Medical Care:
     Medical insurance is not available in Honduras, and although there are government clinics in the larger towns with lower-cost healthcare, often times patients receive a prescription slip, but often have no money to  pay for the medicine. In Guadalupe, the town where CIDS built 22 homes and the Honduran Red Cross built another 82, the people have purchased land for a clinic. They are waiting for funds to actually begin building the facility. A clinic would meet a vast number of needs that currently are going unmet.
Costs associated with the clinic:
Lot is paid for.
Cost to build a modest structure is $10,000.
Cost to furnish the inside is $2,000.
Current balance in the Clinic Account: $500.

Costs of building are reduced when teams of volunteers go down to help put together a structure. If you are interested in being a part of this project, please contact Oliver Perry at CIDS. P.O. Box 1033 | Lincolnton, NC 28093  or email: ohazperry@bellsouth.net

Pictures Below - Guadalupe:
Top Right: New church in Guadalupe and Incarnacion Sanchez, a pastor of 42 years in the Aguan Valley of Honduras and one of the first students in the original Bible Institute.
Top Left: Lot purchased for a clinic and waiting for funds to construct the building.
Bottom Right: One of the homes built by CIDS in the years after Hurricane Mitch. The new town of Guadalupe was repositioned in a higher place above the river, and the houses are constructed of cement block.
Bottom Left: The sign placed by the Red Cross at the entrance to the section of Guadalupe that was constructed as a second phase.

  giving back...

Above: Another CIDS-built house

OLIVER PERRY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Top Left: New Kindergarten building at the Oliver Perry Christian School.

Bottom left: Banner announcing open enrollment in the Oliver Perry School. School year starts in February 2008.

Below: Main classroom building at the Oliver Perry Christian School. Note the bars already in place to allow for expansion by adding a second story. During the 2007 school year, enrollment was high enough that two grade levels had to be split into two classrooms, and enrollment for this school year is expected to rise yet again. Expansion of the school could become a pressing need before much longer.

First Picture is of Sarah with team from Puerto Rico, during a four hour layover in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

...In between the first and last are photos of people we met, houses we visited, scenes we enjoyed...

Last shot is of the team and Honduran friends (minus Sarah, who was taking the picture) at 4:00 a.m. in the La Ceiba airport as we waited for our flight home.

Education:
     In Honduras, after basic education provided by the government (three years after 6th grade), students may attend more specialized courses and at that point, a teen would need about 2850 Lempiras for enrollment and books and fees (about $150), and about 1500 Lempiras monthly for tuition thereafter (about $79). We have begun sponsoring a young lady in Olanchito. We are sending tuition support as a supplement to what the family is able to supply rather than paying the full cost of tuition. Worthy young people can be identified by the leadership in Honduras. If you contribute through CIDS, be sure to designate student education. 100% of money sent through CIDS is applied to the specified need and is tax-deductible.
Student Scholarships: Although government schools are free to children in Honduras, schools are very overcrowded. One alternative is to attend a private school, such as the Oliver Perry School, but of course there are costs involved in doing this. Beginning in February 2009, we will be offering scholarships to needy elementary aged children so they can attend the OPCS. $20 a month will pay tuition for one child. One time gifts are welcome and will be added to the scholarship fund.

What follows are details about specific needs Bob and I are helping with. We invite you to read the information and scan the photos and purpose to join us in supporting these and other projects. You may  choose the amount of your tax deductible donation, donate securely from this page through your PayPal account or send a check to CIDS, the non-profit organization described below. CIDS is a rarity these days, in that 100% of the money donated goes to the cause, specified, and there is usually only one day in transit.

     We would like to also contribute to an increase in teacher salaries . Currently the teachers in the school receive about 2400 Lempiras per month, which translates into around $130 a month. To put this into perspective, a tank of gas costs 350 Lempiras, a pound of coffee costs 31.5 Lempiras. A pound of red beans, a daily part of the Honduran diet, costs between 10-20 Lempiras. A monthly contribution of $20 - $50 would help subsidize a staff member. After talking with the school board, we have begun to help the teachers in the form of bonuses rather than supplementing the school fund for teacher salaries. In March of 2008 we were able to send a bonus to each of the 12 staff members and would like to do this every couple of months during 2008. In 2009, our manner of helping teacher salaries will be through establishing scholarships for needy children so that with more tuition coming in, the school itself will be able to increase teacher salaries, and additional children will be able to receive a great education.

SPECIFIC NEEDS:

Oliver Perry Christian School, Olanchito, Yoro, Honduras: