It starts at home with our attitude!

We are all extremely busy right now in the planning stage for our mission this year by ordering supplies, packing trunks, assigning duties, creating schedules & lesson plans, monitoring budgets…. however, what are we doing to mentally prepare? How can we reach the state of mind required to achieve mission success? How do we even define “MISSION SUCCESS”?

Mission trips can be exciting, life-changing, & an enormous blessing to us & those we are serving. However, our attitude will determine much of what we both give & receive. The following are a few approaches to consider as we prepare for our June departure:

In a biblical context, "deliberate" emphasizes intentional & conscious actions or decisions, often highlighting the importance of thoughtful choices in matters of faith &  obedience to God.

On our mission trip, it’s important to be intentional as well as deliberate. To cultivate an attitude of humility, open-mindedness, & a willingness to learn while serving, prioritizing the needs of others & embracing cultural differences with both respect & curiosity. Ask the Lord beforehand what he wants to do with our time & talents on this trip; search for ways to serve & glorify Him.

While the word "flexibility" isn't explicitly used in the Bible, the concept of adaptability & being open to change is emphasized, with examples of individuals who demonstrated flexibility in their faith & actions. 

We may know what our general responsibilities are going to be but be open to the fact that more or different things may be asked of us. We need to learn from Paul’s missionary journeys; his willingness to adapt his approach to different cultures & people show his flexibility in sharing the Gospel. Going into this time of service with a spirit that is willing to jump in & help wherever there is need will be a great blessing to all.

In the Bible, “perseverance” is presented as a vital aspect of faith & character, often resulting from enduring trials & hardships, ultimately leading to hope & maturity.

Those of us that have gone on mission before tend to forget about the negative aspects of visiting a developing country: the heat, civil unrest, lack of supplies & services. The days spent doing ministry can be long & exhausting. They will be a big change from our daily routine at home & may require us to step out of our comfort zone. Endure with patience the moments of discomfort, remembering that the Lord is seeking to use us to bless people that He loves & desires to know Him.

A successful mission trip is determined by a combination of factors, including clear goals, effective partnerships, thorough preparation, a focus on long-term impact rather than just short-term tasks…..all while maintaining A SERVANT’S ATTITUDE.

Our choice to go on the Honduras Mission will bring joy to the Lord as we love & obey Him by displaying such attitudes. When it comes to mission trips, we should work ahead of time to improve our skills of listening & accompaniment, formulating intelligent questions & creating prayerful dialogue.

Let us invite the Spirit of God to transform our hearts, minds, & souls to be open to the faith, gifts, talents, joy, & yes, challenges of the Honduran culture. Perhaps we’ll become even more effective instruments of God’s love globally as we then work together in the body of Christ. Be excited as we join God’s work!

Returning The Proper Way After Mission Work

Mission trips can not only be fulfilling but also challenging. That is the very reason why so many of us are signing up and traveling to Honduras this Saturday. While voices have questioned the viability and benefit of embarking on these trips after COVID, we should focus on the manner in which we return. We can make mistakes—not only in the way we prep and serve but also in the way we come back. Here are five such ways:

1. The Expert

We live in today’s information age. People love facts and more importantly want to receive everything at lightening speed in real-time. We often parade missionaries on our website and spotlight their stories on social media, asking them to narrow down years of mission work into a short elevator pitch. But the inverse can also be true. Friends may expect a detailed narrative on the people, language, culture, religion, and politics of a country, even though our actual mission exposure involves a very limited area of Honduras high atop a mountain.

In such conversations, perhaps due to pride, the temptation is to play the expert, to pontificate about a place we know little of. We can easily speak in absolutes, defining an entire population without the appropriate nuance and appreciation. We must recognize that a brief foray into a region can reveal enough to foster prejudice and generalizations, but rarely enough for deep understanding.

2. The Called

Many of us have experienced a week of summer camp in our youth. The spiritual focus, kumbaya, emotions, and isolated location provide the ideal environment for a memorable event. Those moments can be times of significant decision. But decisions made at camp are also notorious for generating little lasting change. A compelling emotion by a campfire doesn’t guarantee long-term commitment and follow-through.

