Saturday, May 21, 2011

Pastor Bruce puts his SIFAT skills to use in Africa 2011

For the past two years AHMEN has held it’s Annual Meeting at SIFAT campus.  This past year I met a fellow for Africa in passing, Pastor Bruce.  Later he contacted me and ask could we occasionally communicate.  Apparently, SIFAT encourages its practicum students to develop relationship outside their normal comfort zone.  I think Mary and Guf already are part of Bruce’s team.
At any rate, Pastor Bruce and I have kept in touch over the past several months.  In his last letter, he mentioned how he is putting the skills he learned to use in his African village.  Below is his letter.
From: kaumba bruce <kaumba.bruce@gmail.com>
Date: May 14, 2011 6:22:20 AM CDT
To: Nath Camp <llamacamp@me.com>
Subject: REPORT
Hello Dr Camp
I hope you are doing well.
Pastors Training
I am currently have request of about 10 Pastors who ready to take classes in Church planting and exegesis on Saturdays. I have been teaching about 6 pastors for the past one year.
I also was training 15 pastors in in christian community Development. And these have come up with what is called Action Pastors Network. They have been inspired to do projects which will be of good help to the community. Projects like providing clean water and doing community awareness on various issues that affect the community like HIV/AIDS.
We will be also having an intensive training an intensive inductive Bible Study and the SALT for our Counselors.
CHALLENGES
Please pray with us that we will be able provide teaching material to our trainees. We also intend to provide meals for the people. We will be spending a full day for four weeks.
Pray with us for all required logistics to be in place.
Pray that the grace of God will be upon me as I facilitate the program me. Pray for other teachers who will be involved. Your prayers and any other form of support is of value to us.
TESTIMONY
Pastor Manando Moyo has been one of my students.
This what He says;
"From the time I started learning exegesis and other lessons you have taught, my preaching skills have improved. God has become central in my teachings. I now know how to best help my people at church. I hope to learn more as I continue to sit under your feet"
Many of such testimonies can be told by other students. I have had many people requesting to be trained during the weekend. There is great need for such training.
I hope Hondurus Missions will be of great help to what we are doing at Sanctuary of Grace. 
May the Lord continue to bless you.
In His Service
Pastor Bruce Kaumba
---------------------------------------------------------------
This is what the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative is all about.
Thank you Pastor Bruce for reminding us of this valuable tool SIFAT is giving folks in Africa and Honduras.
Vaya con Dios,

