HONDURAS MISSION TRIP - 2024

 AS OF June 17, 2024

Hope Here International Ministries/ First Baptist Church Enterprise Honduras Mission Trip

Saturday, September 28 through Saturday, October 4, 2024

Contact: 

Team Captains are Gene Ziebach at eziebach3@aol.com or by phone 334-618-3624, and Lewe West at lwscotland@hotmail.com or by phone 334-333-3125. 

Our Mission:

Our mission will be to share the Gospel and our worship of God with the people of El Plan, Cortes.

Agenda (Tentative): 

Medical and Dental Clinic will be conducted Monday through Thursday at the HBDM Clinic. The Medical Team may make house calls to treat those who cannot travel to the compound.

Small children will participate in Bible School activities, Monday through Wednesday at Monte Templo Iglesia, El Plan. 

Youth will participate in a Sports Clinic, Monday through Wednesday at a nearby Soccer field in El Plan.

Our evangelism unit will engage in daily Door to Door Evangelism in nearby communities (TBD), Monday through Thursday. We will share Christ, Bibles, and distribute needed food commodities such as rice and beans. 

Our teen "Girls Growing in God’s Grace" program and a teen "Boys Christian Leadership and Integrity Program" will take place on Thursday. 

Team Composition: 

Team membership is open to the first 35 team members to confim their intent to go. The team is open to all interested in International Missions, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, our worship of our Lord, and helping those in need of the humanitarian services we will provide.

Base:

We will work through the Honduras Baptist Dental Mission (HBDM) in El Plan, San Manuel, Cortes. The organization is a well-established ministry that hs had a presence in Honduras for 40 plus years. The HBDM Compound will serve as the team's base of operations.

The HBDM has its U.S. headquarters in Collins, Mississippi. You may visit their website at www.medicaldental.org.

Honduran Travel Requirements:

Passports must be valid and have six months validity left after departure from Honduras on October 8th. Honduras does require payment of an exit tax upon departure, but this tax is now included in each airline ticket.

Cost for the Trip:

Team Fee – $1,000

This fee includes accommodations at the mission compound, transportation in Honduras, all but a couple of meals and snacks. Meals and snacks such as airport meals and those during free time away from the compound are at team member expense. These times are minimal.

Team members can confirm their place on the team with their plane ticket purchase or payment of their team fee. The fee can be paid lump sum or in installments. The total fee is due no later than  September  1st as we must submit payment to the Honduras Baptist Dental Mission in Collins, Mississippi three weeks out of departure. 

Please note that in addition to the fee team members will pay or purchase their own plane tickets (Information is found in the Transportation Section below). Presently the estimated main cabin airfare out of Atlanta for the dates of our trip, flying direct to San Pedro Sula is $615. 

The approximate total cost of the team fee and estimated plane fare is $1,615  which is consistent with other teams of this type and accommodations provided. This may vary, more or less, depending on a team members airport of origin. 

Payment of team fees and airfare can be made to HHIM,  914 Cormack Street, Sulphur, LA 70663 or paid through the HHIM PayPal link on the donation page of HopeHereMinistries.org.

Checks to First Baptist Church Enterpise (FBCE) can be made to FBCE and mailed to Dr. West at 8 Indigo Place, Enterprise, AL 36330 or to the church.

Insurance:

Team members will have Short-Term Mission Trip Insurance through Gallagher. It is provided by the Honduras Baptist Dental Mission.

Climate:

Typical conditions in the El Plan/ San Pedro Sula area in October are in the 90s during the day. It may drop into the mid 70s at night. 

Typically, October has the second most rain of any month. The rainy season runs from June through December. 

Language:

The native language of course is Spanish. We will have translators available and usually some team members are fluent in Spanish.

Dress: 

Honduras is generally warm and tropical at sea level (El Plan). Cool and comfortable clothing is a must.

