Walking with the poor - notes from Honduras

MISSION AWARENESS TRIP TO HONDURAS
Aug. 25 - Sept. 1, 2007

Sponsors help with the distribution of beds to sponsored families.

God’s blessings from Honduras

After Sunday morning Mass in the small town of Santa Cruz de Yojoa, our group was divided so as to visit two communities simultaneously. Each group of sponsored families had prepared a simple but informative report for us. My group was able to visit three families who had received a new home from their sponsors. They expressed great gratitude and hope. On this special day, new beds were distributed to the sponsored families.

Staff, sponsored children and mothers received us warmly in Santa Barbara. The dads have a three-piece mariachi band, which added alegria (happiness) to the exciting moment of arrival. Coordinator Manuel Pineda tells us that the children and parents who had gathered at the small hotel to welcome us had cleaned up the street in front of the hotel in preparation for the arrival of the sponsors. A huge welcome banner blocked the street.

Sponsor Nancy spends a quiet moment with Martha.

A quiet love in their hearts

I feel a quiet strength in the young family that helped us with the prayer session on Tuesday morning in Santa Barbara. Glenda Maritza and Jose Antonio were only able to study up to sixth grade, but they had good natural ability and a quiet love in their hearts. Jose Antonio started as an apprentice construction worker and now builds homes on his own. Glenda brings a young mother’s touch to this family and to her community. Both Glenda and Jose Antonio are able to express God’s love in their life. They also express sincere appreciation for CFCA, saying, “CFCA has offered us help and hope.” Their three children demonstrate that same quiet joy and strength. Jeusep, now 16, is making good grades in high school and is proud to help his dad on construction. Isaura Dayanira, 9, holds her own in fifth grade. Little Anthony at 3 keeps the home lively. These children are also blessed to still have three of their grandparents.

Sponsors enjoy time at the beach with their sponsored children and their mothers.

First view of the Caribbean

Wednesday was our day on the beach of Tela with all the sponsored children, including the ones sponsored this week. Several of the mothers of the sponsored children remarked that this was the first time they had seen the ocean. After our day on the beach, back in El Progreso, the team organized a fine Noche Cultural (cultural night). The girls had prepared a fashion show with outfits that highlighted the various products of this area of the country: coffee, beans, bananas, peanuts. These enjoyable events give the children, parents and staff an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and their joy.

A sense of just beginning

On Thursday, the CFCA team in El Progreso told us that a visit of the sponsors would mean a lot to the 67 sponsored families of the rural area of San Marcos, La Masica. Where the pavement ended, we encountered miles of rain-soaked mountain roads with spectacular views of valleys, rainforests and rivers. All the sponsored families were waiting for us, as well as many who aspire to belong to the program. We did some dancing, made some music together, and there under heavy rain enjoyed a lunch of delicious hot soup and gallina criolla (creole chicken).

I want to ask you to please keep these dear families in your prayers and please do whatever you can to help us find sponsors. How I wish I could reflect to you the chorus of pleas sometimes unspoken from mothers and grandmothers raising their children alone. To informed people of good heart, the endemic corruption in these countries can be very discouraging. Sponsors who make these trips come away encouraged and convinced that in CFCA we can and do make a big difference. We have a tremendous sense of just beginning.

Group picture taken at our small hotel in Santa Barbara.

God's Blessings,

Bob Hentzen
El Progreso, Honduras
Aug. 31, 2007

Sponsor a child in Honduras

Read the notes from other mission awareness trips