Day 10-Macaronis

Today was our last full day in Honduras and our final blog! We headed out early to La Moñtanita, after a breakfast of toast, eggs, and bacon. At La Moñtanita we finished the railing and gave the rest of the children de-worming medicine and fluoride. After going to Juana’s house to eat our sandwiches, we headed down the mountain. On the way down, we stopped at a poor family’s house and gave them clothes and balls. Jeff and Maynor also gave the 6 children and the dad de-worming medicine and fluoride. Before heading back to the compound, we stopped at the supermarket to pick up some macaroni and cheese to take back to the United States. Unfortunately they didn’t carry it. We arrived back at the compound and picked up Martha to go to the grocery store. There we bought food for 3 families, and we delivered it to the families. They were very appreciative of the food. Then we went to check on the progress of Sandra’s new house. Progress had been made. We helped shovel dirt in the backyard, until the rain came. On the way back to the compound, we stopped to pick up Topogigios (Honduran popsicles). We came back to the compound for our last dinner. We had chicken and beef enchiladas and macaroni and cheese. After dinner we said goodbye to our new friends on the compound and Sandra’s son Abner. Now we are all packing to go home tomorrow. This trip has impacted us in many different ways. We now appreciate more what God has given us. It has opened our eyes about how blessed we are. We hope that we carry our experiences back home and help others find God’s love. We hope you guys have enjoyed the blog. Look forward to hearing from us next year!

Abby brushing her teeth.

The finished rail at La Moñtanita.

The house people we delivered clothes too.

The two families we delivered food too. 

Abby and Anna eating Topogigios!

Abby & Anna

Day 9- Buenas Noches

This morning we woke up and had breakfast. Abby requested flour tortillas so that was part of our breakfast. We then left to go to Martha’s Sunday school. After listening to Martha teach, we helped hand out lunch to the children. When they all finished their lunch, we played with them. Jeff played soccer with them, and Abby and Anna had children fighting over holding their hands. They all wanted some attention from the visitors. Then we all played 3 different Spanish games, which the teacher taught us. We are all sad we won't be there again next week to see the new friends we made.We went back to the compound for a quick lunch of spaghetti before going to the AGAPE Promise Sunday school. There we served a snack to the children and went into the courtyard and played with them. We left to go to Tijeras. Once there we delivered a ball to Kevin, a little boy who was badly burned while collecting bottles at the dump. Abby and Anna stayed and played with Kevin and his brothers, while Daniel and Jeff went to deliver beans and rice. On the way back to the compound, we delivered books to the hospital in Quimistan. Daniel stopped and bought us popsicles. We had a dinner of beef and fried plantains before heading out to the AGAPE Church. As the service was ending the power went out, but the Pastor continued on with his prayer.It was a different experience than back home!

Rixie and other girls praying at Martha's Sunday School class.

Karen singing at the AGAPE Church.

Nellie's daughter Jenny with a homemade dress from St. John's.

AP student Kandy is proud of her new dress from her sponsor.

Kevin with his new book and ball!

"I wash you car!"

Today half of our group left to go back to the United States. Now it is just Abby, Jeff, and Anna. After dropping Annie, Melanie, and Bob off at the San Pedro Sula Airport we went to Puerto Cortez and Omoa. The girls and Jeff went swimming. It was cool that we could swim and see the mountains at the same time. We returned for dinner and had fried chicken and rice.

Anna, Abby, and Jeff

Day 7-"Is that chocolate!?"

 

This morning for breakfast we had eggs, ham, beans, and pineapple. Then we left to go visit people’s houses. We visited houses that were built by previous groups, and we delivered beans and rice and clothes. Again, we were amazed that small bags of beans and rice could bring such gratitude. We went back to eat lunch, enchiladas. After lunch we went to Compassion’s after-school program for children. There we all played with the children. Pablo (Bob) blew up balloons and blew bubbles. Annie and Jeff played football. Abby and Anna played volleyball. Melanie painted the girls’ finger nails and colored with them. Then we went to the Tijeras’ feeding. Gloria cooked fried chicken pies for them. At the end, we helped hand out cookies and tennis balls. We were all moved by how patiently the children waited even though we know many of them were hungry. They also helped their little brothers and sisters.  We hope that we have learned something from these children. Returning home we were greeted by the children of the compound. We played with them. Then Sandra’s children and grandchildren came over so we played with them also. For dinner we had whole fish and Anna’s and Abby’s special macaroni and cheese. 

Abby & Anna

With editor Pablo's assistance!

Day 6-“We fly high!”

