Fun FAQs

As things move forward with Project 541, I have the opportunity more and more often to talk with people about how all of this started. Sometimes it’s hard to sum it up in a quick conversation, so I figured it might be beneficial to explain on here. The following are answers to the questions it seems people to want to know most.

Where is Puerto Lempira? Northeast Honduras along the Mosquito Coast. It is a region of tropical rainforest accessible primarily by water and air.

How did Project 541 start? I had been serving at the House of Hope, a children’s home in Puerto Lempira, for some time when I realized what I would be doing for the rest of my life in Puerto Lempira. Often there would be people at the gate asking for food, shoes, school supplies, and wheelchairs, among other things. After serving for an extended period of time, things can get so routine that you don’t even realize what you’re dealing with. It becomes life. So there I was in this routine of hearing one horrible story after another, and finally I got to the point where in my head, as soon as I saw a woman that wanted to talk to me, I knew the story. Her husband beat her, her kids are sick, she never finished elementary school, she can’t work, and so on and so forth. I got sick of hearing the same story again and again. Things needed changing. This was when the dream of Project 541 was really born. The goal is not to make fast change. The goal is to raise girls to be independent, self-sufficient women, and for them to raise their daughters the same way.

How many girls will live in the house? One of the main goals for the house, when built, is to have a family setting. Project 541 wants to change the stigmatism of women in the community forever. This means extreme dedication to the girls who receive the assistance of the project. That being said, we will focus on a few girls, most likely between 12-16 girls at a time living in the house, in hope that our efforts multiply!

How will you support yourself? 100% fundraising… which is daunting to say as a baby ministry. We will need your help. We hope to foster relationships now, in the beginning stages, with people who will be long term supporters of Project 541. We want you to be a part of this family, growing and developing with us. This can be your story, too. We want you to see our girls grow up, reach goals, and celebrate with us. Come and be a part of this!

Where does Esteven fit into this plan? The short answer is… he’s a part of the family! If you do not know, Esteven is a handsome, joyful, determined young man with cerebral palsy that is living with me in the United States as we prepare to launch this ministry. I first started caring for Esteven in February of 2012. He was 12 years old and around 23 lbs. He was severely malnourished and neglected at home, as the common belief in the area is that people with disabilities such as Esteven’s are cursed. He is in the US on a medical visa, receiving occupation, physical, and speech therapy, and improving every day! He will remain under my care in Honduras, as his family is not properly suited to care for him, but will continue to have them as an important part of his life. I won’t say that I will never take in another special needs child. There are some things I just can’t promise, especially when they tug at a special place in my heart. Who knows what’s in store for us!

When are you moving? May 2014! I will graduate from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor’s of science degree in Public Administration and Non-Profit Management in April of 2014, and will make the move sometime in May. When we arrive we will rent a house and settle into life as a new family.

How can I help? In the following year we are specifically asking for prayers of wisdom. We will be making big decisions about the future of Project 541, and desire to the best of our ability to do what is good, and make wise choices. We also need your financial support for the various fees that add up when becoming a certified 501(c)3 organization, which gives our donors the benefit of tax exemption. We are also building a fund for living expenses for the first year in Puerto Lempira that would cover things such as food, rent, hospital fees, school supplies, and diapers among other things. Thank you for all of your support!