Mission Honduras Briar Cliff Trip
November 18th – November 25th

A group of Briar Cliff University students and faculty experienced a trip that they describe as a trip they will never forget. The group experienced poverty, malnutrition and people that loved God so much it was unbelievable. On Nov. 18, 2004, 15 Briar Cliff students along with Sister Janet May, O.S.F., and Dr. Jim Redmond, professor of English, traveled to Honduras for eight full days to assist communities in need.

For three days, the group worked from morning until afternoon laying foundation for a fence that would be put up in front of a church. The fence was to protect the church from animals that run loose. The group also helped build the foundation for a building that would house an ambulance. The building was founded by Drew Bickford's family with the memorial money from his deceased father Daniel Bickford. Not only did the group help out with building for the community, they also spent time with children at a malnutrition center and visited an orphanage.

"It was sad to see the malnutrition children," said Kendra Homan, a sophomore psychology major. She went on to say, "I wanted to bring the children home, I felt so bad for them."

Homan said the kids came to life when they were held and played with. It made her feel good.

This was not Homan's first time to Honduras. She had traveled to Honduras when she was a senior at Gehlan Catholic High School in LeMars, IA. She wanted other students to see what she experienced and she wanted Briar Cliff to help a community that needed help.

"I made balloon animals for the children that I met in Honduras,” said Stephen Moore, a sophomore mass communications major. “Kids lined up to get a balloon. The kids were so excited and they wanted to get as many goodies as possible from us," "I loved seeing our students interacting with the children even though they couldn't speak their language," said Sister Janet.

"I was touched with how welcoming, and even though they had very little, they shared everything they had with us," said Sister Janet.

"Going to Honduras is a life changing experience,”said Homan. “Seeing the living conditions and seeing how they depend on God for life, is unbelievable." The first time Homan went to Honduras she was struck by how people in the country had to live in poverty. This times her experience she saw beyond the poverty. "This was a bonding experience all of the Briar Cliff members as we shared and reflected on how we felt and what we saw, we grew together," said Homan.

The Briar Cliff group stayed in a Parish Center in dorms. They were assisted by Sister Val and Sister Barb who showed them around, and helped organize the places they went. They also had Francis Seivert that had been to Honduras nine times before for a tour guide. Richard Seivert from Gehlan Catholic High School in LeMars helped manage the trip.

"I learned American cultures can weave into traditional cultures, even though American cultures are so rapid and fast paced," said Redmond. "In Honduras, it was a little slower passed. Material things are something the people there don't seem to care about."

Moore agreed, "Even though people live in poverty, there is a ton of love in the community, and we felt welcome."

Redmond said, "They felt pretty safe because there were guards standing around in case there were any problems."

Although the trip was filled with work, the group did have some time for free time including walking in the mountains, playing soccer in the village and sitting in the garden. "There was also reflection time for the group to get together and share their experiences of the day with the group," said May.