Building a Better Honduras

Roots

The roots of this ministry go back to a 2004 mission trip to Cedeno, Honduras on the Pacific coast.  There Millbrook members developed a relationship with Pastor Jose Rodas, who served as our driver and interpreter while we helped finish construction of Sunday School rooms.  We were deeply moved by the dismal condition of family housing and upon our return home, began looking for ways to make things better. By way of Pastor Jose, we worked with Habitat International-Honduras in 2006, purchasing a plot of land and helping build five Habitat homes in Siguatepeque, Comayagua, Honduras. Later, in 2008, while Debbie Crumpler was in Honduras for the baptism of her Godson (Jose’s grandson), Pastor Jose arranged for her to meet the Mayor and Vice Mayor of San Nicolas Municipality (county), Copan.  They shared their vision of what could be done in the San Sebastian barrio (village) with Debbie and Building a Better Honduras was born. Since that humble beginning, teams have now completed or started 60 homes as of August 2023 in multiple barrios and towns around the San Nicolas Municipality, which has impacted 270 individuals. San Nicolas covers an area of 75 sq. kilometers and is home to almost 9,000 residents, nearly a third of which are age 14 or younger. Take a look back at our past 15 years in Honduras.

Homes

The physical effort and money donated toward this mission is multiplied as much as 3-fold, as the municipality of San Nicolas provides land, labor and logistical assistance.  Most of the homes have been built on land owned by the municipality in an area known as San Sebastian, which has since developed into a community unto itself.  Typically, a single-family home costs $4000 t0 $4500, depending on terrain, and duplexes cost $6000.  We estimate the final value with the land and municipality contributions added to be $12,000 to $15,000 per house. This means every dollar donated generates $3 of value and investment going into the local economy.

Recipients

Upon completion the home is deeded to the youngest child in the household and cannot be sold until that individual reaches 18 years of age.  All that is expected of the new homeowner is to provide sweat equity.  Past recipients continue to pitch in with new construction every year as they welcome new neighbors.  In 2018 the families of San Sebastian cleared off an area for church worship services.   Again, this project does not simply build houses but as houses became homes, those homes became a community!

Community Benefits

In addition to creating homes, Millbrook contributions have also played a role in connecting San Sebastian to the public sewer and water systems which further insures healthier living conditions for the community.  In recent years, the team has been involved in building some of the homes outside of San Sebastian in situations where the family had access to their own property, usually shared with other family members.  We have also been involved with providing solar power to remote locations off the power grid and with getting electricity to a remote health clinic.

Collaboration

This mission coordinates efforts with the Dorcas sewing ministry at Millbrook, who, over the course of the year, sews children’s clothing to be distributed to children of families receiving homes. In some cases, this will be the child’s only new clothing they will ever receive.  Other MBC and external contributors have given funds for school supplies, shoes, hygiene kits, vitamins, and medical supplies.

In past years a Chicago donor has provided support for cleaner burning stoves for the homes and contributed toward labor costs.  Additionally, other churches consistently contribute to this project as part of their mission efforts.  It should be noted that participants cover their own expenses, so every dollar contributed goes into the project without the overhead and administrative costs usually associated with similar endeavors.

Donations

Donations are accepted year-round and, if interested, you can join the team for the next trip. You do not have to be a member of Millbrook to donate or to join the team. The work is hard, but the experience will be as life changing for you as it is for the families we assist.

 Year-by-Year Summaries

2008

In 2008 we were introduced by Jose Rodas to an opportunity to partner with a local municipality, San Nicolas de Copán in Honduras. The municipality had land set aside for homes to be built for the neediest residents of the community and were looking for churches and other charitable organizations that could provide materials and labor. Jose serves as the construction supervisor, translator, historian, and provides transportation for the group.

2009

In 2009, a team of 5, including 2 from Millbrook, travelled to San Nicholas for 10 days to build a house for Rosa. Rosa is a single mother with 5 children who were ages 2 to 13, who were all living with her sister, Margarita, and her 3 young children in a three room structure with 3 walls and dirt floors. Rosa’s new home consists of a 380 square foot cinder block house with 2 bedrooms, a bath and combination kitchen/living room. Both Rosa and her children worked alongside the volunteers every day to put in their required sweat equity.

