Kurtz Humanitarian Initiative for Southwest Honduras

About US
 
 
The mission to Honduras started with a few people and has expanded to many people from many different denominations and churches working together to improve the lives of people in Southwest Honduras. We started as a group of people from three different Presbyterian Churches.  We went to Honduras in 2005 to conduct medical clinics in four rural towns. 
 
In January 2010, sixteen people including 2 doctors and a dentist from the U.S., joined 14 Hondurans including a doctor and two dentists, to conduct medical and dental clinics and do construction work in the villages we help.  Join us in this interesting work!!!
 

 KHISH on Facebook

 

 

2010 Participants

 

U.S. Participants

Dr. Leonhee Cho                    Richmond , VA

Kathryn Dailey, R.N.              Montgomery, Al

Dr. Ron David            . -         Richmond, VA
Ken Draigh  -                          Port Jefferson, N.Y.

Boo Elmore -                          Richmond, VA

Susan Farrell, R.N. -               Richmond, VA
Eleanor Fukashima -              Richmond , VA

Rev. Richard Graugh -           Port Jefferson, N.Y.

Martha Horne                         Richmond , VA

Dr. Len Jensen -                      Drexel Hill, PA

Rev. Ryan Kurato -                 Richmond, VA

Dick Kurtz -                            Berwyn, PA

Rick Kurtz -                            Lake Mary, FL

Dr. Susan David-                    Richmond , VA

Shannon Staub -                      College Park, MD

Rev. Mark Wright                  Tegucigalpa, Honduras

 

Honduran Participants

Dr. Adolfo Moreno -               Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Stephanie Moreno -                Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Alejandra Moreno -                Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Dr. Alex Moreno -                  Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Dr. Abby Luiz                         Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Dr. Edwin -                              Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Dr. Leyda Callejas                   Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Dr. Luz Luiz                             Tegucigalpa, Honduras

 

Security

Fausto Mendoza Martinez

Carlos

 

Administators

Marel Hernandez

Marvin and Beatriz Hernandez

Noel Mejia

 

Drivers

Leo

Sergio

 

Translators

Lyla –

Dave Romero

Stephanie Erezo

Linda Danella

Douglas

 

 

Dick Kurtz- kurtz@woodcock.com. - Berwyn, PA -Trinity Presbyterian Church- I am a semi-retired patent attorney who has been winding down from the practice of law for five years or so. I have been led to Honduras by a desire to help some of the nicest and most needy people in this Hemisphere. The mission has brought me together with many talented people who are fun to work with.

 

Richard Graughpastor@pjpres.org --I am one of the original members of the first KHISH trip in 2005 and have been an annual participant since.  I currently serve as minister to a Presbyterian congregation in Port Jefferson, NY ( Long Island), and have been tagged the "Spiritual Advisor" of our band of merry missionaries.  (Although formally Rev. Dr. , just call me Rich.)  I've been in ordained ministry almost 20 years in the PC(USA), worked as a Social Worker with children and families in the foster care system, and am an enthused member of this Honduran initiative.

 

Ron DavidRon8Dv@aol.com  -- Mechanicsville, VA – Immanuel Episcopal Church (Old Church, VA) – I am a pediatric neurologist, and have been part of this mission since its inception.  Despite my “day job,” I usually see all the older adults in the clinics in Honduras.  It is my goal at this time to devise a screening program for cataracts, so that we can involve colleagues in ophthalmologic surgery for cataract removal.  This will be my sixth trip to Honduras as a member of the Kurtz mission.

 

Susan David -- clwturtle@aol.com -- Mechanicsville, Virginia -- Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church ( Richmond, VA) -- I am a pediatrician, making my sixth mission trip to Honduras since the first Kurtz-led team in June, 2005.  This mission has become one of the most important areas of my life, and I am always waiting for God to show us how we may be of service.  So far, I haven't had to wait very much at all!

 

Len Jensennelsnej@yahoo.com -- I became active in KHISH last year when Dick Kurtz asked me to participate.  I am a dentist with a university affiliation and found the trip last year to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  I live just outside of Philadelphia  with my wife Simone.  I have a grown son and a daughter who live in the area and Simone has two daughters who are both in college.

 

Sam Lowe - SAMHAR@msn.com -Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond VA.  Sam is a Construction Supervisor in the Richmond, VA area.  Last January Sam led the construction team which improved the church at Morocopay and Pastor Vasquez’ house at Morocopay.  In 2010 he will plan and start rebuilding the manse at Puerto Grande. 


Donna Allenallendm@ecc.edu --  currently living in Potomac, MD with a permanent home in Orchard Park, NY (my home from birth until a few years ago when I retired from teaching English at Erie Community College).  I am a wife and mother of three grown children and 5 + 7/9 grandchildren!  In DC, I volunteer at the Kennedy Center and at Miriam's Kitchen (a food shelter for homeless)...and have done a stint at the Capitol.  My life has been a study in serendipity...and now God (and my good friend, Catherine Prion, who is a good friend of Susan's) has brought me to this adventure with the hope that I will be able to contribute in some small way to the betterment of a people who are in need...yet a people who promise to give so much to us, as well.


