Backpack Time Just Goes On and On

What do backpack collection and distribution have in common with “The Song that Doesn’t End” by Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop? Well, they just go on and on, my friend! Sowers4Pastors is in an almost constant state of planning/organizing, collecting, or distributing backpacks.

The container that will be coming from MD is ready for loading

Allen and Russell are back in Honduras following the U.S. backpack collection trip. Kirstin and Trish had returned home earlier. As always, they have all hit the ground running. Before we go into all of that, let’s do a little backtracking to talk about the final days of “backpacking.”

Allen and Russell made a run from Maryland to Florida, where they dropped off a Penske. They then flew to Texas. Along the way, there were a couple of speaking engagements. They picked up the backpacks in Texas and returned to Florida. All of the boxes of backpacks were readied for shipping and left in the capable hands of the people who will be shipping the containers.

Roxy takes her security
job very seriously.
She guards the 
Richardson's home in FL,
where the FL container
will ship from. 

Back in Honduras, Allen, Russell, and Trish have been busily talking about shipping times and prices with the powers that be. The cost is currently projected to be about $2000 more per container than last year. Honduran elections are scheduled to take place in the next two weeks. Election time can cause some disruption. The rising cost of shipping as also made it hard to even get a container. But praise God! The containers have finally arrived in MD and FL for loading. And thank you to all the volunteers who are helping load these containers!!

Every few years, Sowers4Pastors also distributes new Bibles along with the backpacks. This is a Bible year. Seattle4Lempira’s areas have already received their Bibles. While you’re adding things to your prayer list, you can also pray that there won’t be a delay in receiving the remaining shipments.Although this isn’t quite backpack related, it does directly concern backpack recipients and child sponsors. It’s the end of the school year in Honduras, so there are a lot of added things on the calendar. The ministry is hosting dinners for the students involved with teen programs. And while Russell, Allen, Kirstin, and Trish were in the States, the Honduran office staff visited the sister church locations. Kim and Jonathan Hall visited each of the Manna 4 Lempira locations. The purpose of these visits was to encourage the children to write letters to their sponsors. This was a lofty goal since some schools are still not in full session due to COVID. It was difficult for teachers to collect the letters. While no one can make any promises, the hope is to have letters ready to mail out for Christmas.

Please pray with us that the containers will get loaded and shipped and arrive safely in the Sowers' warehouse without difficulty. Every container, there are concerns that Honduran customs will cause delays. This year, there are the added problems with supply line disruptions and with the Honduran elections. As always, your prayer support means a lot to the crew at S4P!

What will happen when the backpacks and Bibles are safely in the hands of the children? Well, it’s almost certain that Allen, Trish, Russell, Kirstin, Kim, and Jonathan will begin planning for the following year. It just goes on and on, my friend.

Girl in the Seattle4Lempira
program showing off her new
Bible storybook

- posted by Christi