Written by Linda VanDyke

Would you like to go to Honduras with us in September? My immediate answer was YES! But then all the doubts and questions started to haunt my head – but you don’t know anyone on this team, you don’t speak Spanish, you are getting too old, … BUT, I’d made a commitment and was determined to stick with it and I am so glad that I did.

The team was made up of quite a few veterans and about 6 of us newbies. The first two days, we delivered water filter buckets to remote villages. This involved narrow gravel roads with steep inclines, bridges with no side rails, and crossing some streams without bridges. The people in the village were very welcoming and jumped right in to assist in assembling the water filter buckets. At each house, the filter system was offered and if accepted, they were instructed in how to use, clean, and re-assemble the bucket filter. Then they were told that someone would be coming back in two weeks to see how things were going. In addition, we also gave them a copy of the New Testament in Spanish.

One of my most memorable visits was up a steep incline on a narrow path. We found an old woman working in her outdoor kitchen. She greeted us warmly and listened attentively. She was so excited to receive the water filter, because her family had been experiencing headaches and sickness. She could not read or write, but was also delighted to get the New Testament because her son who lived with her could read it to her. We learned that she was 100 years old! We were all amazed.

On our trip, we also painted the main floor living space at the boys’ home and were able to present fire helmets to the fire department of Comyagua. Can you imagine fighting fires without any protective headgear? This was gear being replaced in Byron Township and was a huge gift to their firefighters. We also did some cleaning and painting at a church Casa has worked with before.

It was delightful to see how warmly people that Casa has worked with previously welcomed and embraced Lori, Bill, and the team we brought. There was a respect and willingness to try to provide anything they could to help us. One family opened their home to us so that we could shower when we lost power at the mission house. Casa is not a “love them and leave them” type of ministry, but has been faithful in continuing their presence and witness in Honduras. If you have a chance to support them, I encourage you to do so, and say “YES!” if you are asked to go. Don’t let all those pesky questions and fears get in your way.