Tree of Life Ministries
J U N E - A U G U S T
2 0 1 0
Tree of Life Ministries Finding the Need, Meeting the Need, Revolutionizing a Nation!!
Abundant Life
Medical Clinics Make an Impact Calichon, like countless other places in Honduras, is considered poor by many standards and yet, ironically, is surrounded by abundant riches, the beauty of nature itself. This small village lies atop a mountain, surrounded by even taller mountains in comparison, so tall, that the clouds roll in painting other beautiful scenes as they rest silently on the hillside. It was here that Tree of Life Ministries held a Medical Clinic for three days, as Calichon is centrally located between 8 other communities. Our medical teams ministered healthcare to over 400 people with the dental staff treating close to 120, pulling 401 teeth on everyone from small children, whose front baby teeth were rotting, to extreme cases of gingivitis. An impact was definitely made in many lives, but none so effective and life changing, as the 100 souls that were led to the Lord through this outreach.
This year’s Pastors Conference took a little turn as its location and focus had to be changed from the Mosquito Coast to Copan. The financing, unfortunately, wasn’t available and wisdom had the final say. However, this change made it possible for us to redirect the funding we did have, to be a blessing to the pastors that oversee the mountain churches associated with Tree of Life. Walking daily in the “abundant life” was the theme of this year’s teachings. Pastor Kenny Delgado was the guest speaker along with Eugenio “Chagy the Clown” Adorno, who shared applicable object lessons. Everyone left refreshed and considered the threeday event a success.
PLAN ESCALON NEWS
Alumni Reunite & Reconnect June 19th – 20th marked our 4th Annual Alumni Reunion. Though slightly lower in attendance than other years, this year’s conference made up for it in atmosphere. The testimonies shared by several of the alumni were inspiring, as they transparently shared their struggles in life, but how they knew it was because of the foundation they received as students in Plan Escalon that they were able to overcome and focus on their faith and hope in God. Stories such as these, further fuel the vision to unite the “family” network of alumni and keep them connected to the heart of Tree of Life Ministries. Our hearts desire is to always be there for them, as parents and family, as a support system that they can always rely on, to remind them that they always have a “home”, a place where they belong.
The success of TOLM is determined much like those of parents. They know they are successful when they witness their own children, after having lived in the “safe” environment of home, walking in the convictions they were taught, having made them their own. So it is in passing on the vision to the students and alumni, the next generation. It is important that they not only believe they can “change their nation” when they are here, but that they believe it, accept it as their personal vision, and live it in the “real” world. The success of “changing the nation” will only be as strong as our ability to keep the alumni connected to this primary integral part of our vision statement.
Marketing Students Start Internship In reflection of “living in the real world”, the Senior Class marketing students were recognized and mandated as they were sent out to begin their “internship” requirements for their vocational diplomas. The Computers Class will not be interning until later this year.
2nd Marking Period Finished In looking for ways to motivate the student body to better their grades each marking period, we wanted to give special recognition to those who were accomplishing just that. During a school assembly, students received colored ribbons based on scores between a 70% to 79%, 80% to 89% and 90% to 100%. Students are required to maintain an average of a 70% or above to maintain their scholarships. We are proud of their success in reaching these goals. 2
PLAN ESCALON NEWS New Windows & Screens Over the course of the last three months, as different church groups visited they worked on taking out the old windows in the girl’s dorms and replaced them with the new ones. This also included adding screen, with a lattice covering to reinforce them for durability. Several groups later, the project is finished. Thank you, to all that were involved in this project!
New Transformer As Plan Escalon has grown over the last five years so has the amount of electricity that has been consumed. Maxing out the existing transformer wasn’t ever a problem. Praise the Lord, a new one was provided and recently installed to provide better service and make room for future growth. A second generator was also connected into the system that will allow us to provide electricity to more of Escalon during power outages.
New Bus Arrives After over two weeks of traveling from the States, through Central America, the “new” bus HAS ARRIVED!!! On its arrival, the existing bus must have sighed a sigh of relief from its exhaustion. It had been down for a few days being serviced, yet again.
