Every couple of years, church members throughout Weiser raise funds to pave their way to Honduras, sponsored by the Weiser Community Church. The Weiser Wide Mission to Honduras Team has been going strong since 2002, with trips happening about every 2 years. The most recent trip began July 16th, 2021, when the team arrived for an eight-day mission.
Local family medicine physician Lore Wootton, husband John, and daughter Aimee were a part of the mission team as they have been in the past. This year, the team consisted of 10 members, and on past trips they have provided medical care to the people of Honduras. However, due to COVID-19, the team assembled to provide help with construction of two homes and four foundations.
It costs approximately $1,200 per person to fund the mission trip to Honduras every two years, with each member participating in various fundraisers to help. Due to the pandemic restrictions, things have been a little bit different, but the team is grateful for having the opportunity to travel. They have been able to minister and share within two churches and help local families clear space, hand-pour concrete foundations for 4 homes, and build walls and a roof on two homes. Lore explained that these homes are in areas of severe poverty and are not like the homes we have here. They are very basic, small homes that are a real blessing to the families that receive them. Teams are able to assemble houses in just a couple of days! Of the two houses built, the team fully funded one of the homes and two floors.
Lore explained that one of the many reasons they continue to go back to Honduras is to reconnect with the families they have worked with in past years. Over 20 years, they have made friendships with so many local people and they see their children grow. Each year they return, they are able to visit their friends and make new connections as well. Local children sat with Linda Strain to do arts and crafts while the adults worked all day to construct the homes. You can see the joy on the faces of the Honduran people.
Aimee Wootton shared on social media recently, “I cannot begin to explain the impact the people of Honduras have made in my life since my first trip in 2008. Each time I leave Honduras I leave a piece of my heart there with the amazing people I meet. So grateful that I was able to reunite with my Honduran friends this trip.”
Between 10 women and one man on the team, they accomplished a great mission in only 8 days. Lore shared that normally their trips are about two weeks long but they were blessed to be able to travel considering how significant COVID-19 is in Honduras still. The team was also able to go to the City Dump where the poorest of the community lives and they provided food for about 200 people. “God did incredible things in Honduras. Coming home is never easy. We all dread the goodbyes, but sharing our stories with those at home we love makes it worth it,” Aimee shared.
(Photos used with permission from Lore Wootton)