Generally, you should dress modestly. During the day or when out in the village, capris, slacks, or skirts (scrubs if working in the Medical/ Dental Clinic) are a good choice for women. Men should wear khakis, blue jeans, or shorts. Please, no tank tops, men or women. For church services men usually wear long pants and casual shirts. Women may wear casual dresses, long pants or skirts and blouses. Be sure to have a good pair of walking shoes.

Team Registration:

Each Team Member will submit an application, a medical form and a copy of his or her passport before the trip. Team members under the age of 18 will need a form signed by both parents. Paperwork and copy of your passport should be submitted as soon after confirming your participation as possible, but no later than September 1st.

Phone Service/ Wi-Fi:  

Cost and coverage depend on your carrier. Check rates and international programs offered by your carrier.

Wi-Fi at the mission compound in El Plan is typically good. 

Be sure to disable data before boarding the plane for San Pedro Sula. Do not use data in Honduras. It is very expensive.

Health Tips:

It is suggested team members should be up to date on their tetanus shots. None other are required.

As in any tropical environment plan to take precautions against mosquitos as they can carry many problems. Team members are encouraged to use at least three levels of mosquito prevention. This includes a spray, lotion, patches, bracelets, or other method. 

Sunscreen is advised even in the mountains, but especially at sea level. Always remember to use sunscreen first and insect repellent over it. Preventative medication for malaria prevention is optional but will be available by request in Honduras when you arrive.

The Honduras Baptist Dental Mission requires each team member have their own wide-mouth water bottle for refilling from coolers. You may bring your own or purchase one at the Mission compound.

Honduran Nationals:

In Honduras we will work with Honduran Nationals who are on the mission staff, including those that are hired to support our operations, student translators, as well as those we will serve. Please note that most are bilingual or have a limited knowledge of English. Be careful not to say things in your private conversations that might be misunderstood by nearby Hondurans.

Team members who have been to Honduras on prior trips usually have made friends with local Hondurans. The Honduras Baptist Dental Mission has a policy that team members should be careful not to invite or encourage non-team or non-staff friends to remain in areas where we work after hours, to enter the compound, travel with the team, or be part of team fellowship activities. Any exceptions must be approved by the Mission Missionary Staff.

HHIM-FBCE understands the policy helps prevent issues the Missionary Staff must deal with. HHIM-FBCE will comply strictly to all policies of the HBDM and expects its team members to do so.

Team Meetings/ Devotionals/ Quiet Time:

We will have devotion times before breakfast each morning. We will have a share session on Thursday night.

We like to give team members desiring to lead a devotional the opportunity to do so. If you would like to volunteer for a devotional, please let us know. Contact Gene Ziebach at eziebach3@aol.com.

Room Accommodations:

The Team House at the El Plan compound has space to sleep 24 lady team members and 24 men. Quarters for the ladies and for the men have two rooms each accommodating 12 in each room. The rooms have air-conditioning and ceiling fans. Bed linens, a blanket, and a pillow are provided.

Showers and restroom facilities connect the two ladies’ quarters and the two men’s quarters. Showers have hot water. Towels and wash cloths are provided.

There are a couple of houses on the property which may house families or couples. These are available at an additional fee. Use of these facilities are at the discretion of HHIM and FBCE.

Meals:

Sat. 9/28 – Breakfast and Lunch on your own. (Travel Day.) Dinner at the compound in El Plan.

Sun. 9/29– Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the El Plan compound.

Mon. 9/30 - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the El Plan compound.

Tue. 10/1 - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the El Plan compound.

Wed. 10/2 - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the El Plan compound.

Thu. 10/3– Breakfast and Lunch at the El Plan Compound. Dinner will at a the Compound follwed by a share time.

Fri. 10/4– Breakfast at the El Plan Compound. Lunch on your own. (Travel Day.)

While in Honduras please avoid locally prepared foods, water, and so forth unless you are sure it is safe. The HBDM Staff will guide us on this. Don’t think you will lose weight while in Honduras. The mission staff does an awesome job in keeping team members fed.

