Immediately after Hurricane Mitch in November, 1998, approximately 300 people fled the devastation to find a safer and drier place to live. These people, in hopes of starting again, invaded the land high above the capital city. This rocky, undeveloped area overlooked Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Today, the area houses 50,000 people. Still, most people living in the capital city of Tegucigalpa do not even know that this area exists. The people are some of the poorest in Honduras living on $1 a day, yet they live within sight of a prospering city.
We work on the mountain not to change their culture or make them into Americans like us, but to help them develop a lasting and sustaining relationship with Jesus Christ. Then, whether they stay in Mogote or move on, they have everything they need for success. With the help of God and people from all over the world, we will continue to press forward until we see Him in the people of Mogote on the mountain.
Ron, Shelley, Joseph and Oscar Jones in June 2008 at Joseph's graduation dinner.
Ron and Shelley Jones are the original missionaries who started Hope for Honduras. They later adopted Joseph and Oscar when they were only 12 and 4, respectively. Now, Joseph is a sophomore at Oklahoma State and Oscar is in the seventh grade. Before serving in Honduras, Ron was a successful contractor and Shelley was an interior designer.
Originally, Ron & Shelley would go up to Mogote every day to pass out food in the streets and provide basic medical care. Ten years later, the ministry has a beautiful building housing the following ministries: daily feeding ministry, preschool (similar to VBS), high school tutoring program, women’s ministry, a small church with a Honduran pastor, construction ministry, trade-skills ministry, a clinic with a Honduran doctor & it’s still growing! Teams come year-round to partner with HFH and to fellowship with the locals and ministry staff. Lives are being changed and the Kingdom of God is growing in power and in numbers!
In September of 2008, Hope for Honduras was blessed to receive two new staff members! Jon and Emily Odom found their hearts longing to serve God among the poor in Tegucigalpa, and HFH was a perfect fit. They were married not even 3 months before they packed up and headed South. Jon helps tutor some of the boys who are in private school, as well as assisting with the short-term mission teams. Emily helps Shelley with all of the administration and assists in the study hall. They are both sincerely loved!
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