Looking back on the month we spent in Honduras, the ministry that stands out most prominently in my mind is with kids that live on the property with Tony, our ministry contact. The kids all come from the dangerous and poor community of Los Pinos and have heartbreaking stories of drug addiction, violence, gangs, and abandonment. Each of these boys is learning what it means to have a family, to receive an education, and to follow Christ through the ministry of Tony and his wife Nidia.
There are two kids that I connected with most while in Honduras: sixteen-year-old Ariel and his sister Dania, age thirteen. Both are loving, affectionate, funny, and kind as well as leaders in their community and among their friends. They currently live in Los Pinos with their mother, an older brother, and a younger sister. Their father is an alcoholic who was asked to leave when he attempted to kill himself at home by stabbing himself in the chest. The family lives in a one-room house made of miscellaneous wood scraps and have no electricity, plumbing, or kitchen.
In the words of Tony:
Ariel continues to be a great role model for many in the slums of Los Pinos. Los Pinos is saturated with massive drug problems amongst the youth with sniffing paint thinner as the number one drug. Nightly, the dirt streets are full of teenagers getting high and shooting their guns in the air (Ariel’s description), especially Friday and Saturday nights.
Last year, Ariel was unable to attend school due to lack of funds for registration, uniforms, and school materials. Through Tony and Nidia, he is currently enrolled part-time in a computer class and an English course. Their hope and prayer for this young man is to attend a private Christian High School called Escuela Gran Comision (The Great Comisions) in order to continue his education and achieve his dream of becoming a pastor in a church someday.
As a team, Kaleo spent some time in prayer and decided that we wanted to support and encourage Ariel in the path that he is walking. We were able to use team money and some generous funds from Gene and Lisa Whannel to provide the first month’s tuition for Ariel to attend La Escuela Gran Comision starting this February. What we are now all asking is for the partnership of our friends, family, and loved ones back home. The cost in US Dollars for Ariel to attend this school is as follows: $90 annual registration fees, $85 monthly tuition from February through November, and $300 annually for books, materials, uniforms, and special events. A monthly sponsorship would be $105 per month; however, Tony and Nidia are seeking $120 a month for unexpected costs along the way.
In addition to seeking financial partners for Ariel’s education, Tony also shared with us his dream to provide an opportunity for Ariel and his family to leave Los Pinos and come to live on the property with Tony and his family. Tony is looking to build a simple home for Noemi (Ariel and Dania’s mother) and her four children so that they can work and partner in the ministry with Tony, and have the opportunity for education, income, and protection. Noemi would be employed as a housekeeper and caretaker, while her oldest son Ronnie would work full-time as a landscaper and general contractor. Ariel and Dania would attend high school together and help serve the missions teams that come to partner with Tony on short-term trips. The youngest daughter, eleven-year-old Amalia, would continue her education at the local public school until she is able to attend Gran Comision in a few years. The cost to build a home for this incredible family would be $4000.
I cannot fully and accurately communicate the character of Ariel and Dania, but suffice it to say that they are both incredible young adults with so much promise and potential. There were numerous times when I would find Dania cooking in the kitchen, cleaning, and serving us. Dania would come curl up next to me and share stories about her life and family, we would listen to music together, and she would tell me about what she wanted for Christmas (a pair of shoes). I would watch Ariel and see how he conducted himself with his friends and how they looked up to him as a leader and a young man of God. He is respectful and affection to everyone.
Honduras has the highest homicide rate in the world and these two kids are from one of the worst areas in the country. Partnering with Tony and Nidia would not only change the lives of two incredible teens and their family, but would also be a testament to the whole community of Los Pinos and the power that is found in Jesus to change lives. If you are interested in coming alongside of Tony and Nidia in the work that they are doing in Honduras to change lives, please take a minute to look at the following website:
http://hopeinhonduras.blogspot.com/2011/11/opportunity-for-private-education.html
I will end with one last story about Ariel. Our last night in Honduras, Team Kaleo met with Tony and Ariel to discuss our desire to support and encourage him in his education. As we discussed our plans to write blogs, talk to people back home, and give him a small donation to get him on his way, I realized that the Lord had been telling me something about Ariel. I believe in this kid. I believe in the character I witnessed during the month in Honduras. I believe in the hope and promise for a better future, one that is free from drugs, gangs, and violence. I believe that through Ariel, Honduras will be changed for the better because he will bear the light of the Lord into the darkness of Los Pinos. As we finished our meeting, I looked at Ariel told him: “Tú tienes el corazón del leon. Fuerte y suave.”
You have the heart of a lion. Strong and gentle.
Ariel, the Lion-Hearted, I believe in you.
