Trash Mountain Project Blog

Our mission in Honduras is going better than anticipated.  We recently heard an inspiring story about a doctor in California who simply watched the Honduras documentary, and responded by calling the AFE School and providing them with a large some of money to finish their high school!  This is the power of sharing a story on behalf of another!

Latest news: 

Honduras Christmas:  Thank you so much to our Southeastern University team for hosting ”Pictures with Santa” and their dedication to providing Christmas for the children of Trash Mountain Honduras.  We would also like to thank the H20 Connect Class at FBC Lakeland, as well as all other individuals who contributed so generously to make this Christmas special for the children.  Every child at the AFE School and many of their siblings received a full outfit, shoes, dinner, and a toy for Christmas this year thanks to your generosity.

Honduras Journey 2009:  Michael Barrett returned to the Tegucigalpa trash dump to celebrate with the children at the AFE Christmas party and continue our documentary coverage of the dump community.  Just one week later, Brett and Jaelle Durbin returned to the dump with a large team dedicated to building homes for a select group of our Trash Mountain families.  Thank you so much to the team that served the children and families of Trash Mountain Honduras.  Pictures and details from both of these journeys will soon be posted on this Blog, Facebook, and TMP website.  

Honduras Journeys 2010 Announced:  Trash Mountain Project has announced two summer trips to Tegucigalpa, Honduras open to willing participants who have a hunger to serve the beautiful people of Trash Mountain.  The first trip will be from May 15 -  22,  2010.  The second trip will be from August 2 – 9,  2010.  Details will soon be posted on the Trash Mountain Project website.  If you would like to join us in our mission, please contact Brett Durbin at brett@trashmountain.com.

We hope this update finds you well. It has been an exciting fall for Trash Mountain Project!  

Many of you have seen the Cambodia documentary we filmed last June that told the story of the children and families living and working in the Phnom Penh garbage dump. In that short film, you were introduced to Phy and her family, including her little girl Piem who wants to become a singer. We have great news from the team working in Cambodia with this beautiful family. Because of your support for TMP, we were privileged to send enough resources to move them back to their hometown, place their family in a new home, and help them establish a new business and way of life after the dump. We want to say a special thanks to Tim Brown and his team from LOHI for being the hands and feet on the ground in Cambodia that have been instrumental in making this happen.  With help from all of you who are part of the Trash Mountain Tribe, we will be moving many families in the coming months and years as they find a new beginning outside of life on the dump.

Dear Trash Mountain Project Tribe,

We love you and thank you for your heart for the children and families of Trash Mountain Project. It has truly been an amazing first year for us. As we reflect on God’s amazing craft of this young ministry, we believe it is vital to share with you the established vision, purpose, and missional standing of Trash Mountain Project.

Our vision is “to tell the story of those without a voice. To communicate the despair and hopelessness of trash dump communities around the globe for the purpose of life-transforming response modeled in the love and footsteps of Jesus Christ.” He was the greatest communicator to ever live, and a timeless storyteller. God communicated to His followers through illustrations found within their own culture. We at Trash Mountain Project believe storytelling is perhaps the most effective way to share the Gospel message as well as the despair of communities bound in one of the worst earthly existences known to humankind.

Through our first two short storytelling documentaries the Lord created a tremendous ripple effect that has brought and will continue to bring new life to the trash dump communities of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Their stories have been shared around the globe, and Christians and non-believers alike are responding by donating their time, unique talents, spiritual gifts and resources in an effort to save human lives that would otherwise be lost. Even amidst our Trash Mountain Project volunteers and support team members, hearts have already been won for Christ!

What’s Happening Now?

We would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who volunteered with or attended the Polk Theatre Cambodia documentary premiere on August 25th. Over 1,200 area college students, youth and parents attended the event, many of who have responded to God’s unique call in their lives by donating their time and resources to Trash Mountain Project. In addition, we also would like to thank all businesses and individuals who gave selflessly to make our first fundraising event, a global e-auction partnered with Idol’s Aside Ministries, a tremendous success! We owe the outstanding participation in both events to our great Christian family that continues to share the story of trash dump communities to all who will listen.

We are presently building relationships and joining forces with churches, schools, and businesses that have also heard the call to spread the love of Jesus Christ to those living in trash dump communities around the world. Through these partnerships, Trash Mountain Project will be able to continue to bring life-altering, soul-saving change to hopeless children and families. Please contact Brett Durbin at brett@trashmountain.com or visit our website at www.trashmountain.com if you would like to explore how your home, church, school, or business can partner or travel with Trash Mountain Project.

It is an honor and privilege to be on this team with you serving the lost, the last and the forgotten in the name of Jesus Christ. God is using you and your unique contributions to Trash Mountain Project to radically improve the lives of children and families of trash dumps throughout the world. If you have any questions about Trash Mountain Project’s global ministry efforts, please contact Brett Durbin at brett@trashmountain.com for more information.

“Live the Command”

Where: Polk Theatre
When: August 25, 2009
Time: 8:00pm to 9:30pm
Who: Trash Mountain Project & Southeastern University
Cost: Free…open to the public

What is “Live the Command”?

Throughout the world, children rummage through mountains of trash in search of recyclables to sell for a meager wage. The conditions are toxic. The threat of gang violence and child prostitution are severe. The Trash Mountain Project is an organization dedicated to becoming a voice for the voiceless people in trash dump communities around the world. Join us for this powerful night as we premier our latest documentary filmed in what many call the worst trash dump in the world, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Discover how you can become part of the movement to help bring renewed life to this discarded segment of humanity.

When you join us next Tuesday night you can expect to encounter God through praise and worship, testimony, prayer, film and a call to serve the Lord through serving His children. You will view both of the Trash Mountain Project’s documentaries, and hear the vision and story of God’s movement in this ministry from co-founders Michael Barrett & Brett Durbin. Live worship will be lead by the Bill Horn Band with Stacey Covington. Southeastern University’s “Hunger and Thirst” team have partnered with Trash Mountain Project, and students will be leading and sharing a missions focused testimony about how their influence and gifts have touched the world around them for Christ. The emcee for the night will be Senior Pastor Tommy Covington. We hope to see you there.

Southeastern students came up with the idea to collect powder baby formula to bring with us to Honduras when we go to build homes for the families of the dump community. Usually, babies in these families drink Tang or coffee grounds in place of milk or formula, so this will be a huge blessing to them, and a way that we can help sustain the health of these wonderful children of God. Any brand of powdered baby formula will be accepted. Thank you.