Esperanza Ministries is a Texas Not-for-Profit Corporation recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 c(3) charitable organization with tax exempt status. Esperanza Ministries grew out of the efforts of Churches of Christ throughout the United States to respond to the massive devastation suffered by the people of Honduras in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, a category 5 storm that pounded the Honduran coast and inundated the country in late 1998. Hardest hit was the southern part of the country in the area around Choluteca and Nacaome. As a result of efforts led by the Churches of Christ, joined by relief organizations from around the world, a new village, Limon de la Cerca, was constructed on the outskirts of Choluteca. Today Limon de la Cerca is home to over 20,000 people.  Similar, smaller colonias have been constructed throughout the region. Once basic housing needs were met, and the major relief agencies moved on to other areas, Esperanza sprang up to help with on-going aid and support in the areas of medical care, education, and evangelism through meeting people’s needs. Our ministry can be broken down into three main areas: Medical Operations, Educational Support, and Special Projects.

Medical Operations

Esperanza supports two full-time medical clinic operations. These clinics provide basic health care and medicines to the people of Choluteca, Limon de la Cerca, Nacaome, and the surrounding towns and villages. The clinics operate from fixed facilities in Choluteca and Nacaome and see patients six days per week. These clinics charge a nominal fee that amounts to approximately 10% of what commercial clinics and pharmacies charge to help defray expenses and prevent abuse. Each clinic has full discretion to waive fees for the most needy patients. Approximately 30% of patients receive completely free care. In addition to the fixed clinic operations, these facilities serve as a base of operations for medical brigades from the United States. These brigades have traveled to small towns, villages, and jungle settlements throughout southern Honduras. Frequently, our brigades have been the only medical personnel to reach many of these villages. Each clinic has a full-time, fully trained doctor and nurse as well as support people from the local community. Each clinic handles a patient load of 325 – 350 patients per month. Since inception in July 2000, the Esperanza clinic staffs have handled over 23,000 patient visits. Mobile medical brigades see more concentrated numbers in the outlying villages.

Esperanza is also active in community health care in Limon de la Cerca and Colonia Michelle Aguilar outside of Nacaome, training and equipping local volunteers in nutrition, vitamins, and hygiene. Esperanza also provides supplemental funds to the directors of each clinic to be used for emergency needs for critical patients including special medicines and treatments, transportation and subsistence for patients needing to go to the main hospital in Tegucigalpa, and other special needs.

During 2002, Esperanza Ministries received and distributed for free over $150,000.00 worth of medicines and supplies from King Pharmaceutical, a charitable organization located in Bristol, Virginia, specializing in supplying medicines to missionary organizations. Healing Hands, International of Abilene, Texas also supplied us with more than 1,000 pounds of vitamins that we distributed for free as part of our community health programs last year.

Educational Support

Our main involvement is with a primary school run by the Honduran Department of Education; located in Limon de la Cerca. Esperanza first became involved shortly after the school opened in February 2000 while leading a group of high school students on a Spring Break mission program in partnership with Rotary International’s Interact Club. Students from two Houston area high schools raised funds to build fencing, a soccer field, and a basketball/ play court/ assem bly area for the school . Excess funds raised by these students were used to purchase uniforms and shoes for the children, hire additional teachers to relieve classroom overcrowding and expand the curriculum through the 7th grade. Subsequent special project trips have provided funds for classroom improvements, computers and equipment for a computer lab, teaching supplies, classroom furniture, band instruments and many other improvements.

On an on-going basis, Esperanza has committed to funding additional teachers for the higher grades. In 2001, Esperanza funded 4 teachers, allowing the school to expand through 8th grade. In 2002, we hired two additional teachers to complete the program through 9th grade (a full “high school” education by Honduran standards). On November 30, 2002 we graduated our first class of 15 students! Several of these students will go on to “colegio” which is the first step in the private, higher education system. One of our goals this year is to provide scholarships for our students as they graduate and move on into higher education. Our 2003 budget includes funding for four teachers and a full-time security guard for the campus.