I hope that you are doing well and making it through this weird winter. It certainly has been a roller-coaster! Well, at least for us, it certainly has been!
As you may know, Sally and I should have been in Honduras for several weeks at this point. We were supposed to start our most recent rotation on 14 Jan. However, we delayed our flight for two weeks due to my knee replacement requiring more therapy time. Then, two days before our rescheduled flight, we had to cancel our plans altogether, due to a situation that arose and requires our attention here in the States.
We do plan to return to Honduras for another rotation there, probably in June. It’s not as early as we planned, but as we know “The mind of a person plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov 16:9). And we trust the Lord’s direction, although at the time we may not understand it at all.
Work at Hands for Jesus Christian School does continue on, even in our absence. We recently shipped a lot of supplies for the school. Those supplies will still get to the school, thank the Lord.
Our newsletter is short this time, due to the drastic change in plans. However, we did want to note that the new school year has begun (it kicks off in February in Honduras). We also have included a “spotlight” article on one of the teachers at Hands for Jesus school. I hope you enjoy reading about Mr Nelson and how he came to be a teacher there.
Please continue to pray for the school: the students, teachers, administrators, and parents of the students. Please also pray that we may return to Honduras soon, as the Lord wills.
Spotlight On: Mister Nelson Cuadras
Mr. Nelson is a teacher at Hands for Jesus Christian School. We interviewed him when we were there this past summer to get to know him better and relate his story to you.
Mr. Nelson started teaching at Hands for Jesus school in 2023. Last year, he taught high school students. This year he is teaching 6th grade. He lives in Guaimaca, about 3 minutes from the school. Mr. Nelson is also the youth leader at his church—Fuente de Bendiciones (Fountain of Blessings)—which he has attended for 23 years.
Mr. Nelson was a student at Hands for Jesus school from 1997-2003, from 1st to 5th grade. At the time, the school was run by Ms. Joyce Carrol, the school’s founder. Ms. Joyce had moved the school from her house to a gas station which she renovated into a schoolhouse. It had only one large room where all the students from all grades met (much like the old one-room schoolhouses in the US).
At school, each student had a space where they studied. The teacher would give the student an assignment and the student worked quietly until they were finished. When a student finished their assignment, they would raise a small US flag that was on their workstation, and the teacher would come check their work. The curriculum was called “School of Tomorrow.”
After 5th grade (which at the time was the highest grade at Hands for Jesus school), Mr. Nelson began attending public school. He returned to Hands for Jesus school as a teacher because he promised Ms. Joyce that he would come back as a teacher and help the community. Mr. Nelson said “I’m really happy to be here because the environment is really nice. Ms. Marilu and Ms. Telma [the school’s directors] are good people and they help us.”
Welcome to the New School Year!
The 2025 school year has begun at Hands for Jesus Christian School! The school year in Honduras typically begins the first week of February.
This year, the school has 275 students. They were welcomed to school with a multi-colored entryway of balloons. The school year began with an assembly where Ms. Telma (the school’s director) welcomed the students and provided information about what they can expect during the new school year.
Hope & Help for Honduras is assisting a total of 43 students. 18 students receive help with their books and registration, and 40 students receive help to cover tuition.
There are eight students who still need help. Please help us to help these children by spreading the word about the good work that Hope & Help is doing and our need for more sponsors.