What Can I Do?

I was introduced to International Samaritan in 2022, through an invitation from my church to go to Honduras and learn about “garbage dump” communities and to help people there break out of poverty. I thought, “Wow! There are 15 million people worldwide in this situation. What could I possibly do to make a difference?”

I went on that first trip with some skepticism last year, but what I experienced inspired me to go back again this year with a diverse team of people from my church, Grace Community Church, located in Detroit.

The trip was full of blessings. We spent the week working and talking with International Samaritan’s team (led by Ronia), with leaders of the Buen Samaritano community (including Maritza), the irrepressible Samaritan Scholars, and their families. We used translation apps to communicate and relied on the growing bilingual proficiency of our teams. 

We fit a lot in our week-long trip. We made house visits to deliver some food and baskets of essentials to scholars’ families. We spent some time constructing a fence around a newly created community garden. Almost 80 of us ran or walked in the IntSam Global 5K together. We also spent a wonderful afternoon interacting with the scholars and their families while having lunch and then walking through a park and a zoo.  

Prior to the trip, we read a book, Enrique’s Journey, and spent an afternoon with some of the Samaritan Scholars discussing it. It was a precious and sacred time as the scholars opened their hearts and talked about the tragic migration story and how it personally affected every one of them.  

While on the trip, we saw progress on the family life center’s construction. On my trip last year, we prayed over the plot of land that was donated. We gave thanks for the blessing of this gift and prayed for what it could be. It was powerful to see the foundation and structure rise for a much-needed community space and hear the plans for programs and events that it will hold.

The lives of the people in this Honduran community are filled with so many challenges. Yet, we were able to witness a lot of love, joy, and thankfulness.

What can I do to make a difference? Not too much on my own. But my church is sponsoring 10 Samaritan Scholars from Honduras. I’m also a member of the Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club, and I’m talking with Rotarians in Honduras and Ohio to raise funds for the new family life center. 

Alone, the mission can be overwhelming. But together, we can impact entire communities.

Wayne Manchester, Volunteer

Wayne volunteers with Grace Community Church in Detroit in the men’s ministry and as a marriage mentor alongside his wife, Claudine. With a heart for community, he’s been involved for many years in the Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club.