Tom Camp

Friday, May 13, 2011

AHMEN SIFAT INitiative: Time to Expand our Relationship

AHMEN SIFAT Initiative: time to EXPAND our relationship?  
What is SIFAT?
What is the Practicum they hold?
Why should AHMEN send a Honduran to the Practicum?
AHMEN (Alabama Honduran Medical Educational Network) has been working with SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) for three years.  Google each of  these organizations for what we are all a bout.
  I want to talk about expanding our relationship.
The SIFAT Practicum is a 10 and 1/2 week experience held at SIFAT campus that exposes the “students” to 30 different teachers/experiences/learning situations.  The professors come from all over the USA, bringing their expertise  to teach the students not only how to do the things that they will need when they return home to improve their village, but giving them a entire network of professional people and their universities to pull on when they return to Honduras.  
In addition, they teach the students teem work, leadership, community organization - all in an nurturing Christian environment.
Now to the third question: Why should AHMEN send a Honduran to the Practicum?
This is most interesting and the one I had to “struggle with’ most.  Originally, I thought it would be best to put our funding into having Byron in Honduras, and I still think that is paramount importance.  If we have a choice between Byron in Honduras or a student at the Practicum, I will take Byron in Honduras overtime.  
We have had Byron in Honduras for almost a year and what do we have? He, and his support system, have created a firm groundwork for the vision of expanding community leadership adn  trained health care workers going into local communities.  The first graduates are expected this August and already there are people and village lining up to begin the second workshop.  We don’t want this to stop - so let’s keep this going.
Back to why send a Honduran to the Practicum in Alabama.  Try as we might, as of right now we don’t have the resources or funding to “crate a little SIFAT in Honduras”, although that is still a wonderful long term goal.  What if we could create people who had the same skills and networking ability as Byron to become a part of the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative.  This is what I am  proposing.
This was not my original idea, but the idea of Byron and Kathy Corson.  Let’s train four people from Honduras who have completed the first year of AHMEN SIFAT Initiative, who are hand picked by Byron, and who are committed to return to Honduras and become a part of our work there.  Just imagine how that could expand the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative
Byron has suggested four poeple: Pastor Nehum, Marianna from the Deaf School, and Suyapi from Shalom, and Mario from La Ceiba and Cruzadas.
How can we do this?
  1. SIFAT will pick up, thru scholarships, 1/2 of the $3,750 for the cost of the Practicum.  This includes “airport to airport” all expenses once we get them to Atlanta.
  2. Other money needed is:
    1. the other of he 1/2 of the $3,750 ($1,875)
    2. passport and visas (approx $500)
    3. transportation money to and from Honduras.(approx $800)
    4. total less than $4,000.
Here is my proposal
  1. We search for a group of persons who will be the sponsors for each of the “students” of the practicum.
  2. Their responsibilities/
    1. raise the money for the student
    2. visit the student while at SIFAT
    3. occasionally invite the student to talk in their church, etc to help her feel loved and to raise money.
  1. the responsibilities of the student?
    1. They commit to retuning to Honduras to work with AHMEN SIFAT Initiate at no charge for three years.  
    2. They would be expected to work at each workshop with Byro.
    3. They would work between workshop with local students coordinating with Byron and helping them set up work networks for the local villages.
  1. Pastor Nahum will be working on his organization in Tennessee for his expends and support..  That leaves us with just three persons.
Here is what I am asking you to do.
Think in terms of your own personal relationship either with  the person, their project, or your vision for AHMEN SIFAT Initiative.
Marianna - Deaf School
Plan de Flores
Woodworking school
AHMEN SIFT Initiative 
We have seen Marianna take a little mud home on the side of a dirt road and turn it into a thriving student and educational center in the Limon area.  Her leadership an organizational skills are unbelievable.  Imagine the future of the Deaf School with her added talents and contacts and networking ability after a Practicum at SIFAT.  Also, imagine her working with the AHMEN SIFAT Initiative and what she will had to the strength of that in the Colon area.
Suyapi -
 Shalom
AHMEN SIFAT Initiative
Her ability to love and help young girls turn from a shy, withdrawn, unloved, beaten down person into a “take charge”, assertive Christian, and goal oriented college student is obvious from visiting Shalom over the years.  I can imagine her adding new skills and relationships to her “repertoire” and passing these on the “her girls” as well.
Mario - from La Ceiba.
Mario is a people person and get things done kind of guy.  Many of you have worked with Mario over the years - now let’s give him a chance to expand his skills and knowledge.  I think Mario is “made” for this experience.  Can you just imagine what his 
Please consider being a part of either one of these “Sponsorship Teams”.  We are not asking anyone to take on the total responsibility, unless you just want to, but we are asking you to become a part of one of these teams.  Please pray about this and contact one of us below.  Tell us at the time which team you want to be a changing agent for:
Marianna from Deaf School Team
Suyapi from Shalom Team
Mario from La Ceiba and Cruzadas
 We will be pooling our sponsorship monies to go first to the particular person you choose to be a part of, then if one person has more than enough, we will simply shift any extra money to that person.
We already have $2,000  committed to this fund.
contacts: 
Tom Camp: llamacamp@gmail.com or call 205-384-8023 or
Byron Morales: byromen@yahoo.com
or 
Michael Franklin: frankmj42@gmail.com
or 
Mary / Hugh Guffey:  hjguffey@earthlink.net
or 
Lela Aaron-Vincent: paperlady35501@yahoo.com        205-221-4655
or 
or 
Bruce McFadden: BCMCF@bham.rr.com
or 
Dr. Jerry and Jean Boshell: orthobos@aol.com
or 
Kathy Corson:  256-396-5095 or kathy.bryson@gmail.com
or 
Bud McKinney: bud137@sbcglobal.net
or
or
 Ivan “Bullie” Romani:  romani@sifat.org
or
Lou Altman: laaltman@netscape.net
please contact Michael Franklin, Mary and/or Hugh Guffey  or Tom Camp with your commitment and plans to help.
Tom Camp 
Joshua and Marianna

