Honduras (MNN) ― Wherever International Aid works, community transformation is their goal.
Most poverty-stricken villages need help with hygiene information, supplies, and know how.
IA's Kurt Reppart says they were recently in Honduras finishing work on installing water filters, new stoves and latrines. Short-term mission teams also help with village pharmacies, medical kits and training for local health workers, among other things.
Building a stove that keeps the living area free of smoke, providing water filtration and sanitation, can have big impact on the families.
When not battling water-borne diseases or pulmonary issues, the children are healthy which allows them to remain in school.
Stoves that are more efficient save cooking time and fuel. That translates to money going for better food for the children.
As often happens, when a team arrives in a remote area to being work, word gets around about what is going on. In this case, one thing led to another. Reppart says, "We were working in the next village over, and their village leader, Sylvia, came to us and said, 'We need these projects in our village.' This woman advocated for her community, and as a result of that, we've been able to go into her community and begin working on projects there."
Sylvia's village, Piletas (peeLAYtus), has about 25 homes. The team was able to incorporate her village into some of their projects and will be finishing them in May.
However, it takes more than medicines and bandages to transform mindsets, values, and behaviors.
Reppart says the work often paves the way for ministry. "When we work in one village and are successful, then the leaders of that community go to the next village. That enables us to go to places where other people aren't able to have access. That obviously opens up doors for us to spread the Gospel in places where the local pastor might not be able to reach."
