Brother John has a long relationship with the new Deaf School

John Taylor writes that he has determined he will only be able to wear polo shirts when it comes to Alfredo, Mariana and Josue.  He has been popping the buttons off his shirts, swelling up in being proud of the Salinas family for their vision, positive action and perseverance in moving ahead in the work God has given them to do.

Just when John thought his chest could swell no more, a new discovery puts the practicality of wearing buttoned shirts at practically nil.  Mariana not only has nine deaf students who live and study at the meagre facilities they now occupy, she also sees another ten students with varying physical and mental disabilities. This includes seven with Down's Syndrome.  These students come to her once a week, or once a month, depending on the distance they have to be brought by their parents or guardians.  Without the help needed to care daily for these extreme cases, Mariana can only work with them on an out-student basis.

Readers may not be aware that Alfredo and Mariana have a son, Josue, born deaf, and Christian, another son born with Down's Syndrome.  What a marvellous couple the Salina's are, that God should entrust to them two children with such diverse and life altering impediments. These two children served to challenge the couple to reach beyond their own difficulties and change for the better the lives of other children and families. 

Alfredo, Mariana, and now Josue, offering bright hope for so many others, deserve all the help they can receive in order to realize this monumental ministry God has given them to do.
________________________________________________________________________

AHMEN SIFAT Initiative: update 4/8/11

AHMEN SIFAT Initiative of Honduras is into it’s second year.  AHMEN (Alabama Honduras Medical Educational Network) and SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) joined forces last year to explore how we could use the contacts and network of AHMEN with the “modus opirendi” and techniques of SIFAT to help local communities develop leadership, identify community needs and facilitate implementation in Honduras.  

What started as a vague idea is blooming into an exciting new era for many of the AHMEN teams.

Byron Morales, SIFAT representative, has been working with 50 community agents, self selected, from the Cosuna, Honduras area for one year.  They have been meeting for 3 - 4 day workshops quarterly.  They will complete this part of their program in August, 2011.

What happens to the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative then?   Two things.  

These trained community agents move into the second of three phases of their training.

But, the second thing is what I would like to describe.

Several AHMEN teams have asked Byron to go on their team for 2011 and look into the possibility of starting a workshop in their area.  Others have asked him to go with them and invite the local community agents he has been working with to work with their team.  Still others have invited his community agents, without Byron, to work with their teams. 

Some examples.

1. April team to La Moskitia has invited Byron to go with them and explore the possibility of having a future workshop somewhere in that area.  Will it happen this year?  Probably not, but Bruce, Tom, Jesus, Bud, et. al. are looking further than just what we (week long medical teams) can contribute to communities.

1. A team with Carolina Honduras will be going to Limon in June and is exploring developing a relationship with the “community agents” trained by Byron in the workshops over the past year.  What we hope will happen is the promoters will become an active part of the team, showing the team not only what they are doing, but also identifying areas of need they can work together.  Byron will not be physically there, this will potentially be the first time the community agents have an opportunity to interact with a team other than AHMEN’s.  They will, in essence, be “ambassadors” for this first time experience of reaching beyond the AHMEN organization to other American missionary groups.

1. After the graduation of the first years community agents, Byron will travel with our August team to Palacio and explore the needs and potential there at Cruzadas’ mission compound.  He will also have an opportunity to reconnect with the potential future community agents in Moskitia he met in April.

1. In June, our La Esperanza team has invited Byron to go with us as a member of our team and to help us explore how we might best interact with a new area of 3 or 4 Indio villages in the mountain region near La Esperanza, Honduras.  This will be the first time AHMEN has initiated a medical mission area with Byron being in on the early planning.
2. Belaire teams, including the Guffeys, Greg Rushton, have asked Byron to meet Evelyn and explore Byron setting up a workshop in that area.

1. Finally, Micheal Franklin, CD and Linda Tripp are “pushing” for one of the next workshops to be in the Yoro area.

Lots of good things going on with the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative in Honduras.  If you have a team in Honduras that would like to explore a relationship with Byron and the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative, let Byron know.  We are in the early stages of what potentially can be a positive force for grass root changes in the communites many of us serve in.

Contacts: 

Byron Morales: byromen@yahoo.com

Michael Franklin: frankmj42@gmail.com

Benny Rowe: bennyrowe@bellsouth.net

Tom Camp: llamacamp@gmail.com

Rev. Ray Crump:RayLCr@aol.com

CD and  Linda Tripp: CTripp@bellsouth.net

Mary/Hugh Guffey: hjguffey@earthlink.net

Spring Container to Honduras - Pray for it!!!!!

