A letter from Tim Wheeler in Honduras
December 2011
Dear Friends,
Project-Community Meeting, a process in the making, Copantle, Honduras.
During the past several years we have been working in development organizations and have accompanied different communities in Honduras in their process of development as missionaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). During this experience we have visualized the concept of development as an integral process consisting of who we are, what we know, and what we have. In other words we talk about to be, to have, and to know. At the same time, we have found a profound faith and spirituality expressed in the daily life by the people we are called to serve as a fundamental part of the development process that they attempt to achieve. In this sense the concept of development is holistic and is the most complete and fully expressed concept of a full life at the village level in which we work.
Today when we read Matthew 1:23 we are reminded of the wonderful Christmas message for all the world. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” This is a transforming message for the downtrodden, for the poor, and for those who struggle in their development processes, for those challenged in becoming who they are, have and know. The faith and spirituality herein expressed becomes transformed in expressions of everyday life in real challenges and real accomplishments.
Later Jesus began his ministry, to proclaim and to ask the people to return to God, because the “…kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17). We find an affirmation here that in the measure that God lives in our hearts, the kingdom of God is within reach. Of course the words took action through Jesus' life of ministry and service, by teaching, learning, sharing and living among those He came to serve — a challenge to us to be the salt and the light in faith communities and rural communities where we are called to serve today.
During this time, during our time, we have seen the changes envisioned in reaching a fuller life with better conditions for many communities. We can mention names like Sinahi Estanzuela, Chonco, Bonete, Misiora, El Corcho, Brisas del Valle, Copantle, Cerro Azul and many more communities and people.
In this letter we want to manifest our profound thanks to all those people and churches that have accompanied us in this ministry and who together with us have put into action the message of Christmas. This message has crossed borders through your prayers, support and your physical presence and accompanied the poor in Honduras—by strengthening our faith, grace, and the love of Jesus, and by uniting us in one body (1 Cor. 12) and one spirit so that faith, hope and love will always be present. In this way the birth of Jesus will be permanent and ongoing as we put into practice the teachings every time we are in communion and in community. If this were not the case and without the support of PC(USA) personnel and churches, the solidarity and accompaniment of this process of holistic development embodied by a new and transforming hope would not have been possible for many people.
Pamela, Marsha, Grace, Yasmin and Leslie are all well. Pamela has a full-time lab tech job that she likes. Marsha continues her work on her Ph.D. Grace will graduate from medical school and get married all within a week in May. Yasmin is a faculty member at N.C. State and leads a research team. Leslie teaches high school science in Honduras. As for us, we are doing fine, doing our exercise routine whenever possible, traveling to communities within the country and trying to be salt and light in some small way with teams and groups of people.
May you have an abundance of faith, of hope and love throughout the New Year.
Merry Christmas,
Tim and Gloria
Apartado 15027
Colonia Kennedy
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 288
The 2012 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 10
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