“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” -Martin Luther King Jr.
To quote Life Leadership CEO Chris Brady, “One of the things I love so much about the Life on Life Initiative is seeing just how many places in our communities where people really care. There is so much need, and there are so many places to serve.” While thousands of Life Leadership Members across North America are finding incredible ways to make a difference in their local communities, one team out of Pennsylvania decided to take their love across borders to a small country in Central America. The beautiful people of the tropical and–in certain regions–temperate country of Honduras had found a place into the heart of a very special young lady…
A little over a year ago, Life Leadership Member, Maile Hoffman, left the comfort of the USA to become a student missionary. After being in the country for the allotted amount of time for her mission trip, she decided that her passion was with the Honduran people and extended her stay. Maile presently cares for 30+ children at the “Hogar de Niños,” as well as teaches English at the local elementary school in Santa Barbara.
When All Grace Outreach Spokesman Chris Swanson officially announced the Life on Life Initiative at the Life Leadership Convention in June 2015, Life Leadership Member and mother of Maile, Sharon Hoffman, got excited by the idea of helping the many children at the Children’s Home in Honduras. Over the course of a couple of weeks, Sharon, along with her husband, Tony, and a couple of other leaders had rallied the entire Rhino organization around this new Life on Life project.
Ideas started flying about how to get creative to raise money so that the few people that would make the trip down to Honduras could bless the lives of these children and their selfless caretakers in a huge way. As it turned out, after discussing their Life on Life project with Life Leadership Founders, Orrin and Laurie Woodward, All Grace Outreach decided to check match anything that this excited group of world-changers could raise. Between a couple of combined yard sales out of a team in Maryland, many personal donations, and 50% of the profits of an entire day at Life Leadership Members, Kolynn and Lynn Kelley’s ice cream shop; the group was able to raise about $5,000. All Grace Outreach then donated an additional $5,000 to the cause to equal a total of $10,000 raised.
It was decided that the trek would be made by Life Leadership Members, Sharon Hoffman, Leslie Gebhart, Beth Ober and Lizzie Ober, along with Sharon’s 80 year old father, Paw Paw. All five of these new missionaries made the decision to pay for the trip themselves so that all of the $10,000 could be invested in ways to make a bigger difference in Honduras. In early November 2015, the group set out to see their fundraised money meet the needs of the children and families of Santa Barbara, Honduras. Here are a few of the blessings that they were able to administer while across the pond in Central America:
- One donor had contributed $1,000 to see to it that the children will receive NEW uniforms and shoes for the upcoming school year. (They have not had new ones–as the current uniforms have been passed down for years. The children have one uniform and wash it every night for the next day.)
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Christmas gifts for the children (They will be blessed on Christmas Day!!!) Each child will have their own gifts to open on that special morning.
- Bathrooms were repaired.
- A deteriorating wall was reconstructed.
- Tile flooring was put in.
- “Pilas” where the children wash their clothing were fixed.
- A 2nd floor laundry room was constructed so that the children could hang their clothing there instead of outside where the clothes were often stolen.
- Solar lights were provided for a family without electricity.
- Boots were given to a young girl that has a disability.
- Money was distributed to families in need in the surrounding area.
- Spoons and forks were bought for the children’s cafeteria.
- One of the rooms in the Children’s Home was painted.