Some years ago we, the members of the AHMEN organization, only served the Carolina Clinic in Limon, Honduras.  We  had two medical mission trips per year, and they both went to Limon.  After a fair amount of “harassment” from Sister Eleanor and Dan Isbell of Cruzadas del Evangelio to push our boundaries and serve other areas, our team decided to hold a clinic in Punta Piedra, Honduras.  

 

       Punta Piedra is a coastal Garifuna village in Honduras and did not have any medical presence at that time.  The village was about 3 hours down the rutted, sandy, non-paved coastal road that connected Limon to the Mosquitia area.  They had no electricity, no paved roads, and no clean water source.

 

       The trip was absolutely horrible.  We had two flat tires, lost an axil of one of the trucks, and took inadequate medicine for the number of patients we ended up seeing. The  village was not expecting us, and they were not welcoming.  To make matters worse, we didn’t have enough water for us, many of us got dehydrated, and we all began fussing and carrying on among ourselves.

 

       When we got back our team told Sister Eleanor, the spiritual director of Cruzadas del Evangelico, that we would never, NO NEVER, go back to the Garifuna villages along that coast.  Here is where I had my biggest surprise of the trip.  Sister Eleanor exclaimed:  “O NO, all of your misfortunes just meant you were doing what God wanted you to do and the Devil (personal) was working against you.  The closer you come to doing what God wants you to do, the harder the Devil works against you.  This just means you need to work harder at that particular project and pray more.”  This happened, as I said, some years ago.  Since that time our mission has expanded to include multiple villages and projects “down that road”.

 

       What brings this back to my consciousness at this particular time is the problem we are having getting our supplies into Honduras for our mission work this summer.  As many of you know, the Honduran government has made new rules and regulations in regard to both our container going down (what we call our Spring container) as well as airline baggage supplies.  See the recent blog by Bruce McFadden re this problem.

       If you take a look at the trips AHMEN is either heading up or affiliating with this year, you can see that we need our supplies.  Sandy is working diligently on her end, our container committee is working on this end, and lots of folks are contacting all of their “political connections” so far to no avail.

       As I am prone to do when things seem to be “bogging down”, I called Sister Eleanor in Honduras.  Guess what she said.  “This is great that AHMEN is having so many road blocks, it means you are doing exactly what God wants and expects out of your organization.  Keep up the good work.”  When I asked her for specific advice it was forthcoming: “Keep working and add more prayer.  As a  matter of fact, ask your praying folks to add the entire country of Honduras to their prayer list.”

 

       I was telling “Bucket”, team leader for “It’s a God Thing”, and his response: “Hallelujah, Praise God, Pass this good news to all of the teams and let’s get the prayers going.”

 

       So, get in touch with everyone you know that is a prayer and ask them to increase their prayers for AHMEN, the Spring Container, and for Honduras in general.  Get in touch with anyone who might have a contact in the government of Honduras or the USA and ask for their help.  Get in touch with all of your team mates who might be discouraged and remind them that they are doing exactly what they need to be doing and to keep it up.

 

Signed:

Tom Camp

www.honduranmissions.com

llamacamp@gmail.com

 

       For more information on the container contact: Ivan and Joy Green: Greenei@bellsouth.net

 

Update: AHMEN SIFAT Initiative - March '11

As many of you know, AHMEN joined with SIFAT with a program last year to attempt to extend the energy various teams put into Honduras beyond the week or ten days they are actually in the country.  We call this the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative, and it is headed up by Byron Morales from SIFAT and backed up by a whole lot of AHMEN folks.

Below is a showing of just some of the folks who are working with Byron from Alabama.  This picture was taken at Christ UMC, Jasper during the last planning session. - includes Michael Franklin, Byron Morrales, Joe Down, Lou Altman, an Lexie Hilton.

Byron called last nite from Cosuna, Honduras with a report.  The Community Agents are in the middle of their 4th workshop.  To give you an idea of how it works: 

1. yesterday they had a lecture from three Cuban doctors on rthe importance of clean water.  They were taught that the one of the major killers in “Third World Countries” is not having access to sanitary water.
2. Today they will build ecostoves from local material that will use 80% less fuel and produce 80% less smoke inside the home.
3. Tomorrow our friend Dr. Luther Castillo will teach them the relationship between cooking smoke in thier home and their children suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses.

