Meet Cross Catholic Mission Partner Ana Aleman

Ana Aleman is a trusted Cross Catholic mission partner who tirelessly works to bring nutrition and God’s love to the poor in El Progreso, Honduras.

She first came to Honduras more than 10 years ago on a short-term mission trip. Overwhelmed and convicted by the poverty she saw, God put a burden on her heart for the scores of malnourished children in the area. So it wasn’t a hard decision to make when the parish priest came to her with an urgent request.

“There was a huge need for a nutrition center, so I opened one,” Ana said. “There was no hesitation.”

Almost immediately, Ana learned Spanish and moved to El Progreso with her two children and opened Las Mercedes/ Prince of Peace Nutrition Centers. The three nutrition centers rescue babies and young children from the brink of starvation and provide essential medical care to ensure their ongoing health. They also include a residential feeding program, nutritional counseling, a clinic and a school. Cross Catholic funds cover operating costs, so Ana can focus on the needs of the children in her care.

The majority of mothers who bring their frail, malnourished children to the center live in utter destitution, barely surviving on less than $1 a day. Ana addresses their physical need for food, but also meets their spiritual needs through Christian training grounded in biblical principles.