The following was my presentation for the "Ministry Minute" at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. I was asked to talk about my mission work in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Good Morning.
What is a Methodist?
You may have struggled with this question as I have.
A Methodist is a Christian who embraces inclusiveness and outreach.
A loving hug and a helping hand.
We are Missionaries on a Mission - with a personal connection.
Loving people into a relation with Jesus Christ.
Five years ago, during the ministry minute, I heard a young man speak of his mission to one of the poorest places in the world Mogote, Honduras.
I whispered to myself - I should go.
Somehow God, and Donna Whitehead heard me and in spite of my busy life finishing my PhD, a two year old son, a startup company, she told me I was going.
And so I went.
I witnessed others talents applied to their missionary work –
Beverly Schultz the caretaker washing feet - painting toes, Liz - the teacher, Linda the organizer, Doctor John, Kay the minister, Mara the Clown, Lynn, Stallings the builder, Anne Pierce - the mother
Feeding the children their only meal of the day– the children’s grubby hands as if praying cupped for the rice and beans even after we had run out of tortillas,
They each had their mission. I was uncomfortably searching for my own personal connection.
I am an entrepreneur, a scientist, a computer guy. How could I contribute?
That is when I met Fredy.
When a missionary team builds a house Fredy is hired to do the wiring – one light bulb, one outlet, one switch - he climbs the power pole to connect the live electrical line.
We built a house for a family of 6 – slightly larger than the others - 12X24 with a front and back door. I showed Fredy how to hook up one light to 2 switches.
To Fredy this was magical and I was the magician – in future trips, I brought down discarded electronics and test equipment, Fredy now has a small business fixing radios and TV's.
I found my mission: To end the cycle of poverty and despair by training, equipping and funding small employee owned companies.
Teach a man to fish.
During the past year we have built and equipped a 3200 sqft factory to make leather goods. We have trained Jose Louis, Loyda, Eda, Jolie, Doris, Bernardina, Juan Carlos, and Ismaris. They will soon hire two more. These people never had the opportunity to work, to provide for their families. They now make handcrafted leather goods using scrap leather donated from a Dallas based leather furniture maker, American leather. We send the leather down on empty banana containers. “Empresa de Fe Y Esperanza”, the company of life and hope, owned and managed by its employees. The dignity of a job and creating a product with your hands, that others appreciate.
The impact goes farther than these 10 individuals, they represent almost 50 dependents. This does not go unnoticed by the 40,000 people of Mogote. The impact is very broad and very deep.
We are ramping up production.
I know small struggling under-funded start up companies - I am an entrepreneur.
I need your prayers, I need your support, I need you to go to the web site teachfish.com and order a purse, or a wallet.
I have Lovers Lane to thank. You helped me find my mission - my personal connection - we have more work to do, houses to build, soccer to play, mouths to feed, feet to wash, toes to paint, blankets to provide, wounds to heal, minds to teach, smiles to make, and yes companies to create.
This is a testimony of how your support has life changing impact for me – and – the people of Magote. I encourage you to support this Church and its ministries.
I have learned that it is not how much you give – but how much you must give up.
Bernardina – who works in the factory stopped me and asked
Lo que es un Metodista?
What is a Methodist?
I told her a Methodist is a Christian that gives a loving hug and a helping hand.
She looked at me - smiled and said:
Que me hace feliz.
That makes me happy.
Porque, verá usted en el cielo.
Because, I will see you in heaven.
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