National Leadership = Sustainability

Jun 9

Juan Herrera didn’t own a pair of shoes until he was 12. By then, he had already spent years waking up before dawn to load 1,000 bricks into his father’s kiln then returning in the afternoon to unload them. That was life in his remote Honduran village: relentless, rugged, and without options.

School was a luxury that didn’t last long. After completing sixth grade, Juan had to leave the classroom behind to work full-time. He became a mason’s helper and eventually a skilled mason. In 2002, his path crossed with Mission Lazarus founder Jarrod Brown, who hired him to build a medical clinic in the isolated mountain village of Las Pitas. The job was filled with logistical challenges, but Juan never wavered. He completed a clinic so solid and well-built that it’s still serving the region more than 20 years later.

Juan quickly became a cornerstone of the Mission Lazarus team; respected, admired, and deeply trusted. In fact, he is now the longest-serving employee of Mission Lazarus. By 2010, Jarrod approached him with a new idea: What if he went back to school to finish his high school education? Not because he needed it to prove his value, his work already spoke for itself, but because it would set an example for other young men who had never seen education as a real possibility.

The Life-Changing Power of Opportunity

Juan said yes!

That decision didn’t just change his life. It launched a movement. Juan became the inspiration for the Mission Lazarus Adult Education Program, which today has 15 adult students enrolled, ranging in educational levels from second grade to junior high. These men and women are not just pursuing personal growth. They’re reshaping the culture of what’s possible in their communities.

Balancing work, family, and study, Juan dedicated nights and weekends to learning. And in December 2024, he graduated from high school, proudly walking alongside four of his fellow staff members.

Today, Juan serves as our Director of Projects, leading a team of 20 hardworking men across Honduras and Haiti. He’s also a missionary, living out his deep Christian faith through his leadership, humility, and tireless service.

Juan Herrera’s story is more than a personal triumph. It’s a living testimony that it’s never too late to learn, never too hard to lead, and never too early to invest in the life-changing power of opportunity.