Today, we travelled out to the Instituto Technico where we will spend the next 4 days. If you remember from our previous years, we would have told you this is the technical school where the boys further their education after they graduate from the elementary school. Here they learn either an electrical, carpentry or welding trade. Several of the boys that we have known from previous years are here as well as eight who graduated last year. 

We had some time before we left El Hogar to spend with the little guys.  They love to see the pictures on our phones and we can teach them alot about our lives or Canada with our photos .  Sometimes you will end up with one or two gathered round - sometimes 7 or 10!

We loaded the van with all our bags on the roof, donations designated for the institute and huge containers of paint for our painting task this week. Erika drove us and we weaved our way through the morning traffic to Amarateca which is about ¾ hour north of Tegucigalpa. We were so graciously welcomed and our rooms were ready and a delicious lunch served.

And this picture you will have seen before as it has been well photographed over the years.  A stunning mural on the front wall of the chapel done by one of El Hogar's young students a number of years ago.  What a legacy his talent has provided.  However many times we see it, we are in awe of this amazing work and all of us sat in meditative silence for awhile after we entered the sanctuary.  . 

April 23 is Spanish Language Day and we went to hear groups of every member of the student body give presentations about the Spanish language.  This was in the forms of skits or historic lessons or music. It was well done and while we weren't able to understand it all, knew that they had all worked hard to put their presentations together and we were very impressed.  

We used the afternoon to start on our work project and got two of the  big dorm rooms in the residence finished.  We were never sure who the person was in our group that was organizing us but all 8 of us seemed to be in charge at some point. When we got into a groove, we got through the two rooms pretty quickly. Sometimes we would all end up in the same corner!

We gave Peter the top of the ladder stuff to do!

We had planned a number of activities to do with the boys, making it sort of a drop in centre to do some painting, games, puzzles, etc, figuring that a few small groups might turn up, but we ended up having almost all 58 of them!  They loved the things we were providing for them to do and they were all wonderful, helping us set up and clean up.  It was all so civilized and orderly.  Loved it! You can see them all intently working on something.  

We brought canvases with us and they loved the painting.  There are some amazing and talented artists amongst them.   

 UNO was one of the favourite games.

It has been a good day and we are glad to be here.  Lazaro, the Director here has been around to check on us to make sure we are looked after and indeed we have been well looked after.  

Thee evening has cooled for sleeping which is a treat, so we will be rested after a long and busy day.

We look forward to tomorrow as there are more interesting things planned for us.

Sunday, April 23, 2017
 III Gran Carrera

It was dark when we got up and got to breakfast for 5! Time to ready ourselves for the Maraton, (marathon) which wasn’t really a marathon, but a 3, 5, and 12 km walk/run. We piled into the van with loads of water and kids and enthusiasm. This is a fundraiser that the school organizes and it was most successful, w
Well organized and with about 1000 runners.

 The Voluntario Green Team is ready to go!

 Ros with Junior an d his brother, Jose Angel.  These boys came to El Hogar when they were very small and have found an education and family and love here.

 Waiting for the last of the runners to come in....

Here they come!



























There are now 22 senior girls out at the residence at Santa Lucia who attend high school which has grown greatly from the first original 6 girls in 2008.  They also did the run today.












Heading back after a grueling morning!




We had some time to recover before lunch and we took that opportunity to do so!

But oh no!  Not a good day to not have any water to shower!

The afternoon was free for most of the children and so we enjoyed lots of activities with them - from folding paper airplanes to games and frisbees.

Climbing that tree to get down the stuck paper airplane.




Alan has just received a special drawing from Antoni.









Sarah found fun things for the girls to do,  Anna Nicol was very creative with her pope cleaners.







Meanwhile, Ros and Peter sorted  all the donations that came from Burlington, Rhode Island and Kansas City.  They were divided amongst the four centres and included everything from clothing (consider 221 pairs of socks and 179 bars of soap!), personal hygiene stuff to academic and medical supplies, How generous people have been.

Beautiful rainstorm after supper that cleared the air and refreshed us.

The theme of our evening program together is about the Sustainable development goals and what is happening in Honduras.  More specifically, how is El Hogar helping to eradicate poverty.    Great discussion and sharing.

"We live in a world that desperately needs to know a world without hunger, peace, love and a world with a God who gives hope.  Who better to do this than each of us."

