Final Post from El Hogar: Friday, August 14th

Hola! Yo me llamo Ellie (Hey, My name is Ellie). So, you may know me from the Cathedral, but if not, that’s cool too. This is my first time going to Honduras, specifically the El Hogar trip. I am truly #blessed to be on this #missiontrip #YASSSSSSSSSSSSS

“We could be heeeeeee-roooooooooo-ssssssss, we could be… All we’re looking for is love and a little light, love and a little light, love and a little light.” While getting my A+ jump dance game on to this song, I thought about the week (well, at the moment I was too busy dancing, but after the dance party I had some time to ponder on it). “Heroes” could be and mean anything to anyone. The missioners, the kids, the teachers, and Claudia could all represent heroes. Whether it’s bringing awareness to poverty, having someone to play with and cling onto all week, to just standing up for you when something bad happens. Now, I bet you are all thinking, “But Ellie! That’s just the first line of the song! Love? Light? How could that possibly connect that to a mission week in Honduras?” Good thing you asked, cuz J-Eezy bout ta br-br-br-break it down fo ya. For me, the second line was told from the kids’ perspective. Some of them have lost literally everything, and it showed me how little they need to be happy. Our group gave them both light and love, and I think we saw them truly shine. This week has brought upon me everything from joy to excitement to yes, sadness on the last evening program.

This brings me to my second point. THANKS SO MUCH LIKE OMG YASSSSSSSSSS. Over the course this trip, I have grown so much closer to my mission-mates (correct term?), as well as had my eyes opened to what is happening in developing countries around the world. In our breakfast meeting with Claudia, she explained the history of El Hogar, and some of the stories of the kids living here. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that the stories deepened our respect for the children. But seriously thank you all so much for making this trip possible, and please help support the Cathedral trip next year (#ShamelessAdvertising)!!!!

So today was amazing. Lets see… I woke up (you know, how I do), played with the kids, ate breakfast, and then came our home visit. We ducked under barbed wire fences to arrive at a small two-room house, built out of scraps from the suburban houses being constructed up the street. There was a woman, a four-year-old girl (going to El Hogar next year), and a baby girl. It was amazing for me to realize that that was all the family had, and that the mother was choosing to give up full custody of her daughter for her to have a better life. We returned to the orphanage, played some more, and then the final evening program. All of the little boys got up on stage, sang some little songs, and we pretty much had the best dance party ever. Like Thor said, it was the hardest he had ever partied. YASSSSSSSSSS.

*sigh* Today was good, the week was good, and now it has come to an end. I feel so privileged to have been able to spend my time in this amazing place with amazing people. I hope to return next year, taking back all of the memories made.

From Honduras,

Ellie Jose aka J-Eezy

Thursday, August 13th

Dear Faith Partners,

My name is Maya Warren and this is my first year going to Honduras. I am very blessed to have the chance to experience this trip. Today I spent most of the day painting window bars white and painting a room blue, however the service work paled in comparison to playing with the children before school, at recess, and after school. Spending time with the children has been the most impactful part of the mission trip, they all are so accepting and willing to try to communicate with us, even though I know very little Spanish.

This week has been one of the most impactful weeks of my life. Seeing how happy and accepting all of the kids are puts so much perspective on the blessings I have in my life and how I should be grateful for the everything that I have. It is eye-opening how willing the children are to play with you and treat you as if you had known them forever. I will be forever changed and grateful for my experiences.

Maya Warren

Wednesday, August 12th

Dear Faith Partners,

Today was a very good day. First off, today is Jaida Fackey’s birthday! Aka sister/bestie. So happy birthday Jaida. We started the day off by having our meeting with Claudia, which brought tears to my eyes. The experiences these children have gone through is more heart breaking than I think I have experienced or ever will experience in my life. These children are little warriors. And when you play with them feeling trusted, loved, and adored… It’s hard to believe that they’ve been through what they have. And being able to be in these kids’ lives and have the impact on them that I have been given the opportunity to have. Makes me feel like the best person in the world, because me being here with these kids and seeing them see me as golden...makes me feel golden.

