EYC Summer Plans 2006 - Honduras

Summer Formation Trip for EYC Juniors and Seniors:

Copan Ruinas, Honduras

Grounded in the parish vision for mission / outreach/ spiritual formation, the upperclassmen of the EYC plan to travel to Honduras this summer (July 29 - August 6)with several goals in mind.  The St. Mark’s Outreach commission agreed to fund the construction of a roof on a new church in Sesesmil el Segundo, outside of the town of Copan, near the border of Honduras with Guatemala.  The area has 37 Episcopal Churches with little foreign support.  The Bishop of Honduras is encouraging worshipping communities to find ways to be self-sufficient, even while accepting help from churches like St. Mark’s.  The community the EYC will be working with has done just this: out of extremely limited resources, the church congregation (currently worshipping in a shed with one prayerbook and no clergy) found a way to build a church building, foundation and walls, but needs our help to finish the construction. 

But the goals for the EYC are larger than simply funding a roof and painting the walls.  We can expect to encounter a transformative experience of the gospel amid poverty, and insecurity.   This town is more complex than a socio-economic read can give.  This trip will enrich our awareness of the world outside of Fairfield County and the U.S.A.   and strengthen our experience of the global world and its spiritual, cultural and socio-economic realities.

We will be staying in a rustic bed and breakfast in Copan, and in addition to working will explore the many attractions nearby.  Copan is home to one of the largest Mayan ruins, almost an entire excavated city!  There is a bird park in a coffee plantation, as well as a waterfall to swim in, and a historic hacienda serving the traditional Mayan five course menu. 

The trip is in cooperation with the Diocese of Honduras, and will be led by Rita Powell and Luke Moorhead.  A small group of seniors and juniors will be going, and we will certainly be presenting pictures and reflections when we return next September!

http://www.copanhonduras.org/aboutcopan.htm  All about Copan Ruinas.

http://www.todomundo.com/casadecafe/    Our hotel in Copan.

 Pictures can be found by clicking here: http://stmarksnewcanaan.org/eycphotos.asp