Improving Nutrition in La Concepción
Pastor Fredy is a man of dreams and visions. He dreamed of having a program at his church site for children in need and he worked with his Sister Church to meet the building requirements of Compassion International. With that dream fulfilled and his staff of leaders seeing that nearly 200 kids a week are receiving Christian education, help with their general education, and a snack, Pastor Fredy had another dream. He wanted the snack to be more substantial than the one funded by the Compassion sponsorship funds he receives, so he envisioned an agriculture project. He thought that a hen house, a tilapia pond, and a garden plot would yield food that would enable his staff to give the children a nutritious MEAL, instead of just a snack.
His Sister Church and other teams, joined the people of the congregation in turning some unused land on the property behind the church into this great agriculture project. In June, a team from Exeter Church of God spent a week there, working alongside church members to enclose the hen house and build nesting boxes, clear land for the tilapia pond, and enlarge the garden plot.
- Overview of Agriculture Project with hen house, large garden plot, cleared area for tilapia pond
Bibles for Labor
Hondurans and Californians Worked Side by Side
Pastor Fredy fostered true partnerships as he arranged for members of the congregation to come daily to work alongside the visiting Gringos. During the first evening worship of the week, Exeter presented a couple of boxes of Bibles to Pastor Fredy for his members. In turn, Pastor Fredy announced that anyone who joined the team and worked on the project that week, would receive a free Bible. Anyone who couldn’t come to work was encouraged to donate 150 Lempiras (about $7.50) to the agriculture project and for that participation, they could also receive a Bible.
The two pastors seem to have connected as the smaller Pastor Fredy tries to lift his hefty new friend, Pastor Rusty from Exeter
Making Friends with the Compassion Kids
The team worked on the ag projects in the mornings and then spent the afternoons having fun with the children who attend the Compassion Project at La Concepción. Lots of soccer and bubbles, Silly Bandz and craziness erased the language barrier!
Hens enjoy their new living quarters
Pastor Fredy sent this photo of the hens exploring their new home, checking out the laying boxes and finding the food and water sources – completely unaware that the eggs they lay will soon be providing increased nutrition for the children in the neighborhood!
I was part of this group and am so excited to see the chickens occupying the coop we worked on. I pray many will be fed nutriously from this project. Pastor Fredy your prayers are being answered. Praise the Lord! May God Bless all the families at La Concepcion!