Our Mission Statement

Wednesday, March 25

Crunch time!

Less than a week to get your applications and deposits in to me. Hopefully next week I will be able to send out information about our team. I should know by then the size of the group, the congregations represented this year, and will be able to begin designing the work for the summer based on the projected work fund. Several have been asking via email about what we are going to be doing this year. Once I have applications in hand I will be able to estimate how many houses we are going to build this year along with food distributions (these are the two most costly items in our work fund). Once that is done I will be able to contact Mark Connell and begin arranging for orders to be placed concerning wood, tin, nails, hinges, and bulk food orders. He will also begin searching candidates who are in need of housing.

We have landed some big donations / purchases for supplies this year. We have plenty of toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, Tylenol and antacid tablets. Our focus now is on Pepto Bismol, cough syrup, antibiotic creams, chewable children’s vitamins, adult vitamins, toys, and stuffed animals. We will also be collecting crayons and various school supplies. We will be collecting supplies until May 24th. We will begin packing the supplies and have them ready to go by the first weekend of June. Because we are not shipping a container this year we are not collecting much in the form of clothes, shoes, or other bulky items. We have received some of these items already, which we will send down but we are not going to do a big drive like we have done in the past.


We are planning an area wide Torch retreat the first weekend of June (June 5-7). Anyone going is invited but especially if you are within driving distance of Nashville. Jenny Lovell is working on securing a place for us and I will post more information as soon as we have it. During the retreat we will sort and pack all of our supplies that will be going to Honduras into the Torch duffel bags. Once they are packed they will be labeled and ready to go. The duffels will then be sent out to everyone that is going on the trip to check in as one of their 2 suitcases for the trip. Considering the cost of a container (over $6,000) we will be saving a lot of money. I will post specific information about weight restrictions and size limits on luggage later on as the trip grows closer.

If you have not done so, please send me an email with your flight information on it. I need to have this information in the book of much importance so I will know when you are flying in and the time you arrive. Otherwise you might get to know the workers at the airport quite well while you wait for me to come get you!!!! Or, you could be creative like Brett and July Mitchell and venture off on your own to try to find me (actually I would prefer that you stay at the airport… it makes finding you a bit easier!). I have received several flight confirmations already and for those of you that have sent the information to me I thank you!!!

Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the trip. The Mitchell, Indiana group has been using a constant email feed for information the past several weeks. Even though they have never been to Honduras before I believe they will be as ready as any group going down just by the sheer volume of questions they have been asking me. I will be posting more and more specific information, as we get closer to departure.

Time is flying by. For me, spring break is just about over and then it is 9 weeks of classes and we are done for the year. 4 weeks into June and we are leaving on a jet plane. Can’t wait; hope you are as excited as I am! Hasta luego mi amigos! Dios te bendiga!

TR

Tuesday, March 17

14 days and counting!

14 days and counting. March 31 is the deadline for applications and deposits.

It really does seem like yesterday I was sending out the first tidbits of information about the 2009 Honduras mission trip. March 31 seemed like such a long time away. And it was. Over 4 months to be exact. But now we are 2 weeks away from the first set of deadlines. I have received several applications and deposits already from the early birds. Now it is time for all of the others to get into gear and get your applications and deposits to me.

Here are a few reminders that you need to know:

* Everyone who is going on the trip must fill out an application.
* PLEASE make sure the insurance and medical information at the bottom of the application is filled out. This information is VERY important.
* Make sure to put your passport information on the application. Note: If you have not
received your passport yet, leave that section blank and then email the information to me as soon as you receive your passport.
* If this is your first time to go on a Torch Missions trip, you must have 2 letters of recommendation and an essay stating why you want to go on the trip.
* If you are under 18 years of age when we leave for Honduras you must have a Spanish permission form signed and notarized with your application.
* Everyone must sign the Torch Missions rule sheet and have it notarized. This is also due with the application.
* Please make your check out to Western Hills Church of Christ / Honduras or to Torch Missions 09 / Reeves. The deposit / first payment is $250.00. The balance and final payment will be due in May.
* Team leaders: If possible, collect all of the money from your group and send 1 (one) check to Western Hills or Torch Missions. It makes work on our end a lot easier.

* Team leaders: Make sure to make a photocopy of all paperwork before you mail it to me. It would also be wise to photocopy all checks that you collect.
* My address is:
Terry Reeves
221 Oak Hill Drive
Lebanon, TN 37087

I will be sending out additional information about the trip soon. I will be making out the tentative work schedule very soon. Once we have finalized number of people going this year I will have a much better estimate of the work fund which will help me determine how many houses and food distributions we will do this year.

Continue to keep our trip lifted up in prayer. Also, please pray for the team that from Friendship Christian School that left Monday. They will be working at Mission Lazarus installing a water purification system and some drip irrigation systems. They will also be conducting a VBS and doing construction as well. Also, Steve Davidson is taking a team down this month from Nashville and Marc Tindall is leading a spring break team. I am sure there are others too so keep the mission teams in your thoughts and prayers.

Awesome things are being done for the Kingdom and God is working though His clay vessels. What an honor it is to be able to do Kingdom work for the Master. Isn’t it amazing what He can do through people like us? Take care and I will be checking the mailbox for your stuff!!!

Terry

Sunday, March 8

The tennis match

Following the prices of airline tickets to Honduras is like watching a tennis match at center court. Your head is constantly going back and forth as you try to follow the bouncing ball. First, American Airlines has the best price. Then it is Continental. Then it is American. Then it is Continental. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Today (Sunday, March 8), American Airlines now has the lowest fare out of Nashville. Here is the quote I got from their website:

Flight information for American Airlines:
Friday, June 26
Depart Nashville on AA flight #1877 @ 5:55 AM to Miami
Connect on AA flight#953 @10:40 to Tegucigalpa
Monday, July 6
Depart Tegucigalpa on AA flight #954 @ 2:20 to Miami
Connect on AA flight #410 @ 10:45 PM to Nashville

Total cost: $547. 20

This fare will not last long and I feel pretty sure that these will be the cheapest you will for the trip. If you did not book on Coninental this last week this is your best bet for cheap tickets and you need to move fast. This flight (and the Continental flight) will sell out so do not delay much longer.

PLEASE send me flight information as soon as you book so that I have a record of you (and/or your team). If you are flying from another departure point (people from Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, etc) please continue looking for tickets and get with me as soon as you book (especially if you are flying TACA). I know a lot of you booked with Continental last week so please get with me with your information.

Look for a another posting within the next few days. Good luck on getting your tickets. It is going to be a great trip and I am really looking forward to working with you this summer.

Terry

Tuesday, March 3

Calling all bargin hunters

Just in: Low airline fare posted today!

Continental Airlines today (Tuesday, March 3) just posted round trip tickets from Nashville to Tegucigalpa for an amazingly low $544.20. This price includes all taxes and fees!!! I HIGHLY recommend anyone flying out of Nashville to take advantage of this fare. I know that I will be booking and I already know others that are jumping at this fare. This is as low as I have seen in years.

Specifics:

Departing info (Friday, June 26)
Continental flight # 2175 departing Nashville @ 6:05 to Houston; connecting on flight #756 arriving 11:39.

Return flight (Monday, July 6)
Continental flight #755 departing Tegucigalpa 12:28 to Houston. Connect flight #2471 to Nashville.

As a reminder, you still have the option of flying American airlines and fares will vary literally everyday. Good luck, may you find low fares in your travel plans!

Blessing to all,

Terry