Byron also reports that there are 50 community agents that will complete the first year of the course in August, and there are already plans to not only continue their training, but new students are approaching Byron asking him/us to begin a new class as soon as possible.  These students are from scattered villages within one day walk/bus/horse/canoe ride away.  It is thru this system that the knowledge the agents acquire is discriminated thru out the area.

Above is a photo of Joshua and Marinna from the Deaf School in Plan de Flores.  They have have attended each workshop and will graduate with 50 other students in August of this year with a certificate as a trained Community Agent in Health Care.

Update: AHMEN SIFAT Initiative - March '11

As many of you know, AHMEN joined with SIFAT with a program last year to attempt to extend the energy various teams put into Honduras beyond the week or ten days they are actually in the country.  We call this the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative, and it is headed up by Byron Morales from SIFAT and backed up by a whole lot of AHMEN folks.

Below is a showing of just some of the folks who are working with Byron from Alabama.  This picture was taken at Christ UMC, Jasper during the last planning session. - includes Michael Franklin, Byron Morrales, Joe Down, Lou Altman, an Lexie Hilton.

Byron called last nite from Cosuna, Honduras with a report.  The Community Agents are in the middle of their 4th workshop.  To give you an idea of how it works: 

1. yesterday they had a lecture from three Cuban doctors on rthe importance of clean water.  They were taught that the one of the major killers in “Third World Countries” is not having access to sanitary water.
2. Today they will build ecostoves from local material that will use 80% less fuel and produce 80% less smoke inside the home.
3. Tomorrow our friend Dr. Luther Castillo will teach them the relationship between cooking smoke in thier home and their children suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses.

Byron also reports that there are 50 community agents that will complete the first year of the course in August, and there are already plans to not only continue their training, but new students are approaching Byron asking him/us to begin a new class as soon as possible.  These students are from scattered villages within one day walk/bus/horse/canoe ride away.  It is thru this system that the knowledge the agents acquire is discriminated thru out the area.

Above is a photo of Joshua and Marinna from the Deaf School in Plan de Flores.  They have have attended each workshop and will graduate with 50 other students in August of this year with a certificate as a trained Community Agent in Health Care.

Shalom, a safe place for Girls in Honduras

Why sponsor a girl at Shalom?  

Good question.

Shalom was established some 8 - 10 years ago for a couple of girl who were at risk of being kidnapped into the mountains.  Over the years the number of girls has grown, as have the goals for the girls. 

As of now, there are 18 girls with 15 having sponsors.

Shalom is located on a safe mission compound.  There is a dorm mom, Suyapi, who lives with and loves the girls as her own daughters. 

 As you can see, the girls take care of their own home with cleaning and cooking.  They live dormitory style, on bunk-beds, and are expected to go to school.  Most of the girls aspire to become professional of one type or another and we encourage this.

For more on this project and the particulars fo sponsorship,

contact:

Sandy Palencia:  cruzadas.sandy@gmail.com

Dr. Tom Camp: llamacamp@gmail.com

Shalom: "A Safe Place for Young Women"

This is the first report from Medelin, a 13 year old girls who has recently joined Shalom.  Below is the information she has sent at our request.  The only way Shalom can keep it doors open is thru a system we call sponsorships.  Each girl has to have a sponsor in order to stay at Shalom.  Medelin is looking for a sponsor.  She is one of the newest girls at Shalom.

Hello my name Medelin Simey And I am13 years of adege,  my birthday is on October 20th.  and I have two brothers called Angie and Bady, I am in 7 grade, I would like to go to college. My dad is called the Santos Munguia and my mom died long ago. I am very happy to be here at Shalom. I want to be a professional in Drawing. My favorite colors are black, red and pink. . I like to have someone to advise me how we help, support and advice here. May God bless you and thank you very much.
Madelin

  

FYI there are two new girls in the dorm that are in need of sponsors:

1. Abigail Sandoval-  
2. Madelin Munguia- 

This is a report from Mary who is sponsored by a pharmacist and his wife out of Jasper, Alabama,, I wanted to share it with you.

Who is Mary and why would you want to sponsor her?

Here is your answer, in  a letter from Mary herself.

