Ernesto Izaguirre: From Bootmaker to Master Craftsman, Teacher, and Servant Leader

In the quiet mountain town of San Marcos de Colón, Honduras, a small bootmaking shop once stood—humble in size, but rich in craftsmanship. Inside worked Ernesto Izaguirre, a man whose skilled hands shaped leather into something lasting. Back in 2007, Mission Lazarus founder and missionary at the time, Jarrod Brown, stepped into Ernesto’s shop and ordered a pair of custom boots. What he received wasn’t just a pair of boots—it was a glimpse into something extraordinary.

Impressed by Ernesto’s artistry, Jarrod returned often, bringing friends who quickly became customers. As Mission Lazarus began laying plans in 2009 for a vocational school to train young people in marketable trades, Jarrod remembered Ernesto and the quality of his work. But more than that, he remembered Ernesto’s humility and heart. He approached him with a new idea: “Would you come and teach bootmaking?”

For Ernesto, the opportunity was overwhelming. Growing up as the son of a poor farmer, education was never an option. His father believed school was for the lazy, and Ernesto had left formal education after sixth grade. Still, he carried in his heart the quiet dream of one day becoming a teacher. When Mission Lazarus invited him to teach, he saw it as nothing less than God fulfilling a lifelong desire.

He began teaching bootmaking at the newly formed Lazarus Academy, pouring his skills into the next generation. A few years in, the leatherworking instructor left. Ernesto, ever humble and eager to serve, offered to take on the additional role. “I make fancy boots,” he said. “I think I can make bags and belts too.” And he could.

As his role expanded, so did his impact. Ernesto wasn’t just teaching trades; he was mentoring hearts. Students began to seek him not just for bootmaking techniques, but for guidance in life. They saw in him not only a master craftsman but a man of integrity and faith.

That faith journey began at Mission Lazarus, too. Through his work, Ernesto came to know Christ personally and was baptized. In time, his wife and children also gave their lives to Jesus. His story of transformation became a living testimony to those around him.

With steady, dignified employment came another fulfilled dream: home ownership. Ernesto was able to buy land and build a house for his family—something he once thought impossible.

When the Lazarus Academy expanded to offer adult education, Ernesto didn’t hesitate. Despite his responsibilities at work and at home, he enrolled—starting in seventh grade. It wasn’t easy, but in December 2024, Ernesto proudly graduated from high school. For his senior capstone project, he chose something deeply personal: teaching his own mother how to read. The gift of education had changed his life, and he wanted to pass it on.

Today, Ernesto serves not only as a teacher at Lazarus Academy but also as the production supervisor and lead product designer for Lazarus Artisan Goods, the social enterprise born out of the vocational program. Every product—every boot, bag, belt—bears the mark of his commitment to excellence and transformation.

And he’s not done. While continuing to teach and lead, Ernesto is now enrolled in university, pursuing higher education with the same quiet determination that’s marked his journey all along.

From a boy told school was for the lazy, to a man who teaches, leads, and learns with purpose—Ernesto Izaguirre is a living picture of what’s possible when dignity, opportunity, and faith come together.