This was another education day and we were delighted to attend the Museo de National Identity in the centro of Tegucigalpa.  So again it was interesting to pass through some parts of the city where we hadn't been before and saw everyday life in the city.  The cathedral in the town square and a spot to buy tortillas or frutas. 

The museum contains a complete visual display of the history of Honduras.  Unfortunately, this historical part was under renovation, but we still had Erika's chosen guide, Ariel, who puts the standard for guides rather high!  We still got a rather open and honest story of the history through the art display that he took us through which was open.  The art was wonderful and the first section that was Honduran art told the stories about oppression, poverty, violence, hope for the future, environmental damage, no voice for justice, peace.  It was fascinating and we got alot of Honduran historical stories through the interpretation of the art.  There was also a Picasso display and interesting to have a Picasso display in Honduras. 

We had lunch back at El Hogar again and were pleased to have Tim Munro with our group again this morning.  We had time to have our traditional picture around the logo of El Hogar.

We had a little time to check out the raised garden that we as a team started last year and so it was wonderful to see all sorts of things growing including pineapple.

We hitched a ride back to the Technical Institute with Gustavo who drives the students each day.  We picked up the 7, 8, and 9th grade girls at their high school on one side of the city, drove north to ITSM to pick up the Grade 10 and 11 girls and then he would take them all back to Santa Lucia.  In the meantime, there would be teachers who would hitch a ride with us in the morning after they finished their night shifts and another trip taking teachers back home again at night.  It must be a nightmare for the logistics and sorting rides, but it happens each day and seems to work.   Sometimes it is important to be able to take a nap on the bus when you can.  

We loved our activities tonight with the oldest of the students and they were very engaged in what they chose to do.  Charming and smart and polite.  Michael was the one inviting the boys to play soccer and they loved that.  He was helping them practice for the Episcopal school competitions this weekend.  

 Work shoes waiting to be packed up! 

This is our last night together.  We have enjoyed our home this week which must have been the "manor" of the owner of this property.  We also have grown together as a team, working together, laughing together, sharing meals together, sharing and praying together.  It as been a special time.  Teammates for a short time, but friends forever.   

Our two official days for work projects are over and today is our learning and education day.  A very full day of discovering some of the very positive programs that are happening here.  We were in the van with Danilo, one of the El Hogar drivers by 0800 to take us to Tegucigalpa and to El Hogar.  We were met by the Executive Director, Matt Engleby, and also Tim Munroe who is the Director from the Boston office and down for a visit, so there was lots of good conversation and discussion about the dreams and  changes that are taking place in the schools. We also had some time with Claudia, the director of the school and she too gave us her enthusiastic report on the new happenings at the school.  In the new extensions of Honduran obligatory education to Grade 9, our El Hogar schools are working towards grade 12, but have started by offering up to Grade 11 so far.  The other big change is the addition of day students.  Last year there were 4 day students and this year there are 77.  They come from various neighbourhoods, including the biggest area called La Betania where the bus picks up 50 kids on our school bus each morning.  A former teacher's brother, Delmer, is a dynamic, charismatic, enthusiastic community worker in that neighbourhhod and  has made great strides in trying to improve the quality of life in this community.




Here Tim from our Boston office and Erika enjoy conversation with him.





 The neighbourhood sends about 50 kids to El Hogar.    We visited three of the moms in their homes whose children are now part of El Hogar and who all commented how their children's' lives have changed academically.  We visited their homes and in one of them, as we all  went inside, we totally filled the room and here is where the mom lives with her two children.  And in the next two homes, we felt that while they were simple homes that they had the support of their community and all pleased that their children have a new outlook on their schooling.


























We visited the dental suite as well to chat with Doctora Nora who is the resident dentist and glad to receive our toothpaste and toothbrushes.

















Lunch was at El Hogar and we couldn't get into the dining room until the children had finished their lunch, for our usual volunteer dining section is now being used for a Grade 1 class!





The afternoon was spent at the Ciudad Mujer  Centre where we viewed as an absolutely amazing model of a centre for women that exists to improve the living conditions of Honduran women, by facilitating services that meet their basic needs and strategic interests.  There are

6 different services for women under one roof  in this two year old building which have clinics to empower women through their programs of.Sexual and Reproductive Health, Domestic Violence, Economic Autonomy, Job assistance and also supplies Child Care.







We all commented that we have certainly not seen a facility like this at home and we were certainly impressed.  It was also meant a  time to spend with Claudia and appreciated that  she had taken the afternoon from her busy schedule to take us there.  Of course it meant that it was a drive through the city to view city life while we all love to do.


Our evening activities were fun again with the boys, though there were less tonight as many of the boys are trying out for a volleyball team with a tournament coming up soon. 


 Ros also had baking night with the boys, who loved making cookies for us all!

 Rod enjoying a little futbol with the boys.

Tuesday March 26, 2019 

It was another work day but thankfully broken up by several other planned activities.  After an early start building raised garden beds, we were off in the van with two students to visit their homes in the vicinity of the technical school. 

We picked up some groceries on the way to offer as hostess gifts and were warmly welcomed on our arrival.  