Shannon Staub - sstaub@umd.edu  - Stevensville, Maryland - I am a third-year student at the University of Maryland studying Family Science and preparing for medical school. I am also Dr. David and Dr. Pillsbury's granddaughter. This will be my first time participating in a mission trip and I am very excited to be lending my hand. Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday everyone.

 

Mary (B00) Elmore, Mechanicsville VA melmore@comgirlscouts.org -- I work for Girl Scout Commonwealth Council as a Program Specialist. I love to cook, travel, and be with friends. I am very active in Rotary International and have done some travel through a program called GSE Group Study Exchange, where a team of professionals will visit another country for a month and explore their governments and work places. I am looking forward to this trip because above all I want to help people, and to share what talent I have with others.

    

Kathryn Dailey -- kathryn-dailey@charter.net -- Montgomery, AL -- St. John's Episcopal Church (Montgomery, AL) -- I am an RN working full time in the emergency department. I have been to Honduras on four previous medical mission trip with my church. I have also been to Honduras on two construction mission trips with my church and two trips with Habitat for Humanity. My other previous international mission trip was a medical mission with the Diocese of Alabama to Haiti. My church's mission trip to Honduras in July was canceled due to the political turmoil in the country. I've been in withdrawal and was thrilled to be allowed to be part of this team. I'm an international mission trip junkie. The biggest high for me comes from Honduras


Seonhee Cho -- scho@vcu.edu -- Richmond, Virginia---No church affiliation--I am a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and specialize in Language Education. My mission for this trip is to prepare for the curriculum and instruction for the kids in the villages. Since this is going to be my first trip, I would like to focus on assessing the teaching and learning condition and conducting a need analysis. I have been looking for new experiences and the opportunities to return what I have to the (global) community. This could be a great start!


Ken Draigh - kdraigh@verizon.net - Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY.  I am a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Port Jefferson.  I retired in the Spring of 1991 from Stony Brook University where I was on the Administrative Faculty for 25 years.  I was one of the first persons to volunteer for the Peace Corps in 1962 and was in the first group to serve in Peru.  This will be my second mission trip to Honduras

 

Eleanor Fukushima --  ehfcrc@comcast.net  -- I am a disability counselor with workers compensation. I have known Ron David since he started coming to Immanuel. He is the reason I am going on this trip. I am from Mechanicsville, VA. I grew up here, moved away and returned. I am currently taking Spanish which I hope to use on this trip. I am looking forward to new experiences and new faces.

 

Susan Farrell SusanBarr311@aol.com  --I am a member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, which is how I came to be part of this Honduras trip. I have worked with Susan Pillsbury David on the missions committee. I am a nurse though i have not worked in that capacity in about 10 years. I am married and am blessed to be in a situation where i can devote my energies to family and church.

 

Martha Horne from Chesterfield VA.   Southern Baptist.  This is my first mission trip to Honduras .   I am excited about the trip.  I know God will humble me to see just how fortunate I am.

 

Rick Kurtz -RickKurtz@cfl.rr.com - follows in the footsteps of his father in theHonduras effort.  Rick, Beth and three children, live in Lake Mary,FL.   Rick will work with the construction team and help with other projects as needed. 

 

 

 

 

              2009 Previous Trip Participants

Abigail (Abi) Pillsbury -         Richmond,VA

Amy David -                          Richmond, VA

Brian Baird -                            Richmond, VA

Candice Schwalbach -              Honolulu, Hawaii

Cherry Corley -                       Richmond,VA

David Reid -                           Berwyn, PA

Denny Leeper -                       Berwyn, PA

Dick Kurtz -                             Berwyn, PA

Don Bovais -                           Berwyn, PA

Dr. Len Jensen -                      Drexel Hill,PA

Dr. Ron David -                      Richmond, VA

Dr. Susan Pillsbury David-         Richmond, VA

Elizabeth Russell, R.N. -          Richmond, VA

Ken Draigh   -                           Port Jefferson, N.Y.

Martha Suarez -                       Berwyn, PA

Reneé Gould, R.N. -                Richmond, VA

Rev. Richard Graugh -              Port Jefferson, N.Y.

Sam Lowe -                             Richmond, VA

Dr. Adolfo Moreno -               Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Stephanie Moreno -                 Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Dra. Hortenzia Valladares -      Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Dr. Alex Moreno -                   Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Francis -                                   Chaluteca, Honduras

Security

Rene Pulma

Fausto Mendoza Martinez

Drivers

Rigo

Isaac

Eddie

Julio

Translators

Maria Elana

Lyla  

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Founders

Dick Kurtz, Principal

 

 

 

Dr. Ronald B. David, Co-Principal

Dr. Susan Pillsbury David, Co-Principal

Denny Leeper, Founder

Don Bovais, Founder

David Reid, Treasurer

Cherry Corley, Treasurer

Rev. Dr. Richard Graugh, Founder

Dr. Adolfo Moreno

Dra. Rosanna Zamora

Dr. Alex Moreno

Dra. Hortenzia Valladares