Mike and Betty - from Jake Pinkston on teaching mission in Honduras

It was a tough day at NFL central, La Ceiba this weekend for three passionate fans a long way from the action. Mike and Betty invited me over to their house after church f0r bunch and an afternoon of football. I am an avid Boston sports fan and it has actually been easier to follow the Red Sox and Patriots here in Honduras than it was living in Colorado. Go figure. Mike and Betty are big Steelers fans so we had our afternoon schedule set up well, with the games one after the other. Unfortunately, it did not go too well. Both our teams lost as Tom Brady’s passes hit the ground more than his receivers and the Steelers kicker wished that the goal posts were a little farther to the left. However, we still enjoyed the fellowship, not to mention the brunch of eggs and waffles, chips and dip, and a couple beers to wash it all down (the beers were after brunch). The conversation over the dinner of hot dogs and mashed potatoes was a little subdued though…

I met Mike and Betty last March when I came with the Colorado mission team. Since then, they have been the catalysts for my year here and have been supporting me everyday in my transition from Vail ski bum to gringo science teacher. They proposed the idea of me coming to Veronica, the rector, found my apartment, negotiated the rent, stocked my refrigerator, showed me around town, and have invited me over to eat with them every week since. They have adopted me as their Honduras son. But that is only what they have done for me. Their story is one of incredible sacrifice and devotion to God and the children of Trinity.

Mike and Betty Kaszer are from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the parents of three children who are now grown and married. They retired two years ago from the steel industry and child services respectively and, feeling a very young sixty years old, decided to take on a three year mission trip. They found Holy Trinity through Mission Works, and after touring the school with a team from their church, found their calling. They hit the fund-raising trail across their diocese, rented their house, packed whatever they could fit into a couple suitcases, and got on the plane.

What a different school Trinity was then. Recently under the new direction Veronica Flowers after an extended period of decline, falling admissions, large debt accumulation, deterioration of facilities and abandonment of its bilingual curriculum, it was difficult to identify where to even start. The Kaszers spent the first year as teachers in the upper school, learning about the culture, observing, teaching US History, Religion and English, and trying to find some semblance of order. They found no classroom discipline, little progress in covering the curriculum, and a constantly changing schedule to accommodate for weekly extra curricular programs. The classrooms were is disrepair, desks broken or infested with termites and the grounds were covered in trash. It was a very difficult place to work.

Last year, Mike took on the role of secondary school principal in addition to his teaching responsibilities. Realizing that the facilities would come around little by little, Mike and Betty set to changing the culture and attitudes of the students and teachers. They set high expectations for behavior, attendance, and academic performance. This meant putting a lot pressure on the parents, who had not been particularly active in their children’s education. They stabilized the calendar, rescheduled core curriculum classes during the cooler morning hours, and pared down the special programming. With passion and persistence, they found the teachers and students progressively bought into the new system.

Coming into their final year, the school is a completely different place. Enrollment in the secondary school is over 60 students, and will likely grow another 20 students with the addition of the 11th grade next years. There is continuity in the curriculum and the children are performing at much higher levels than in the past. These educational successes have resulted in increased support from US missionary groups, who have donated time and materials to improve several spaces that are now in use this year. There now is a science lab, home economics room, wood working shop, library with internet, and teacher’s lounge with AC. Every classroom has new desks, a new paint job, white boards, and storage space for the student’s books. Much of this has happened as a result of Mike and Betty’s impressive fund raising efforts and their ability to define and pursue priorities. They have a vision for the school and they have made it happen.

When I asked Betty what her children think of all this, she laughed and said that her kids thought she and Mike were crazy for taking this on. Crazy or not, what the Kaszers have done is nothing short of miraculous. Their work here in Holy Trinity is a testament to their strong faith in God and their optimistic, hardworking nature. It has been inspiring to work with them and I hope that when I retire someday, I am able to do something as meaningful and exciting. And still keep an eye on the Pats score.

"The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ... The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love." - The Book of Common Prayer