Spring Break Mission Trip to Helene, March 24th-March 31, 2007

This March, a team of 36 volunteers will journey back to the island of Helene for a eight day mission trip to serve our island friends. The flight leaves early on Saturday, March 24th and we return to Portland late on Saturday, March 31th. This trip is designed for collegians, single adults, married couples, parents with mature middle or high school students, and retirees. We think it will be great to have adults of all ages on this trip. There is also the likelihood that some family members will choose to serve together.

Our service projects will include; rehabbing islander homes, tutoring in the English speaking school, home visitations, VBS, Sport Camps, Clean Sweep. On the last afternoon in Helene, our music team will provide a Christian Music Concert for the islanders.

This trip is being hosted by Sunset Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon. There are two informational meetings. The first is on Sunday, Oct. 8th at 4 PM and the second is on Tuesday, Oct. 10th at 7:30 PM. Information and applications can be downloaded from the church web site. The last day to apply for this trip will be October 17th. Funding activities start in November. The cost is $1500 per person. There is a fund raising campaign to help reduce the cost for each volunteer. Training for the trip begins in February (but individuals who have gone to Helene are already considered trained). All team members are requested to volunteer twice to community programs before leaving on this trip.

For applications to this trip, you can call Cindy Heinz at Sunset Pres. at (503) 292-9293. If you have questions, you can e mail Scott at grif167@aol.com. At Friends of Helene, our motto is; the journey continues! We hope you can be a part of this exciting God adventure back to serve in Helene.

Speaking of a journey that continuing, please pray for Michelle Manary. On September 30th, she left for Helene for a ten week internship to serve the islanders and work along side the staff of Alternative Missions. What a wonderful opportunity!

posted by Scott in Portland, Oregon 9/30/06

Team Helene update

Helene, Bay Islands Honduras "Team Steam"

I am about to go to the airport and head back to the U.S. I have been in Honduras the past few days. I should be in Phoenix later today and Colorado tomorrow if things go as planned.

"Team Steam" is what our staff in the Bay Islands calls their annual evaluation and planning session. I have been here with them for the past few days and I have to say that I was honored to be among real servants. They are incredible. I have never seen the team healthier and the working relationships in a better place.

We spent several days talking about how 2006 went and what goals should be set for 2007. The staff together with locals, short term mission teams, various partnerships by churches, corporations and indiviuals have been working together to transform the island of Helene. There are so many areas of ministry and service some of which include our medical clinic, dental clinic, school, desalinization plant, "Clean Sweep"...the Island clean up program, young men's shop class, various bible studies, individual mentoring...the list goes on and on.

Please continue to pray for our staff as they live out their faith and calling serving in Helene.

God Bless;
Tom Hackett
Director of Alternative Missions

Papa Lee and Miss Leonora

Almost every visitor to Helene has met Mr. Lee Matute, known by all as "Papa Lee", and has all kinds of stories to tell about him. Early on when the Clinic was just getting underway, every Tuesday night we celebrated a trek to Bentley Bay to visit Mr. Lee and his wife, Miss Leonora. Jerry, their son-in-law who lives next door with his family, would bring out his guitar. We would sing several of Miss Leonora's favorite gospel choruses, after getting Miss Leonora out of bed and ensconced in an over stuffed chair on the porch. Anybody who stopped to visit Miss Leonora will remember , "If I'm climbing Jacob's ladder, don't you wave after me."

Miss Leonora was bed-bound for the next four years of her life, but she lived a life of thankfulness. "You know", she'd say, "I 've been in this bed for four years, but what a beautiful place to be! The sea, the ocean breezes, and the palm trees... and my family all around me."

Mr. Lee and Miss Leonora had fifteen children, and two of their daughters also had fifteen children each. At last count, the Matutes had 186 descendents, and they know there are more that they have not accounted for.

Recently, Papa Lee has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. At age 94, he is ready to go home to Jesus. and is at peace with whenever God takes him home. Mr. Lee is resting comfortably in Helene. His was a heritage of goodness in Helene and beyond. If you can remember, say a prayer for this dear man of God.