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WORLD MISSIONS

Episcopal Diocese of West Texas  
July, 2016


  
HONDURAN POTPOURRI

For thirty years, the Honduras Veterinary Team has faithfully served in the Comayagua department carrying out varied and diverse ministries.  With every trip the team seems to add a new outreach.  This year was no exception.  40 people from all over the U.S. came together to form 4 vet teams and 1 public health team.

LOCAL PARTICIPATION (Kristina Lombardo).  I did not realize the extent of local involvement and the dedication to education and development.  By truly meeting the needs of the community, the ministry has grown over the years to touch the lives of so many people in the area.  The local Honduran organizers are incredibly grateful for the support provided by the mission, and they welcomed us like we were members of their own family.  What I witnessed was a true demonstration of bridging together two countries, two cultures, and two peoples.  Each individual, no matter his background, was an ambassador reaching out to others in love and caring.

VETERINARY (Bill Campaigne).   With Honduran partners at Cafe CoHorSil, the teams vaccinated 4,700 animals-tetanus in equine; Blackleg in cattle, sheep, and goats; Erysipelas in swine; Pigeon Pox in fowl; Rabies in horses, dogs, and cats; Dystemper/parvo in dogs; and Feline distemper in cats.  Each animal was treated for internal and external parasites and minor wounds.  Finally, each animal was blessed and marked with a cross.

Some of the Hondurans living in the remote mountains received training in basic animal health care, especially in the delivery of newborns and were given the Spanish versions of Where There is No Animal Doctor.  As of 2016, there are 12 mountain hamlets that have some long term veterinary care.

PUBLIC HEALTH (Lynn Campaigne).  The Public Health Team worked with the local Honduran school system to serve the children in the remote mountain schools.  The team performed personal hygiene presentations and gave each child a gift bag (soap, toothbrush, comb).  They worked to improve education, encouraging and evaluating the teachers and the children who have been given the XO learning system.  Each child received a writing notebook and pencil.

Screen doors were installed to keep out the Zika mosquitoes, dogs, and chickens.  At the school at Santa Rosita, the team was happy to see that the indoor bathrooms, kitchen, and water collection system had finally been completed and were in working order.  Now, we are hoping that the government will pay for a full time teacher.  Each of these remote schools received a supplement of rice and beans for the malnourished children.

EYES (Bill Campaigne and Noreen Hendley).  We purchased an eyeNetra machine, which tests for astigmatisms, etc., and prints out the prescription.  We had purchased this machine [by faith without having the funds].  But the next week after the machine was purchased, someone gave us a check for the exact amount not knowing we needed the money.

When my (Noreen) husband Clark was in the third grade, his teacher informed his mother that Clark seemed to be having trouble seeing words on the blackboard.  After visiting the optometrist and getting his brand new glasses, he realized that he could see leaves on the trees for the very first time.  I had a strong feeling that I would soon have the opportunity to help many children in Honduras "see leaves on the trees."

A group of seven wonderful women from our team planned to check all the children's vision at four schools.  For those children needing further testing, we used the eyeNetra Refractor.  We conducted the tests and printed the prescriptions with a portable printer.  Out of the 200 children tested, 40 needed glasses.  The New Braunfels Lions Club will have the glasses made, and they will be returned FREE to the children in Honduras. 

BIRTHING CENTER (Bill Campaigne and Noreen Hendley).   Completed 11 years ago, the nurses reported that of all the mothers who have delivered in this hospital, not one has died.  One of the nurses was trained to use the eyeNetra machine so that townspeople can have their eyes tested throughout the year.  We continued improvements to the birthing center facilities by installing a misting system to protect mothers from mosquitoes that carry malaria and the Zika virus.

We also delivered the Rag Dolls 2 Love and mommy kits made by the women in the Diocese of West Texas.

We are truly grateful for the vaccines donated by Merck Animal Health and for contributions of other corporations and multiple sponsorships; for the Lions Club of New Braunfels, and the organizational support of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas and Cafe Cohorsil of Siguatepeque, Honduras.

Because of your gifts,
  • Animals are immunized, and some areas are now completely free from rabies. 
  • Some visually impaired children are seeing clearly for the first time.
  • Mothers are surviving childbirth.

