Greetings

Mission 2003, The Island Challenge II, is now completed. This Trip involved 63 people from 14 different states. A church was built, floors were poured for many families, hearts were touched and God was glorified.
Our medical team, the largest ever, included 3 physicians, 2 physicians’ assistants, 2 dentists and 9 nurses. Also a team of 3 workers provided eyeglasses for hundreds of people. Thousands of dollars worth of medicine were distributed, including vitamins, parasite medicine, aspirin, prenatal vitamins, and much more. Thousands of people went through our medical clinic during our short stay, over 3,500 blocks were laid, electric and plumbing installed a steel roof and a beautiful wall and gate built in front of the church.

During our visitations and evangelism crusade, hundreds of people were visited and hundreds attended the Vacation Bible School meetings each night. Hundreds of Bibles were distributed, 23 people were baptized, and 40 people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Thank you for your financial support for this project. Your donation of money and supplies are much appreciated. Without the many willing donors, such as you, this project would not have been possible. We have made a great impact on the village of Mixta because of you.

If you would like to check out pictures and other information, please visit our website- www.berkshiremission.org

Thank you again for making this project a success. I hope that you will consider supporting Berkshire Mission in future projects or on a monthly basis.

I have some more good news to tell you about, from the Berkshire SDA School in Guanaja Honduras. School is going very well with 79 students this year. Also the school has started an adult education program that runs in the evenings; this idea has been very well received as many of the adults that had not finished their education are returning to school to finish. They are even wearing uniforms, what a blessing. A plan to outfit this school with computers and Internet access is being looked as a way to provide for some of the needs of the community and the school. With computers becoming more and more a part of everyday life, the need to educate children on how to use them becomes even more important for their future. Computers with internet access would provide many new opportunities. The school children would be educated on how to use computers and be able to do research for school projects. They would have access to information that they would not be able to purchase !
such as encyclopedias and other research information. The possibility of an internet café would provide email and internet access to the island of Guanaja. With only one phone on the Island, email would be a more reliable form of communication. This would also provide a small income to help support the operation of the school.

Here is where your help is needed. Since there are no phone lines on the island a satellite system would be needed to provide internet access to the school. We would also need 10-15 computers and other network components to hook the computers to the internet. A very generous supporter of the school has offered to donate the complete satellite system and provide for the installation of that equipment if we could find someone to cover the cost of the monthly service fee. That cost of $60.00 a month would need to be covered by a credit card from the USA, and paid in the USA, and be an ongoing commitment for at least a year at a time. This pledge could be covered by an individual or a group of people that could get together themselves and take care of that cost, or possibly a church project. The second major expense is the computers. To provide for easy networking and less maintenance time we have looked into purchasing computers that are all the same. We have been able to g!
et a very good deal for computers and monitors from a place that sells in bulk and will be able to purchase complete systems for $500.00 - $550.00 a piece. Berkshire Mission is looking for sponsors to cover the cost of these computers. The cost of the shipping the computers from Tampa to Honduras has already been donated. Please contact us if this is something that you would like to support. The cost a computer or a portion of the cost could be spread out over 6-8 months if needed. . Remember that any donation to Berkshire Mission is tax deductible.

Berkshire Mission is looking for ways to incorporate an industry into the school in Guanaja, to help provide financial support for the students of the school. Already this year 7 students had to be let go because they could not afford tuition. I am working on a design for a chicken farm/greenhouse to allow the students to work and learn a trade. They would learn how to raise chickens and vegetables to sell and offset there tuition fee. Everything on the island is imported right now, so there is a good market for chickens, eggs and fresh vegetables that could be sold. If this idea strikes an interest with you please send us an email and we will call you and maybe put some ideas together.

I would like Berkshire Mission to plan a future trip to Guanaja, again and build this building and provide again medical service on the main island and the Cay especially again. Let me know of your interest both financial and going on the project. Other projects could be with Maranatha back in the D.R. or possible Peru.

Some might think that we are trying to give them something that they don’t need. The fishing industry is dyeing quickly, since Hurricane Mitch, things have changed a lot. This is an opportunity to educate not only the children but thousands of adults so the future does not look so bleak.

Please pray about these projects and opportunities to support the mission work in Guanaja. Thanks for all of your support

Berkshire Mission
Bob and Eric Young

Please feel free to email back with any questions. Also note that our address has change to go along with our website address. Email- mail@berkshiremission.org website- www.berkshiremission.org

p.s.

By the way I will be heading to Guanaja in the next few weeks for a very short 2-3 day possible 4 day visit to talk with the principle of the Berkshire School also with the Mayor, Sue Hendrickson, the Conference President and the new Pastor of the Savannah Bight Church. If there are several of you who think that you could help me with planning and or the financial support of the Berkshire School and would like to travel with me contact me ASAP. You would have to pay your own expenses and it would be very soon. Contact me right away so I can make the arrangements.

Thanks again for all of your prayers. God Bless you all.
Sincerely
Bob Young – Mission Director
Eric Young – Asst. Director