A PRESSING NEED! Our property is being eroded away at a steady pace with each rainfall that we experience. This year it has been almost daily since the rainy season began early this year in the middle of April, it usually doesn’t start until mid to late May. The need to build reinforcement walls around at least two of the three exposed sides on the newer property is essential to keep from washing away any more of the landscape. The photos tell the story. 3
MISSIONARIES IN ACTION June, July, and August were especially busy for the Henrys and Brusherds, with visiting groups, clinics, conferences, etc. Missionaries are always busy, to say the least, but the dynamics of the summer months do demand a faster pace than normal. As far as the school calendar here at Plan Escalon, the ministry is on the downhill as we enter the last half of the year. In the photo above Pastor Guy is pulling teeth in the dental clinic in Calichon. Also, Joseph and Jeanna (below) made up two of the three medical stations as part of the medical clinic. Angie remains involved in the “Life in Action” activities through the week. The photo of she and Jeweliza was taken during an outreach in which they were handing out food, clothes and shoes to needy families. The Henrys have a trip planned to California in August, returning to start the next school year for Dakota and Jeweliza. Dakota will be in 6th grade and Jeweliza in 2nd. Joseph will be visiting Michigan in August, returning in early September. Jeanna will be starting school with Josiah, Jesse and Jewelayna, who are entering 10th, 8th and 1st grades.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HELP!! In November, a trip is being planned to visit Yapwas, a village of indigenous Indians by the name of Tawakans, in the Mosquito Coast. Yapwas is one of the areas we visited a year a half ago after unexpected flooding wiped out their crops. These people are justifiably concerned with future starvation and the illnesses that come with it, especially when there are only 3,000 of them still in existence. They also are lacking clean, drinking water. Different associations did try to provide them with seeds to grow crops, but the results were very poor because they were a type of hybrid that did not have a high yield, and they also did not produce sufficient seeds to sow for the future. A team from TOLM will be taking corn, beans, and rice along with seeds bought here in Honduras, to help them recuperate from this natural disaster. The team also will be helping provide suitable drinking water for them, as well. If you would like to help us please contact us at the address below, marking it for, Yapwas. Thank you. © 2006. Tree of Life Ministries. All rights reserved, Founded by Thomas & Wanda Shaw in 1988 2084 W. Thompson Rd, Fenton MI 48430, 810.750.5433
Email: [email protected]
2 0 1 0
Tree of Life Ministries Finding the Need, Meeting the Need, Revolutionizing a Nation!!
Abundant Life
Medical Clinics Make an Impact Calichon, like countless other places in Honduras, is considered poor by many standards and yet, ironically, is surrounded by abundant riches, the beauty of nature itself. This small village lies atop a mountain, surrounded by even taller mountains in comparison, so tall, that the clouds roll in painting other beautiful scenes as they rest silently on the hillside. It was here that Tree of Life Ministries held a Medical Clinic for three days, as Calichon is centrally located between 8 other communities. Our medical teams ministered healthcare to over 400 people with the dental staff treating close to 120, pulling 401 teeth on everyone from small children, whose front baby teeth were rotting, to extreme cases of gingivitis. An impact was definitely made in many lives, but none so effective and life changing, as the 100 souls that were led to the Lord through this outreach.
This year’s Pastors Conference took a little turn as its location and focus had to be changed from the Mosquito Coast to Copan. The financing, unfortunately, wasn’t available and wisdom had the final say. However, this change made it possible for us to redirect the funding we did have, to be a blessing to the pastors that oversee the mountain churches associated with Tree of Life. Walking daily in the “abundant life” was the theme of this year’s teachings. Pastor Kenny Delgado was the guest speaker along with Eugenio “Chagy the Clown” Adorno, who shared applicable object lessons. Everyone left refreshed and considered the threeday event a success.
PLAN ESCALON NEWS
Alumni Reunite & Reconnect June 19th – 20th marked our 4th Annual Alumni Reunion. Though slightly lower in attendance than other years, this year’s conference made up for it in atmosphere. The testimonies shared by several of the alumni were inspiring, as they transparently shared their struggles in life, but how they knew it was because of the foundation they received as students in Plan Escalon that they were able to overcome and focus on their faith and hope in God. Stories such as these, further fuel the vision to unite the “family” network of alumni and keep them connected to the heart of Tree of Life Ministries. Our hearts desire is to always be there for them, as parents and family, as a support system that they can always rely on, to remind them that they always have a “home”, a place where they belong.