What is true for a week of summer in the woods could also true for today’s mission trips. Globe-trekking adults often return with a sense of calling to missions. But that calling may simply be based on a positive experience. Rarely do volunteers experience the mundane of year-round foreign mission work or the rigors of everyday life in Honduras. Great experiences alone are insufficient reasons to pursue your next mission trip.

3. The Critic

Those who come back often want to return overseas; they also may want to take everyone with them. Yes, our country may be doing shamefully little in comparison to our abundant individual resources. But don’t forget that the people you’re prone to lecture here at home are also likely the ones who paid and prayed your way. So, come back with some saltiness, but don’t forget needed grace in those conversations.

Similarly, it’s easy to come back to the States—particularly following a negative ministry experience—and be critical of those who reside in other countries. Their living conditions or education choices may not be yours. Yet just as you're not an expert on language, culture and geopolitical issues, you don’t live in their shoes every day. It’s usually best to give those you serve the benefit of the doubt.

4. The STORYTELLER

One of the greatest dangers upon returning from any mission, whether the trip goes well or not, is to exaggerate. To overstate the successes and the struggles. To unintentionally inflate the numbers. To make the poor people poorer, the squalor dirtier, the bus ride longer, or in contrast the whole experiences totally awesome.

We do this, again, because of our own pride. We have a desire to feel needed or successful. Perhaps it’s as simple as wanting to justify the trip—and it’s cost—to our supporters. But whenever we become the exaggerator, we reveal a deep insecurity in our identity with Christ. We show a lack of faith in him. And we reveal that we find our worth in what we have sacrificed and accomplished for the Savior, not the other way around.

5. The Enthusiastic

Everyone—at least everyone who avoids stomach issues—is expected to return from a mission trip with enthusiasm. Praising God for victories. Recounting stories of success. Exulting in all that was accomplished. You come back all excited about what God had done in and through you, but within six months or a year, you may notice that the majority of that momentum may start to wane.

Get to your core sooner rather than later. After your trip, ask yourself what you learned:

• About yourself (strengths, weaknesses, gifting)

• About God (his love for the lost, his work in people’s lives)

• About cross-cultural missions (the needs, the opportunities, where you fit).

Then take steps to apply those lessons back home!

Returning the PROPER Way

So, how should we come back from a short-term mission trip?

For starters, we should return with humility and gratitude for such a privileged opportunity. Speak of our experiences in a way that depicts God as the primary and ultimate actor (Acts 14:27), not in ways that draw attention to ourself.

Also, find an opportunity to personally thank supporters for their gifts and prayers. You should definitely report on specific events and encouragement, focusing on stories of God’s grace. But also don’t avoid the realistic accounts of trials, weaknesses, or hardships.

You may recognize aspects of yourself in each “way” outlined above. It’s important to do a bit of self-reflection to only bring about the positives of each. You should recount what you learned, doing so with necessary caveats and an awareness of your limited knowledge.

In order to be better prepared for others’ questions, it’s not a bad idea to take notes or journal through your travels so you’re prepared to provide specifics about your time. In particular, record names of people for prayer. If possible, try to get to know local believers, learning their struggles and needs, check in with them after you return then passing them along so others can pray or respond appropriately. This way, the reporting of your trip is others-focused and glorifying to God.

Ultimately, we want to return with a joyful awareness of God's work in the world and a greater appreciation for our shared salvation.

Sometimes it’s only your presence that’s important - Steve Rafferty's Journey.

I improved my reading skills when I was young by reading selections from the Readers Digest Condensed Books.  Two books that had a lasting effect were A Ship Called Hope by William B. Walsh and Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl.  The first told the story of a refitted military hospital ship that provided humanitarian medical aid to various countries around the world, particularly Latin America.  The second recapped an epic adventure of floating across the Pacific on a balsa wood raft from Ecuador to Polynesia to prove the viability of a migration route.   After reading both books, I wanted to do something similar but had no concrete plans how to do that.  Decades later, I found my solution in St Anthony of Padua’s Medical/Dental Mission to Honduras.

