A letter from Mark and Ashley Wright in Honduras
Spring 2014
Just a few years ago the youth of the Presbyterian Church of Honduras saw a need to gather the youth from the different churches for a time of worship, fellowship, and recreation. They planned their first Honduran Presbyterian Youth Retreat at a camp close to Tegucigalpa, hoping that the youth from various churches could get to know one another and discover an identity not only in their own congregational youth group, but also as connected, Presbyterian youth. Just over 80 youth attended that first retreat, returning home energized and refreshed in their faith and commitment.
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Alex Rodas explains the proposed presbytery Retreat Center at the General Assembly meeting
Each year since the Honduran youth retreat has grown in number and in expectation of the participants. For most of the youth, the retreat is the one weekend a year that they can leave home and share in fun and fellowship with one another. This last July well over 200 youth and leaders boarded the busses to Lake Yojoa and Camp Bagope. The theme of the retreat was “Jesus Christ, Our DNA of Change,” reflecting the desire of the youth for both personal transformation and change within their own congregations and youth groups.
Yet, as refreshing and inspiring as the retreat was, those of us responsible for making the event possible spent the weeks leading up to the retreat, and even the days following, in great anxiety about obtaining the resources to make it happen. In fact, I have a vivid memory of sitting around a table with all the leaders, stacking each receipt for expenses and every last Lempira (about five cents each) we could find on the table and realizing we still could not cover the cost of the retreat center for the weekend.
Through sweat, prayer, and the help of some generous supporters, within a week the camp manager received the remaining balance. God is faithful.
This summer the leaders and youth have agreed that there will be no Youth Retreat.
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Plan for the new Retreat Center
This year the project is even bigger and involves the entire Presbyterian Church of Honduras. The youth are helping lead in the support of a whole-church effort of building for the future. In part because of the high cost of camp facilities for retreats for both the youth and the women of the church, whose beloved retreat has grown rapidly as well, the church has agreed to work together in a project that they feel will not only make the large retreats of both the women and the youth possible, but also facilitate smaller group gatherings of pastors, congregations, couples, etc.
The plan of the Presbyterian Church of Honduras, enthusiastically approved at the General Assembly meeting at the end of January, is to build its own camp/retreat facility on property that the church already owns in the village of Quebrada Grande, southeast of Tegucigalpa. The retreat center has been a dream of Pastor Juan Rodas, President of the Presbytery of Honduras, for some time. Pastor Juan believes the new center will allow the church to expand its ministry and opportunities and be able to do things that have not been possible due to the cost of holding gatherings at other sites.
Recognizing the value of the new camp, the Honduran youth agreed to forego this summer’s retreat and, instead, to use any funds for this year’s retreat toward the camp and to hold one or more work camps to help in the construction of the center. The church women have challenged each woman to donate one cement block per month for the construction of the dormitories and dining facility. Each individual congregation is expected to provide work crews and donations for the construction as well. This is a project of the entire Presbyterian Church of Honduras and a demonstration of the growing unity among the various congregations.
I’m writing today so that you too may share this joy of the church of Honduras and tell others about the growth and excitement of the church here. Also, we would like to give all who share an interest in the church and work in Honduras the opportunity to give toward making this dream a reality. The project will consist of four dormitory buildings, two for men and two for women, a dining facility, a sports field, and landscaping. To make your gifts more “concrete,” we are suggesting that individuals, churches, or groups consider supporting the construction or outfitting of a specific element of the retreat center—perhaps a roof, flooring, plumbing, or bunks for a particular “cabaña”—if the entire cost of that part of the camp isn’t possible. Already one New Jersey congregation, together with support from a congregation in Ohio, is planning to install a clean water system that will serve the camp and community. Every part of the center is important and needs support! You can make a gift to the Presbyterian Church of Honduras here. Please let me know directly of your donation and its intention by emailing markwrightsemail@gmail.com.
As always, we thank you for your prayers and support that makes our presence and work here in Honduras possible. We want to be connected with you and are here to help your church or presbytery in its faithful mission as well as serving the Church of Honduras directly. Your gifts to our sending and support can be made here. We and all PC(USA) mission co-workers, can only continue to serve through your support!
Blessings,
Mark and Ashley Wright
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 43
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