Today Melanie went off to visit some people while the rest of the group went to Copan. The drive there was the scariest one we have had. We went over many bumps, and Abby hit her head a lot. Once there we bought out tickets and met our guide Tony. We were very impressed that our guide could speak 5 languages, having lived in Honduras all his life. We visited the Mayan ruins, and then went in the tunnels. The tunnels were actually not made by the Mayans, but by archeologists.

After touring the ruins we went to lunch. Then we went souvenir shopping. There were little kids trying to sell dolls to us. Anna bought one because the little kid was so cute. He got 20 lempira (approximately $1) for it. When he walked away, he was smiling really big then started jumping up and down happily. This is an example of how appreciative the people in Honduras are. Anna felt good that she helped the little boy and his family.  Giving is more blessed than receiving!

We arrived back at the compound for a dinner of beef and fried plantains. Then we walked downtown for ice cream. Rafael tagged along with us. We had an adventurous motor taxi experience on the way back. The adults rode together in Juan Pedro’s taxi and the girls and Rafael rode in Carlos’s taxi. The driver was not used to people from the United States looking as old as they are because he thought Abby, 14, was 25!  

Group picture minus Melanie at the ruins

Abby, Anna, and Annie with Tony

Abby, Anna, Carlos, Annie, Juan Pedro

Anna, Rafael, and Abby walking to get ice cream

Annie, Anna, and Abby at lunch

Abby& Anna 

Blog from Melanie

My day in Quimistan was busy and blessed.  What a joy to visit old friends!  Tony who lives here on Miss Martha’s ranch was my translator.  Those who have been on previous trips will remember some of these friends.  On the way to visit Alexis we met Ernestina walking up the street.  Her smile is just the same. Her father who is 98 lives with her.  Found that Alexis is living with her mother, so Ernestina got in the motortaxi to show us the way.  Alexis looked better!  Cecilia and Kenia are in first grade!  Since they were in school (praise the Lord) I returned to visit the girls in the afternoon.  Several times during the day, I stopped the motortaxi driver so a little handmade dress or beans and rice could be given to a family in need.  Tony and I had a delicious lunch at Shirley’s.  Shirley was there with her baby.  Visited with Jenny Suyapa and a compassion child, Wendy  Sanchez.  Spent some free time talking with Sandra and Gloria.  Then happened to meet Americus with her 3 sisters who were visiting Martha.  Seeing God’s love through old friends: a wonderful way to spend the day.  Thank you Lord for Your many blessings!

Alexis with her girls

Shirley with her baby and dad

Melanie with Ernestina

My new dress!

Day 5-Melby

After a breakfast of pancakes and fruit, we headed out to Teo. We brought along Daisy from the AP program to help us with VBS.  The ride there was an adventure up the mountain roads. Once there the kids finished school while we got organized to start VBS. We had some time so we blew bubbles with the kids and played with a beach ball. Then we started VBS by having Anna and Annie do a puppet skit,which received a loud applause. After that, we divided into 3 groups. Anna and Abby did crafts, Jeff and Bob did games, and Annie and Melanie did music. The kids really enjoyed playing musical chairs, and Abby and, Anna enjoyed watching the kids color. They also liked espada, espada, escudo (better known at home as duck, duck, goose, but modified to fit the theme of VBS).  At the end we fed the kids a snack of bread and juice. We gave the children de-worming medicine, and Annie taught them how to brush their teeth. After brushing their teeth, they received fluoride.  Many of the kids didn’t like the taste of the fluoride. We took a break for a lunch of chicken sandwiches. Then Melanie, Jeff, Mayor, Daniel, and Daisy headed out to deliver rice and beans to some of the village people. Annie, Bob, Abby, and Anna stayed back at the school. There we played soccer and a version of dodge ball. Anna and Bob handed out silly bands, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, and paper to the children. Every time the book bag was open a swarm of children came. The children would tap our arms till they got something, even if they already had one of them. By this time, Anna had to move away from all the kids because they swarmed her into a corner. Luckily a very nice boy, Melby, would tell the kids to back up and be patient. At the end he got an extra big notebook because he was so nice. He used the silly bands to help teach us Spanish animals. After that the people came back from handing out beans and rice, so we left to come back to the compound. We played cards with Daisy, then ate dinner. Dinner was tilapia, rice, and vegetables. Anna and Abby bought macaroni and cheese at the supermarket the other day; and since fish is not their favorite, Sandra cooked it for them. It made them happy because it was American food. We were all tired from our busy day so we headed back to our house to relax. Just as we were about to post the blog on the internet the power went out, but within a minute the generator kicked on. 

Group picture

Workers fixing the screen

Melanie handing out beans and rice

Children spitting

A little boy coloring

Duck, Duck, Goose

Anna handing out stuff to the kids

Abby, Melby, Anna, and Annie

Anna, Abby, Annie, & Bob