I walked into the informational meeting for the 2018 Mission Trip uncertain that I brought enough knowledge or skill to be useful.   After listening to a summary of how the Mission was organized, I told the presenter that I probably was only  60% to 70% qualified for any specific job.  I’d worked as an EMT in college, but hadn’t refreshed those skills since.  I knew enough Spanish to order food and beer, but couldn’t carry a conversation.  I can drive with a manual transmission, but I’ve never driven a four wheel drive vehicle in off-road conditions.  I wanted to go on Mission but only if I was productively useful.  My test was whether my presence on mission was more beneficial than donating the equivalent money to the mission.  They told me confidently that they would provide training for any job I volunteered for.

So after two missions, where am I?  I’ve passed the Registered Dental Assistant test for certification in Texas, so I enhance the productivity of the dentists on Mission.  I’ve trained in ultrasound cleaning of teeth.  I’m not certified in Texas to clean teeth but Honduras doesn’t require it so I have improved the oral health of several dozen folks in Honduras.  My granddaughter, my training guinea pig, says I did a decent job on her teeth.   My Spanish is a bit more polished thanks to internet learning apps.  I feel competently useful on Mission in Honduras.  The Mission Team can definitely take a new missionary and train them to be useful.

The Honduras Mission provides the opportunity to fulfill my childhood goal of helping others in an adventuresome location.  Granted, traveling across Honduras isn’t crossing the open Pacific on a raft, but traveling six hours on two lane blacktops with numerous tumelos (“speed bumps”) isn’t a Sunday drive in the country.  There’s plenty of adventure on the trip!

The personal takeaways are significant as well.   When you are on mission, the demands of the work and the challenges of local conditions often obscure the positive impacts we make.  On reflection afterwards, I am impressed with the resourcefulness and dedication of the team to accomplish our goals.  I have memories of small victories in our dental clinic.  The restored glow of a young mother no longer afraid to smile and expose her teeth.  The humor of an older gentleman who exclaimed that women might look at him again after I had cleaned his heavily stained teeth.  The giggles and excitement of a class of kids as we applied fluoride treatment to their teeth.

But despite the emphasis on treatment, my favorite memory doesn’t involve that.  At the close of one day while waiting for the trucks to return to base, I sat on the stairs to the school and folded an origami flapping bird for two young girls about six years old.  They seemed enthralled with the process and were silently attentive.  When I finished the bird, I flapped its wings and offered it to the girls.  One girl reached for it, but went past the bird and touched the noticeable hair on my knuckles and asked, “Que es esto”?  When I told her “pelo”, they both laughed loudly and ran off. 

God works in mysterious ways sometimes.  I can’t always know what or why, but I can know we have an impact.  Sometimes it’s only your presence & not what you’re doing that’s important.

~ Bendiciones Steve

A LEGACY OF SMILES

Steve Rafferty joined our mission in 2018 & quickly became an intergal team member despite not knowing exactly where he could fit in! Steve has graciously stepped up to lead the dental charge as we get ready for our return in June. We are ever so blessed to be able to share in Steve’s enthusiasm & knowledge! Get ready for those “tumelos” Steve!

Now What? Thriving After Returning Home from Mission.

After your first mission trip, you may have asked yourself, “Is this really it?” Do I just go back to my regular life now?

It is certainly hard to transition from a time of deep community & faith, limited distractions like internet, emails or Netflix, daily devotion & worship, not to mention the challenges of serving our remote villages atop a mountain. Reverting to “real life” can often times feel daunting or meaningless.

A truth that we can hold on to is that our time serving is real life. Each experience we had, each way we saw God move is just as real as our careers, deadlines, & our family & friends back home. We can also be sure that the same God we felt so close to up on the mountain is the same God that we meet in our homes & our sanctuaries back here in Texas!

