July 2009
Here in Honduras, July is typically one that it is very difficult to get a flight - in or out of the country. Most every flight in a typical July is filled with mission groups and others coming to be a part of helping this nation. The reason that the people keep coming back year after year is that most of the folks here appreciate the work and efforts of the visitors from the USA. There are amazing friendships developed between the villagers and the mission teams from the USA. Personally, July 2009 was going to be an amazing month. I had scheduled teams from the 28th of June all the way to the last of the teams departing on August 9. My teams were coming from all over the USA and all of us had planned to make July 2009 an amazing month of work for our Master. Through the month there would have been close to 250 people coming and going - every week from 50 to 85 people would have been here working, building, feeding, teaching, comforting, and serving. We planned to build something like 60 houses, one and maybe 2 school buildings, a small but much needed foot bridge, work on the Santa Katerina feeding center / church plant, feed more than 4,000 families, treat more than 1500 in med/ dental clinics, teach the gospel to many many people.Most of this didn't happen - obviously something jumped in the way and stopped the plan in it's tracks.Everybody following this blog knows that there is a governmental crisis here and that has sent most folks from the USA and the mission groups that come here scrambling for cover. Bringing people here right now just was not a prudent thing so - I cancelled all of the July groups and had to send the end of June group home early. Needless to say, I am not alone. I was in the airport today and there was not another "gringo" there - not one. The lines for the airlines were empty and nobody is coming or going to Honduras this July.I gotta tell you this is a real problem for many of the mountain villages where we work. I was in Nueva Oriental on Saturday and talked to many many of the people that live there and are friends with many Americans. They are so sad that nobody is coming. The community still needs the 30 to 40 houses that the teams would have built there. They still need the food that is desperatly short in many many of the homes there. Nueva Oriental still needs the medical and dental clinics and the people that would normally come to share the gospel. They will really miss the new school building and the bridge that our teams would have built. It is truly sad that a poliitcal mess can do this to the people that the governments are set up to serve.Makes me so sad!Be a blessing to somebody today!Marc
Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
TORCH 2009 NEWS
Dear TORCH,
As you know, there is a mess here in Honduras. On June 28th, the situation became volitile as this small nation made the decision to remove their president Mel Zelaya. Mr Zelaya was doing a number of illegal things and both the Supreme Court and the National Congress approved of the ouster - 100%.
The world has not supported this change and there are factions within the country that continue to cause disturbances - some violent. The US State Department has recommended that US Citicizens not travel to Honduras during this crisis. This advisory continues through the 29th of July.
I would love to be able to tell all of you that none of this makes a difference and we need to move ahead with our July 20 mission. At this time, I just can't. We need to cancel the July 20 - August 2 mission to Honduras. The nation remains unstable, the chance of further problems here remain high, and if those happen, we could see Tegucigalpa and the airport shut down for a much longer period than we have already experienced. Additionally, I am not willing to risk your safety.
We are working with the airlines to determine how refunds, flight credits, etc will work. At this time we just don't know.
I know that some of you would love to say, I am coming any way. At this time, I would encourage you to wait and be patient.
We do have some fall and winter mission opportunities planned and we would gladly move you to some of those groups. Email Terri or me for details on those trips.
You cannot imagine my saddness in making this announcement. Our team is a big part of my life and I have waited as long as possible to make this decision. I am truly sorry that it is necessary.
Be a blessing to somebody today,
Marc Tindall
Ps: People here that depend on groups like ours are still in need of homes and food. Please consider allowing us to utilize the portion of your trip that was to be dedicated to this effort. We will build the houses and distribute the food that would have happened anyway. Thanks for considering this.
As you know, there is a mess here in Honduras. On June 28th, the situation became volitile as this small nation made the decision to remove their president Mel Zelaya. Mr Zelaya was doing a number of illegal things and both the Supreme Court and the National Congress approved of the ouster - 100%.
The world has not supported this change and there are factions within the country that continue to cause disturbances - some violent. The US State Department has recommended that US Citicizens not travel to Honduras during this crisis. This advisory continues through the 29th of July.
I would love to be able to tell all of you that none of this makes a difference and we need to move ahead with our July 20 mission. At this time, I just can't. We need to cancel the July 20 - August 2 mission to Honduras. The nation remains unstable, the chance of further problems here remain high, and if those happen, we could see Tegucigalpa and the airport shut down for a much longer period than we have already experienced. Additionally, I am not willing to risk your safety.
We are working with the airlines to determine how refunds, flight credits, etc will work. At this time we just don't know.
I know that some of you would love to say, I am coming any way. At this time, I would encourage you to wait and be patient.
We do have some fall and winter mission opportunities planned and we would gladly move you to some of those groups. Email Terri or me for details on those trips.
You cannot imagine my saddness in making this announcement. Our team is a big part of my life and I have waited as long as possible to make this decision. I am truly sorry that it is necessary.
Be a blessing to somebody today,
Marc Tindall
Ps: People here that depend on groups like ours are still in need of homes and food. Please consider allowing us to utilize the portion of your trip that was to be dedicated to this effort. We will build the houses and distribute the food that would have happened anyway. Thanks for considering this.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Disorder and Decisions
Here I sit in my home in Santa Ana praying for the peace of the day to continue.
As all of you know, there is unrest in Honduras and the result has been the cancellation of many of the TORCH Teams scheduled for Honduras this summer. We are holding the decision on the MS Team until Friday July 10.
