Hope

He’s only 13 years old, and I’ve never seen a boy that age look so sad. His entire body language says, “I hurt.” He’s thin and neat, his hair slicked down, his body stiff and hesitant. His mouth is somber. His beautiful dark eyes are open, but they see nothing. He is blind.

More than a year ago, a tumor was removed from his brain. The surgery may have saved his life, but it took away his eyesight. He cries every day, his mother says, because he can’t see and he can’t go to school.

His mother brought him to the eye clinic last year as well, and Dr. Kapperman told her that this blindness is irreversible. The American doctor has no miracle cure.

What can we offer the sad boy? As I continue to work in the dispensary, Amanda and Connie and Daniel and Teresa and several others take him into a sunny, private room off of the surgical area for prayer. He sits, bowed in the center of their circle, their hands gently laid on his thin back.

Prayer for child.

Then, he goes to see Dr. Mark. The tall man sits next to the small

boy, lays his big hand on his slight shoulder, and gives him a pep talk, translated word for word for Teresa. “God loves you just as much as he loves everybody else,” he says. The boy stands silently and somberly. When Mark stands and gives the boy a hug, he doesn’t react, arms at his side. Then suddenly, he grabs the tall American around the waist and hugs with all his might, beaming

with joy. His face is shining, and I think of the way I have always imagined Stephen in Acts 7, when “full of the Holy Spirit, [he] looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”

What do I see in this scene at the clinic? Through a healer and believer — one who has prayed, “Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary” — Jesus shines out, even to one who has no physical sight. And the prophet’s words are proved true again: “A people living in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16).

CLICK HERE TO VISIT HIS MEMORIAL PAGE

Friday, Feb 22nd – 6pm to 8pm Viewing

• Location: Tom Wages Funeral Home
• Address: 3705 Highway 78 W, Snellville, GA 30039
• Phone Number: 770-979-3200
• Contact Name: Chris Banks

Saturday, Feb 23rd – 11am Funeral

• Location: North Atlanta Church of Christ
• Address: 5676 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338

After 12 years of faithful service with Predisan, Kyle Huhtanen is settling into Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Bety Reyes, and their two daughters.

Kyle had many roles at Predisan over the past 12 years, including Director of International Relations, Director of Operations and designer and construction administrator of our Good Samaritan Family Health Center.

The Huhtanens will remain involved with Predisan, connecting volunteers, partners and donors. We wish Kyle the best in this next chapter of his life, as he pursues opportunities in education and ministry.

Meanwhile, our staff member in Honduras, Teresa Mejia – is working hard to ensure a smooth transition.

We are fortunate to have such devoted and dedicated Christians in Honduras. Our staff makes sure Predisan is meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of families in the 52 communities we serve.

In 2013, we are looking forward to completing one project and beginning another, bringing safe drinking water to more than 340 families. Predisan donors committed $32,000 toward these efforts.

“Through these projects, residents of these small rural villages can promise their children a better quality of life,” says Kyle Huhtanen, former Director of International Operations, who helped build the relationships that made these projects possible. “We are honored to be able to play a role in making potable water accessible.”

A joint project among the National Water and Sewer Council, Predisan, the Municipality of Catacamas and a group of four communities called “El Zaraiso” began in 2008 and will bring fresh water to 165 families, each of whom will have spigot in their home. This project is on the home stretch, and represents the power of collaboration and coordination among people and organizations with a shared goal.

Donor money was used in the purchasing and transporting of critical materials needed to complete the project.

“The citizens who worked on this project are the citizens who will benefit from it,” Kyle says. “They were willing to put in the work for the sake of their children and their grandchildren.”

Additionally, Predisan is excited to be part of a joint effort among the National Water and Sewer Council and the communities of Las Playas, El Provenir, La Florida and Santa Fe. The project will help 177 families.

Access to clean drinking water prevents dysentery and other illnesses that send patients to Predisan’s clinics. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable and can become seriously ill and die from contaminated water.

“We are first and foremost a healthcare ministry, providing primary healthcare for families,” Kyle says. “Clean water is essential to good health, and that’s why we are committed to supporting these projects.”

We are so excited that we have so many opportunities for our fundraisers this year!

Everyone can help raise funds for Predisan even if they cannot attend one of our events.

We have the opportunity for groups to form Teams that raise funds and compete for prizes.

To access online registration and information go to: http://predisan.donorpages.com

ATTENTION ALL U.S. FEDERAL WORKFORCE EMPLOYEES WISHING TO GIVE TO PREDISAN!

We are excited to announce that Predisan USA, Inc. is now included in the National/International Part of the 2012 Combined Federal Campaign Charity List. The CFC code you will use to designate your contributions to Predisan is 61105.

Please share your love of Predisan’s ministry with your friends and colleagues!

