John L. Kachelman, Jr., preacher at the Judsonia Church of Christ was invited by the Honduran government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit Honduras and discuss a structural organization for equitable distribution of humanitarian aid that s shipped into the country.
Kachelman met with various members of the Foreign Ministry and the Consignee El Shadai in a week long discussion on the issues facing those attempting to ship in needed humanitarian aid to medical centers, orphanages, and schools. The visit also afforded Kachelman to meet with the President of the Republic of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya and the Vice-President of the Republic of Honduras, Elvin Ernesto Santos Ordonez as well as various Ministers of State.
During the week a special meeting was conducted with the significant businessmen in Honduras that explained the critical role that the free enterprise sector in the Honduran community must fill if the proposed plans are to be successful. As a result of these meetings it is now possible for those involved in medical missions to ship containers with tons humanitarian relief into Honduras at no cost and with the full support and cooperation of the Honduran government.
Since February the Judsonia Church of Christ has coordinated the shipping of four containers into Honduras demonstrating the validity of the proposed structure. The church hopes to ship at least four more this year. The Tegucigalpa government expresses its appreciation for the generosity of so many in the United States that come and provides critically needed assistance and materials in at-risk areas with medical or educational needs.
The chief doctor of anesthesiology in Tegucigalpa’s largest public hospitals stated, “I am always thankful when medical brigadas (groups) come to help us because they bring equipment that we do not have. Everything we have in the hospital that works is a gift from these groups that have come t visit us.”
It is hoped that the discussions recently help will encourage more to become involved in shipping critically needed humanitarian aid items into Honduras under the cooperative structure formulated that unites he government, churches/humanitarian and groups, and businesses in effectively providing basic needs to the Honduran people.
It is hoped that the structure developed and implemented in Honduras will be adopted by other nations seeking to alleviate the impoverished conditions in their countries. This interest was evident in the fact that attending the meetings were individuals from other Central America nations including Nicaragua and Cost Rica.
