From Fields to Faith: A Family’s Unexpected Blessing
For years, Jorge Estrada and his family lived without something most of us take for granted. Without a proper latrine, their children had no choice but to relieve themselves in open fields. It was an uncomfortable reality, but like many struggling families in the village of La Marañonera, they never imagined they could have anything better.
Located in the Namasigüe municipality, La Marañonera gets its name from the marañón tree, known in English as the cashew tree. This unique tree produces the cashew nut, which grows outside its fruit rather than inside like most nuts. The villagers—children and adults alike—collect the seeds and sell them to local buyers for about $0.28 per pound (seven lempiras), who then roast them to extract the edible, nutritious cashews.
Namasigüe is hot, dry, and economically challenged. Most families survive by growing corn, earning just enough to put food on the table. Others find seasonal work in melon, watermelon, sugarcane, or shrimp farms, doing whatever it takes to survive.
But for Jorge, his wife Rosa Castellón, and their five children, survival meant sacrifice, discomfort, and hardship—until one day, everything changed.
A Simple Gift, A Lasting Impact
In Namasigüe, Mission Lazarus has a dedicated pastoral family that not only shares the Word of God but also looks for families in urgent need. When they met Jorge and Rosa, they saw an opportunity to bless them in a meaningful way—with something as basic yet life-changing as a latrine.
When the family heard that Mission Lazarus would build them a proper latrine, they could hardly believe it. Grateful and eager, they immediately dug the hole themselves, reinforcing it with stones to prevent the earth from caving in. They worked alongside the mission, knowing that something as simple as a latrine would restore dignity, improve hygiene, and protect their children’s health.
More Than a Latrine—A New Life in Christ
Today, Jorge and Rosa’s family not only has a sanitary place to meet their basic needs—they also have a renewed spirit. Through Mission Lazarus, they received more than physical aid; they found spiritual transformation.
They are now part of a “House of Peace” in La Marañonera, gathering regularly to study the Bible, worship Jesus, and pray for their community. What began as a simple act of kindness turned into a life-changing encounter with faith and hope.
This is the heart of Mission Lazarus—bringing light, eternal value, and dignity in the name of Jesus Christ.
But we can’t do it alone. There are more families like Jorge’s waiting for a helping hand.