To continue supporting this ministry, donate online (dwtx.org below) or send your check to DWTX World Missions, PO Box 6885, San Antonio, TX  78209. 


  
SUMMER MISSION SYMPOSIUM:  Spirit-led Ministry & Mission
GUEST SPEAKER:  Edwina Thomas, SOMA USA Director Emeritus

SAVE THE DATE:  Saturday, August 27, 2016
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Bishop Jones Center, Mission Room
111 Torcido Dr., San Antonio, TX  78209

$20 includes lunch, snacks, materials
Register online (click Open Registrations): 
www.dwtx.org/calendar-events/calendar/ 

  
FINDING JESUS from Michelle Sharrow (YWAM missionary to Tijuana)    
   
I had the privilege of going to Knoxville to connect with my home church, and someone asked me, "Michelle, didn't you go to Mexico to work with kids?  What happened with that?  Don't you think that maybe they might be more important to invest in?"  Most people might say, "Yes," to that question, and that's all right.  For me personally, it was a "yes" but "no".

When I see the more than 100 men sitting in chairs at the shelter every Monday, when I see Alejandra or Laurena against the wall in their stilettos and fish net tights, when I see our friends hiding their flyers for the strip club behind their backs as we walk by, I see children.  I see innocence that was lost, sold, or stolen.  I see little boys and little girls who have yet to experience the full embrace of the Father.

When I see Mario covered in tattoos, and when I look at the wrinkles on his face and the grin under his mustache, I see a little boy who needs his Daddy.  For some reason, for one reason and one reason only, I don't see the murderer, the trafficker, the dealer, or the whore.  I see my brother, my sister, my father, and my mother.  I know it is only because of Jesus.  That is where I find him, and that is where I believe I really met him the first time I went out to the streets.

Last night I felt intimidation like I haven't felt in a long time.  We went to visit a new rehab where we might be working in the future.  It was already dark by the time we got there.  They let us in the gate, and we walked down a narrow corridor.  We reached a staircase that led us down to a large tiled basement, and I could feel the heat from the number of people who were in the room.  I walked into a room where 76 men awaited us.  Being the only woman there I sat down as the worship began and prayed, "Lord, you have called me here.  Please do not let me be a distraction, but tell me what you want me to say."

I watched those men worship and dance before God, and I dreamed with God about what he intended for them and who he desires them to be.  I hope you will pray for the broken men and women who are mere children desperately needing to know their Father in heaven who has so many dreams for them.  Pray for us as we seek to lead people into their identity in Christ so that they may know him and advance his kingdom here.   
 

  
BACK TO GUATEMALA from Nancy Springer (St. John's, McAllen)
 
     
In June we traveled to Guatemala for a dental and medical mission. Our team consisted of 2 dentists, a periodontist, a dental assistant, 2 doctors, 7 non-medical folks. There is always work for any skill set! Our team members who don't have medical training spend time with the patients as they wait and recover, distribute medications in our pharmacy, clean and sterilize instruments, assist the dentists and doctors, and play with the children and pass out toys and shoes.

We stayed in the guest building at a children's home high on a hill above Lake Atitlan in Solola called the Eagle's Nest  . Our first two days, we drove to Patzibal and set up a mobile clinic at the home of Sally and Erv York, who have been missionaries in Guatemala for over 7 years. Sally runs a weekly medical clinic, and Erv mentors young men to teach them building and electrical skills as he prepares for building teams to come and build houses for widows and abandoned women. We saw and treated adults and children, birth to 103!

We then set up our clinic at the children's home where we cared for the residents and workers of Eagle's Nest as well as people from Solola. One of the children was Macario, a 6 year old we've known since he was 3. Our teams first met him in the hospital at Santa Cruz del Quiche where he was admitted weighing only 7 pounds and severely malnourished. Today, with proper medical care and lots and lots of love and prayer he is a thriving, energetic, little boy with a ready smile and bright eyes. God has big plans for Macario! 

