Honduras: What Could Be?

by Russ Dilday, Communications Director for Buckner
(as seen on BucknerPrez blog)

OK, I'm starting out with a disclaimer: When it comes to Buckner missions and our global initiatives, I'm the PR guy. I'm not the person who decides what our programs will be or how our volunteer missions
groups will respond in other countries. They have names like Randy and Leslie and George and Victor and Albert.

But I'm Russ, the PR guy. So everything I'm going to say hasn't been subject to the filters of good policy, procedure, programming or protocol. It's just me writing about what I've seen and conjecturing
about what could be in Honduras. Consider this the "unofficial" version of what Buckner and its volunteers could do.

Our exploratory team visited four orphanages last week, each with a specific fingerprint, each very different. But each also holds a look at how we might interact with different orphanage models in the same country. Take a look:

San Ramon Boys Orphanage: Run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, it's an orderly, neat orphanage serving boys from about 5 all the way through their teens. Is it a candidate for help? Sure. It's tiny. Most of 20' X 10' rooms hold six boys in single beds. They've asked for help in adding on to the facility. In addition, it has a good program.

In most cases, boys who are orphaned and living on the streets come to the orphanage, a dramatic contrast to many other orphanages, where children are brought by authorities against their will. What could be? I hope we can help with their physical building, giving them extra capacity to help more children.

Casa de Ninas - Lifeline: Again, a private orphanage, but this one supported through another evangelical American aid organization. While the assumption might be that they already have enough support, every orphanage needs more. In this case, they need infrastructure help in the form of light construction and facility upgrades.

I can see Buckner volunteers stepping in to provide that construction and support the message of Christ those girls already receive.

Nueva Esperanza: I wrote about this government orphanage on Monday. It needs so much help, from humanitarian aid to rec equipment, facilities maintenance and evangelism teams.

We could do so much.

The San Pedro Sula Adolescent Girls Home: We already have purchased mattresses for the girls, who were sleeping on bed frames. The staff is engaged and passionate with the girls, but they need additional infrastructure help (like electric fans!). This is the kind of place that needs a transitional program to help these older teen girls transition to independence once they age out of care.

So what else could be? That's a matter of prayer as well as careful planning. We need God to not only open doors for us but to give us the resources to make these ministries happen.

We know He can. We've seen it happen. Will you pray with us?