ALUMNI AND FRIENDS BUILDING PROJECT IN HONDURAS 2008 In 2004 Jewell's new campus minister, Jeff Buscher, began a conversation with Dr. Nancy Crigger of WJC's Nursing Department about the need to develop a long-term international mission project. At that time, Dr. Crigger was in her tenth year of coordinating a health care team to Honduras called Brigada de Salud (Health Brigade). Over the years the Brigada grew, particularly in 1999 following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. One key relationship that developed over these years was with a pastor from New York City who had moved to Honduras and founded an orphanage called "Proyecto Alcance," located about an hour inland from the coastal city of La Cieba in the district of Atlantida. Pastor David Romero had great success in establishing a church and purchased a little over six acres on which he offers shelter to homeless women and children. The homes are often little more than lean-to's or sheds. On their first trip in May 2005, Jewell's Campus Ministry program partnered with the Nursing Department and sent nursing students to be a part of the Brigada de Salud. They also sent a construction team to build a home in the colony for Rosa Elvia Monges, who had five children and was living in the one-room structure. Each year since then, Campus Ministry has returned to build another home for a family. The team has also begun to provide a variety of ministry activities for the children in the village while the home is being constructed. Pastor Romero's church and his impact in the colony continues to grow. He has successfully begun a "Kinder," which is a state endorsed school for children in kindergarten and first grade. With the help of Missionary Ventures International and other private donations, enough land has been secured to build a school that will allow the area children to complete high school in the years ahead. This is where the Campus Ministry trip fits into the big picture. Jewell students have committed to continue to build homes for the families in the colony, which is a little less than a mile from the property where the school is being built. Given the success and the interest in these projects, Campus Ministry wanted to make this opportunity available to Jewell alumni and friends to travel with them to the village and work on the school building while the students build another home in the colony. Won't you assist in this project? The trip dates are May 3-11, 2008, and the cost is $1,200.00 per participant. The activities will consist of hands-on work including brick laying and related service projects to assist in building a school for the orphanage in San Juan Pueblo, Honduras. Included in the trip cost is air travel from Kansas City, lodging, food and a recreational day on the island of Cayos Cachinos. The recreation day will include travel by boat to the island of Cayos Cachinos where you can snorkel in the coral reef or beachcomb and enjoy eating fresh-caught fish as you take a break from your work. If you are unable to travel with the group, please consider a financial partnership as the goal is to raise at least $2,000.00 to help purchase the building materials for the construction of school building. Jewell alumni are also asked to serve as faithful prayer partners as Campus Ministry raises funds, travels, and works at the build site in north central Honduras. Please contact Jeff Buscher at 816-415-7560 or buscherj@william.jewell.edu to advise how you would like to get involved, or if you need any more information about the trip.