The success of TOLM is determined much like those of parents. They know they are successful when they witness their own children, after having lived in the “safe” environment of home, walking in the convictions they were taught, having made them their own. So it is in passing on the vision to the students and alumni, the next generation. It is important that they not only believe they can “change their nation” when they are here, but that they believe it, accept it as their personal vision, and live it in the “real” world. The success of “changing the nation” will only be as strong as our ability to keep the alumni connected to this primary integral part of our vision statement.
Marketing Students Start Internship In reflection of “living in the real world”, the Senior Class marketing students were recognized and mandated as they were sent out to begin their “internship” requirements for their vocational diplomas. The Computers Class will not be interning until later this year.
2nd Marking Period Finished In looking for ways to motivate the student body to better their grades each marking period, we wanted to give special recognition to those who were accomplishing just that. During a school assembly, students received colored ribbons based on scores between a 70% to 79%, 80% to 89% and 90% to 100%. Students are required to maintain an average of a 70% or above to maintain their scholarships. We are proud of their success in reaching these goals. 2
PLAN ESCALON NEWS New Windows & Screens Over the course of the last three months, as different church groups visited they worked on taking out the old windows in the girl’s dorms and replaced them with the new ones. This also included adding screen, with a lattice covering to reinforce them for durability. Several groups later, the project is finished. Thank you, to all that were involved in this project!
New Transformer As Plan Escalon has grown over the last five years so has the amount of electricity that has been consumed. Maxing out the existing transformer wasn’t ever a problem. Praise the Lord, a new one was provided and recently installed to provide better service and make room for future growth. A second generator was also connected into the system that will allow us to provide electricity to more of Escalon during power outages.
New Bus Arrives After over two weeks of traveling from the States, through Central America, the “new” bus HAS ARRIVED!!! On its arrival, the existing bus must have sighed a sigh of relief from its exhaustion. It had been down for a few days being serviced, yet again.
A PRESSING NEED! Our property is being eroded away at a steady pace with each rainfall that we experience. This year it has been almost daily since the rainy season began early this year in the middle of April, it usually doesn’t start until mid to late May. The need to build reinforcement walls around at least two of the three exposed sides on the newer property is essential to keep from washing away any more of the landscape. The photos tell the story. 3
MISSIONARIES IN ACTION June, July, and August were especially busy for the Henrys and Brusherds, with visiting groups, clinics, conferences, etc. Missionaries are always busy, to say the least, but the dynamics of the summer months do demand a faster pace than normal. As far as the school calendar here at Plan Escalon, the ministry is on the downhill as we enter the last half of the year. In the photo above Pastor Guy is pulling teeth in the dental clinic in Calichon. Also, Joseph and Jeanna (below) made up two of the three medical stations as part of the medical clinic. Angie remains involved in the “Life in Action” activities through the week. The photo of she and Jeweliza was taken during an outreach in which they were handing out food, clothes and shoes to needy families. The Henrys have a trip planned to California in August, returning to start the next school year for Dakota and Jeweliza. Dakota will be in 6th grade and Jeweliza in 2nd. Joseph will be visiting Michigan in August, returning in early September. Jeanna will be starting school with Josiah, Jesse and Jewelayna, who are entering 10th, 8th and 1st grades.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HELP!! In November, a trip is being planned to visit Yapwas, a village of indigenous Indians by the name of Tawakans, in the Mosquito Coast. Yapwas is one of the areas we visited a year a half ago after unexpected flooding wiped out their crops. These people are justifiably concerned with future starvation and the illnesses that come with it, especially when there are only 3,000 of them still in existence. They also are lacking clean, drinking water. Different associations did try to provide them with seeds to grow crops, but the results were very poor because they were a type of hybrid that did not have a high yield, and they also did not produce sufficient seeds to sow for the future. A team from TOLM will be taking corn, beans, and rice along with seeds bought here in Honduras, to help them recuperate from this natural disaster. The team also will be helping provide suitable drinking water for them, as well. If you would like to help us please contact us at the address below, marking it for, Yapwas. Thank you. © 2006. Tree of Life Ministries. All rights reserved, Founded by Thomas & Wanda Shaw in 1988 2084 W. Thompson Rd, Fenton MI 48430, 810.750.5433
Email: [email protected]