One mother set out chairs for everyone on the veranda, served a glass of Coke, and gave us some bananas to take home.  The homes were very basic with outdoor wood cooking, laundry, and plumbing but with electricity and water. (Note the armadillo shell on the corrugated wall in the kitchen.) 

One mother was pickling green mangos which she sells.  At the other home, there was a big garden with flowers plus bananas, mangos, other fruit trees and even sugar cane.  

On our return, we continued with our work on the garden beds, making good progress despite having to remove some big stones.  

We welcomed a break for lunch and watched a video of the documentary “Poverty Inc.”.   It was very thought provoking as it described how well-meaning charities and foreign aid can actually be detrimental to the long term development of the people they are trying to help.  Many charities are rethinking their programs and it was excellent background to understand the changes, both current and planned at El Hogar.   

Tuesday night is movie night and we were invited to watch “Bumblebee”, the latest transformer movie with the boys.  A good time was had by all, especially those that managed to stay awake. 

  

Today is a work day and so we started in earnest with our project.  Before our labour, we got a tour of the workshops where the students are in the mornings before they go to regular academic classes in the afternoon.  We were impressed with the size of the shops and now with girls added to the classes, there is a whole new dimension.








There is one female shop teacher who is glad to have girls in the class. 










The technical courses are carpentry, electricity and welding.  And we also did a tour of the computer lab which is quite impressive and these students will have a high quality of computer skills when they graduate. 


The final stop was in the chapel to see the stunning and moving mural painted on the altar wall.  It was the vision of our ITSM director Lazaro and painted by a graduate//art student from El Hogar.  Lazaro spent time with us as he explained the mural and the meaning to him. 

The plan is to make raised garden beds as we did at El Hogar last year.  Erika has all the lumber cut and ready for us and tools necessary for the job.  First the ground needs working and turning the soil and the strong grass roots which  is hardest job.  Meanwhile others were working on the boxes to construct them.



 

The sun is intense out there and so we traded jobs and it was clear that the team was really looking after each other.

The other task is to sort and do inventory on the donations we have all brought with us.  Wonderful generosity of those who have donated and we have been able to leave behind loads of soap and deodorant and shampoo.  It was best to do the counting and sorting on the floor and we are thankful to Dave who has done a hug job of the counting! 

We had a wonderful evening doing crafts and activities with the Grade 7 boys.  

We were surprised at the few who were happy to do cross stitch which Becky had prepared  

Then there were puzzles and card games and colouring and skipping.  -

Ros had a cookie making session  with some of the boys which was a success.  They then shared their efforts with the rest of the kids.  

We loved the evening and so enjoyed the boys.  I think they enjoyed the activities and certainly always had a smile for us.

e

Sunday, March 24, 2019
There was activity in our kitchen before 0600 hours as we scurried to get our breakfast cereal in preparation for our 6:30 departure for church!  We had two groups from our team going to church in two directions.  One group to our usual worship service at the cathedral at St Marry's in Tegucigalpa and the other group to a mission church in the country.  The van dropped the first group off at the start of our trek in from the highway halfway to Tegucigalpa and then carried on into town to take the rest of the group to the cathedral, and since it was so early, got to spend a few hours at El Hogar before church started.  They were accompanied by some of the kids who went to church with them and were part of the large Sunday School. 





There is a large Sunday School and it is wonderful to watch them all come in from their classes to the Eucharist at the end.

 Padre Gerardo who is the dean of the Cathedral walks once a month into a mission church in the mountains and invited us to go with him.  We were so delighted and enthused at this prospect.
We had a prayer before we started on our trek.








 We never quite understood how long, how far or how grueling the trek might be, but hiked in through trails, pasture land and farm properties, past some banana groves, valleys, dried up streams (it is well into dry season here) and stunning scenery with the mountains as backdrop.  

We met up with friendly people along the way, interesting birds and trees as well as even a caravan of horses and rancheros passing by.














 After several hours and 6.1 km, we arrived at the little school house which becomes a church on Sunday.







The Lay minister who actually does this every Sunday when the dean doesn't come also walked in with us.  The congregation was about 15 people and seemed a little shy at first but very welcoming.  We are the first visitors they have ever had outside their community in their 25 year history.  They are looking to actually build a church on the land adjacent to the school and it will start soon with all of the congregation being part of the build.  We gathered as a group for prayer together on the new land after the Eucharist and it was a touching moment as we thought of that parish going through a building program to build their church in their community.   





All the people kind of hung out until they saw us heading out of their sight down the trail as we left with an invitation to come back again when the church is finished. 




It was getting late and so all went out for lunch taking with us, Padre Gerardo and the lay minister as our guests.  The campus is still kind of quiet until all the kids get back for the weekend.  After dunner, we could see that the kids were returning in larger numbers and they were not far from our front door looking for us to "come out and play!"  SO the soccer ball and the Foosball came out as well as some puzzles and art work.

We had a lot of highlights to share about the day with each other in our devotional time.  Both of our worship experiences were unique and meaningful to us worshiping with our Christian brothers and sisters in another language and another culture.