Seventh Annual Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit  was held in Catacamas

By Amanda Madrid, Executive Director and Acting Medical Director of Mission Predisan

Catacamas was blessed last weekend by the presence of the UFWH (Universities Fighting World Hunger), an international organization focused on sustainable human development. The initiative began in 2004 through a partnership with the United Nations World Food Program and Auburn University in Alabama. The UFWH is now a coalition of almost 200 universities around the world.

As stated on their website, the UFWH’s vision is to be “the catalyst mobilizing universities around the globe to make fighting hunger a core value of higher education institutions worldwide.” Their goal is to develop and implement an “action agenda for students and faculty that encompasses: hunger awareness and consciousness-raising, advocacy, fundraising, social action agenda, and academic initiatives.”

This was the first time that the UFWH has held a summit outside of the United States. It was held at the National University of Agriculture (La Universidad Nacional de Agricultura) in Catacamas, known as UNA. UNA is a public university dedicated to forming professionals in agricultural sciences and offers 5 degree programs: Agronomic Engineering, Natural Resources and the Environment, Food Technology, Veterinary Medicine, and Farm Management.

The summit was a huge success and brought energy and life to Catacamas. In attendance were the President of Honduras, Porfirio Lobo Sosa, Congress members, and the Secretaries of State.
The country was visited by several professionals from the international community as well:
Daniel Silverstein, Senior Advisor to USAID
Gemmo Lodesani, Regional Director of PMA for Latinamerica
Reynaldo Martorell, international nutrition professor from the University of Emory
Peter Versteeg, representative of the Eurpoean Union, Holland
Harriet Giles, Director of External Relations from Auburn University

Nicholas Fiore, visiting professor from Florida State University
Ian Cherrtt, Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Emelisa Callejas, Honduras Ambassador, Honduran Embassy, Atlanta, Georgia
Kate Thornton, Director of Hunger and Sustainability at Auburn University
Rick McNary, founder and executive director of NUMANA
Gary VanDyke, Executive Director of Food for Orphans, USA
Laurie Willing, Executive Director of Honduras Outreach

Representatives from all over the world—USA, Canada, Argentina, Switzerland, Nicaragua—came together in Catacamas to fight world hunger. Local businesses and organizations were given the chance to exhibit their products as well. PREDISAN participated with representation from CEREPA and the clinic, giving wellness exams and other services. The summit was a huge success, with not a single security issue or non-peaceful interruption. Everyone was able to enjoy the open outdoors and lovely tropical weather. After each day’s panels, participants enjoyed cultural concerts with dancing and music by national artist Eric Anderson. We hope that events like this will continue to bless Catacamas and bring positive interest to our city.

For more information on the summit you can visit the website:  http://wp.auburn.edu/ufwh/

MISSION PREDISAN STAFF UPDATE

Kyle Huhtanen Plans Furlough in Atlanta

Kyle Huhtanen has served God in ministry with Predisan for almost twelve years.  Beginning his work in 2000 as the Designer for and Construction Administrator of our 20,000 square foot Good Samaritan Family Health Center, Kyle also served as our Director of Operations from 2004 to 2007; Director of Healthy Communities from 2007 to 2009, and as our Director of International Relations from 2009 to the present.

During this time, he has made Honduras his home.  Bety Reyes, a native Honduran, became Kyle’s wife in 2006; and they have been blessed with two beautiful daughters.  Kyle’s’ love for God compelled him to become involved in many areas, participating in growing the impact of Predisan in the lives of Hondurans and North Americans.  He has been a dedicated and faithful servant of God; serving the Predisan staff and the 52 communities in Predisan’s area of service.

After 12 years of faithful service with Predisan, Kyle Huhtanen will soon be on an extended furlough in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Bety Reyes, and their two daughters. Kyle is seeking God’s guidance as he pursues opportunities in education and ministry that will strengthen and equip him to better serve.

Kyle has been working with a wonderful team in Honduras, including Marcio David Matamoros mdmatamoros@predisan.org, Rebekah Madrid rmadrid@predisan.org, and Teresa Mejia tmejia@predisan.org.. These talented folks will continue to work with visiting groups, communication, and ministry integration activities at Predisan.  The Huhtanen’s plan to remain involved with Predisan as  volunteers: connecting volunteers, partners and donors.

We are sad to see Kyle leave Predisan, but know that he will continue to devote his life and talents to loving God and serving others. We rejoice with him as he follows God’s leading into the next chapter of his life.  We ask you to keep Kyle and Bety lifted up in prayer as they step out in faith and move to Atlanta.

Rebekah Madrid joins our staff in Honduras

Rebekah Madrid has just joined MISSION PREDISAN in 2012 to strengthen our organizational development and visitor relations.A graduate of Oklahoma Christian University, Rebekah has lived in Honduras for over two years with her husband Marcos Madrid and their beautiful daughter, Leyla.With fluent Spanish, Rebekah, originally from Nashville Tennessee, shewill be a great resource to connect our b
rothers and sisters in serving the Kingdom work in Honduras and the United States.