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Newsletter - February, 2008


The Least of These My Brethren

February, 2008

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40

Published by the Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210. (717) 349-7033



The Rest of the Story

Honduras
Concha with group inside her new home
From time to time, in the pages of this newsletter, I have mentioned the special needs of various persons or medical clinics in Honduras. Each time, our readers have responded very generously with either funds or labor to take care of those needs. On our periodic trips to Honduras, Deborah and I usually get to see how these needs have been met. However, I realize that I sometimes forget to share with our readers the results accomplished through their generosity and hard work. So I’ve decided to devote this month’s newsletter to give you the “rest of the story” on three projects we’ve brought to your attention during the past year or two.

The first need on which I want to follow up is that of Doña Concha. I wrote about her in our newsletter of December, 2006. She is an elderly widow who was living in an old, decaying hut made of bahareque—sticks and mud. The tile roof had major holes in it, and the rafters holding up the tiles were rotting. Part of the roof was covered with a plastic tarp to help keep the rain out. Not long ago, part of the roof caved in, and the heavy tiles barely missed hitting Concha’s epileptic daughter.

Honduras
The finished maternity ward in Taulebé
After reading about the situation, some young brothers from a Brethren church in Washington state traveled down to Honduras a few months ago and began working on a new house for Doña Concha. Unfortunately, they had to return home before completing it. Nevertheless, in late January, Jeremy and Heidi Wray, a young couple from the same Brethren congregation, flew down to Honduras to complete the house. When Deborah and I were in Honduras a few weeks ago, we were able to see Concha’s new home. Jeremy was just finishing installing the metal roof and window bars.

In June of 2006, I wrote about the need to build a maternity ward at the medical clinic in Taulebé. In August, 2007, a group of brothers from our local area and from Colorado traveled to Taulebé and built the needed ward. However, they had to leave before the building was painted and all of the floor tiles were laid. Happily, Deborah and I were able to see the completed maternity ward a few weeks ago, freshly painted and with the finished flooring. The ward is proving to be a real blessing to the community in and around Taulebé.

Honduras
Virgilio can now see well enough to read and to drive a car again
Finally, in the March, 2007 newsletter, I told our readers about the medical needs of brother Virgilio Alvarez. As you may recall, he is a Honduran pastor and evangelist who had nearly gone blind. His eyesight had become so bad that he could no longer read, drive a car or even ride a bicycle. As a result of his near-blindness, Virgilio was forced to resign his position as pastor.

Thankfully, a number of our readers contributed funds to enable Virgilio to have his eyes operated on. As a result of these funds, together with funds contributed from other sources, Virgilio was able to travel to Guatemala and have an eye specialist operate on his eyes. When we were in Honduras a few weeks ago, Deborah and I were delighted to see Virgilio at our Saturday group meeting. The operations were a success! He can now see quite well, and he is once again pastoring a church.

I truly want to thank all of the brothers and sisters who contributed funds or time to meet these special needs. As Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:40).


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