2010

In 2010, another team returned to San Nicholas for an 11 day trip to work on a home for Margarita, Rosa’s sister. Margarita worked alongside the volunteers working on her new home with help from Rosa and Rosa’s sons. The team learned that the home where Rosa and Margarita had been living was about to be torn down because it had been built on government land in the path of a new highway under construction.

2011

In 2011, the team returned to San Nicholas to build a house for Maria and her 2 sons, one of whom is disabled. Because Maria was employed and was not able to provide the required sweat equity, she paid the salary of one Mason in exchange. In an act of community spirit, Margarita, Rosa, and Rosas sons helped with the construction of Maria’s home. Additionally, local high school students spent two mornings volunteering with the construction. We were able to distribute dresses and shirt and shorts sets made by Millbrook’s Dorcas Sewing Ministry to the children in the community.

2012

In 2012, we made another successful trip to San Nicolas in August. A combination of great weather, the trust relationships built up over the years, and lots of good luck, we were able to fully construct a home for a husband, wife and daughter. The family told us they had dreamed of this for a long time and often thought it could never happen. Again the prior recipients chipped in every day to help another family join their community as fellow neighbors. We also distributed numerous clothing items sewn by our Dorcas Sewing Ministry and brought smiles to children throughout the community with additional donated items.

2013

In 2013, the team traveled to the San Nicolas, Copan community to build another two homes for families selected by the municipality. These homes were a duplex, which saves building materials by sharing a common wall, rook and part of the foundation. One family of six lived in a one room dwelling without running water, electricity or toilet with family income averaging $15 per week. The second faimly consisted of a single mom and three children, one of whom has respiratory problems, attempting to survive on $20 or less per week. Clothing created by the Dorcus sewing ministry was distributed to many children.

2014

In 2014, the team traveled in August to San Nicolas and two homes were constructed. One family was a single mother with 4 children, ages 3 to 11. The mom earns about $6 per week making fireworks. The second family was a single mother with 6 children. This was a particularly tragic situation, in that the lady’s first husband was murdered and the lady’s second husband, a policeman, was also murdered, leaving her with 6 children to support. The mom is providing for her family by selling used clothing, from which she earns about $5.50 per week. The Dorcus sewing ministry worked the full year prior to the trip, sewing 50 dresses and 50 shorts & t-shirt sets, which were distributed to the children.

2015

In 2015, the team returned to San Nicolas in July to construct 3 homes, which is the largest number of homes constructed in a single year. Although not completed with the team left, the houses will be completed by local labor within a few weeks. This brings the total constructed to 12 homes. One family of 6 children, ranging in age from 10 months to 15 years, led by a single mom will occupy half of a duplex (19’ x 19’). The mom has a weekly income of about $6.85 from washing and ironing cloths and selling oranges. The other half of the duplex (also 19’ x 19’)will be occupied by a single mom with two children. The mom earns about $9.00 per week doing household chores and working as a farm laborer. The third home is occupied by a single mom with 2 children. This mom makes about $12 per week as a maid. The Dorcus sewing ministry, as in years past, began sewing cloths for the 2015 trip as soon as the team left in August 2014 and 82 dresses and 50 shorts & t-shirt sets were distributed to the children.

2016

In 2016, the team arrived in San Nicolas in August to begin the construction of 6 homes (3 duplexes), a significant increase in the number of homes constructed in a single year. These homes will provide a safe and clean environment for 13 adults and 18 children, the youngest being 18 months and the oldest a grandmother of many years. This year the team was bolstered by Reah Foster from Rogers, Arkansas. Reah’s church, New Hope Assembly of God, has financially supported this mission from the beginning. The Dorcus Sewing Ministry provided 85 sets of dresses, shorts and tops, which were distributed to those in the community. Please open the 2016 report to the church (link located on this page) to see pictures of each family and the children who received clothing from the Dorcus Sewing Ministry.

