JUST ONE Honduras
Five years ago, Maddie Trncic came to work for us at The Bridge. She came to us from a ministry in Honduras. She agreed to work in our church office for just six months because her heart was with students in Honduras who had no means to continue their education. It was a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty because their parents could not afford the cost of schooling and they needed their kids to work in the fields to help support their families. But without education, they were destined to a lifetime of $2 a day, just like their parents.
Maddie had an idea to facilitate education for these kids, but it meant launching a new non-profit, raising necessary funds, and putting together an organization to make it happen. Her six months at The Bridge turned into a year while she launched JUST ONE. We then talked her into taking over Bridge Kids at The Bridge while doing JUST ONE on the side.
What has happened since is nothing short of amazing.
Linda and I sat in the dedication of a beautiful new student center, complete with a coffee shop, offices, and library study center for JUST ONE scholars, dozens of kids now going to school with scholarships by JUST ONE donors.
The first student to speak at the dedication is now a freshman in college. She began her story with, “Four years ago, JUST ONE changed my life. My parents could no longer afford to keep me in school and the night they planned to break that news to me, they were told about JUST ONE.” Her story continued as she gave glory to God and expressed gratitude for how He used that ministry. Listening, I was in tears, because I remember that time vividly when the ministry was just beginning, and hearing how it already then was accomplishing what Maddie was envisioning.
After a week of hard work with a team from The Bridge, drywalling, landscaping, painting, 10 hours a day, today’s final touch was the dedication of that building, with dozens of students and parents in attendance. Seeing the joy of these kids whose lives will be forever different because of our gifts, dozens of them along with their grateful parents, I can’t explain the joy. The service ended with a crowd of students surrounding Maddie and Denim, crying, hugging, and saying “Thank you,” over and over.
At The Bridge, we are serious about Global Outreach, because it’s what Jesus told us to do. He commissioned us to make a difference in our communities, and then around the world. We support ministries like JUST ONE, Africans Reaching Africa, and other organizations that are making a real difference, to do just that.
I hope you also experience that joy by joining us in this mission!