Mission UpReach NewsletterMUR logo
January 2012
Vol. 5, No. 1
In This Issue
Boot Camp for Leaders
Basketball Camp for Children
Exciting Year Ahead for DESEO
Military Truck Arrives
Greetings!

     We are excited to announce that our $50,000 year end challenge fund, provided by some of Mission UpReach's strong supporters; resulted in just over $50,000 being contributed towards the challenge. That means that we have met our goal and we can take advantage of the challenge funds for the maximum amount.

     We are overwhelmed with gratitude to each and every one of you who has supported this effort through your financial contributions and prayers. We know that this will make a huge impact on our being able to effectively minister throughout the year.

 

Thank you to each of you who prayed for this effort and to those who gave! 

 

 

Phil and Donna Waldron

Mission UpReach

www.missionupreach.com 

Boot Camp
Another successful leadership training "Boot Camp"
phil teaching

Six different members of our Mission UpReach team presented more than 72 hours of teaching and equipping to this group of 25 men from various congregations across the western part of Honduras. These men travel to Santa Rosa and stay in our facility here for the week. They are together for the entire time that they are here. In addition to the knowledge they gain from the classes, they are developing strong, fraternal, ties between them as co-laborers in the Kingdom.

 another boot camp

In order to effectively teach and train them we utilize every conceivable methodology of teaching that we have seen or experienced. Often they are assigned to work in groups to complete specific tasks and then asked to present the results to the entire group. This not only builds their analytical skills but it also prepares them for public speaking and teaching.

 

There is always a lot of lecture and intensive Bible study and teaching that takes place as well. In order to maintain the energy level and attention of the participants there is not one single minute that is left unstructured throughout the seven days they are with us.

 Boot camp

This program is a series of weekly, intensive seminars, three per year, over a period of years that is focused on developing evangelist, preachers, teachers and church leaders from among the rural congregations that are scattered across the western highlands of Honduras. The average education level is fourth grade and almost all of the men that participate, with a few exceptions, are farmers or agricultural workers.

 

We are thankful that this program, which we affectionately call "Boot Camp", has been funded by a couple of generous donors for the fiscal year of 2012. That means that we will be able to realize six weeks of Boot Camp with two different "generations" or groups this calendar year. Overall we have set a goal of training 2,500 men in this program in the coming years.


 

Basketball Camp
Train the trainer camp to kick off youth basketball league
basketball camp 2

Scott Galloway, who lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia; is both a faithful Christian man and master teacher in his field. He spear- headed an effort in the US to help us acquire the equipment we need in order to open a youth sports league, modeled on the UPWARD program. The goal is to teach Christ like character and values using sports as the medium.

basketball camp 

In addition to getting the donations for the equipment we need Scott recruited, Ray Hamm, a retired Basketball Coach from Llano, TX, Charles Sharper, a former University basketball player, from Sandy Springs, GA, and Paul Klerlein, a Chamblee, GA police officer, to come for a week of basketball camp in order to train the "trainers".

We had participation from 96 children between the ages of 9 and 18 in the four-day basketball camp so that we could "learn how to run the sports league".

 

The trainer's efforts were very effective for both orienting us on how we can teach the game of basketball, while sharing about the Lord Jesus, and at the same time effectively run the sports league. Although it was work for us, at the same time it was also a lot of fun for the kids that participated. Look at this boy's face as he shoots the ball into the goal.

boy shooting basket

 

We fully anticipate that adding this basketball league to our public school program (DESEO) in which we conduct devotionals and teach character and value lessons; will result in more children and their families becoming members of the local church. "All things to all men in order to win some"...


 

Note from Donna
Exciting year for DESEO

It looks like it is going to be an exciting year for our DESEO program as we launch into 7 new schools in addition to the 4 we worked in last year.  Adding the basketball league is "icing on the cake" in my opinion.  I am overwhelmed when I think about how God has opened this door of opportunity for us to have an impact on so many young lives.  As I continue to counsel numerous young girls as well as adults whose lives are scarred by the pain of sexual abuse and serial bad choices, I have the hope and vision of early intervention for these young children.  Please be praying for the kick off of our 2012 DESEO program starting the week of February 27th. 

 

Some of you have heard that the U.S. Peace Corps has pulled all its workers from Honduras due to increased danger.  Many have expressed their concern for us as well as the groups that are coming to work with us.  We are constantly monitoring the situation and trust God to lead us to making wise choices.  We have personally not experienced or witnessed any changes in our region and as of yet have had no reason to cancel any scheduled trips for 2012.  Of course, these issues only strengthen our resolve to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us and pray more!

 

 

 


Military Transport Truck
The first of two ex-military transport trucks arrives in Santa Rosa

truck

 


It has been a long process to be able to receive our first of two all-wheel drive, heavy transports that will be used in our ministry to outlying and remote villages. In addition to evangelizing in these communities and planting churches, we carry on a steady ministry throughout the year of medical attention. We still have some hurdles in front of us before we can put this one into service.

 

We hope that by the end of February we will have the modifications made and all of the documentation done. This 5 Ton vehicle and the one still waiting to be brought down are the only way we can reach some of these villages that we work in during the rainy season. They will be used to carry both people as well as medical and construction supplies to and from these villages.  

 

We are still seeking funds to assist us in importing these vehicles and outfitting them for the ministries that they will be dedicated too. If you would like to help in this area with a donation please earmark your check or contribution with a note that says, "For Transports".