After the meeting we went to the technical school. The young men there are so smart and kind. They’re so committed and they are truly inspiring. We had a talk with them, we went around the circle sharing our dreams and why we were there. I think they have their minds made up about life way better than I do! They have bright and amazing lives ahead of them. Each and every one of them.

The rest of the day was lunch and nap time till the kids were ready to play again. After playing jump rope with the older girls, we had dinner. Right after dinner we went to evening activities with the older boys. And they completely stole my heart. I spent most of my time playing Giants, Wizards, and Dwarves. And I’m grateful for a shower after all that running around. And I swear those boys have magic cuteness powers. We then had a surprise birthday party!!! Not only for Jaida, but for Ben who had his birthday Monday. I was excited because duh, more time with kids. But before i could start tickling some kids, a little girl came over and grabbed my hand, led me to a bench, whipped out a book, sat right next to me and cuddled up with me, and asked me to read. I’ve never seen this girl before or met her. She trusted me completely and I felt like I had the world in my hands. In that moment I realized how important we are to these kids. We are here to give them the attention and love that they need when it is not available to them. Only halfway through the week and my eyes have been opened to a different kind of love. The kind of love you experience when you just look into a child’s eyes that wants only you. Your love and attention. This trip is truly life-changing and I want to thank you, the faith partners, for making this experience happen. Your commitment and kindness has touched so many lives. Thank you!

Yours truly,

Lilu Ryan Stoker

Tuesday, August 11th

From Slocomb:  I apologize that we are so delayed in posting on the blog; the combination of our altered daily and week-long itineraries and the need to handle a couple of emergencies has prevented me from having time for the blog until now. Even though I am posting last night's reflection and photos this evening, I expect to post today's reflection tonight at the regular time.

Buenos dias, Faith Partners! It's still early in the week, but so far we've had an amazing experience. Thank you for your support and prayers. There have been some interesting challenges this week and knowing that you are there makes a difference.

Today we visited the farm school and had a chance to chat with several of the young men living and studying there. It was truly inspiring to hear their stories, and their hopes and dreams of the future, none of which would be possible without El Hogar Projects and the support of faith partners like you. During the conversation, one of the students told us that he wants to go to the university to study to become an agricultural engineer so that he can go home and support his mother who still lives in abject poverty. Unfortunately, his story is not unique. All the children at El Hogar and the connected schools have similarly tragic stories.

We spent this evening offering activities for the girls. There are only about 30 girls of the 120 children here, but they are an endearing part of the community. At one point I stepped back and surveyed the scene. Patsy was teaching several girls how to embroider.  Leslie, Maya and Ellie were helping some girls make beaded bracelets on stretchy cord. Slocomb, Ben and Jack were playing games and being silly with several girls, and everyone else was occupied with puzzles, coloring, or working with yarn. It was magical. If you've been here, you know what I mean. If you haven't, you should come.

In a world where many children are disregarded like stray dogs, it's deeply impactful to be in a place like El Hogar where the staff treat the children like their very own because, as one teacher put it, many of them have no one else. Thank you for helping to make that possible.

-Judi Stoker

Sunday, August 9th

Dear Faith Partners,

This is my second time being in Honduras. The first time, I stayed at the Farm School with Celeste, Nia, Maddie and Slocomb so I was expecting the same kind of laid-back feel for the week. Not the case at all. It’s only the second day and I am exhausted!! I’m not sure how I’m going to feel about the projects we do tomorrow.

So many things happened today. This morning we went to church at St. Mary’s, the birthplace of El Hogar. The music! There were some songs that I recognized and some new ones as well. I wanted to shout! I wanted to dance! It was the kind of service that I’ve always been looking for except it was in a language that I didn’t speak...but I understood everything. It showed me that He is everywhere even in the smallest of places.

Without you, Faith Partners, I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t have this and more experiences.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Kyrie Harris

Accounting Student

University of Cincinnati