Hey everyone!
Paul A
We are just 2 weeks out from leaving St. Louis and heading to Talanga, Honduras! The team is getting ready and excited! We hope you all are too.
We just wanted to tell a little bit about ourselves and why we are going before we leave. So this is the team and our bios.
Jan B
"This is my 7th trip to Honduras. I go on this mission to see old friends, make new friends, and to experience God's presence. I'm always humbled by the love and acceptance of the community of Talanga. I want to thank SunRise UMC for allowing me to represent you and God's love through you in Honduras."
Trish N
"I love the people of Honduras and that's the main reason I am going back this year. The first time was because I have a desire to serve. There was a need for people working in the dental field and when I heard Pastor Jim talking about it, I knew that's what I was supposed to do."
"I'm Dr. Paul Angleton and I am a Family Medicine physician in Wentzville with Mercy Medical Group. This will be my first trip to Honduras. I've kicked around the idea of doing a medical mission trip for years and decided last year that I was finally going to go on one. I think it was about 2 weeks after I made the decision (or perhaps better described as submitted to God's call) that Sunrise asked if anyone would be interested in adding a medical team along with the dental and other mission efforts in Honduras. God's timing is pretty spot on and seemed to be a not so subtle hint as to what He wanted me to do. I'm very excited to see what God has in store for us."
Jolie H
"I'm 24 years old and work as a server at the Cheesecake Factory. I'll be starting dental hygiene schooling in August. This will be my 1st trip to Honduras."
Monica M
"I am so blessed to be able to return to Honduras this year for the 6th time! This trip has become a staple in my life, and I am so passionate about every single person in my Talanga family. Originally from O'Fallon, Missouri, I now reside in Bozeman, Montana. I began going on the dental mission trip at the age of 18, assisting my father, Paul, with fillings and root canals. I have been privileged to grow very close to the youth population at the church in Talanga, having watched many of them grow up from a very young age. I am so excited to see my Talanga family again this year and to help in wany way possible, being the hands and feet of Christ."
Kaylen J
"I am 24, I've never left the United States before so I'm really excited to make my first trip a volunteer effort. I have experience doing volunteer work, but never any healthcare related work. I am currently a certified pharmacy technician and I will be in charge of dispensing all of the medication on our trip. I am a college graduate and my goal is to go to medical school one day. A big reason why I am going is because I want to experience the realities that people in second and third world countries face in healthcare and lifestyle. In the future I would love to work with clinics in these countries to streamline their practices based on what they consistently have available."
Craig B
"I have been a member of SunRise with my wife Jan and our daughters since 2001. I have been involved with many different ministries at SunRise including hospitality, Delmar Gardens, and of course Honduras. Jan and I joined the first SunRise trip to Honduras in 2005. That year we went to a church in Tegucigalpa and our current partner in Talanga Central UMC. I fell in love with Talanga and hlep frame our decision for SunRise to go back to this great little town again. It was a community and church that we could really build a partnership with and truly make a difference. Over our 11 years it has been a blessing to go back many times to work with Pastor Luis, his family and the members of Talanga Central. I have developed many friendships over the years, and made a difference in the lives of many. Each visit leaves me feeling that I get more in return that I give. Truly a moving experience to do the work of God in such a meaningful way."
Paul M
"I've been a dentist in the area for some time and our family has been a part of Sunrise for over ten years. I missed the first Mission trip but have been a team member since. The last few years my daughter Monica has been by my side assisting. It's a blessing to be able to participate in this mission work. Although physically and emotionally intense, strength comes through the Lord. The need is so great but the gratitude of these people is even greater. To see what they don't have makes one realize how blessed we are here. Giving back in the only option."
Peter M
"This will be my seventh trip to Honduras, fourth with the dental team. I have been blessed and this is my small way of giving back. I look forward to going each time. I am very touched by the home visits. It makes me realize how blessed I really am."
Jim B
"As Lead Pastor of SunRise I believe it is important to lead by example especially when it comes to our mission focus outside of our building. This will be my 9th trip to Talanga, my seventh as part of the dental mission team. I have also traveled on a construction team and had the privilege to attend the dedication of the new church building in Talanga in the fall of 2013.
With each trip I leave thinking about how I will be helping others as part of our mission outreach, however I always return being more blessed by the folks in Talanga who are now more friends than anything else. Inside all of us is a natural desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves and for me I live into this desire to be a blessing to others."
Chuck C
"This is my second trip. I basically am a general do anything needed role. I am looking forward to getting back to Honduras to continue to make a real impact on the lives of the people of Talanga."
Ashley J
"This will be my first trip out of the country. I'm excited that my first trip will be a mission trip. I have done many mission trips when I was younger and I've always been so blessed by them. I always come back a different person. I know God is going to us me to help the people of Talanga. I don't know what he has in store for me yet but I know it will be good because everything in his hands is good. "
Please pray for our team and the people we will be helping. I will try to post everyday while on the trip and post pictures of the day.