For many of the people in these areas, the medical and dental teams that come in provide their regular medical and dental care. As we return to the same areas, we see some of the same people each year. This was our first time to stay at the Eagle's Nest, and it was great to learn about their ministry and how they provide a safe haven for abandoned and orphaned children. Please check out their website (eaglesnestint.org) to learn how you can support them.

We couldn't do any of this without the efforts of Sally and Erv who help coordinate our travel and lodging in country and schedule and advertise the dates of our clinics. They are our eyes and ears in the culture, helping build the relationships with our teams and the people of Guatemala.

We wrapped up our week with a day of play, shopping, and relaxation in La Antigua before heading back to Guatemala City for our flight home.

Our Guatemala teams go each year to provide medical and dental care, build homes, and perform surgeries. There is something for everyone to do! And everyone can spread the love of Jesus to the people we go to serve. If you would like more information on our mission trips, would like to know how you can support us or to serve on a team, contact Lorena Rojas ( lorirm@me.com) or Jim Chase ( jchasern@sbcglobal.net). 

Our next surgical mission is September 3-10, 2016. Our next construction mission will be sometime this fall (dates yet to be determined).
    
 
 
REMEMBERING EVAN TANNER : from Mary Hayden Manning (St. David's, San Antonio)
 
 
Last summer, a group of 15 youth and adults from the Diocese of West Texas traveled to   Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, to work with Living Water Haiti Ministries. Living Water is a children's home which currently houses 17 kids. The founders of LWHM treat all of these children as their own and plan on raising them in Haiti to become productive members of their community. They recently bought a beautif  ul piece of property that will eventually contain houses for the boysand girls, the mission team, and a school, with room to grow as needed. Since our time there last summer, all of the children have been moved into their new houses on the property. Our group helped pump water and mix concrete to pour the front porch of the mission team house. We also led Vacation Bible School and art camp and spent a lot of time building relationships with the children and with each other. It was a transformative experience for all involved. 
 
Sadly, one of our beloved team members, Evan Tanner, passed away on April 12th. He was a senior in high school with big plans and a big heart, and I know his time in Haiti was so important to him. LWHM has graciously decided to honor Evan's life by dedicating their next building project, the school, to him. The school will consist of 6 classrooms and an office and will cost around $10,000 to complete. Around the world, and especially in a country like Haiti, education is truly life-changing, and now Evan will continue to inspire and change lives through this school. Please join me in prayer as we begin raising money for this project.

TO DONATE TO THE EVAN TANNER MEMORIAL, GO TO http://www.dwtx.org/departments/world-mission/.  Click DONATE, select Evan Tanner Memorial from the drop down menu.
 

 
 
I A M A GO-ER:  Jay George (Grace Church, San Antonio)
 

Bill Campaigne, tells a story of a woman who drove her small herd of cattle for 12 hours to reach the vets. For 12 hours, 6am to 6pm she walked beside her lead cow. When Bill asked her why she was willing to make such a long journey, she told him that she hadn't had a cow die since she started taking them to our vets. That's the difference the mission makes. That's the difference your support makes in the lives of the people of Honduras.
 
"And yet...  That's not our why.  It's actually our how. Our what is the mission trip, going out to love our neighbors. Increasing the health of Hondurans through the public health teaching and veterinary health practices, that is how we love them.  Our why is Jesus.

We don't go to Honduras so we can help "those people". We don't go so we can feel good about ourselves. We go because our Lord tells us to go. We go because Jesus teaches us that all people are our brothers and sisters. We go because all the health, education, and money in the world cannot create an eternal impact - but Jesus can.

So we don't only treat animals. We also pray with people and talk with people and worship with people. We ask them if they know why we are there, and then tell them about Jesus. And by caring for them and their animals and their children we don't merely tell them about Jesus, we show them.


I AM A GIVER:  
Chris Hagee (Christ Church, San Antonio) 
 

I'm a giver because we're called to give.  God expects us to give at least ten per cent of our income.  I give to DWTX World Missions because they do good stuff. 

                                                                                                          
FISHIN' FOR MISSION

 
Fr. Jim Friedel (St. Peter's, Rockport) and Mike Glick (St. Helena's, Boerne) led the fishermen in high competition for the biggest and heaviest fish on Saturday, June 11, at the eighth annual Fishin' for Mission Tournament in Rockport.  This year's participants were more than ever before, a testament to the hard work of the sponsors.  At last count, the event has brought in over $8,000  for World Missions.