“We spent a day at the school, shopped for the children in the town of Santa Barbara, rode in the back of a pickup truck (woo hooo), worshiped with the children each night, ate our meals with them, practiced our Spanish skills, watched the children climb trees to get us coconuts, enjoyed every one of their hugs (they loved to be hugged and to give hugs), cried as we heard the stories of how they came to the orphanage, and witnessed the true meaning of God’s grace and servant leadership while there.” -Sharon Hoffman
Although these amazing missionaries and their teammates in the United States will never be able to see just how far the ripple effect of their selfless service reaches, their testimonies from the short time that they were abroad are heartwarming. Take a look below as they describe some of what they learned from this amazing experience…
“What impacted me the most on this trip was witnessing the genuine JOY in the hearts of the children (the ‘served’) and the volunteers (the ‘servants’). I literally have never experienced anything like it! Life-Changing!! :)” -Leslie Gebhart
“If I could go back, I would have not gone back to the missionary house early. I wish I would have stayed with the kids longer and experienced their devotional time. I also would have prepared myself more and learned Spanish before I went to Honduras.” -Lizzie Ober
“What made me cry on the trip was hearing the stories about how the children came to the home (severe poverty, death of family members, suicide, etc.). One little boy, named Lester, especially broke my heart as they explained that he was afraid of taking a shower when he first arrived because he didn’t know what it was!” -Beth Ober
“Life Leadership has had a tremendous impact on my life. Being involved in this community means always stepping outside of your comfort zone to make a difference. I have seen God work so much in my life in the past year through the children here in Honduras! Thank you so much to Orrin and Laurie Woodward, the Rhino organization, and to all of the subscribers to All Grace Outreach for your support. You have made a difference here in Honduras.” -Maile Hoffman
Make sure to watch this short clip of the Honduran children saying “Thank you” to All Grace Outreach and the Life on Life Initiative!
Life Leadership is so proud of the kindness and selflessness displayed by the entire Rhino organization. For this Life on Life project to become a reality, many people had to sacrifice and give to help others in need. Thank you for inspiring Life Leadership members around the world to “always step outside of your comfort zone to make a difference.”
Mary says
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world!
What a powerful message the Ober’s, Hoffman and others are sharing in Honduras!
Alex Stiehl says
Awesome stuff! Thanks to the team that went, your impact in those kids lives will never be forgotten! Love the impact for Christ the organization is having!
Lloyd Weiler says
That is awesome!!
Angie says
Awesome story of God’s love expressed through the Life on Life community.
Cheryl Slavinsky says
I love to read these Life on Life stories and learn about the different ways Life members are giving of their time to help those in need.
Sharon Hoffman says
Thank you so much to the entire Life community for your support! This trip was truly life-changing and I encourage anybody who has ever thought about doing mission work to do so. I want to personally thank the Rhino organization and the Raging Rhino organization for their support of this project! The Life on Life Initiative is truly about making a difference all around the world. I also want to thank all of the AGO subscribers and to Orrin and Laurie Woodward for their support! It was the trip of a lifetime and I am so excited to play a small part in the lives of the children in Honduras!
Chris Brady says
Thank you to everyone who made this possible! What a wonderful demonstration of love and caring. I am so proud to be associated with each of you and am excited about the difference you made in the lives of those little girls!
Keep up the great work shining forth God’s glory!!
CB
Douglas Sutton says
To see disadvantage, blight, and devastation is to evidence a “will” that can be changed as much as it was caused!
I am grateful for The Life on Life Initiative, the minds that care enough to “act” and not just “think about it”!
The active spirit is the spirit of opportune healing…Life on life!
Tammy Murphy says
Wow! This was awesome to read! I love the fact that the team serving the children were blessed just as the children were blessed…if not even more blessed than the kids. God is good! I am looking forward to serving next year with this amazing team!
Leslie Fry says
These leading ladies of the Rhinos gave their hearts to these children and blessed them in ways that were Amazing!!! These kids have clothing and shoes! It’s so wonderful to see the Heart of the giving of Sharon Hoffmans daughter Maile!!! What a way to serve God!!! Thank you to All You Angelic Ladies who have served the LORD!!!!
Elizabeth Sieracki says
What a beautiful story!! I love this community!!
Bishop Tom Omukhobero says
The story is very inspiring and touching, love to see the children work moving on in this community.Praying for them! I love children ministry!
Doug DeWitt says
It was truly an honor to have been able to contribute in a small way to this outreach project. This is what it is all about, serving and putting others first. It is amazing that a company such as LIFE Leadership would launch a major initiative that is all about giving and nothing about getting. Servant leadership is destined to change the world one person at a time on the way to millions of people!
