Midlife Men on a Mission

Report of 2007 Trip

by Charlie Uphaus

FPC’s Mid-life Men on a Mission, version 4.0, unfolded November 3-10, 2007. Twelve men – ten veterans, two rookies – took part. As in past years, efforts focused on the Plan Escalon School and the Rancho Vida Youth for Christ camp near La Entrada. At the school, the MLM, aided by students, completed the electrical wiring for the new science building, which they had laid foundation a year earlier. At Rancho Vida, the MLM worked on extending the roof and tiling the kitchen, and delivered soccer shoes to appreciative youth.

The men once again delivered medicines to Lisa Armstrong’s clinic in the mountains, but in a departure from prior years three of the group then stayed on for two more days to assist with the construction of new school rooms in the mountain village (Buenos Aires) where Lisa’s Fellowman Ministries is based. Because all students are required to wear uniforms – a prohibitive cost for some families – the men also delivered school uniforms – blue skirts and trousers, white blouses and shirts sewed or collected by the FPC sewing group, so that all families will be able to send their children to school.

Once again, we were moved and energized by the spirit and devotion of the mission personnel, American and Honduran – Lisa Armstrong, Pastor Guy and Joseph at Plan Escalon and Mauricio Erazo at Rancho Vida – and by the love, energy and appreciation manifest by the children at all locations. The Sunday morning worship service with the students at Plan Escalon was one of the highlights of the week. Another was witnessing Lisa Armstrong’s work on behalf of the poor in Buenos Aires – work that extends beyond providing medical and educational services to organizing the local, small coffee growers so that they can receive a better price for what has been confirmed as top quality coffee and market their product directly to the U.S.

Plans are already being made for MLM 5.0. Interested or curious parties should contact Henry Brinton or any of the other participants: Jeff Cator, Pete Bauers, Kevin Strickler, Andy Wescoat, Scott Carlson, George Fesak, Brad Ward, or Charles Uphaus.

2006 Sermon by the Midlife Men on a Mission,

Nothing is Impossible With God