of inflation and political uncertainty.
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
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