Thursday, July 3, 2025

From Crafts to Connections: Edgewater Alliance Brings VBS Joy to Honduras

If you don’t recognize the name Tiffany Richardson, rest assured — she probably recognizes yours if you sponsor a child through Sowers4Pastors' EAC program. Tiffany is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse, managing much of the correspondence between sponsors and their kids. But she doesn’t stop there — she also leads about two Edgewater Alliance Church teams to Honduras each year.

Last week, Tiffany was on the ground in Gracias with her latest team, bringing vibrant Vacation Bible School (VBS) programming to five different schools. That may sound like a logistical marathon — and it was! — but the team pulled it off with smiles, laughter, and a whole lot of heart.

Delivering two full days of VBS to five schools in just four days meant serious planning. The team arrived in Honduras with lesson plans, games, crafts, and enough supplies to keep over 230 kids engaged. They adapted material from the VBS programs used at Edgewater Alliance, selecting the lessons and activities that best translated across languages and cultures. Tiffany said one of the most meaningful parts was being able to tell the children in Honduras, “These are the same lessons your sponsor families learned back in the U.S.”

Here’s how they made it happen: the team visited two schools on Monday and Tuesday, then hit the remaining three on Wednesday and Thursday. They sang songs, shared stories, played games, and got creative with crafts — all in spite of the rainy season. Gracias has been drenched with daily downpours lately, but incredibly, the team was only lightly sprinkled on one occasion. That may sound minor, but in rural Honduras, a heavy rain can shut down travel completely. This was an answered prayer — and a huge relief.

  

 


Tiffany is no stranger to this work. She’s been sponsoring children since 2017 and started traveling to Honduras in 2018. Over the years, she’s watched children grow up, graduate, and step into adulthood with confidence and purpose. One young man she first sponsored seven years ago has now finished school — and this past week, she met his niece at a VBS program. Another team member met the girl she sponsors, who is now in college training to become a police officer. Her sister is studying to become a doctor. For context: when Sowers4Pastors began serving this area, local education stopped at 6th grade.


This summer’s team included 10 members, with 4 teens or younger. One turned 17 while in Honduras and was treated to a surprise traditional Honduran birthday celebration. There was even a mother-son duo on the team. They didn’t sponsor a child when they arrived, but by the time they left, they were proudly sponsoring a little girl they met during a school visit.

Tiffany shared with a laugh, “It’s not unusual for team members to arrive not sponsoring a child. But probably 98% are sponsors by the time they leave.”

Thanks to a little timing overlap, Tiffany was also able to connect with members of the incoming medical team — including the well-known and well-loved Dr. Monica. On one day when her group went ziplining, Tiffany stayed back to help organize and ended up lending a hand with medical supply prep. She joked afterward, “I told my folks I’d switched teams for the day!”

A Note to Sponsors (and Future Sponsors)

Tiffany’s story is more than a trip report. It’s a reminder of how missions work isn't about grand gestures — it's about consistency, connection, and compassion. Whether it's sharing a lesson, handing out oatmeal, or giving a smile, every act plants a seed. Over time, those seeds grow into stories like a college-bound girl or a reunited sponsor and niece.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your letters, prayers, or gifts are making a difference — let Tiffany assure you: They are.

Please continue to pray for the children, families, and dedicated team members who pour so much love into this ministry. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be part of the next 98%.

 - posted by Christi


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