Montana de Luz is a non-profit organization that provides hope for children with HIV/AIDS in Honduras. Our priority is to help these children heal, thrive and grow as they experience the love of God in their daily lives. Our staff functions as a family, with daily life going on all around as the children play together and with the house mothers.
Physically, Montana de Luz is situated on top of a small mountain in south-central Honduras. Its peaceful setting and bustling atmosphere provides a loving environment for these children to live. We provide nutritious food, clean water and proper medical care. Many of our children come to us malnourished, weakened and very ill. With the proper nutrition and medical care, we are blessed and so thankful to see them improve and grow.
We are sponsored and supported by Catholic and Protestant churches and secular organizations. Visitors in the form of mission trips arrive about once a month to share in our daily experiences and to create improvements to the facility.
Our mission is to build a better reality for children in Honduras with HIV/AIDS. We are a not-for-profit, faith based organization that works for the glory of God and the dignity of humankind. We open ourselves individually and collectively to be transformed by our interaction with each other and the people of Honduras. We seek to embrace diversity not only with our brothers and sisters in Honduras but also with our partners and members of our own community.
Mission Statement:
The Mission of Montana de Luz is to make God's love visible by providing for the
health, educational and security needs for Honduran Children with HIV/AIDS by:
1.
Making medical care available in a
family-like environment
2. Improving the quality of life in order to return or incorporate the
children to a home environment whenever possible
3.
Developing educational and social skills
to enhance successful integration into Honduran society
4. Promoting the acceptance of their medical condition with dignity and
self-sufficiency.
5. Developing community awareness and education of HIV/AIDS related
issues.
Our purpose is:
1. To provide a holistic ministry that addresses the spiritual, physical,
social, medical, emotional, and educational needs of the person.
2. To develop an HIV/AIDS home and hospice for children in Honduras while
providing them an opportunity to live and die with dignity.
3. To build a bridge between all partners and participants in this
project and the people of Honduras.
4. To empower and mentor Honduran leadership for this project.
5. To educate the people of Honduras about HIV/AIDS, fallacies and myths
about the disease, means of controlling the spread of the disease, and
compassion and care for those with the disease.
6. To provide a full range of opportunities for stateside organizations
and individuals to be involved in the project including:
A. Financial support
B. Personal correspondence with children and staff
C. Collection of materials and supplies needed by the children
D. Participation in leadership functions such as board membership
and fundraising
E. Mission team experiences that will:
1. Educate persons in the United States regarding the gifts and
needs in Honduras through an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural experience
2. Make a humanitarian contribution that betters the lives of
people in Honduras
3. Enrich the lives of participants by renewing their sense of
purpose and perspective
Montana de Luz is endorsed by:
The Episcopal Church La Ceiba, Honduras
The Catholic Church La Ceiba, Honduras
The Mayor of La Ceiba, Honduras
UNICEF
Organization of Pan American States
Ohio Commission of Hispanic/Latino Affairs
Presbytery of Scioto Valley
The Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Ohio
Montana de Luz has been developed by the following partners:
Sociedad Amigos de los Ninos, Honduras
Hands to Honduras, Alma, Michigan
Central College Presbyterian Church, Westerville, Ohio
Catholic Information Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Gesu Catholic Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Worthington Presbyterian Church, Worthington, Ohio
Montana de Luz has financial supporters that include:
Catholic Information Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Central College Presbyterian Church, Westerville, Ohio
Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Dublin A.M. Rotary, Dublin, Ohio
DuPont Pharmaceuticals
First Presbyterian Church, Fort Worth, Texas
First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, Ohio
Glaxo Wellcome
Grief Brothers
Lithopolis Methodist Church, Lithopolis, Ohio
Mid City Electric Company, Columbus, Ohio
McAuley Health Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Our Lady of Victory Church, Columbus, Ohio
Reitter Stucco, Columbus, Ohio
Rotary International
St. Brendan Catholic Church, Columbus, Ohio
St. Simons Presbyterian Church, St. Simons Island, Georgia
Worthington Presbyterian Church, Worthington, Ohio