AHMEN-SIFAT Task Force Forming Join this exciting team – 2009/2010When Benny Rowe, Lexie Hilton, and Rev. Dale Capron (AHMEN) met Tom Corson (SIFAT) at the North Ala. Conference this year an idea was formed.What about a joint project in Honduras building on the net work and “in country” resources of AHMEN with the knowledge and technique of SIFAT. And do it all in Honduras?Kathy Bryson then met with some of the AHMEN folks and set in motion for Byron Morales to meet the Aug team in Honduras and spend the week visiting as many of the AHMEN projects as could be worked into the week.Byron, a soon to be member of the SIFAT team, is from Ecuador and has a unique way for viewing projects and identifying problems and solutions. Both the AHMEN and the CHIMES teams had a great time getting to know Byron and “showing off” our handiwork.

As many of you know, AHMEN and the various projects in Honduras are great at getting started, but after 2 – 5 years they lose steam and become stagnated. What we are tentatively planning is a 3 year project. One or two key people from the various projects and/or areas will attend a workshop for 3 days in Honduras. Byron and the SIFAT staff will facilitate the workshop. They will identify problems and implement solutions specific to each areas needs. The promoters then return to their home area and put into practice whtat they have learned. This process is repeated every 3 – 4 months for up to 3 years. As the program unfolds, Byron says various Honduran leaders will emerge from the workshops and, in the end, actually take over the entire process.

We have already identified two areas for the workshops: Cosuna for the folks along the Caribbean coast where we work mostly with the Garifuna people and El Pino, a Methodist retreat center near La Ceiba for the Hondurans in the La Ceiba/Yorito/Utila/Rotan area.

Byron has met with Shane, Sandy, Sister Eleanor, and David Kelley in La Ceiba, Dr. Wendy in Ciriboya,, Alfredo and Marianna in Plan de Flores, Rev. Roberto in Punta Pietra, Rev. David Ventura and Christina in Limon, Yolanda and Ceomi in Limon, many of the librarians, the list goes on and on. Everyone in Honduras is excited about the idea of gaining sustainability to their own project.

What’s next? After talking to Tom, Kathy, and Byron –the SIFAT team - we all feel the next step is to form a joint task force to begin to put the project into shape. The only obligation for initial members of the task force is to agree to come to one meeting at SIFAT headquarters in Lineville, Al. sometime in the latter part of August, September, or October. SIFAT will coordinate the meeting when Byron Morales is in Lineville for their annual workshop.
Does AHMEN need you on the task force? We envision a member from each AHMEN team and each AHMEN project. So far we have:

Hugh and Mary Guffey
Lou Altman
Lela Aaron-Vincent
Tom Camp
Michael Franklin
Benny Rowe
Lexie Hilton
Rev. Dale Capron

We anticipate a weekend meeting, either Saturday daytime or after Church on Sunday, sometime in the next 6 – 12 weeks.

Take a look at your life and commitment to your work in Honduras. As Benny Rowe says, this could be the most profound and long lasting thing we have ever undertaken. If you need more information, get in touch with either of the Guffeys, Michael, Benny, Tom, or Lexie for details.

To join the taskforce, contact:

Dr. Tom Camp
llamacamp@gmail.com
or 205-384-8023
Benny Rowe: (205) 387-8486
Hugh and Mary Guffey: hjguffey@earthlink.net
Lou Altman: laaltman@netscape.net
Remember, your commitment is only for one meeting in Lineville within the next 6 – 12 weeks
Tom Camp, August 2009

Dr. Ben Coplan (AHMEN from California) and Byron Morales (SIFAT) at Myerina's International Café in Ciriboya, August 2009
Byron Morales (SIFAT) with representatives from CHIMES, Garifina Library Project, and Honduran Doctors at the Ciriboya Hospital.

Byron with members of the Cuban and Honduran Staff and the nursing school at Ciriboya Hospital in Ciriboya, Honduras.

Bill Camp (CHIMES) and Byron Morales (SIFAT) in front of the Ciriboya Clinic.

Byron with members of the Local Library in Cosuna at the First Garifuna Library Seminar, Cosuna, Honduras summer of '09

Byron Morales and the new cook at the Deaf School, Plan de Flores, Honduras '09.

Rev. David Kelley (Cruzada) with the students of the Deaf School in Plan de Flores. Aug '09

Byron Morales in Limon explaining the possible role of SIFAT in a joint project with AHMEN and Cruzada