About Heart for Honduras

Heart for Honduras is a growing mission organization started in 1996 by the members of Salem Lutheran Church, Tomball, Texas. Continuing to evolve and improve, we are always open to new ways to benefit the local population and build up the churches in the area.

Our first trip was a dental clinic, and since that time God has opened up doors for us to increase our ministry presence there. First we added a medical team; then water well, then ministry, and finally, vision. Our heart for Honduras is to continue to improve the lives of the local population and build stronger churches in the area.

For seven years (1996-2003), our ministry worked first along the northern coast of Honduras, in the communities around La Ceiba and Tela. Over the years there, we developed a network of pastors and community leaders as we conducted repeat missions to over two dozen villages. After completing some fifteen mission trips to these rural villages, our team began to notice a dramatic change – it seemed to us that our work was beginning to make a difference! Lines began to grow shorter for our clinics as people’s health gradually improved. Pastors reported encouraging growth reports to us, indicating that our ministry teams were effectively reaching people for Christ. This led us to explore other areas of the country where we could make a similar difference.

In September of 2004, our advance team drove into La Esperanza, the major city in the department (like a state) of Intibuca, looking for a church to partner with for the fall mission the following month. They were directed to the local Methodist church, where they found the pastor, Osael Martinez, in his office. After explaining that they were a scouting team looking for a church to partner with to bring American medical, dental, vision, and ministry teams to the local people, Pastor Osael began to cry. The team was amazed to hear him say, “You’re not going to believe this, but I was just sitting at my desk praying about this very thing! That God would send us doctors, dentists, and missionaries to help us reach the people in this area!” And so began another wonderful chapter in our history in Honduras. Four years later, we again are not only witnessing growing churches but a growing influence in the La Esperanza area.

In the fall of 2008 our group will once again move, this time to the city of Santa Rosa de Copan, near the Guatemalan border.  We will again make a long-term commitment to the people of this region, sending mission teams there twice per year until we see a difference.  It's exciting!  Consider joining us as we begin the process all over again!