It is very clear that in the period during COVID when we could not travel to Honduras, the villages have not been able to maintain a large portion of what the Mission has done for them over the years in terms of building & utilities maintenance. Medical & dental care is non-existent & education is lacking. They are so ready & eager for us to return. The children lit up when they saw us. It was such a joyous experience to share with them our intent to return in June 2023!

“Lord, it is good that we are here.”

— Matthew 17:4

Short-term Mission Transformation

Approximately 20 percent of all US-based international mission work each year is done by short-term volunteers just like our Honduras mission, according to an analysis by sociologist of religion Robert Wuthnow. That translates to 1.6 million US church members annually going on international mission trips and doing work valued at $1.1 billion (not counting preparation time & travel days).

When you think of mission trips in this way, then you get a big picture view of the incredible loss that must be felt by those who are no longer being served as well as missionaries who are forced to remain at home.

As with so many other aspects of life, missions were deeply impacted by the coronavirus pandemic & the subsequent lockdowns & restrictions on social gatherings. Everything, including short-term missions, has forever changed. However, despite mission travel reshaping drastically, it has become a good thing.

It has given our Honduras mission core team time to breathe & reconsider how the process can be transformed & improved upon plus how our financial support can make the greatest impact.

Mission Safety is Paramount

The Mission Core team’s main concern is always the safety of our missionaries, & we analyze that in the greatest detail - the new inherent risks, & what can we do to continue to maintain your safety. We are constantly consulting with risk management, our medical team leaders, local Honduran experts & others for guidance.

We believe that God will bless our work in new ways post-pandemic, as we see new efforts that have been thoroughly undergirded in prayer, & as we engage with new partners like Deacon Rick Vogel to collaborate with us in the days ahead. We also expect there will be a gratitude for freedom to operate in a more normal fashion that will make post-pandemic mission work even more satisfying than pre-pandemic work when we faced few obstacles.

The Core Team certainly understands your frustrations as we set multiple travel dates, plan and then must postpone the last 2-years. Know this to be true…. we will return to Honduras soon!

Deacon Rick joins the Honduras Mission!

Hallelujah, the Honduras Mission Trip is back on (or at least we hope)!

We are all busy planning for what supplies are needed, who is doing what, how are things being done to serve our friends. These are all very important & worthwhile. Serving those in need is a fundamental responsibility for all Christians and, we at St. Anthony’s do it so well!

We should never neglect these responsibilities. As missionaries, we should put our whole heart into these activities. Coupling these activities with our own personal spirituality is what makes us standout from other service organizations. Bringing the love of Jesus with a helping hand is the call of all Christians.

During this busy preparation period for the mission trip let     us not neglect our own spiritual life. Are you praying for our friends each day? I do not mean a simple prayer of 10 seconds. But quality time spent in prayer for your friends. Be conscientious & steadfast in these prayers over the next few months.

As Advent approaches, the great time of Anticipation, let us lift up in prayer our friends & all the preparations which are needed.  Let us embrace God’s love & share it with his friends as we lift our own spiritual life in prayer.

Blessings,

Deacon Rick

Honduras Sacraments Team

Our Mission has definitely hit a period of adjustment after COVID, the departure of Deacon Mike, Father Tom & Father Kingsley; leaving some may refer to as a spiritual void in our leadership team. Deacon Rick Vogel has graciously accepted the challenge to unite our Mission for 2022. Please join us in welcoming him as we prep for traveling to Honduras in June!

It’s time to Celebrate our First High School Graduates!

Our Honduras Mission is so very excited to announce that the first two High School students that we support are graduating this month! We plan on continuing the focus on education as we look forward to the future!

BRAVO!!!! OSMAN ARIEL MENDEZ & JOEL VELASQUEZ from El Mirador as they take the next steps leading them to a promising future! This is such a joyous & proud moment of celebration for their families & friends as well as our mission team.

Osman & Joel – you have worked so hard to achieve your goals & now it is time for the both of you to chase your dreams! We wish you much success & happiness. Nothing is impossible, anything is possible when you believe in yourself!

Meet Osman…

Over break, Osman helped his mother create a home garden with beans & radish. He used techniques he learned through is agriculture studies at EVS.

