It's Sunday morning and everyone was grateful for a bit of a sleep-in this morning after a very short night on Friday and a long day of travel yesterday.  It was a joy to gather together for breakfast after a good night, hot though it was, before we loaded into the van and headed off to church which was a 45 minute drive into the city.  We were warmly welcomed by all present and loved the energy in the worship with the music and joy of the lovely people.  

Four of the students joined us for the day and we loved their company with their sense of humour and growing comfort with us as the day went on. 

Bishop Mariann was invited by Padre Gerrardo to assist with Communion and she felt honoured.

Having volunteered here in the 80's she was reacquainted with Don Lazaro who was the director of the Technical Institute until he retired last year.  She was also introduced to two of his sons who provide the music for the worship service.

Our afternoon was a delightful trip to a parque for a picnic and a chance to get a great view of the city of Tegucigalpa from atop Cerro Juana Lainas where a Peace Monument is located.    Our picnic lunch was traditional Honduran Baleadas - flour tortillas filled with mashed red beans with a thick cream and cheese  Pretty tasty!

The views of the city were amazing, far from the overwhelming traffic we had just come through. 

The city is beautifully set amongst the mountains and we found ourselves amazed at how houses survive on those steep inclines. In spite of the drought, we rejoiced in the beauty of the flowering trees. This purple one is a Jacaranda Tree.

 

On our way home, we had the experience of shopping in a grocery store, given a budget of 500 lempiras ($27) to buy fruit and some things for the guest house.  We were not very successful of keeping within budget, as we spent almost double that! You can see our happy faces after our rather unsuccessful shopping, but we certainly enjoyed the fruit which we were craving in this hot weather.

After supper, we were able to get the kids away from their phones (allowed only on weekends) to learn a little bit of juggling from our pro Melina and an intense game of Chinese Checkers as well as puzzles, ping pong, and a little soccer which was Daniel's favourite part of the day.  These boys have wicked soccer skills.  I think learning to juggle was Steve's!

 We gathered at the end of the evening as a group to talk about the day and to understand about privilege and blessings in our lives.  But that we have used our privilege to come to this  place  to live amongst the students and teachers, to eat the same food, live in the same kind of conditions and learn what we can about life in Honduras.  

 

All flights and travel happened today and we all found ourselves converging at Gate D19 in the Miami airport for the last leg of our journey.  The Ontario contingent met finally in person with Bishop Mariann and Rev Anna from Washington DC.  All morning alarms were going off about 2 a.m. for everyone to catch their 6 a.m. flights, so it seemed like an accomplishment to get to that gate for the final leg to Honduras.

We had time for our first group photo before boarding.  Daniel,  Rick, Melina, Mariann, Rob, Steve, Michael, Janice, Anna and Terry.

Getting through Honduran immigration was fairly straightforward and getting our luggage happened quickly.  

Erika met us on the other side of the gate with her two young helpers from the Technical Institute who worked hard to get all bags loaded.  They thankfully were tied down on top (the luggage, that is) and we got the comfortable seats in the van.  

Since our last team trip to Honduras, Tegucigalpa has built a new airport which is a 50 minute drive from the Technical Institute where we are staying.  So not as convenient as the old airport in the middle of Tegucigalpa. 

It is so good to be back.  The sights and the beauty of the country.  

Erika spent some time with us taking us on a basic tour and doing some orientation -  describing the partnerships within the El Hogar system and that now we here, we are partners now too.  We talked about our week and what it would look like and we are so anxious to get started on what is ahead.

The campus where we are now located, is about 45 minutes outside of Tegucigalpa and it is very quiet this afternoon as many of the students go home for the weekend.  Quiet, except for the Cicadas who love the hot weather.  And that they have as it was +32C this afternoon when we arrived.  

We are settling in and planning the activities for the week that we will do with the kids.  Crafts and activities and I can hear Rob's guitar getting tuned up for what will be some amazing music interjected into the week with the kids.  

After supper, we will have a little casual time with some of the kids and then it will be an early night for most, since the day has been a long one.

Blessed to be here.  

