The Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras 2022 team prepared for departure by meeting in Gehlen’s back gym on Sunday, March 13, for “packing day.” Missioners, family members, and friends filled 72 black duffle bags with as much donated materials as possible, making sure each one weighed 49 pounds. Many Honduran families would happily receive the donated items that the missioners delivered to them during the mission trip.

The special Send-Off Prayer Service, held on March 15, gave the school and family members a chance to “send out” the missioners to begin their actual mission work. Every Send-Off is special in its own way, although each one includes special songs by the choir, a PowerPoint showing of the previous mission trip, and a chance for every student to touch the duffle bags as they are carried to the bus. The missioners understand that, although just a select few are able to go to Honduras, it takes hundreds of people’s donations, prayers, and financial support to make the mission trip a success.

On Wednesday, March 16, the missioners woke at 3 AM, grabbed some breakfast, and headed to the airport. Once everyone carried the duffle bags into the airport and received boarding passes, they headed through security and waited anxiously at the gate. Though many were somewhat nervous, all were excited to begin their actual mission trip after months of preparation.

The team landed in Comayagua and began the tedious task of going through customs and immigration, which was much more stringent post Covid. All the duffle bags were searched and finally released so we could load them into the military transport truck before boarding the bus for the curvy ride to Nueva Capital. The final leg of the journey took us back and forth, up the side of a mountain until reaching our final destination of Santa Maria de Jesus Escuela in Nueva Capital, our mission team home for the next ten days. This school is run by an organization called ACOES. Fr. Patricio and Fr. Alvaro, missionary priests from Spain, are in charge of the organization. If possible, the team gets to meet with one or both of them to share what we are doing and to hear what they do in Honduras.

For the final time on this trip, the duffle bags were carried into the school so the bags could be emptied and all materials sorted for distribution to families. Everyone also received a mattress and a pillow, sleeping quarters were assigned, and the school rooms that had been assigned to the team were organized. Before supper Bruce had the team members sorting and stacking all the wood so that we could begin working on the houses in the morning. After supper the team met for their first “junta.” The junta is a daily meeting that gives the missioners a chance to share their experiences while in Honduras and to process the day. Shortly after that, everyone headed to bed after a very long day of travel and work.

This year’s team includes adults Carolyn Bickford (team leader), Fr. Travis Crotty, Michelle DeLarm, Tim DeLarm, Pat Jones, Bruce Kellen (construction leader), Chris Kessenich, Steve Larson, Mel Lehmann, Joe Morris, Steve Mousel, Anne Oloff, John Peters, Linda Reichle, John Smith, Matt Steeg, Juan Uribe, Jason Wendt, and Dennis Zubrod. The students are Emma Bogen, Olivia Bunkers, Logan Dreckman, Virginia Freking, Maci Gravenish, Kadden Groepper, Jordyn Harpenau, Jack Kessenich, McKenzie Larson, Dylan Lehmann, Ryan Livermore, Trevor Morris, Madi Mousel, Maria Russell, Evan Steeg, Brynn Wendt, and Hannah Zubrod.

Juan woke all team members with the morning song of the day (as he would every day of the trip) on day two in Honduras. After breakfast Bruce gave out work assignment directions, and the team headed out. Team members loaded enough wood for the day into the military transport truck and headed for the work site. Other members began emptying the duffle bags and sorting the donated materials.

We had the opportunity to meet the three ladies who would soon have their own homes. House one would go to Berta, who has a daughter with cerebral palsy. Marcia would receive house two. She has two children who attend Santa Theresa. House three would go to Elsa, who has two children and two grandchildren living with her. The three ladies pitched in to help in any way that they could.

Every day of the mission trip, except Sunday, the missioners will spend at least part of a day working on the three homes. The wood needed for the day is loaded onto a military transport truck at the school. The wood is then unloaded, measured, and cut into the lengths needed to frame the houses. It is amazing to see how fast the three homes will become a reality for the Honduran families who await them.

All missioners take a turn sorting the donated materials we carried into Honduras. Before the team’s arrival, the school chose the families who will receive the trash bags (We call them gift bags.) of donated items. Many of those gift bags are delivered to the homes of families most in need of them. The bags that cannot be delivered are given to a family member at the school.

Forty beds were built and given to the families receiving homes, as well as many other families whose children may be sleeping on dirt floors. Our mattresses and sheets were given away with the beds so those children can sleep on a comfortable bed for the first time in their lives.

On Sunday we attended Mass at the Basilica de Suyapa, named for the patron saint of Honduras. It is a beautiful church. Fr. Travis Crotty celebrated Mass in Spanish, though he did recite some of the homily in English for our benefit. We also took time to tour the original church and light candles for our departed loved ones, kind of a Spanish ritual.

We then departed for Valle de Angeles (Valley of the Angels) to have dinner and do our souvenir shopping. Everyone looks for the perfect gifts for their families, and a souvenir or two for themselves.

Back at the compound Juan had lined up a friendly soccer game of Honduras vs. the United States. He supplied team jerseys and donned his referee gear. Everyone else cheered their favorite team, and though the Honduras won – as usual – everyone celebrated a great time. Team photos were taken, and in a show of solidarity, the teams exchanged jerseys.

The next few days passed in a flurry, as the final walls were put into place, all those walls – inside and out – were painted, and Juan’s roofing crew put the tin roofs into place. Some missioners helped the families to begin the arduous task of moving rocks to level the yards for the pilas and latrines, which will be built later. For their final task, all student missioners were divided into teams to “decorate” the houses for the families. They built tables, shelves, and benches, hung curtains, and added their own creative touches.

Though the missioners worked extremely hard during their mission trip, they also formed some lasting friendships with the children in Honduras. The Honduran children loved giving hugs to their new American friends. And anyone who is on the school grounds between 7 AM and 5 PM will probably receive several individual and group hugs.

The final full day in Honduras was an emotional day for everyone. The team and families met outside the homes, and Fr. Crotty led everyone in a house blessing. Marta Sosa, our Honduran contact and friend, read through each family’s agreement and each mother was given the keys to her family’s home.  It is difficult to describe the emotional impact this has on the families and the missioners. Though the 3-room houses are only 20’ x 20’ and have a concrete floor with two doors and two windows, each family views their house as a beautiful home that will change their lives.

The missioners wrapped up their final night in Honduras with a touching junta, filled with mixed emotions. Everyone would like to take home a little Honduran friend and knows they will miss the friendships they made. However, they also look forward to seeing their family and friends at home. They also look forward to sharing their mission trip with all who will listen.

As has become tradition, the missioners leave behind almost everything they carried into Honduras so those items can be distributed to the poor people in Honduras. As the missioners board the bus that will take them to the airport, each one leaves behind a part of his/her heart, knowing they will never be the same. They went to Honduras to change lives and return knowing their lives are the ones that were changed.