Hi, ! God bless you, I am very happy and I want to thank you for helping me because it is a great blessing to my life. Well since I started my classes in eighth grade, I decided I like to study nursing at the University. There are two new girls at the Shalom  home one is  12 and another is 13 years old  like me. This coming April 21 will be celebrating my 14th birthday.  I was at a youth camp in December and it was very special my dad came to me and was a great joy for me. And I got baptized  and soon I will begin serving in the Church. . I hope you come to Honduras soon  to see you. In my prayers. With love...

Mery Hernandez

Mary Being Baptized

Mary and Sister Eleanor

Deaf School in Plan de Flores, Honduras,WHERE DID IT START?

How did the Deaf School of Plan de Flores get started?

As some of you know, AHMEN and Vanderbilt University have “patterned up” with Cruzadas del Evangelica in the formation and support of  a deaf school in Plan de Flores, Honduras.  It serves deaf children from the surrounding area, some coming as far as 2 days by bus to attend the school.

Question? Where did the idea come from for a deaf school in this remote Garifuna village in Honduras.

As in many things, there is no simple answer.  A year or so after I thought I knew all about the origin of the deaf school, I was talking to Sister Eleanor and had just met Brother John.  She made the comment that he was the person responsible for Joshua going to Tegu to learn sign language.  I asked Brother John about it and thought I would share what I have learned with you.

to learn more about this deaf school, or to become a part of the support system, contact:

Dr. Tom Camp:  llmacamp@gmail.com

Linda Norris: Jerry_Norris@bellsouth.net

Lela Aaron: paperlady35501@yahoo.com

from Brother John: March 2011

ALFREDITO Y MARIANA, DEAF SCHOOL

They were two skinny teenagers in love when first I knew Alfredo Salinas and Mariana Maldonado. Both were active in their church in the remote village of Serrania. Alfredito, as he is called, preached and served in any way he could. Mariana, a gifted speaker herself, also provided music in the form of guitar and song.

Years went by, their love proved true, and finally were married. A year or so later a beautiful baby boy, Josue (Joshua), came to bring delight to his parents, and heartache.  From the beginning, it was evident that something was wrong. Josue did not respond to sounds: he was deaf.  His parents struggled with guilt and self condemnation: “What did we do wrong? Did we sin to bring this on our son?”

Not at all. God had given them a most unique son.  Intelligent beyond the average, alert, sensitive, and curious, Josue explored his silent world with the four senses he still possessed.  Missionary John Taylor began to prepare Alfredito and Mariana for the inevitable: Joshua would have to go away to a special school in Tegucigalpa when he reached his fifth birthday.

This was no easy course for the parents to follow. Take their son from his rural environment and place him in the home of other caretakers in the capital city? How could they do that?  

The missionary knew personally the director of the Love in Action school, and arranged for Alfredito to teach carpentry in the school. For three years the parents remained with Josue in Tegucigalpa, where they, too, became able communicators in sign language.  This time afforded special help for their second son, Christian, who has Down’s Syndrome.

Later the parents returned to Plan de Flores, where they pastured a church. Heavy on Mariana’s heart was the vision to provide education for the many deaf children in the remote areas of north Honduras.  She began searching for children with severe hearing loss, many the results of measles the mothers contracted while pregnant, as many as five deaf children in one village of about 50 people.

This was a monumental undertaking: providing education, housing and food for her first nine children with no promise of financial backing.  Looking to God for His providence, Mariana and Alfredito opened their home to take the children in, and the school was off the ground.

John Taylor, himself greatly interested in reaching the deaf for Christ and providing a better and less isolated life for them, has encouraged Alfredo and Mariana. Some funds have trickled in at times, and God has provided.  At present the school uses the rustic facilities of a carpentry training center Alfredo directs.  It is Mariana’s vision to have a school facility specially designed for educating and housing the deaf and their teachers. Land is available in Plan de Flores.  Hearing impaired children from the mountain villages can be brought to a school nearer their homes. For these children, going to a school in the capital city is nearly impossible, not only the lack of finances, but having no housing available for their children in a city a world away from their own frame of reference.

Brother John with Joshua as a young man in Tegu.

Joshua is now teaching at the Deaf School in Plan de Flores, Honduras

Marinna with some of her current students in the Plan de Flores, Honduras school for the deaf.

Brother John on the property he bought years ago that will soon be the site of the new school

Mariana in the meantime is studying to qualify herself as a teacher of the deaf. Josue, now graduated from the deaf institute in Tegucigalpa, serves as one of the teachers in the current school at Plan de Flores.