El Hogar 2024 St Luke's Team

We are so excited that after 4 years, we are able to be able to take a St. Luke's team back to El Hogar in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  

We have spent the Christmas season raising funds through our Gingerbread, chocolate bark, Maple syrup and Honduran coffee sales and Easter with our chocolate covered Easter eggs.  We have bonded as a team in our preparations for our time there and now it is soon time to depart.

It is Easter Sunday and it was a perfect day for our team to be commissioned.

We appreciated Canon Stuart's prayer for us and while Terry, Daniel, Rick, Steve, Rob, Michael and Janice were present, we missed Melina, Bishop Mariann and Rev Anna who will meet us in Miami from Washington, DC where we catch the last leg of our flight to Honduras on Saturday.

We have truly felt the support and the heart of our congregation over these many St Luke's trips since 2008.  It was evident today in the well wishes of so many.  We were glad to see some alumni team at church today who came with us on some of the early trips, back as far as that first year in 2008.

Please continue to join us on this blog as we will endeavour to document our activities and time in Honduras.  

Many things in our lives have changed over these past weeks.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our team has cancelled our service trip which was to start on March 27th.  We had been looking forward and preparing to go but know that is best that it be cancelled at this time.  Honduras continues to take measures as we do here and their county is in lockdown as well as schools cancelled.
We did pack up the many donations from you all that we were to take in our suitcases and thank you immensely for these.  Hygiene products - shampoo, toothpaste, etc are much needed and we keep them for our next trip - whether that be in this school year or the next.

And as we have time to reflect on these changes and our lives in the uncertain time of this pandemic, our purpose in our El Hogar ministry at St Luke's remains the same - to continue to support and nurture the vulnerable children in the care of El Hogar.  While we gaze out of our windows in this cool March, we look for signs of spring and have hope as we see the snowdrops and the early bulbs showing their heads up through the frosted winter's soil.  While we are anxious to get into our gardens, the kids at El Hogar are harvesting a crop of root vegetables that they have been tending the past few months.  They seem to be enjoying themselves.  Many of these raised garden beds were built by the 2018 St Luke's team. 

 Hello Friends of El Hogar,
You will pardon our fun as we work on our egg-citing, ongoing fundraiser for our beloved El Hogar de Amor y Esperanza in Honduras.  We just can't help it when chocolate is involved.    But truly, this is serious stuff and we are so pleased to be doing this for the children of El Hogar in Honduras.  We have made over 300 hand-made and hand-dipped (with the best quality Belgian chocolate) Easter eggs for purchase for your Easter. They will be available from any team member or at coffee hour at St Luke's starting March 15. Cost is $6/egg or 5 for $25.


It is messy business, but someone has to do it!

Before we get to the chocolate covering, we need to make the inner egg with the fondant.  We go through alot of icing sugar and sweet condensed milk and so you know that the ingredients are the best. 

While the chocolate is being coated in one room, we have a team packaging and labeling in another room.

Looking good, team.  Thanks to our workers and alumni for your hard work.  Now we need you. You will not be disapointed with your purchases.














Meanwhile, the schools at El Hogar are getting well into their school year which started at the beginning of February.  And this week, it was photo day for the kids.
You can keep in touch with life at the schools through facebook https://www.facebook.com/ElHogarMinistries
or their Instagram posts  https://www.instagram.com/el.hogar/
  We have been so grateful for your generosity of helping us out with the donations that we take down each trip in our packed suitcases.  This year we are looking for donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, deodorant, soap,and razors. There is a basket in the parish hall for the collection of items you donate. We will pack up everything on Sunday, March 15th. Thank you so much! Muchas gracias!

We are so looking forward to being part of their lives for a week when we arrive there March 27th. Check out these smiles!  Wouldn't you be too?

 November is a busy time both here at home and at El Hogar.  The school year is ending for the students at El Hogar and the children, both at the primary school and the Technical school are finishing up their last week and writing their exams.  This weekend is graduation and so it means moving up to the  next grade and for some, moving out to the technical institute for their classes now that they have finished Grade 6. Their school year will start again in February and so they have their vacation over the Christmas holidays.  You can keep up to date by using the school's website and you can sign up for any of their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts. http://www.elhogar.org/

Here at home, the El Hogar 2020 team has been busy preparing for our big fundraiser - making our famous and much-sought-after Gingerbread churches and houses.  As well as the team, we have many alumni and Friends of El Hogar helping out. First is the rolling and baking of over 400 parts before construction can begin.
After they are all completed, we will have put in more than 450 hours.