2017

In 2017, a team of 6 traveled to San Nicolas in August to begin construction of 5 homes. Three homes were single family homes at two locations in San Nicolas, perhaps a mile from the construction of last year. Homes 4 and 5 are in a duplex adjacent to the homes constructed last year. This year, in addition to the Dorcus Sewing Ministry providing 78 dresses, shorts and tops, 60 school sets (2 composition books for high school students, 3 composition books for elementary students), 27 dental and personal hygiene kits, and 20 pairs of shoes were distributed. Of particular note this year was the improvements in living conditions in the houses constructed in prior years. The team observed that in the small (about 4 feet space) around the homes, some homes now had a chicken or two and a few had planted banana trees, thus the folks are continuing to build a better life, thanks in part to the generosity of those who have given in prior years. It is notable that with the work of this year, more than 100 people have a home. Please open either the 2017 report to the church or the report of each family in their home.

2018

In 2018, a team of 5 traveled to San Nicolas in August with the goal of building 5 duplexes for 10 families.  The municipality had chosen to select 8 families who owned or had family members with property on which to build 8 individual houses away from the primary site in San Sebastian.  There was more to the surprise as most were at or nearing completion.  Most notably, one of the homes was for one of our mason’s helpers who had worked with us during every one of our prior nine trips. In addition to clothing provided by Dorcas, clothing was purchased locally for older children and adolescents, proactive medication was distributed and school supplies were purchased for and distributed to school age kids.  When we visited San Sebastian, we found that the community Millbrook has helped to build had cleared off space with lighting in order to conduct church services in their immediate neighborhood.  This brings the total of persons with homes to 135 among 31 households.

2019

In 2019, the group was finally able to fulfill our original 2018 goal of 10 houses in one year! Four workers attended and we participated in finish work on the last of the single family dwellings in multiple areas. Most were completed or nearly completed upon our arrival. As a result, 26 adults and 21 children now have adequate housing. Families ranged from 1 to 7 children with an average income of just over 2000 lempira or just under $100 monthly income. In addition to distributing children's clothing made by the Dorcas Ministry, clothing items for teenage family members were purchased locally and each family received a 5-gallon bucket of shelf stable food items.

2020

In 2020, the pandemic ground normal activities to a halt throughout Honduras. All travel into the country stopped initially then travelers had to quarantine 14 days upon arrival. Internal travel was limited to two persons per vehicle on specific days for essentials only. This made it impossible for a team to travel to and work within the country. On top of the pandemic, Honduras was hit by back to back hurricanes resulting in severe flooding. This catastrophe was responsible for lost lives and enormous property damage. San Nicolas was not spared from the impact.

2021

During 2020, the team stayed in touch regularly via Zoom with San Nicolás Mayor Contreras, Pastor Jose Rodas and our other Municipalidad contacts inside Honduras, especially monitoring the impact of the hurricanes upon the San Nicolás area.

We decided to shift focus in 2021 toward providing replacement housing or repairs for families who lost shelter due to the devastation from the storms, including relocating some families whose homes resided in a floodplain.  In February 2021, we sent funds for four homes for families the Municipality identified as needing assistance due to the storms. See the progress. In August a team of two travelled to San Nicolas to tour the early build and plus work on five additional homes.  This brings out total to 50 homes built.  That was Mayor Contreras’ dream in 2009 that we would build 50 homes!

2022

With vaccination rates climbing, a team of three was able to safely visit to work on another five homes. The team also distributed clothing made by the Dorcas Ministry, along with bucket of shelf stable food products.  The four families consisted of 9 adults, 7 adult children, 8 minor children and one grandchild.

2023

In August a team of eight participated in starting another five houses which impacts 13 adults and 8 children. The team toured the houses begun last year that are now thriving homes.  Food buckets were distributed to the five families receiving houses this year as well as clothing made by the Dorcas Sewing group and other clothing from an additional private donor. Each family received hygiene supplies as well.

2024

People are already expressing interest in going with us next year. Discussions have already begun regarding a trip in mid to late Summer. Reach out to the team for further information about joining us and/or contributing to our fundraising efforts.   You may contact us via email at honduras@millbrookbaptistchurch.org