Thursday, July 31st: Farm School Visit

 

Dear Faith Partners,

Today we visited the El Hogar Farm School. We were expecting a 2-hour drive based on previous mission team experiences, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn that a newly paved highway would allow us to make the trip in half the time.

Having been raised in a big city (Philadelphia, PA), I am not much of an outdoors-man so I have to admit that traveling to a farm was not at the top of my highlight list when I saw our agenda for the week. But during our visit we discovered something much more than pigs, chickens, cattle and crops.

We met young men who worked very hard to get into the school and they felt extremely fortunate to have been chosen to attend. They came from all over Honduras, leaving their families and friends behind to “fulfill a dream” as one of the students told us. We had the opportunity to speak at length with five students; one by one they told us how they planned to use their education from the farm school to continue their studies at the university, start their own businesses and provide for their families.

From the dedication of the professors and staff who were teaching and guiding the students to the breathtaking view of the land we experienced from a hill overlooking the farm, you knew that God's hands were all over this place. While these young men are planting seeds to grow beans and corn, the farm school is planting seeds in these young men who will take what they learn to become proud, self-sufficient members of society – changing Honduras one person at a time.

It was a long but gratifying day at the farm – we stayed until the cows came home! Literally, we were there so long that we witnessed the cows come in from grazing in the field and return to their stable!

I want to personally thank each of you for providing me this opportunity to be a part of this mission team to learn, serve and love the way that Jesus calls us to do.

-Olden Warren

For Friday, August 1st:  Almighty God, who has promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in your Son’s Name:  We beseech you mercifully to incline your ear to us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto you; and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to your will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 (A few more stories from the day)

Wednesday, July 30th: Technical School Day

 

Dear Faith Partners,

One thing I love about returning to El Hogar for the third time is that every day is different. We have the same basic itinerary for the week, but we are able to make every day special.

On the itinerary for today was visiting the Technical School. 

After the boys from El Hogar finish sixth grade (fifth grade in the United States), they have the option to go to the technical or farm school to complete three out of the five years of high school. They are then able to use their new skills to get a job and put themselves through the rest of high school and possibly college. 

 

After seeing the electrical, wood-working, and welding shops, we had the opportunity to sit down with five boys to ask them about their lives and dreams. They nicely shared about their dreams to become engineers, soccer players, singers, and many more. Afterward we decided to play a five-to-ten minute soccer game with the boys. 

 

Our friendly ten-minute game quickly turned into thirty with the entire school watching. Amazingly, we won 7-4. Aron, Slocomb, and Eric played offense like they were teammates for years. Olden, Maurice and I were able to stop almost any ball that tried to come into the goal. And Nia was an amazing goalie with over thirty saves. I hope this soccer game will become a tradition with other volunteer groups when they visit the technical school. 

(Teaching the kids a new prayer)

 

Every evening, we have one of the four dorms for evening activities. Tonight we had dorm 3 with boys ages 8 to 10. A few of the volunteers played baseball with the boys. I braided hair with Nia and Karen and played endless rounds of a game similar to Ring Around the Rosey. Maurice was able to teach his music students to read music, which is difficult since there is no overlap between English and Spanish vocabulary for music. 

 

I saw God on the soccer field today. Our team kept playing even though the game was three times as long was it was supposed to be and there was a large audience. I also saw God this morning in one of the girls who grabbed me by the waist to bring me into the circle for the morning devotion. 

 

Thank you for making this experience possible. I can't help but smile every time I receive a spontaneous hug or hear a child scream, “Hola Celeste!”

-Celeste Kearney

For Thursday, July 31st:  Lord Christ, when you came among us, you proclaimed the kingdom of God in villages, towns, and lonely places:  Grant that your presence and power may be known throughout this land.  Have mercy upon all of us who live and work in rural areas; and grant that all the people of our nation may give thanks to you for food and drink and all other bodily necessities of life, respect those who labor to produce them, and honor the land and the water from which these good things come.  All this we ask in your holy Name.  Amen.

Tuesday, July 29th: Second Workday at El Hogar

Dear Faith Partners,

“Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:14

It was a day unlike any other that I've experienced at El Hogar.

We effectively began the day with a meeting with Claudia. She asked approximately 25 students to visit with our group and to share their names, ages, and grade as well as their young, yet sometimes painful, life stories. We learned that many of the children come from homes where abuse was the most prevalent form of interaction with their family.

After the children returned to class, Claudia asked each of us about our personal special talents. Privately, I became quite nervous, realizing that I have no “special” talents (she optimistically used the plural), and certainly did not want anyone else to know, if they hadn't noticed already, that I am lacking in this area. Claudia in quick order learned that Karen loved to cook; Olden wanted to tutor math, as did Ernest; Cheryl is a dermatologist; Maurice has mastered music; and on and on. She then assigned daily (and in some cases, weekly) tasks based upon these special talents.

Maurice has many talents. He is accomplished at music so he is teaching students songs to play at a concert scheduled for Friday evening. Further, he is fluent in Spanish so he is assisting the teachers with their classes and tutoring students.

Olden had the opportunity to display multiple talents as well. He tutored students in math. He, along with Ernest, repaired computers.

 

Ernest worked along side Olden with math tutoring and computer repair. He also did manual labor, helping to mix cement.

 

Cheryl, who speaks Spanish fluently too, tutored a student. She is also diagnosing various skin ailments.

 

 

Celeste and Nia used their organizational skills to inventory the donations. They also planned the evening's activity with the children.

 

 

Aron painted the stairs leading to the dormitories. He also acts as the ambassador during all of the activities with the children.

 

 

Karen began the day mixing cement and helping to construct the boys' lavatory. Claudia recognized her passion for cooking and asked her to help with lunch. Karen was so successful and enjoyed it so much that she help with dinner.

 

Slocomb shared his gifts by tutoring the students and managing this Cincinnati crew.

 

Somehow Claudia found a space for me to contribute. I reviewed some personnel policies and added some social media rules. I helped with the boys' lavatory and a sidewalk. Finally, I taught a public speaking course to approximately 20 students.

 

We all worked independently, yet we all worked together. We each used our unique talents to help with the operation of El Hogar. Everyone felt needed. Everyone felt that his/her work made the day better. 

 

Deepak Chopra's words seem fitting, “Each of us is a unique strand in the intricate web of life and here to make a contribution.” Great. Small. All are important. Needed.

 

Thank you for making this possible. Thank you for letting each of us find (or recognize) our gift(s).

-Eric Kearney

For Wednesday, July 30th:  O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son:  Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unites us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

(Here are some more memories from the day.  No promises that you'll get 20 photos tomorrow though!)