Byron and Brother John

Marianna and Benny Rowe

Mario and Michael
Dr. Delmar and Bruce

Friday, May 6, 2011

Carolina Clinic in Limon, Honduras has surgeon coming July, 2011

CONNOR TEAM SURGEON REFERRALS FOR JULY, 2011
Dear Team Leaders,
     The Connor team which will be in Honduras from July 20-30, 2011 has a Trauma Surgeon coming with them.  If you see patients during your team’s trip that require surgery that can wait until July, then he would be glad to see the patients and possibly do the surgery.  The type surgeries he will do are hernias, vasectomies, circumcisions, cysts, lipomas or other lesions, or any type of surgery that could be done under local, regional or digital anesthesia.  
     The surgeon needs a physician note with a physical exam, history and description of the surgical problem as well as pictures of the area if appropriate.  Please bring this information to the states with you and email or fax the information to Derinda Connor ASAP.  Her email address is Uscmom0223@aol.com and her fax number is 843-407-0236.  Please confirm that she received your email or fax.  She will send the documentation to the surgeon for review and scheduling.  The surgery schedule will be posted on the surgery room door at the Limon Clinic.  PLEASE DO NOT POST A SURGERY ON THAT SCHEDULE.  The surgeon needs to review the referral before it is scheduled.  The referring physician should note in the patient’s chart that the requested referral information is being sent to Derinda Connor.  Since it may be a long time between the date your doctor sees the patient and the time they are supposed to come in to have the surgery, we will depend on the front office staff to help with notification and reminders which means that the referral needs to have as much patient identification as possible on it.  
     The Connor team plans to be working in these areas on these days:
July 21 – Clinic and surgeries at the LaCeiba City dump
July 22 – Clinic and surgeries at Pastor Mario Miralda’s church
July 24 – Set up CHHF clinic, Visit Orphanage (Possible surgeries in the afternoon if needed) 
July 25 – Clinic and surgeries in or around Limon
July 26 – Clinic and surgeries in or around Limon
July 27 – Clinic and surgeries in or around Limon
If you have any questions, please call Derinda Connor at 843-992-1179.  See attached sheet for referral information.  
CAROLINA HEALTH CLINIC
GENERAL REFFERAL SHEET
Date Examined_____________   Date to be seen_____________________________
Type of Specialist needed________________________________________________
Patient’s Name___________________________________________________________
Contact Information:
Name of Contact__________________________________________________
Cell Phone_________________________________________________________
Community:  ex: Limon______________________________________________
Referring Physician (print)__________________________________________________
Contact Info: Email_________________________________________________
                  And/or
Phone number______________________________________________________
Reason for Referral – history of illness.  Describe site if surgery required.  
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, April 29, 2011

Marianna at SIFAT Team - 2011

Marianna is Coming to SIFAT: 
Each year SIFAT has an intensive 10 week workshop at Lineville, Alabama.  What they cover is beyond the explanation of this blog - just click www.sifat.org to see what all the “promoters” learn.  They come from all over the world for this unique, one of a kind, experience.  Not only networking with universities, private businesses, and other promoters, but learning 30 different skills to take back to their own country to then become teachers.
Cruzadas del Evangelico, the church AHMEN works with in Honduras, is planning to send Marianna, the lady who started the Deaf School in Plan de Flores, Honduras to the practicum for this fall.
Why Marianna?  Marianna is the type of person the practicum was designed for. She is a “self starter,” a community leader, a visionary, and a “no-nonsense get, things done” type of person.  In addition, she has been attending the AHMEN-SIFAT Workshops being held in Cosuna by Byron Morales.  (Take a look at the article entitled “AHMEN-SIFAT Initiative” for the work and scope of what has been going on in Cosuna, Honduras over the past year.)  Marianna has evolved as a leader in the workshops, and Byron sees her developing into one of the persons who will expand the depth and breadth of the AHMEN-SIFAT Initiative with this time spent in Lineville.
So, how can you be a part of this exciting work?
Marianna will need a team of supporters.  You can become part of the:            “Marianna at SIFAT Team - 2011”
What will the team do?
  1. Prayer support: a daily prayer for all aspects of her getting to Lineville, her work while she is here, and her work when she then returns to Plan de Flores, Honduras.
  2. Personal support:  She can have visitors while working in Lineveille, Alabama, as well as free weekends to visit your church or home.  This is a great way to get your church to know Marianna, the Deaf School of Plan de Flores, and the students at the school.  
  3. Financial Support:  here is what is needed for this.  These are estimates, not exact amounts.
    1. $500 for passport, visa, legal fees, transportation to and from Teguc and American embassy to get these items.
    2. $2,000 for the workshop.  Actually, the fee is $3,750 but SIFAT is giving her a scholarship of 50%.  Thanks SIFAT!
    3. $1,000 for round trip to and from Plan de Flores, Honduras to la Ceiba to San Pedro Sula to B’ham, Al.  This will also include incidentals like stuff we haven't thought of and to help defray the cost of someone to take over her job while she is gone.
    4. Total: $3,500   Take any and all of this with donations from you, your church, your club, etc.
“Marianna at SIFAT Team - 2011”
Contact to join:
Michael Franklin: frankmj42@gmail.com
Mary and Guf Guffey: hjguffey@earthlink.net