Osman is very excited to graduate & complete his first internship. "Tengo ganas de hacer las cosas bien."

Meet JOEL…

Joel is the oldest of his family with 4 brothers & 2 sisters. He enjoys listening to music (when he is not studying of course!).

Joel is looking forward to graduating & being a mentor for his younger siblings!

Mission Focus: Education

Like a tree, poverty has many roots. But among the many causes of global poverty, one factor is distinctive above all others: EDUCATION. Not every person without an education is living in extreme poverty, however most of those living in extreme poverty do lack a basic education. Families that fall below the poverty line will also be more likely to keep their children out of school, which means that their children will also have a greater chance of living in poverty.

Education is often referred to as the great equalizer: It can open the door to the right jobs, resources, & skills that a family needs to not just survive but thrive. This was the focus of Deacon Mike Mims when our mission first began as well as the foundation that our entire education strategy was built upon to impact the communities that we serve. Access to high-quality primary education & supporting child well-being is a globally recognized solution to the cycle of poverty that we have witnessed first-hand in Honduras. This is, in part, because it also addresses many of the other issues that can keep communities vulnerable.

Discover Fall Honduran Holidays

In the US, we are quite familiar with our holidays as we prep for Halloween & Thanksgiving however how much do we truly know about the celebrations that take place in Honduras in the fall season? Public holidays in Honduras are centered on Christianity and the commemoration of events in their history.

Here is a list of upcoming festivities for September & October along with some details to help us stay in-sync with the people and the communities that we serve.

Sep 10th – Children’s Day (Día del Niño)

The Kiddos may still go to school on this very special day, but not necessarily for the classes. They celebrate alongside their teachers with music, dance, candy & games. It’s a day when parents honor & congratulate their children plus share gifts!

Sep 15th – Independence Day (Día de la Independencia)

Just like our own 4t of July, this day commemorates the independence of the Central American provinces from Spanish rule in 1821. Every city & village celebrates with parades, princesses, marching drummers & folk dancers. This year marks the bicentennial!

Sep 17th – Teacher’s Day (Día del Maestro)

Students prepare special activities & greeting cards for their teachers to express their gratitude. This holiday was established in honor of one of the greatest educators in Honduras, Father José Trinidad Reyes y Sevilla.

Oct 3rd – Morazán’s Day (Natalicio del General Morazán)

A day to honor José Francisco Morazán Quesada, a Central American politician (President of the Federal Republic of Central America). He is from Honduras & is recognized as a visionary & advocate for social reform.

Oct 12th – Columbus Day (Día de la Raza)

The date of Columbus' arrival in the Americas is celebrated in Honduras as the Discovery of America Day. It’s a way to honor not Columbus the man, but rather all the people & cultural influences that came after him that exist today. Día de la Raza (or The Day of the Race) is a special moment for countries that were once conquered by Spanish explorers to recognize their indigenous people, traditions & cultural heritage.

Oct 21st – Army Day (Día de las Fuerzas Armadas)

Honduran Armed Forces Day is a national holiday widely celebrated across the country. Most of the festive activities are carried out in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. They include a military parade & solemn official ceremony.

It’s time to Celebrate!

Both the Taco Sale in May & the recent St Anthony’s festivities shed light on the importance of our missionaries coming together. The overall vibe & energy of our group is contagious…. but in a positive, impactful way! Our missionaries inspire & empower each other however we still need to be mindful of everyone’s safety. That is precisely why the core team decided to postpone our Reunion Celebration.

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY is coming up in October on the 24th; the perfect setting for everyone to see each other once again. Hopefully we can do so under safe COVID protocols. The theme of this year’s World Mission Day, “We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard” (At 4:20), is an invitation to each of us to “take charge” and to make known what we carry in our hearts. We will share more details on this event later this month!

