As you are probably aware, this past year, AHMEN began to intensify its efforts toward empowering the people of Honduras to better help themselves. As a pilot program, AHMEN began a collaboration with SIFAT (Servants In Faith And Technology) to establish a three year initiative to train local leaders in community development and health care. The trial program was started in Cusuna and this August will mark the close of the first year in that initiative. Byron Morales from SIFAT, the administrator and trainer in this effort, has indicated that this experiment has been an overwhelming success. He is now looking to expand the initiative to other areas across the Northern Coast and Central Highlands. The direction and goal for this effort is to improve the lives of our Honduran brothers and sisters and establish a foundation to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is now time to ratchet that commitment up another notch.
Each fall 20 - 30 international students are invited to come to SIFAT and learn how to become holistic witnesses for Jesus Christ. The International Training Practicum is a truly unique experience for young grass roots community leaders within the two-thirds world. Through extensive involvement and interaction with a cadre of world class faculty, students gain skills in organizational, developmental and motivational strategies to be able to return home and make a significant impact on the lives of their countrymen. As a byproduct of their training, the students learn an array of concrete technologies that are appropriate for third world countries. These include, among a long list of alternatives, water purification, scaled agriculture, animal husbandry, solar and other fuel-efficient means of cooking, adult literacy and microenterprise. These are skills that are necessary to achieve sustainability and independence.
As we have done for the past two years, our Annual Meeting will be held at the SIFAT campus in Lineville, Alabama. The dates are September 30 – October 1, 2011. Anyone who has ever taken part in an AHMEN activity or simply has an interest in supporting this organization is encouraged to attend. Watch the AHMEN website, the AHMEN Face Book page, or Tom Camp’s blog for additional information as it develops.
Attendees at last year’s meeting will recall that a highlight was the opportunity to meet and mingle with the students at the International Training Practicum. This year’s Practicum runs from late August to early November and we will once again have the students and staff involved in our program. But this year will be special.This year we hope to have three of our own at the International Training Practicum. Byron Morales was asked who amongst those people that he has met in Honduras that he would recommend coming to Lineville and receiving the advanced training. Mario Ortiz, Suyapa Sanchez, and Mariana Maldonado Ulloa de Salinas were at the top of his list.
Last week Mary and I had the pleasure of visiting with Mario and Suyapa while we were at Cruzadas in La Ceiba. Many of you know these two wonderful people by either firsthand experience or reputation. For many years Mario worked in the Cruzadas compound providing general maintenance and oversight of the grounds and equipment. Along with Larry Pitts he established a prison ministry and has also accompanied many teams as road manager, driver and guide into some of the most remote areas along the Northern Coast. Today, Mario pastors his own church in one of the most distressed areas of La Ceiba. He has developed a fantastic youth program and is recognized as a leader within his community.
Suyapa is the dorm mother of Shalom and is responsible for the growth and well- being of the sixteen “at risk” girls that live there. Hers is a 24/7 commitment to the physical, moral and spiritual development of these wonderful young women. Although she is always happy and pleasant, we know that coping with a house full of thirteen to twenty- two year olds is not easy. In addition to being a confidant, referee and motivator, she must oversee household cleaning, cooking, shopping and visits from incoming teams. Suyapa is a strong Christian woman and is a wonderful role model.
Anyone who has ever been to Plan de Flores is familiar with Marianna. She and her husband, Alfredo, foresaw a need for basic vocational education early in 2002. Working with members of AHMEN, Marianna and Alfredo established the woodworking school that has trained and graduated many young men to become carpenters and craftsmen from the surrounding area. Since many of the students were from far away in the mountains, a dormitory, latrine and kitchen/mess hall were added to the complex. Marianna and AHMEN later operated a sewing school for local girls at the Plan de Flores facility.
In addition to overseeing the woodworking school, today Marianna is busy with a project that is very dear to her heart. Her son, Josué was born deaf and had to be sent to Tegucigalpa at an early age to learn sign language and to finish school. Since 2009, Marianna and Josué have administered and taught in a K through 6th grade school at the Plan de Flores compound that is run exclusively for deaf children without the resources to go to school elsewhere. As with the woodworking school, the deaf school is a resident program, complete with dormitory and feeding requirements.
Marianna is truly a woman of vision. She looks to the future and sees a much expanded vocational program at Plan de Flores. Her heart is with the people of her community and region. The benefits of the empowerment that will come from the SIFAT training will enhance her abilities to serve God and help His people in Honduras.
This effort to bring Mario, Suyapa and Marianna to SIFAT this fall is a bold step for everyone who loves AHMEN and the people of Honduras. We all need to be in prayer for this plan. We know that if it is within God’s Will this action will bear great and wonderful fruit for His Kingdom. If you have any questions regarding the International Practicum or the ongoing AHMEN/SIFAT initiative in Honduras, contact Tom Camp llamacamp@gmail.com , Michael Franklin frankmj42@gmail.com or Byron Morales byromen@yahoo.com .
As in all things, funding to cover the travel, tuition and maintenance for Mario, Suyapa and Marianna is needed. The AHMEN organization touches the lives of so many people and many hands, working together can accomplish anything. Please consider sending a denotation to
Sharon Bowie, AHMEN Treasurer
516 Ridgeview Drive
Jasper, AL 35504
If you prefer, you can make your donation online by going to the AHMEN PayPal link at
If you elect to use this direct pay option, please send Sharon Bowie an email at AUmomUNA2@aol.com alerting her to your donation and telling her that it is to help fund Mario, Suyapa or Marianna in their travel to SIFAT.
Amor en Cristo,
guf
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