UrbanPromise International

Niel Singh from Vancouver, British Columbia reflects on his visit to UrbanPromise Honduras…

Honduras (the country, the cities, the villages), is a mixture of beauty and stark poverty. While sightseeing, we were astounded by the history and complexity of the Mayan ruins, we were stunned by the brilliant colours of the scarlet Macaws, and we still laugh about being chased by a psycho Toucan! The people of Honduras were, without exception, full of character, insight, beauty and treated us with love, care and attention. What a wonderful people.

Spending a few days helping the UP team at Camp Hope in Nueva Esperanza was inspiring. We had so much fun with the kids, wrestling, singing and playing in unknown languages. They would roll their eyes when I couldn’t understand their Spanish, then patiently repeat what they said veerrryyyy sloooowwlly… hoping that I would catch on. We were usually able to figure each other out, and if not, there was always the universal language of smiles.

Spending time with Matt, Rachel and Blair, as well as the teenleaders and the kids – it became clear they have a vision for UrbanPromise in Honduras that is greater than one camp, and even one town. Walking the cobblestone streets of Copan, and the dirt packed streets of Nuevo Esperanza, holding the hand of a young child, looking into trusting and joyful eyes, I am excited to see where these cobblestone streets will lead.

A Franciscan Benediction

“And may God Bless you with enough foolishness

To believe that you can make a difference in the world,

So that you can do what others claim cannot be done

To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen”

-Neil Singh

Visitor and supporter of UPH

I arrived in Honduras on Wednesday, making it out of New Jersey just before the second big snow hit.  Blair and Elias (a local businessman) met me at the airport and we took the 3 hour ride out to Copan Ruinas.  Honduras is a beautiful country.  It’s very green and lush.  The ride to Copan was filled with beautiful scenery.  When I was a child, I liked pretending that if I blinked my eyes, I would take a picture, capturing whatever scene I saw in my memory forever.  On this ride, I wanted to capture a small and simple white home at the top of a small rolling hill with a foggy mountain backdrop.

Arriving in Copan Ruinas, I was impressed by the quaint town with cobblestone roads and colorful buildings.   We unloaded the van and Blair and I headed to a local restaurant to meet Matt and Rachel (these are the three people initiating UrbanPromise Honduras).  It has been great reconnecting with all three of them… great people enthusiastically pursuing their vision for the children of this town.

Since my arrival, I’ve been spending time with Rachel, Matt, and Blair, hearing about their progress since they launched UrbanPromise Honduras last summer and their plans for growth and development.  I was also able to spend time at their AfterSchool program in Nueva Esperanza, a small area bordering Copan Ruinas.  Among my favorite moments:

• Matt and Blair squawking like chickens as they taught the kids a chant called “Pollo Loco”.  You may know the English version, “The Funky Chicken”.
• Rachel engulfing the kids in her hugs and their brilliant smiles that came in response.
• Watching the kids play water games where the object of the games shifts from getting your opponents wet to getting others to soak you as much as possible.
• Pouring a 24 ounce cup of water on Blair’s head to get the kids excited.  They responded with a joyful chant, jumping up and down with their fists shaking.

What’s most exciting to me is to see how the UrbanPromise model is reaching another community and adapting to another culture.   The kids engaged in high-energy games, songs, and activities that stimulate their academic, spiritual, and social growth.  Teens are given responsibility in programs that challenges them to grow into responsible leaders in their community.

I’m excited to see how UrbanPromise Honduras grows and develops over the coming years and am encouraged in the work of UrbanPromise International as we train leaders and launch new ministries.

You can read more about the work of UrbanPromise Honduras on their blog at http://urbanpromisehonduras.wordpress.com/

After taking a break to visit friends and family, our leaders in Honduras are back in Copan Ruinas and gearing up for the school year.   Their summer program was a great success… here’s one of their posts from the end of summer.  For more, visit http://urbanpromisehonduras.wordpress.com/ 

Bruce Main and Messy/Water Day

4 08 2009

Every morning at 6:15am, seven year old Milton begins his 45 minute walk down a steep rocky path toward the small mountain city of Copan Ruinas.  Copan Ruinas—famous for its Myan ruins that provided the foundation of a dynamic civilization built over 2000 years ago—is now famous for its tourism and small coffee plantations.  Milton is a descendant of the Myan people.

At 7:30am our little friend catches a bus at the foot of his mountain that winds through the city’s cobble stone streets and drops him at Camp Joy—UrbanPromise’s first summer day Camp in the country of Honduras. 

Some of you have been watching the political situation in Honduras, which is currently unstable.  Citizens of this wonderful country are nervously watching their televisions.  Although the protests have not reached the city of Copan Ruinas, the impact of the political unrest is devastating.  Tourism, the life blood of this city, has slowed to a mere trickle.  Hotels and restaurants, usually filled during this time of year, are vacant.  People have lost their jobs.  “If it continues much longer,” shared the owner of one coffee shop, “we’ll all be out of business.”  This will drive the area into deeper poverty….which will impact the lives of children.

That’s why programs like UrbanPromise are critical.

Camp Joy has been created by three former UrbanPromise interns—Blair, Matt, and Rachel.  These committed young leaders have a passion to create an UrbanPromise-type ministry for the children and teens of this small city—a city where poverty is high and opportunities for children to engage in life changing, Christian-based programs are non-existent. 

Children like Milton would typically spend their summer sleeping, hanging out in the streets, or doing odd jobs to help support the family.  Now they get a chance to improve their English, learn about the Bible, play games, cook food, sing songs and watch skits.  Their joy is palpable.  Their smiles intoxicating. 

“The potential for this kind of ministry is incredible,” shares director Blair Quinius.  “There is nothing like it for the children in this community.  Parents and community leaders are excited.”

They are not the only people excited.

Otherwise, why would a seven year old named Milton get up before dawn, walk  for 45 minutes to catch a bus, just to come to camp?  Why: because he loves it!