After making a visit to Honduras in July 2001, Billie Buckley of Petal, MS came home with a desire to help. Especially weighing on her mind were the precious children of the BMDMI GoodShepherd Children's Home. Upon hearing that the children were in need of school uniforms (a tradition in both Honduras and Nicaragua), she caught the vision of kids in matching tops and bottoms. Working in congregation with the BMDMI missionary and school administrator, Laurie Johnson, Billie came up with a plan to provide these children with uniforms they would be proud to wear. However, she was not exactly sure where to begin; buying uniforms for all the children was adding up quickly. So, Billie started spreading the word among her friends and church groups, speaking anywhere people would listen. Over time, the donations she received, as well as the personal donations she made, were sufficient to get the shirts printed and the pants and skirts tailored. Now the children studying at the Good Shephered Christian Academy arrive at school neatly dressed and ready for class. On behalf of these precious children, thank you, Billie, for being willing to go the extra mile. Your hard work has made a difference.
All funds from sale of books and speaking will go into an account for school uniforms and other needs. See letter below.
Hi Mrs. Billie Buckley,
We are up to over 200 children so we are staying quite busy. IHNFA, child social services is over run by children being brought in for abuse, abandonment and extreme poverty so they are pleading with every children's home to accept more children. Most are over crowded and can't do anymore then they are.
We know that God can and will do the impossible for these little children. It is not easy to see their need and know you can't meet the huge need. I take comfort in knowing that even though we can't, God can.
Well best close for now. We thank you for all your hard work. We think of you each time we see our children in their school uniform. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions. My e-mail is the quickest. vaughn@bmdmi.org Our website is www.thegsch.org. In His love, Greg
Dwight and I are so proud of the work done getting the school uniforms for the kids at the Children's Home. But I know that the gratitude we feel will be multiplied thousands of times by the children and themselves when they receive them. To be able to attend school is a matter of pride here in Honduras, and they know that when they wear this symbol ofschool attendance, people will think more highly of them - they aren't just ignorant little kids anymore!
The teachers, too, are thrilled. They feel much more professional being in a formal setting. I'm sure that they will be able to tell a difference in the attitude of the kids, and will have a better behaved bunch!
School will be starting the 2nd week of February (all public schools start at this time), and we will go out there to take some photos as soon as possible. The head teacher was in the office yesterday to pick up the kids' workbooks, and said the new classrooms are ready. They only lack a water supply (bathrooms), but there is an old "cassita" (little house) just down the hill, and they will take the kids down there to use the bathroom until the new ones are ready. She clapped her hands with glee over the shirts!
