Chipley Boy Scout Troop 39 takes their skills to Honduras

While most spend their spring break at the beach or vacationing with family, three boys and two adults from Chipley Boy Scout Troop 39 spent theirs in Siguatepeque, Honduras on a two-fold mission.

The first part of the mission was to construct a site manager cabin for the Pastor and Missionary Training Center as part of Scout Tyler Spangenber’s Eagle Scout service project. The second involved ministering to missionary children who had recently joined the Honduras Patrol of Troop 39 while teaching them scout skills and rank advancement. Scout Levi Smelser led this portion of the mission.

Once wall frames were complete, the troop assisted in the final flooring work and building trusses for the roof.

“The younger scouts there were able to help with part of this work, but most of the work was done by our older scouts, the adults who went with us and three local adults,†Spangenberg said. “While I did part of the construction work, my role was to coordinate these construction activities. We were able to successfully raise and secure the cabin walls before leaving Honduras.â€

As Spangenberg led the build, Smelser led the younger scouts through skills training.

“When there was no construction work available that was suitable for the younger scouts, my role was to lead the effort to teach them as many scout skills as we could while we were there,†Smelser said. “We worked on first aid, nature, cooking, rope work, other outdoor skills, and hiking. We hiked to the top of the coffee farm mountain where we visited with the local coffee growers.â€

The ministry center where the cabin was built helps to promote local coffee growers’ products and also provides part-time employment for several of the local farmers.

“We have seven scouts, all sons of American Christian missionaries who are serving there and that have family ties to Northwest Florida,†Scoutmaster Ted Spangenberg said. “Being able to work on the Eagle Service Project and allow the international segment of Troop 39 to interact with our American Boy Scouts was a great experience for all of us. We are working on possibly having some of our younger Honduran scouts join us at summer camp this year in Florida for a greater learning experience.â€

For more information on scouting or to sign your child up, visit https://beascout.org.