Departure Day, Saturday, March 1, 2014

The last day is always the hardest.  We are all very tired from a very busy week but our hearts are very full and it is hard to say goodbye.  The bags are packed and the guest house has been readied for the next team.  We had a little time to say our goodbyes and to get our last minute hugs.  So many of the children now come to us looking for a chance to interact with us which says that they have learned that to trust us is very safe.

We have learned of some horrific background stories of these children, who have come from nothing and will now have a better chance at a good and fulfilled life.  We leave them in good hands as there is amazing staff here and very special, loving teachers and directors who tell them constantly of God’s love and care for them.

We were able to get in our "official" team picture before we loaded up the van to head to the airport.  We

 are missing Geraldine in this one as her flight was yesterday. 



The rest of us got to the airport with Raul who had been with us each day in this week, as project manager, volunteer team host, driver and friend.  Our eyes into the history, culture, politics of Honduras.

Brandon went on ahead to catch an earlier flight and the rest of us had time for a lunch and great cup of
Honduran coffee, before we headed to Atlanta for an overnight before our last leg home on Sunday.













And oh yes, there is that mountain at the end of the single runway at the airport.



 In  our meditations each evening, we talked of the Pebble effect in our lives and in the lives of these children. That the ripples of love, compassion and kindness shown to these children by volunteer teams and staff and teachers, can affect their lives and the choices they make.  We were a team whose mission was to take that love,compassion and kindness to the children of El Hogar.  We came back with more in our hearts that we had given. 

"I alone cannot change the world but I can cast a stone across the wasters to create many ripples." - Mother Teresa. 

As we gather all team pictures together this week, we will post them here, so stay tuned for more info and pictures from us.  There is so much to share!