Overview

Over 15 years ago, members of three congregations of churches of Christ began working independently in the Agalta Valley, working from the facilities of Rancho Paraiso.  Seeing the need for a more permanent presence, members of the Broad Street congregation in LaGrange, Georgia, joined with members of the Collegeside congregation in Cookeville, Tennessee, to build and support local congregations.

Gualaco, at one end of the valley, became the "base camp".  A dormitory and kitchen were added to the church building to house visiting groups.

During those same years, members of the McDermott Rd. congregation in Plano, Texas were also working in the valley, independently of those from Georgia and Tennessee.  Their work overlapped and the congregations later merged their activities to increase their effectiveness.

Today, we support eight full time men in the work throughout the valley.  There are eight growing congregations.  They're in:  Gualaco, San Pedro, La Venta, San Martin, San Esteban, Linares, Pacura and Juticalpa.  Many people are responding to the Lord's invitation.  It's a thrill to return a couple of times each year and see the growth.

During 2004 we finished new buildings in Pacura and San Pedro that will seat 100+.  Pictures are in the photo section.  In June 2005, we finished construction on a new building in La Venta.

In 2006, we accepted responsibility for the congregation in Juticalpa.  Juticalpa is a city of 20,000+ people.  The church has been established there for many years, but has lost it's direction.  We are supporting a full-time minister there and expect to see this body begin growing again.

In 2007, we built a new building that will seat 100+ in Las Delicias, and held two campaigns there.  Several mission groups visited the valley working on the church, building latrines, and repairing houses.  Our optometrist fitted several hundred pairs of glasses, and our dental team pulled over 450 teeth.  The minister in Juticalpa began a prison ministry and has already had over 30 baptisms.
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Honduras is one of the poorer countries in this hemisphere, and Olancho is one of the poorest districts in the country.  The land is beautiful.  The economy is based on agriculture.  As in many third-world countries, a few people own most of the land.  The majority of the locals are "campesinos"...laborers.

People live in primitive conditions.  Most homes are very small and made of adobe or wood.  Some are made of cinder blocks.  The vast majority have dirt floors.  Women cook in primitive adobe ovens over an open flame.  There is no indoor plumbing.  Only those living along the main highway have electricity...if they can afford it.  Few people have more than a couple of changes of clothes, and children are often barefoot.

The government does a pretty good job of providing elementary education to all children, but public school only goes through the sixth grade.  To continue your education, you have to pay.  The secondary schools are only in the larger towns so children often have to leave home to attend.  Tuition, room and board, and expenses run about $300 per year.  It doesn't sound like much, but few can afford it on their own.

Over the years, we have helped many with these physical needs.  We build new houses, add outhouses, pour concrete floors, and provide scholarships for higher education.  

In addition to these "construction" oriented activities, several medical doctors, dentists, and optometrists have joined our trips.  They've treated the sick, pulled teeth, and fitted hundreds of pairs of glasses. 

After so many years, the Church of Christ is well known for these good works which no doubt opens doors for our local preachers.  By continuing in this good work, and with the Lord's blessing, we will claim the entire valley for Christ over the next few years.