The last week of March, Tito’s Discovery Café was closed so their kitchen could be remodeled. The kitchen area behind the window was changed around making room for new refrigeration units and more work room for the cooks. The original larger refrigeration unit was moved into the back area and will be used as backup space. Plus a new work area was created for doing prep work and pie making, locating it away from the area where the cooks prepare their wonderful meals. Everyone working in the kitchen is very excited about the new equipment and new workspace.
Bowman’s Bear Creek is closed the first week of April and will also be remodeling their kitchen area. They are looking forward to a busy summer. They have hired new staff for the summer season and plan to be open six days a week and closed on Mondays. Currently, Saturday nights you’ll find Prime Rib on their dinner menu and lots of other yummy items available.
Wednesday morning breakfast at the Hope Christian Church provides a free breakfast to anyone in our community who would like to attend. Doors of the church will open every Wednesday morning at 8:30 for coffee, with breakfast served from 9 am to 10 am. Both cafes are closed for all meals on Wednesdays.
The Food Bank pantry provides basic food provisions to those members of our community that may have a need. The food bank is open after breakfast to 11 am. Those folks needing to take advantage of the food pantry outside the regular hours listed above please contact either Tom Burgin (350-1318) or Joyce Burgin (830-5307). If you are in need of food, please come utilize this free service.
Recently Hope residents Walt Wilkens, Tom and Joyce Burgin returned from a trip to Honduras where they volunteered at the Pan American Health Services which is a non-denominational Christian, non-government organization currently operating in the mountains of NW Honduras near Lake Yojoa. It focuses primarily on childhood malnutrition and basic education for people with few resources. The work of PAHS begins with providing nutrition and medical assistance to starving children. Some do not go home after recovery and are afforded the opportunity to live and grow up on the Pena Blanca Campus in the PAHS homes.
PAHS was co-founded in 1959 by Stephen Youngberg and Walter Tynes. Stephen Youngberg sold his medical practice in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and moved his family to Honduras in 1960. Thousands of people flocked in from the mountains each month for medical care and a squad tent is set up as a hospital to help meet the high demand for health services. In the 1970’s PAHS food industry was developed to produce soy products and highly nutritious bread. In 1974 Dr. Youngberg was named the Good Samaritan of the Year by Guidepost magazine, and in 1999 the technical school was opened to students from all over the Lake Yojoa community to learn woodworking, sewing and auto mechanics. In 2003 the girl’s dorm project began as Phase I of their construction projects.
Joyce reported that she was a little surprised that there were only three women in their group of 17 this year. Nancy Tarasenko and Brittney Needles, both from Missouri were her sisters on this mission trip. “I truly enjoyed getting to know both of them as well as getting reacquainted with our old friends,” Joyce said.
“We also had a large garbage bag full of stuffed animals, cars, footballs, jump ropes, jacks, colored pens, and craft items for the older children,” she added. “One afternoon after the school children arrived home from school, Brittney and I passed out these items. Jump ropes are very desirable with the girls.”
Joyce said the trip was thoroughly enjoyable. The people she traveled with, the people of Honduras, the children at the orphanage and the people she met made it a very memorable trip. I “Thank God for the opportunity to go and pray that we will be able to go again next year,” she said.