Saturday, August 2nd: Departing from El Hogar

Hope Means Change.

Today we return home, but each of us returns full of hope for the future for the boys and girls we met this week at El Hogar de Amor y Esperanza. 

Prior to leaving for the airport for our afternoon departure we packed and spent the day hanging out around campus. This was a perfect time for reflecting on the week and spending time with the kids for a few more hours.  Some of the kids go home for the weekend to spend time with their families but most remain on campus since visiting their family is not possible or even an option.

The boys, at least the majority of them, went to a local military base for the day to meet with a group of officers to learn what life in the Honduras military is like. Those boys who stayed behind were either too young to go or may have been left behind due to mischievous behavior during the week.  The girls were all on campus and several were asked to clean the volunteer house to prepare for the next group arriving later this afternoon.  Watching the young girls work together was endearing.  The girls seem to always be happy and to truly enjoy each others' company.  They have friendship they would have never experienced outside the walls of El Hogar.  Just like any young girls they love to dance, sing, play and just be silly.  Outside of El Hogar these gifts of life would not be possible for these girls.

The week has been full of new experiences and many reflections. I know I have learned a lot and I believe I can safely speak for everyone in our group we have all grown in some way and will always have this experience to reflect on.

In reflecting on the week here is my top ten list for the highlights. 

• Seeing the discipline and focus these children have to reach their goals and make a better life for themselves and their families.

• Learning about the opportunities these children will have once they complete their education as well as hearing stories of previous alumni who now have productive lives and families of their own.

• Seeing the love and respect the children have for each other and the way they take care of each other as family.  This is the environment that Claudia Castro has created and is the reason the El Hogar model is successful.

• Witnessing the dedication of the staff and their commitment to improving the lives and futures of these children.  Some staff members have been at El Hogar for over 35 years.  They are extremely dedicated to changing the lives of these kids.

• Seeing our young people - Aron, Nia and Celeste - rekindle friendships from previous visits and form strong relationships with children who seek and need positive role models.

• Experiencing the pride in a mother's face and the true love in her heart as we toured the tiny, tiny room that she called home.  Words were not needed to recognize the gratitude she had for our group and the work of El Hogar.

• Interacting and working side by side with the team from Christ Church Cathedral and enjoying every minute, no matter how tired or emotionally drained we may have been at times.  We all gave 110% and would have happily given more if asked.

• Learning about the lives of the children prior to coming to El Hogar and how being at the school has made each child feel safe, provides them each a place of their own to sleep while feeding them three meals a day, all of which were seldom a part of their lives on the streets. 

• Feeling the love of these children through many hugs, smiles, laughter and sometimes tears.

• Recognizing the many talents of the children and seeing them proudly display their talents whenever given the chance. 

It was a wonderful week and we all had a lot of fun.  God's love and good work was apparent all around us and we were able to share our love with those that need it most.  Providing hope to children that previously had none can change the world one child at a time.  At El Hogar they do just that each and everyday.

The encouragement and support from our faith partners helped to make this trip a reality and thanks alone can not express our gratitude.  Our presence on campus made a difference in the lives of these children and in our lives as well.  Thanks for being a part of this experience. 

Love and hope always, Karen.

Dear Faith Partners,

Saturday had a slower start than the rest, and I slept in, which for me meant getting up at 6 a.m. instead of 5:30. I had made an art of tiptoeing into and out of the shower without waking Enrique (Aron) and Guillermo (Slocomb), my two roommates. Usually, at that hour, the only sound was the muffled 'shhh' of the shower next door in Olden and Eric's room. This morning I was surprised to see half of the volunteer crew (excluding my roommates - of course) up and dressed, cleaning the guesthouse, organizing donations, and reviewing the agenda for our quickly waning time at El Hogar. 

By 7:30 a.m. most of the older boys were waiting anxiously on the driveway between the auditorium and the front gate. (On weekends they attend supplementary military training to prepare them for yet another career option when they become old enough to serve their country.) 

The younger boys, the girls, and three older boys who claim that they are "just not interested in the training" stay behind. The latter are notoriously mischievous, so I quietly translate "not interested" as "not allowed".

One of the second graders who had made a portrait for me called out, "Mauricio!" He broke formation to give me a hug. In the picture, he had portrayed me as a superhero, the kind you would see in an anime cartoon. He had given me the gift yesterday along with strict instructions to "take care of this picture" because he might not be able to make another one. 

Although he is a talented artist, he knows that his slim, wide-ruled notebook may be the only one he gets this school year; he'll need the paper for schoolwork. The picture was etched onto the plastic cover, and the jagged edge indicates he might have had some trouble cutting it free. 

He was soon joined by another boy who had written me a letter. And a third boy who thanked me for his piano lessons and said he can hardly wait till next year, so we can pick up where we left off. Another piano student gifted me his blue ink pen, which I used to draft this blog. When his teacher learns it is missing, he will have to earn enough points to buy a new one. After returning a few hugs, I retreated to the volunteer house to keep from crying in front of them.

Recalling the past several days, my thoughts settled on a particular scripture that is painted on the wall of the Technical School: "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit." (1 COR 12:4 NASB)  As many as 32 volunteer groups will be transformed by El Hogar this year, each individual participant bringing a unique set of gifts and a desire to use them for the glory of God -- seeking the kingdom of God here on earth. 

Many disciples will pass through El Hogar. Many churches will make mission trips to Honduras and throughout the world for many worthwhile reasons...like the man and his son sitting next to me on the flight from Tegus to Atlanta. In that regard, we are not unique.

Here, perhaps, is where we must differentiate ourselves: Scripture implores us to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (MATT 6:33 NASB). If we came to Tegus seeking the kingdom of God, then the question becomes, "What exactly is being added?" Some might say that by doing good work in the world, we can expect to be blessed in return, a kind of reap-what-you-sow perspective. But I believe our message today is deeper than that. 

This week we've seen that seeking the kingdom of God adds not only happy things like "a full heart," "eager hugs," and "adorably misspelled thank-yous," but uncomfortable things like "clearer perception of the world we we live in," "a burden of responsibility because we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ," and "the challenge of using our gifts on levels that we would not normally push ourselves to achieve."

It is no secret among our mission team that I left Tegus with the disappointment of not being able to do nearly as much as I felt led by the Spirit to do. But I also left with the joy of knowing that my greatest opportunity to serve El Hogar may lie just ahead. 

In addition to the things that have challenged us, made us uncomfortable, wearied us, and broadened our view, the 10 of us are returning home with full hearts, beautiful memories, unspeakable joy, and great expectations for the boys and girls of El Hogar who have so transformed our lives.

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (BCP 833)

Maurice Harris