Dean Frey says
What a great heartwarming story. Thanks to all involved for making a difference with your time and money. Merry Christmas.
Blaine Terrill says
What an inspiration to know how effective and diligent Life Leadersheap members are living their priorities! I have long admired the Rhino Compensated Community and am eager to participate in future AGO and Life On Life mission trips. Way to serve our Savior Maile! To God Be The Glory! Stealth CIA: Courage In Action!
Leslie Gebhart says
It was both an honor and a privilege to serve alongside of the ladies I traveled with, as well as Maile Hoffman and some other missionaries serving while we were there. Great work is being done all over the world and I am so thankful that Life Leadership and the Life on Life Initiative put it on our hearts to do our part. This was a life changing experience and all the more impactful because of the team effort leading up to the trip. I plan to do something of this nature for many years to come! #lovelifeleadership 🙂
Grace Oellig says
It is truly a privilege to be working side by side with such an amazing group of people that don’t just talk about problems and solutions but they jump into action mode. The great thing about the life on life is it truly is were the rubber hits the road. Life Leadership will change the world one life at a time. How can you lose with God on your side as well as the winners of the Raging Rhinos. This group truly loves each other and when your love tanks are full you have to go empty it out to other people with empty love tanks. It’s great to see precious children being loved on how Christ loves us. ” Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world”
Elise Freeman says
What an amazing group that I am honored to be working with. ..their hearts are full of giving to and serving others …The work and lives that were touched in Honduras will always be remembered and these ladies will forever be blessed. ..love you ladies and the work being done through Life on Life. ..
Bruce Kuhn says
This initiative was an awesome way to give to a worthy cause. I look forward to seeing many more initiatives like this one, simply because this is what we are supposed to do in LIFE, follow the example of Christ and touch the world!
Be blessed each and every day!
Bruce Kuhn
Mark Fillmore says
I am totally honored and privileged to be a part of a great community of leaders who build our purpose with a business! May God Bless every heart and hand who played a part in this amazing outreach!
Donna Shapiro&Brian England says
It’s a pleasure being part of such an Amazing group of people. Maile Hoffman you have been a blessing to the people of Honduras and especially to the children. I am very sure your parents are so proud of you!
The teaching, and philosophy of Life Leadership gives people hope, Faith and understanding of how to be better in your life.
Thankyou Life Leadership and Rhino Organization for always being there for us…
Pat Ellison says
I am totally honored and privileged to be a part of a great community of leaders and to be working with them. All of them have hearts that are overflowing of giving and serving others. They are setting a great example for everyone In Life On Life. The pictures are worth a thousand words with all the smiles and happies and Maile Hoffman has given a part of her heart to everyone she has touched in Honduras. Sharon Hoffman, Leslie Gebhart, Beth Ober and Lizzie Ober and of course Paw Paw have set the standards high. Let’s see what we all can do next year and every year thereafter, touching one person, one by one,
Rachel Burwell says
What an amazing opportunity to have played a small part in raising the funds to help the community Maile has become a part of in Honduras. I am always amazed at what a small group of committed people can do to change the world and the ripple effect LIFE is causing across the world with the selfless service that is LIFE on Life. Honored to be a part of this organization and following such amazing leaders.
Mike Leibfried says
It was an amaizing story to read, I was truly touched by seeing the work that was done by the donations that we’re raised for the children in Honduras. I love seeing the difference Life Leadership is making around the world!
Cheryl Ream says
Awesome job!!!! What a great group of people in life leadership!!! ???
William Brindley says
Proud to be associated with such an awesome community of servant leaders!
Benjamin Hykes says
I am so proud to be a part of the Rhino team and especially the Raging Rhinos.l am so glad to be associated with a team with so much integrity to spend their own money to take the trip and make sure that the money that was raised got to where it was supposed to go and what it was to be used for.