The weekend began Friday night on the grounds of St. Peter's with a huge picnic supper:  chicken, pork, brisket, pinto beans, and creamy Texas cole slaw.  Mouth-watering desserts were piled high on plates nearby, and the beverages seemed to suit everyone's taste.

St. Helena's and St. Peter's raffle featured original paintings and watercolors, jewelry, specialty food baskets, baskets of adult beverages, religious items, fishing equipment, summer fun baskets, and many more.  Raffle items were distributed on Friday evening, and the silent auction awards were made on Saturday after the big catch.

THIS FUN EVENT OCCURS EVERY JUNE AND BENEFITS A SPECIAL MISSION PROJECT EACH YEAR.  Proceeds of this year's tournament will go to providing solar panels at Respire Orphanage and a school to be built in memory of Evan Tanner (St. Mark's, San Antonio) in Haiti. 
                                         


DID YOU KNOW...
      
There are THREE components to world mission: 
GOING, GIVING, PRAYING.  
  
You know about GOING AND GIVING, but did you know that Virtual Mission is a group of PRAY-ERS who participate in team trips by attending team meetings, reading the team devotional books, staying connected with the team as they go, and PRAYING daily for the team?  If you'd like to be part of Virtual Mission, contact Libby Templeton for more information (ltempleton254@gmail.com). 

 PRAYER GUIDE & TEAM LIST    
DATES   PLACE TEAM    DESCRIPTION
June 29-July 14  Uganda  Eric Fenton (Team Leader), Richard Wallace, Lily & Charissa Fenton, & Michael Bahan  Band & Bible 
July 7 - 18  Costa Rica  Laurie McKim (Team Leader)  Advent, Brownsville: Youth team -  youth empowerment 
July 12-19  Honduras, Chalmeca Copan  Terry & Brien Koehler (Team Leaders)  Christ Church, San Antonio:  construction, VBS, women's projects, community outreach 
July 17-23  New Orleans  Spencer Stocker, (Team Leader)  St. Thomas, San Antonio:  summer youth mission 
July 18-22  New Orleans  Mary Hayden Manning (Team Leader), Eleanor Anderson, Joshua & Jaxon Babbitt, Sophia Fitch,  Daniel Forman, Meredith Garcia, David Graham, Courtland, Sarah Kates,
Juliana Martinez, Holly McDonald, Mia Neally, Olivia Reed, Jack War 
 
St. Davis & St. George, San Antonio:  summer youth mission 
TBD   Guatemala  Lorena & Jorge Rojas, Nancy Springer (Team Leaders)  St. John's, McAllen: construction  
Sept. 3-10  Guatemala  Lorena & Jorge Rojas, Nancy Springer (Team Leaders)  St. John's, McAllen:  surgical 
October 13-20  Honduras  Maria Cavazos (Team Leader)  El Paraiso & Yuscaran regions.  New well project, community health & hygiene training, children's ministry, Ojo de Agua Church project 
November 9-16  Southeast Mexico  Valerie Kirk (Team Leader)  Veterinary 

TO MAKE A DONATION TO WORLD MISSIONS:
 
(You may give to specific designations or "Where Most Needed.")
 
MEMORIAL:  Nancy Creamer  FROM:  Martha & Austin Moore, Betty Chumney  
MEMORIAL:  Patsy Ziegler  FROM:  Martha & Austin Moore 
MEMORIAL:  Frederick S. Hanau  FROM:  Betty Chumney 
MEMORIAL:  Spencer Collins  FROM:  Betty Chumney 
MEMORIAL:  Evan Tanner  FROM:  Lee Rux, Melissa Rubiola, Chris & Brooks Hagee, Kay Mijangos 
 
 
Or make checks payable to DWTX and note "MISSIONS" on the 
memo line.  Mail to DWTX, PO Box 6885, San Antonio, TX  78209.

Or call Betty Chumney 888/210-824-5387.


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Episcopal Diocese of West Texas World Mission