Dear St. Francis Assisi Parish, Scott and Ellen,

On behalf of International Samaritan (formerly known as Central American Ministries – CAM) and the garbage dump community of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, we graciously thank St. Francis Assisi for you generous donations of school supplies, children’s clothing, vitamins, toothbrushes, and formula.  Your generous support has helped to feed and clothe the desperately poor children whose parents scavenge for food and recycled materials inside the local garbage dump.  The formula will provide an excellent source of vitamins and minerals essential young children’s health.  The director and day care workers at the nursery are overwhelmed by the quantity of anti-lice medication that they now have available for the children at the nursery. 

Here are pictures which include photos of the children and donations being made at the International Samaritan School and Nursery.  We hope that you enjoy them.

 Again, thank you very much for your support serving the poorest of the poor.   Sincerely,  Andrew Pawuk

Mary Wakefield and Cherie Holodnick of St. Francis Parish had the life-changing opportunity to participate in a medical mission to San Pedro Sula, Honduras  with Central American Ministries (CAM).

From September 17-21 they traveled with a group of nineteen on the first CAM sponsored medical mission for  the children of the Escuela Republica  de Mexico school  in the village of Ocotillo, a community of about 5,000 people on the outskirts of the city.

Rita Kieras introduced Central American Ministries to the members of St. Francis after her mission trip to Guatemala City last year.  CAM was founded by Father Vettese, a Jesuit priest from Detroit.  This not-for-profit organization is devoted to improving living conditions for people living in garbage dumps in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras by providing housing, education, health care and micro-loans.

The families in this village earn their living by sorting through the garbage for recyclables or other items that they can sell.  The average daily wage for their efforts is about 2 Lempira, or 40 cents.  Their homes are made of corrugated tin and other materials they find in the dump. There is no running water or flushing toilets.  Most cooking is done outside over open fire pits.  Electricity is supplied to the area but few families are able to afford the luxury.

During the three days of the clinic the group provided medical and dental care for the children of the school and their families.  Over 1000 people were evaluated, countless teeth were pulled and 100 glasses and multitudes of medications and vitamins were dispensed.  Due to the limited time and lack of supplies only simple medical care was provided.  At least for a short time their sufferings were eased, their concerns met and they knew they were not alone in this world.

A group from St Francis is planning a trip in April .  (There are also plans for another medical mission later next year in September.) 

Whatever your abilities, there is something you can do, are you being called to do “small things with great love”?
 

Help continue our St. Francis Parish connection with CAM and San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in APRIL .   Call 734-821-2121 or see details and our sign-up page here at: stfrancisa2.com/socialministry/cam/

As part of a volunteer service core we opened our hearts to something totally out of our “box” and witnessed that the Holy Spirit does work in wondrous ways.   Cherie Holodnick & I, Mary Wakefield, had an opportunity of a lifetime, traveling to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, thanks to Rita Kieras introducing us to CAM’s Mission of serving the “least of God’s people” (who live in garbage dump squalor) through housing, education, nutrition, child care counseling & other human services.

This trip was the FIRST Medical Mission CAM sponsored at its School in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.   The school serves 500 children, between its infant center and grades K-6 school whose parents make a living recycling from San Pedro Sula’s garbage dump. The city government worked with us to accomplish this service by their presence and Spanish interpretation. We were a group of 19 ages 23-78 and served 1000 individuals. 

Thanks to donations of time, talent and goods, we ran a basic dental and health clinic. There were 2 dentists and assistants, 3 physicians and assistants who offered basic health care, eyeglass assessment needs and a pharmacy. Cherie & I ran the “intake” portion of the clinic, getting vital signs and the primary problem that each individual had. THANKS to various donations of medicines and eyeglasses this was accomplished over a 3-day clinic held at the children’s school.  This school along with the nursery down the dirt road helps keep the children from having to go to the DUMP while their parent’s work. 

CAM is offering another opportunity to continue our connection in APRIL 2009 & 2010, etc... to build a needed play structure at the school.   Call 821-2121 or see details and our sign-up page here at: stfrancisa2.com/socialministry/cam/

This past trip (Sept 2008) helped affirm how our Ann Arbor community is connected in the global worldview. As we prepare to “Make room for the stranger” in these tough economic times, let us remember the people of the San Pedro Sula dump community. We will never forget their priceless warmth with so little material wealth.

On this picture note the space where the play structure would go.  On the next picture below, please see the type of play yard currently available outside of the school yard (playing in the trash).

Above is the type of play yard currently available outside of the school yard (playing in the trash).