Saturday, April 22, 2017

When our alarm went off this morning at 0200, we vowed that next year perhaps we would find another solution to travel to avoid having to get up so early. Perhaps travel the day before though it would mean staying over in Miami or Atlanta. In spite of the early hour, it seemed the lineups were shorter and quicker. We had a long enough stop in Miami that we could order a good breakfast before we met up with our new team members Dave meeting us from Kansas City and Peter from Rhode Island.  

 Erika and driver Gustavo met us in the Tegucigalpa airport with the El Hogar van and with help, the bags with all our donations and personal bags were strapped to the top of the van. It is great to be back and driving through the city is a different cultural experience for each one of us no matter how many times we have been here. The big gates open to the compound and inside are the noises of happy playing children who greeted us on our arrival. 

Gustavo has done this job many times before and knows what he is doing.  

When we got to the guest house, we had a beautiful tropical bouquet of fruit and flowers to welcome us.

 Our first meal together at El Hogar.

There is a scurry of activity inside these walls today as the staff prepare for the maraton being held tomorrow.  

These young ladies have just folded T shirts that were printed on site for the 800 participants in tomorrow's run.  

We did have free time with the kids after supper and kept it easy with colouring books and crayons, skipping ropes and Frisbees which they love.  Many new children this year and I am sure there must be many more girls this year.
It is important to get to bed after such a short night last night and an early morning tomorrow.

  

Palm Sunday 

and our El Hogar Team was commissioned in the Palm Sunday worship service in preparation to head to Honduras on the 22nd of April.  A few of our team were away or live out of town, so Ros, RIck, Michael and Alan represented the rest of us there.  We feel encouraged and supported by the parish and are grateful for that.   

Team 2017.  In a month, we will be on our way to be part of an amazing life changing experience.  Even for those who have been back numerous times, it never ceases to amaze us how moved we are as we see changes in the children each time we go back.  They come from such abject poverty that to see them now have a greater chance at life makes our heart rejoice.  We have seen God's transforming love change their lives as well as our own.  We have grateful hearts for the staff and teachers who give loving care to each of these children, for the numerous teams that continue to go down each year and the various churches and organizations that support El Hogar in Honduras.  

We want to thank you so much from the El Hogar Service Team which helps us in many ways contribute to the success of the ministry that goes on there. We are so grateful for your on-going support which you give in so many ways! Thank you for purchasing our chocolate covered fondant Easter eggs. We hope you’ll enjoy them at Easter! We will be travelling to El Hogar on Saturday, April 22nd to be with the children of El Hogar and of course, with our own Erika Skafel. In the past, you have always been so generous in donating much needed requested items. If you are able, this year we are looking for jeans for boys and girls, both new and gently used, as well as toothpaste, soap, deodorant and shampoo. There is a box in the parish hall for the collection of items you donate. We will pack up everything after our commissioning on Sunday, April 9th. Most of all, please keep the team in your prayers and while we’re away check out this blog for updates and news. 

İMuchisimas gracias por su apoyo! Thank you so much for your support!   Alan, Janice, Michael, Ros, Rick, Sarah from Barrie, Dave from Missouri, and Peter from Rhode Island.

They're back!  Our super duper hand-made, hand dipped Belgian chocolate, fondant Easter eggs.  One week of selling and 1/2 of then are gone already! Available at coffee hours or from any team member.  Made by our team with a number of Easter bunnies helping out.  Once more we had the help of the Chocolate Doctor  http://www.thechocolatedoctor.ca/   to help us get the chocolate just right and we have to say, these eggs are looking pretty good, thanks to Kerry.  

We are thankful for the extra alumni that came out that night to help.














And we had an awful lot of fun making them. But believe me, there was chocolate everywhere.  





Ready to be packaged.  

El Hogar Team 2017.

Our new team is making plans for our upcoming trip April 22 - 29th.  So much to plan and prepare for but we are excited as the trip is always a time of connecting with inspiring directors, staff and teachers who have such a strong influence on the lives of these children in their education and love that they receive each day and of course connecting to the children themselves who inspire us and love us in spite of not knowing their language or unable to play a rousing round of soccer with them!
We are pleased to have two new people on our team this year - Sarah from Barrie and Dave from Kansas City, Missouri.  
Soon we are starting to make our fondant Easter eggs and they will be on sale for a few weeks starting on March 19th.  These are very popular and so don't miss out.