ABOUT US
Heart for Honduras is a growing mission organization. Started in 1996 by Salem Lutheran Church members in Tomball Texas, Heart for Honduras mission continues to develop a deepening ministry presence in Honduras, with missions occurring twice per year.
Our first trip was a dental clinic, and since that time God has opened up doors for us to increase our ministry presence there. First we added a medical team; then water well, then ministry, and finally, vision. Our heart for Honduras is to continue to improve the lives of the local population and build stronger churches in the area.
For eight years (1996-2004), our ministry worked along the northern coast of Honduras, in the communities around La Ceiba and Tela. Over the years there, we developed a network of pastors and community leaders as we conducted repeat missions to over two dozen villages. After completing some fifteen mission trips to these rural villages, our team began to notice a dramatic change – it seemed to us that our work was beginning to make a difference! Lines began to grow shorter for our clinics as people’s health gradually improved. Pastors reported encouraging growth reports to us, indicating that our ministry teams were effectively reaching people for Christ. This led us to explore other areas of the country where we could make a similar difference.
In September of 2004, our advance team drove into La Esperanza, the major city in the department (like a state) of Intibuca, looking for a church to partner with for the fall mission the following month. They were directed to the local Methodist church, where they found the pastor, Osael Martinez, in his office. After explaining that they were a scouting team looking for a church to partner with to bring American medical, dental, vision, and ministry teams to the local people, Pastor Osael began to cry. The team was amazed to hear him say, “You’re not going to believe this, but I was just sitting at my desk praying about this very thing! That God would send us doctors, dentists, and missionaries to help us reach the people in this area!” And so began another wonderful chapter in our history in Honduras. Two years later, we again are not only witnessing growing churches but a growing influence in the La Esperanza area.
Heart for Honduras is a growing mission organization. Started in 1996 by Salem Lutheran Church members in Tomball Texas, Heart for Honduras mission continues to develop a deepening ministry presence in Honduras, with missions occurring twice per year.
Our first trip was a dental clinic, and since that time God has opened up doors for us to increase our ministry presence there. First we added a medical team; then water well, then ministry, and finally, vision. Our heart for Honduras is to continue to improve the lives of the local population and build stronger churches in the area.
For eight years (1996-2004), our ministry worked along the northern coast of Honduras, in the communities around La Ceiba and Tela. Over the years there, we developed a network of pastors and community leaders as we conducted repeat missions to over two dozen villages. After completing some fifteen mission trips to these rural villages, our team began to notice a dramatic change – it seemed to us that our work was beginning to make a difference! Lines began to grow shorter for our clinics as people’s health gradually improved. Pastors reported encouraging growth reports to us, indicating that our ministry teams were effectively reaching people for Christ. This led us to explore other areas of the country where we could make a similar difference.
In September of 2004, our advance team drove into La Esperanza, the major city in the department (like a state) of Intibuca, looking for a church to partner with for the fall mission the following month. They were directed to the local Methodist church, where they found the pastor, Osael Martinez, in his office. After explaining that they were a scouting team looking for a church to partner with to bring American medical, dental, vision, and ministry teams to the local people, Pastor Osael began to cry. The team was amazed to hear him say, “You’re not going to believe this, but I was just sitting at my desk praying about this very thing! That God would send us doctors, dentists, and missionaries to help us reach the people in this area!” And so began another wonderful chapter in our history in Honduras. Two years later, we again are not only witnessing growing churches but a growing influence in the La Esperanza area.
THE CLINICS
Our mission groups are comprised of medical, dental, vision, ministry, and water well teams. Area residents, notified via local radio announcements and word of mouth prior to our arrival, are invited to attend the clinics free of charge. Hondurans’ extreme poverty (Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere) forces people to delay and/or ignore much-needed medical, dental, and vision care. Many travel considerable distances and endure long lines to see us, and each five-day clinic serves thousands of people. Lives are literally saved as a result of the attention given by the doctors and dentists.
Our mission groups are comprised of medical, dental, vision, ministry, and water well teams. Area residents, notified via local radio announcements and word of mouth prior to our arrival, are invited to attend the clinics free of charge. Hondurans’ extreme poverty (Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere) forces people to delay and/or ignore much-needed medical, dental, and vision care. Many travel considerable distances and endure long lines to see us, and each five-day clinic serves thousands of people. Lives are literally saved as a result of the attention given by the doctors and dentists.THE WATER WELLS
Most people in the area suffer from worms ("parasitos") living inside their system, largely due to poor drinking water. This is not surprising, since casual highway travel takes one past rivers that simultaneously serve its various constituents who come to water their livestock, bathe, wash clothes, and gather drinking water. The water wells provide clean fresh water to people who have never tasted it before, and local residents meet them with considerable enthusiasm. One well, dug recently in an outlying village of 400, provided the first running water since Hurricane Mitch (November 1998).
Most people in the area suffer from worms ("parasitos") living inside their system, largely due to poor drinking water. This is not surprising, since casual highway travel takes one past rivers that simultaneously serve its various constituents who come to water their livestock, bathe, wash clothes, and gather drinking water. The water wells provide clean fresh water to people who have never tasted it before, and local residents meet them with considerable enthusiasm. One well, dug recently in an outlying village of 400, provided the first running water since Hurricane Mitch (November 1998).
OUR WITNESSING
During the day while the clinics are functioning, the ministry team partners with local church leadership to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ to those gathered in line. The message of Jesus Christ is also shared from house to house, and team members give out Spanish New Testaments and Christian tracts. Recently hundreds of people came to faith in Jesus Christ during the course of a five-day mission trip. Local pastors follow up with these new converts after our teams leave.
During the day while the clinics are functioning, the ministry team partners with local church leadership to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ to those gathered in line. The message of Jesus Christ is also shared from house to house, and team members give out Spanish New Testaments and Christian tracts. Recently hundreds of people came to faith in Jesus Christ during the course of a five-day mission trip. Local pastors follow up with these new converts after our teams leave.