A Pharmacist's Perspective on Missions - Cathy Neill

I had been intrigued about mission trips for years but didn’t think I had the right skills & had never heard of a Catholic medical mission trip.  I am a pharmacist, not a doctor, nurse, or dentist.  One day a 19-year-old customer was picking up a prescription for malaria prevention who was going to Africa to do mission work through her church.  Next time I saw her father at the pharmacy we discussed her trip.  He informed me about the church’s annual medical mission trip to Mexico & that they would love to have a pharmacist so my daughter & I went. It was a broadening experience going with the other medical professionals & support crew to multiple sites in rural Mexico, with no electricity, & limited drinkable water, working with medicines labeled in Spanish, not to mention communicating through a translator. I came home with a much greater appreciation of basic necessities that we all tend to take for granted. I went with this church again to Mexico and Kentucky.

Fast forward to Deacon Mike Mims’ call from the pulpit for people to go with him to Honduras in 2014.  Wow, now I could go with MY church on mission… & I did!  We had conference calls with missionaries from Little Rock, AK that went to Trujillo, made educated guesses about the medical, educational, religious & social needs, taped up the STAOP gym floor to simulate the physical lay-out of the chapel/clinic, plus practiced hymns & prayers in Spanish.  We went, saw a lot of patients, accomplished a ton & made it home safely.

After Deacon Mike Mims unexpected death, several of us met to see if we would/should/could go again.   Although some agreed to take on a portion of the organizing duties, I was not initially one of them, but kept showing up for the meetings. I have returned to Honduras each year till COVID cancelled our 2020 trip. 

I am on Mission year-round going to meetings, talking about what we do, recruiting missionaries, collecting donations, plus ordering medicines & medical supplies. I have met so many wonderful people (saints) here, on the archdiocese & state level, as well as in Honduras from my involvement with these mission trips.

~ Bendiciones, Cathy

Honduras Medical Team

The Medical Team has a hidden gem & her name is Cathy Neill. An ever-present leader from the start, mostly staying behind the scenes supporting our doctors & nurses, Cathy brings her pharmaceutical expertise to those who are in dire need. Cathy serves as secretary of the Archdiocese Mission Council & as treasurer of the Texas Mission Council annual conference.

Honduran Medicine & Health Care

Think about what it must be like for the communities that we serve when a family member’s health takes a turn for the worse. We are ever so grateful to have such wonderful doctors, pharmacists, dentists & nurses go on mission with us to make a difference!

Sickness or an accident is a nightmare for people in the countryside & the urban poor. It may take hours to get a patient to a hospital by traveling over long dirt roads that often lack public transportation. Doctors may be unable to do much for a patient if the patient's family cannot afford to buy medicine. If the patient is an adult, the household may have to struggle to make a living until he or she recovers. 

8 Important Mission Trip Reminders

Whether you are a mission rookie or a seasoned veteran, it’s important to be mindful that service is a lifestyle, not an event.

1. Be FAT: Faithful, Available & Teachable: Be willing & eager to serve. Step outside your comfort zone & be willing to meet a variety of needs.

2. Be Proactive: If you see something that needs to be done, be the first to act. Don’t just stand on the sidelines awaiting instructions.

3. Focus on the Tasks at-hand: Get involved with every aspect of your team’s projects. Avoid the temptation to just watch the action.

4. Follow the Leader: If you receive specific guidelines, follow them carefully. Show respect to the mission’s organization & the people you are serving by adhering to instructions, even if you don’t understand the reasoning behind them.

5. Reach Out: Listen to the people you are serving. Tell them that you will pray for them & keep a prayer journal. Talk to Jesus about what you’re experiencing & feeling during the trip & let him challenge & grow your faith.

6. Love your Neighbors as Yourself: You’ll be ministering to (& with) a variety of people who are different from you. Some might challenge you or even make you uncomfortable. No matter what happens, be a servant & treat everyone with respect.

7. Maintain Perspective: The people you serve won’t always seem thankful for your help. Although this can sting, remember that Jesus changes people’s hearts.

8. Prepare to get Tired: As the trip begins, you’ll feel full of energy & excitement. Expect that to wane as the week goes on. Even when you are worn-out, remember that you are there to serve. Stay the course!