Local Mission to Honduras
In midst of teaching, group learns

Frederick News-Post; Aug 20, 2005 ;
Religion & Ethics; Page 19

FREDERICK — Traveling to Honduras becomes a journey in faith and gratitude, according to Damascus Road Community Church members.

    Since 1998, church members have headed to the poverty-ridden Central American country to teach about Jesus Christ through word and action. They learn more than they teach, participants said during a recent reunion party held in Frederick.

    “I learned a lot about myself,” said first-time traveler Ryan Bolesta of Frederick. “It’s hard to explain. It puts your perspective in a whole different place.”

    The Rev. Roger Record started the congregation’s connection to Honduras, sponsoring a young girl living in Copan, Honduras through an international aid organization.

    Coincidentally, about 14 years ago, he participated in a mission trip organized by another church that served in a city located only a few hours from the girl’s home. He went to visit her.

    “I couldn’t believe the poverty I saw. I thought somebody needs to do something,” he said.

    He began traveling to the area frequently, often bringing friends to help him in his mission efforts. When he accepted a job as youth pastor with the Damascus congregation, “I decided to start a formal mission trip,” he said.

    Ten people participated the first year. When they got back, they shared their experiences and inspired another 10 people to join them the next year. The cycle continued. This year, 65 people participated.

    So many people want to go nowadays, the congregation sends two groups. Teens spend 10 days in June, accompanied by adult mentors. Adults, college-age and older, make a 10-day journey in July.

    The goal is to teach people about Jesus Christ but, before they share a spiritual message, the members try to relieve some of the physical suffering, said Phil Catron, mission leader.

    “It’s hard to bring the word if people are starving to death. We have to meet basic needs first.”

    The level of poverty is overwhelming, according to church members.

    “You see it on TV but until you see it in person, it’s hard to grasp,” said Annette Royster or Walkersville.

    Paul Foss, an elder in the church, said “It’s a country filled with God-sized problems. We gave it our best. We spread seeds and hope God will multiply.”

    The congregation raises money throughout the year and sends a planning team down in February to decide what projects to undertake each trip.

    Aid is focused in six areas: food, clothing, prisons, orphanages, housing and medical care. The church also contributes money to start micro-businesses.

    Last year, they bought two motorized three-wheeled vehicles for about $1,400. With the vehicles, two men were able to begin a taxi service transporting tourists to nearby Mayan ruins. The men earned enough money to buy their own vehicles and pass the original vehicles onto other people to start taxi services.

    Other micro-businesses the church has started include wood harvesting and sewing enterprises, Ms. Royster said.

    Members spend most of their time working in Copan and Santa Barbara, but medical teams also journey several hours by donkey to reach small mountain villages.

    Hundreds of people show up to be treated for injuries ranging from machine gunshot wounds to ear infections, Mr. Catron said.

    For most, the church visit provides the only chance to receive professional medical care. This past trip, they met a little boy who had suffered from an ear infection longer than seven months. His ear had literally sealed close, Mr. Catron said.

    Interacting with people in such dire circumstances teaches the Damascus church members to “rely on God” because they experience life without a “safety net,” Mr. Foss said.

    Church members have a chance to forget their own physical worries for a time and concentrate on serving others, participants said.

    Justin Saucedo of Damascus said he used to “feel terrible” before he started going to Honduras when he would see TV commercials showing people struggling in poor countries.

    “Now I’m doing something instead of sitting on the couch feeling guilty,” he said.“ There is so much need and they appreciate every little thing we do. I can’t imagine myself saying, ‘No, I don’t feel like doing that this year.”

    Church members know they can’t eliminate all the physical needs, but they believe they make a difference.

    “We can only put a drop in the bucket of poverty one drop at a time. I feel this is my one drop, the church’s, the community of Damascus’ one drop,” the Rev. Record said.

    Meanwhile, interacting with people who have so little teaches the church members gratitude for material blessings they enjoy in their own lives, participants said.

    Ryan Smith of Frederick said the biggest lesson he learned involves relationships.

    “They are poor. They don’t have much but they have something we’ve completely missed in the way they treat each other,” he said.

    Mr. Bolesta agreed. “These people live in horrible conditions but they are so loving and friendly.”

    Mr. Catron said he met a man who had no legs and was forced to crawl around on his hands but he quickly offered up his chair when Mr. Catron visited.

    Ms. Royster said, “Whatever little tiny bit they have, they will offer to you.”

    Many travelers have made multiple trips and first-timers said they were eager to return.

    “Once you go once, you just want to keep going back,” said Mike Filippone of Baltimore.

    Jesse Catron said he first participated four years ago because his mother signed him up but he voluntarily returns each year.

    “I don’t look as them as struggling third-world people. Now they’re family.”

    For details, call 301-253-5276.

Staff photo by Sarah Ause
Damascus Road Community Church members Marilyn Forrester and Jim Walker look at photos from their recent mission trip to Honduras. They, along with other members of their church, spent 10 days this summer doing missionary work in the Honduran cities of Santa Barbara and Copan.

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