Domestic Ground Transportation:

The only domestic transportation required is your ride to your airport or rendeavous point.

Flight Information:

The team will travel on Delta Airlines and depart from Atlanta. The outbound flight will be DL1782 departing at 9:45 A.M. (Eastern) and arriving in San Pedro Sula at 11:09 A.M. (Honduran).

The return flight will be DL1805 departing at 12:34 P.M. (Honduran) and arriving in Atlanta at 6:07 P.M. (Eastern).

Team members whose flight originates in other airports should connect with DL1782 the morning of September 28.

Occasionally it is necessary that a team member travel on an airline other than Delta. This is okay. However, the team member should choose a flight with an arrival and departure time close to the designated team flight schedule.

As of  June 17, 2024, the price for a seat in Main Cabin was $615 out of Atlanta. This is a very good price. Team members who have already committed or planning to commit should consider buying now as pricing is uncertain going forward due to fuel considerations and eventually seat availability.

Honduran Churches:

We plan to participate in evening worship services at the Templo Monte Sinai Sunday through Wednesday evenings while in El Plan. We will work and fellowship with Pastor Alexander Reyes and church members during our visit to El Plan. HHIM has a long-standing relationship with this church, and we have many friends there.

Fuente de Agua Viva is a children’s Bible school located in the community of Regalo de Dios just a short distance from the compound in El Plan. We will visit the Bible school one afternoon (Sunday) to deliver Bible Study materials and gifts to the kids. 

Ministry Supplies:

HHIM and FBCE will supply materials and equipment used on the trip and a portion of this is covered in your team fee. However, like on any mission trip donations are much appreciated and helpful. Often others inquire of team members as to how they can help.

HHIM/ FBCE asks that should team members feel led it would be most appreciated if they encourage their Church, Men’s Brotherhood, WMUs, other organizations, or people to help with certain team expenses. These things include:

Bibles and Evangelism literature. (We buy in Honduras from the mission.)

1. $60 buys approximately 24 Bibles. We will need approximately 800 Bibles. 

We want to give both full Bibles and New Testaments. (We buy in Honduras)

2. Gospel tracts given to adults. Need 500. Cost is $6.50 per 50.  (We buy in Honduras)

Food Commodities used in Door-to -Door Evangelism. (The mission in Honduras arranges for local purchase.)

3.  Rice and Beans. 100 lb. bags. Approximately $80 per 100 pounds. We portion them in quart food storage bags, and they are given away at each home we visit. We will visit communities near El Plan. Total of 400 pounds of each used in Door-to-Door Evangelism. (We buy in Honduras)

Children’s and Clinic Giveaways. (To be carried to Honduras)

4.  To be determined for Children’s Church. Approximately 150 kids participated on our last visit.

5. Gift to each teen girl and boy attending the programs. 25 girls and 25 boys.

6. Cost of the Med Clinic. Typically, this involves purchase of meds at the Mission Compound Pharmacy and fees for Honduras Doctors and Dentists.

7. Gifts for the kids at Fuente de Agua Viva to be determined.

Other:

8. Needs for other items may arise or you may have something you feel would be of value to share with the Hondurans we work with. Please inquire.

HHIM-FBCE appreciates any support individuals, groups, and churches make to the mission trip effort. HHIM is a 501c3 organization and tax receipts will be provided if we have a name and address of the donor.

Emergency Contact Number:

011-504-9763-1527 John Ward. (Dial the numbers as they appear. Do not add any additional 1s or 0s in front of the numbers).

Other:

A team member manual available from the HBDM is available on their website, or we can forward you a copy. It includes good general information you should note. Some information may not be applicable for serving out of the El Plan but is directed for teams serving in La Esperanza or other mountain locations. Nonetheless you will find information that will help you prepare.

Honduras Baptist Dental Mission website – www.medicaldental.org

HHIM website - www.hopehereministries.org 

Hope Here International Ministries is on Facebook

HHIM Honduras Mission Trip, October 2022 is on Facebook