Monday, April 25, 2011

Sponsorships: the "lifeblood" for mission schools

Sponsorships: the “lifeblood” of mission schools.
Deaf School: Plan de Flores, Honduras
Take a look at these kids and hear their story.  Unless they find sponsors, they have to return to their homes, no school, no one to communicate with, and live their lives in silence.
AHMEN and Cruzadas del Evangelica began a school for deaf kids in the coastal village of Plan de Flores, Honduras.  Read the story on the front page of www.honduranmissions.com for more information.  
Now take a look at these two kids who are in need of sponsors.
For $75/month they get food, a place to stay, medical treatment, hearing evaluation, sign language instruction, nurturing teachers, an opportunity to learn to communicate, they will  continue school, go to high school, and learn a trade.  What a bargain.
contact: Lela Aaron: paperlady35501@yahoo.com
pastedGraphic.pdf
Eva Antonia is deaf-mute, she is 17 years old of age, she lives and eats at our house.She was born in the community of Santa Fe, Trujillo.
Her father abandoned the house and her mother lives alone with her other children. They have little economic resources, Eva is studying 1 an 2 grades. We are looking for help for her expenses.

pastedGraphic_1.pdf
Noel Gerson Cantarero, he is 8 years of age.
He also lives and eats at home. He has come from Olanchito, Yoro The parents are separated and his father brought him and his sister Damaris (deaf-mute also) to this school. He is in 1st.  grade. His father visits them because he works cutting palm near Plan de Flores.
We really need more staff because we have to take care them, feeding the children, and we have to pay a lot of attention to them daily. I hope you can help  us. Thanks  Marianna from the Deaf School in Plan de Flores, Honduras April 2011
for more information contact:

Sponsorships: the "lifeblood" for mission schools

Sponsorships: the “lifeblood” of mission schools.
Deaf School: Plan de Flores, Honduras
Take a look at these kids and hear their story.  Unless they find sponsors, they have to return to their homes, no school, no one to communicate with, and live their lives in silence.
AHMEN and Cruzadas del Evangelica began a school for deaf kids in the coastal village of Plan de Flores, Honduras.  Read the story on the front page of www.honduranmissions.com for more information.  
Now take a look at these two kids who are in need of sponsors.
For $75/month they get food, a place to stay, medical treatment, hearing evaluation, sign language instruction, nurturing teachers, an opportunity to learn to communicate, they will  continue school, go to high school, and learn a trade.  What a bargain.
contact: Lela Aaron: paperlady35501@yahoo.com
pastedGraphic.pdf
Eva Antonia is deaf-mute, she is 17 years old of age, she lives and eats at our house.She was born in the community of Santa Fe, Trujillo.
Her father abandoned the house and her mother lives alone with her other children. They have little economic resources, Eva is studying 1 an 2 grades. We are looking for help for her expenses.

pastedGraphic_1.pdf
Noel Gerson Cantarero, he is 8 years of age.
He also lives and eats at home. He has come from Olanchito, Yoro The parents are separated and his father brought him and his sister Damaris (deaf-mute also) to this school. He is in 1st.  grade. His father visits them because he works cutting palm near Plan de Flores.
We really need more staff because we have to take care them, feeding the children, and we have to pay a lot of attention to them daily. I hope you can help  us. Thanks  Marianna from the Deaf School in Plan de Flores, Honduras April 2011
for more information contact:

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.
________________________________________________________________________