The fun part is the decorating after the structures have been made.  And everyone enjoys that. Each church or house is each a little different.

The decorator has put their personal touch on each one they do and they are all beautiful, all with edible parts.






We are so grateful for those who come to help us with this fundraiser and on one day, we enjoyed the visit of 4 colleagues from Wawanesa Mutual whose company gives them a day a year to work with a community charity and they chose us! These ladies were super creative with much detail in their work.Thanks Ladies!

Each final product is unique and ready to be sold at our Christmas Market at St Luke's Nov 30th and at each Sunday coffee hour after that.  Cost is $30 each or 2 for $50.                                                                                           

Be sure to look for our table at the Market.  We will also be selling chocolate bark and note cards made by our friend Marilyn Barnes.

Our last day here and we are too busy getting packed,tidying our living space for the next team and too involved to get onto the bus by 0800 to get us into the city to catch our flight, to realize how caught up in our emotions we are in actually leaving this place.  So we were up early, but I guess no earlier than most mornings as we often hear the boys up and at their chores just after 5.  This morning though, we are invited to attend their morning gathering and devotions out on the soccer pad.  This is their time to say thank you to us and was done nicely by a couple of the boys (and translated through the English teacher Enrique).  This student was one of the younger ones and seemed to be a leader already. 




 

.....and for us to let them know how thankful that WE are for them and all we have learned this week, for their love and respect and hospitality to us.  That they have a wonderful opportunity in this school to make a difference in their lives, in their family's and in Honduras to be leaders.  Here, through Enrique, Dave is telling them just that!



We try to capture all that is said and observed- in our hearts and on our cameras!













We hear an emotional and powerful speech from Lazaro who believes that the only way that this place could grow and change as it has over 40 years, is by God's hands through the teams that have come and by all the supporters who have been part of this project in Honduras in the past and those who have yet to learn about the work here in the future.  It is our task, to tell the people who ask, why we go to Honduras and about the work that is being done here.  It was an emotional speech both for him and for us to absorb. He has been with this organization since its beginning and he is the one who has seen the changes and helped with the growth as well as teachers and staff that are truly dedicated to these children.  

We end this part of our morning by taking a picture of all the kids - each holding up a toothbrush and toothpaste which were part of the donations!  It shows their appreciation and also no excuse for not making sure they brush their teeth each day! 

Back in town at the primary centre, we had a little time before departure to the airport, to catch Profe Heyser teaching the children Honduran folk dancing. The kids are enthusiastic, catching  his enthusiasm and love for this art.  In past years, he has let them to win competitions for their school.  There was as suggestion from one of us to him that perhaps in future trips he'd teach us some folkdancing!  He thought that a good idea.  Dancing is part of their cultural wealth both for the country and this school.  Each dance tells a story and has a meaning.  It was fun to watch the kids in this activity.  

Again we had time to debrief with the staff, (Matt, Erika and Tim) about out time here, as they listened to our observations and thoughts for the week. We wanted to get their photo to be sure that we have a record of the Toronto shirt - just to make us feel at home!  (We also find out that Matt has a team sweater for other areas of the country where teams come from!)

Off to the airport, taking with us one of the students who gets the job of being on the roof to unload the van of our luggage.  It is safe to say that we are happy that we don't have as many heavy bags as we head home.  

We leave behind many busy hours and full days as we worked and learned and got to know the boys.  We take with us the memories of a memorable week and the resolve to tell the story of El Hogar to others.  We learned about a number of very positive programs going on in the country.  We are encouraged by all the positive effects that these programs have in so many areas.  We are inspired.  While each of us came with a servant heart, we felt we were in partnership and a relationship with the El Hogar programs to help where we can.  We all agreed that we gained alot more than we gave.  We saw true humility lived out in the people we met this week.  They shared with us their hospitality and acceptance.  We have been so blessed by this trip.