Saint Basil The Great - Honduras Mission

HONDURAS MISSION MISSION STATEMENT

Adopted 9.26.07

The St. Basil Honduras mission is a partnership with the parish of San Francisco de la Paz, Honduras. Responding to our call to be disciples, and in the Gospel tradition of sacrifice, we share our time, gifts, skills, energy and resources to help meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of those we serve in San Francisco de la Paz and surrounding cities and aldeas (villages). We seek to assess and respond to the changing needs of the people and to provide service that has lasting impact. In crossing boundaries of language, nationality, and life situation, we open ourselves to closer communion with all members of the Body of Christ.

Objective

Through the experience of a short-term mission trip, it is hoped that participants will contribute significantly to many of the needs of the Honduran people. The trip will also expand one's view of the Creator, the great need in the world and the relative unimportance of "things" in our lives. This will be a trip of "reverse mission" where we learn some of life's most important lessons from the poorest of the poor.

St. Basil parishioners presently minister to the people of San Francisco de la Paz and at the Hogar del Nino (Home of the Children) Medical Clinic.

Medical: Doctors/nurses serve at the Hogar del Nino Medical Clinic receiving and treating patients. They also serve in the villages (aldeas) of the parish providing health screening.

Dental: Dentists/assistants serve in the dental clinic. We are able to provide restorative dentistry to patients.

Water project: A group of parishioners work on water purification systems in the villages (aldeas) to provide safe drinking water for the people. We have also constructed five wells in villages.

Construction: Groups of parishioners have assisted in remodeling and painting a residence facility where volunteers reside during their mission trip. We have also constructed a garage at the Hogar del Nino. Teams continue to construct small churches as well as houses in the villages and provide improvements to the Hogar del Nino.

Visiting Villages (aldeas and schools): Parishioners visit villages and schools to meet the people and distribute school supplies and other needed items to the villagers. Parishioners also provide dental hygiene supplies and instruction primarily for the children.

Translating: Parishioners fluent in Spanish are needed and welcomed as translators in all areas we serve. Very few of the native people speak any English.