We will need to see the country moving toward settlement of the issues that have created the unrest over the past couple of weeks. I believe that there is a 30 to 40% chance of this happening. I wish it were better than that - it just isn't. We are not going to bring a lot of folks here to work if there is any chance that the peace will not remain.
My heart is aching over this and I know that you too are anxious over the unrest here in Honduras. Please pray for the changes that we need to see so that we can make a smart and safe decision.
Be a blessing to somebody today!
Marc
As all of you know, there is unrest in Honduras and the result has been the cancellation of many of the TORCH Teams scheduled for Honduras this summer. We are holding the decision on the MS Team until Friday July 10.
We will need to see the country moving toward settlement of the issues that have created the unrest over the past couple of weeks. I believe that there is a 30 to 40% chance of this happening. I wish it were better than that - it just isn't. We are not going to bring a lot of folks here to work if there is any chance that the peace will not remain.
My heart is aching over this and I know that you too are anxious over the unrest here in Honduras. Please pray for the changes that we need to see so that we can make a smart and safe decision.
Be a blessing to somebody today!
Marc
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
2009 TORCH Registration
TORCH 2009
This blog area and will be giving you updates on all you need to know about coming to Honduras in 2009. For those of you coming on the July mission - this post will have a registration for the summer trip. This year's mission will run from July 20 to August 2 and there is an option to add a "BONUS" week. The bonus week will have you departing on August 9th. Feel free to send me a note if you are interested in staying for the entire trip. I will gladly work with those of you that can only come for a week.
The cost of the 2 week mission is $1450, staying only one week will reduce the cost to $1350. The cost increase was necessary because everything has gone up. In the past we only paid $600 to $650 for airfare and now we are paying $800 to 900. This years increase will cover your departure fee - which has just gone up to $34.
2009 Registration
July 20 – August 2 (OR August 9)
Cost of trip is $1450.
TORCH MISSIONS
PO 9222
Columbus, MS 39705
Trip Date____________________________
Email address__________________
Name(As on your Passport____________________________
Date of Birth_____________ Age______
Street Address______________________________________________
Home Phone______________________
Cell Phone_____________________________
Social Security Number_______________________
Passport Number_______________________
City Issued_________________________
Date Issued____________________________
Expiration Date_____________________
Are you a Christian? Yes____ No_____
Name of Church youAddress of Church you attend_______________________________________________
Male____ Female____ Adult____ Teen____ Child____ Single____ Married______
If married are husband and wife on the trip together?? Yes_____ No_____
Adults occupation_______________________________________________
Students academic classification & name of school_____________________
Languages you speak____________________________________________
Foreign Countries you have visited_________________________________
Are you in good physical condition? Yes_____ No______
Are you taking prescription medication on a regular basis? Yes____ No_____
If yes, List medications and conditions being treated_______________________________________________________
Allergies_________________________________________________
Adult T shirt size Small_____ Medium_____ Large_____ X Large ______ XXL_____ Signature & Date_____________________________________________
IMPORTANT Everyone traveling must fill out an applicationThis registration is due ASAP & must be accompanied with a $150 deposit. Airfare of $800 is due by May 1 and the balance is due June 30
Your registration also includes a commitment to raise a minimum of $200 that will be used for benevolence work in Honduras.
This blog area and will be giving you updates on all you need to know about coming to Honduras in 2009. For those of you coming on the July mission - this post will have a registration for the summer trip. This year's mission will run from July 20 to August 2 and there is an option to add a "BONUS" week. The bonus week will have you departing on August 9th. Feel free to send me a note if you are interested in staying for the entire trip. I will gladly work with those of you that can only come for a week.
The cost of the 2 week mission is $1450, staying only one week will reduce the cost to $1350. The cost increase was necessary because everything has gone up. In the past we only paid $600 to $650 for airfare and now we are paying $800 to 900. This years increase will cover your departure fee - which has just gone up to $34.
2009 Registration
July 20 – August 2 (OR August 9)
Cost of trip is $1450.
TORCH MISSIONS
PO 9222
Columbus, MS 39705
Trip Date____________________________
Email address__________________
Name(As on your Passport____________________________
Date of Birth_____________ Age______
Street Address______________________________________________
Home Phone______________________
Cell Phone_____________________________
Social Security Number_______________________
Passport Number_______________________
City Issued_________________________
Date Issued____________________________
Expiration Date_____________________
Are you a Christian? Yes____ No_____
Name of Church youAddress of Church you attend_______________________________________________
Male____ Female____ Adult____ Teen____ Child____ Single____ Married______
If married are husband and wife on the trip together?? Yes_____ No_____
Adults occupation_______________________________________________
Students academic classification & name of school_____________________
Languages you speak____________________________________________
Foreign Countries you have visited_________________________________
Are you in good physical condition? Yes_____ No______
Are you taking prescription medication on a regular basis? Yes____ No_____
If yes, List medications and conditions being treated_______________________________________________________
Allergies_________________________________________________
Adult T shirt size Small_____ Medium_____ Large_____ X Large ______ XXL_____ Signature & Date_____________________________________________
IMPORTANT Everyone traveling must fill out an applicationThis registration is due ASAP & must be accompanied with a $150 deposit. Airfare of $800 is due by May 1 and the balance is due June 30
Your registration also includes a commitment to raise a minimum of $200 that will be used for benevolence work in Honduras.
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