CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY 

SUMMER MISSION TRIP

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

May 14-21, 2007

A team of five Christopher Newport University students, one professor, and a gentleman from New Hampshire joined together for a week mission trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  The team worked in three centers: Casitas Kennedy, 21st October, and Rebirth.  A birthday party was thrown to celebrate the lives of all the children in Casitas Kennedy on the team's last day.  A piñata, cake, candy and soda were provided by the team for the kids to enjoy.  One day at 21st October, the team helped the boys construct and decorate picture frames and then a photo of each boy was taken and give to the boys to put in their frames.  At Rebirth Detention Center, the team enjoyed playing soccer and basketball with incarcerated gang members and also cheering on non-gang juvenile inmates during a soccer tournament. Upon return home, all team members requested doing another trip next year with the same team plus each person bringing a friend or family member.
"One of our most blessed experiences during the trip was the day Charlie accepted Christ.  One afternoon at 21st October after making picture frames with the boys, our team had the opportunity to invest time and prayer into one particular young man.  Charlie was asked if he knew what Jesus had done for him on the cross.  He said "No, but I would like to know."  So three of our team members and a translator took Charlie aside and answered his questions about Jesus.  That afternoon he accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.  An hour later, he was told by orphanage personnel that his mother was coming to pick him up from the center the next day!  Later that week we saw Charlie and his Mom walking down a sidewalk together in town. We were overjoyed to see him outside of the orphanage walls and reunited with his mother." - Jennifer Dierberger		Team member Lindsey Devore said, "All of the centers had a huge impact on me, but I think Rebirth probably had the greatest. Being able to look past some of the things the boys had done and just being able to see them for who they really are, just regular boys who like to play sports and have fun, was an eye and heart opening experience." Team co-leader Brandi Buisset said, "This trip completely changed my heart.  I have not had an experience like this ever in my life.  I can't wait to go back."  She returned just two months later in August for a 10 day trip.

 

Team: Dr. Joseph Prud'homme, Melissa Medlen, Jennifer Dierberger, Brandi Buisset, Lindsey Devore, Valerie Paquette, John Daly