Our 10-year Anniversary of missionary service in Honduras was a significant milestone, offering an opportunity to reflect on the past decade, recognize achievements, & look forward to the future. 

LOOKING BACK….

Last year's anniversary was an opportunity to reminisce about the past ten years, highlighting key events, challenges overcome, & significant achievements in our missionary work. A mission trip teaches us that the world does not revolve around us, & that we may be built for a higher purpose. Deacon Mike Mims took this to heart; a trailblazer & pure catalyst for many charitable causes including serving as the founder of our very own mission in 2014. There would absolutely no Honduran mission without Deacon Mike! Each year we take his spirit with us as we return to Honduras!

CELEBRATING IMPACT….

Throughout the past ten years, our initiatives in health, nutrition, education, & faith have developed & shifted to best match the needs of the Honduran communities we serve. Through our experience, we’ve come to learn that, when done correctly, mission trips actually can make the world a better place - well at least from our perspective, the few remote villages we serve high atop a mountain. They help us learn from one another, build each other up, plus develop compassion & empathy for our neighbors. Through our mission trips, we can empower the communities we serve, learn about the world around us, develop into stronger leaders, plus understand how to serve & share our faith more effectively.

HONORING INDIVIDUALS….

It's a time to celebrate the dedication & impact of special individuals who made vital contributions that led to the success of our mission! All were part of the very first trip with Deacon Mike & are still active in the Honduran mission today. The leaders & members/advisors of the core team who mentor the next generation of missionaries & carry Deacon Mike’s passion with them!

• Kate Mims - Co-founder; current mission consultant.

• Cathy Neill - Pharmacist; current mission advisor.

• Michelle Rieger - Core Team / Travel; serves as a Catechetical & La Finca Field Day lead while on mission.

• Leon Rieger - Core Team / Financial; serves dual roles in Logistics as a driver & Catechetical.

• Graciela Mayorga - Translator; current mission advisor.

• Juan Mayorga - Core Team / Honduran Ambassador; serves in Logistics as a driver.

DEFINING FUTURE GOALS & INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS….

Now is the perfect time to set new goals, develop strategies, inspire the next generation of missionaries & refine our approach to missionary work for the next decade.

HEALTH CARE

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in Honduras there is less than one medical doctor per 1,000 persons. Health & Dental care is inadequate, and in the villages we serve, simply nonexistent. Sanitation is poor, causing many preventable diseases & health problems. Large families live in straw or mud huts with dirt floors. They cook on wood-burning stoves inside their homes & the smoke from these stoves causes asthma for many family members, especially the young children. As we move forward, Our “Mission 365” plan of action focuses on what we can do to provide medical assistance all-year round (not just during the week we are on mission) similar to what we have achieved through our faith & education initiatives.

FAITH

Through our partnership with the Trujillo parish plus our leadership from Bishop Jenry, we have built churches in the villages plus provide financial support to allow priests & nuns to make recurring visits & preside over mass on the mountain. This translates to more & more sacraments - outward signs that convey God's grace. We have been moved by the growth of their faith & spirit through the reestablishment of the catechetical & sacramental aspects of their Catholic faith.

EDUCATION

Honduran children face serious challenges to their academic goals. Many come from difficult family situations including illiteracy, alcoholism, & poverty. Children are pulled out of school to help with the crops, care for sick family members, or watch over the house & younger siblings. Even if a child’s family situation permits them to attend school, insufficient financial & human resources debilitate Honduran schools. It is not uncommon to find a sixth grade student who is unable to read. In terms of education, our mission is focused on a lasting change; we have built schools & a computer lab in the villages, provide school supplies & laptops, support students tuition, room & board as they enhance their studies as well as supplement teacher salaries so children in each village has access to a primary & secondary education.

Our Logistics team continues to make improvements to the villages we serve by maintaining all buildings that the mission constructed & electrical service to all classrooms & each church. During COVID, we provided financial support that delivered food & supplies to the villages when the country was on lock-down, The greatest significance was realized last year when access to drinking water was finally brought to the community of El Mirador.

As believers, we are called to actively spread God's words & love to make a positive difference in the world!

We ask for your continued prayers & support as we head up the mountain once again in June 2025!