Okay well we’re starting our second week in El Salvador but before I start writing about that I want to finish off with Honduras.
Our month in Honduras was nothing like I ever expected. I went into the month wanting to be in Nicaragua. Why? I have no idea. I didn’t know anything about either countries but something inside of me was being stubborn and wanted to go to Nicaragua. Arriving in Honduras I discovered that our ministry would be 99% with teenage boys. Growing up with 3 sisters has played greatly into my love and desire of ministering to teenage girls. Teenage boys are a completely different ball park haha. Instead of these things making me enjoy my month less, these are the things that stole a chunk of my heart.
A couple times in feedback my team commented how they never saw me anymore and missed me but loved how much time I was spending with the boys. Most of my days were spent following the whims of teenage boys. We watched tv shows, played Sorry for hours and Monopoly and video games until 3 or 4 am. We made tie dye shirts, played with puppies, dressed up in all their Olympia parphenalia and took crazy amounts of pictures. We played basket ball and soccer, ate a really sour/spicey mango concoction that they loved to make for snacks. Hollered inside jokes and funny sayings that we taught them across the farm and took lots of pics and funny videos. Don’t worry, we did some work too. Painting the gate took up a bit of time and was so much fun. Carlitos and I loved to put paint on each other.
GO OLYMPIA!
Fernando, Carlos, Luis and Ariel after they ground up chalk and put it on their faces
Luis and Fernando giving me kisses 🙂
Carlitos and I
Playing Sorry with Henry and Jenny
Carlos, Ariel and Luis
Carlos eating the mangos
One thing that we did not really do was communicate with words. They didn’t know much English if any and I hardly know any spanish. Most of the time though, it didn’t even matter. On our last night I got to talk with Carlitos for the first time, thanks to Tony translating. Carlitos was so precious. As I shared my testimony, told him about Jesus he listened so intently. This 16 year old boy had never heard about Jesus before and had been to church for the first time that morning. Afterwards he said some really sweet words to me and then we shared a teary eyed hug.
Hearing the stories of these boys broke my heart. Leaving them was so incredibly hard. Two days before we left I cried and cried. The boys were so sweet about it, they would tell me to stop crying “no mas” wipe my tears and give me hugs. Little Carlos cried a couple times too asking me why I had to leave when Honduras was my home and the best place for me 🙁 Thankfully I have been blessed with Tony, his updates and his willingness to pass along notes to the boys for me.
Tony and Nidia are amazing beyond words. I can’t even describe to you their perserverance despite the devils plan to see them fail, the love they have for these kids no matter what they do, and the environment that they create in their home- constantly welcoming everyone in and showing them the love of Christ. Tony and Nidia play the parental role in the lives of these kids that either don’t have parents or their parents don’t take care of them. Doing life together is one of Tony’s sayings and mottos that he is actively trying to incorporate to his life. It’s brilliant and I think exactly what God has in mind for this type of ministry. Love, discipline and forgiveness are found in their home. They teach the kids to wash their dishes, clean up after themselves and to respect the people around them and themselves. They take them to church, to school and on fun activities. Nothing they do is to gain appreciation and approval from the world, but simply to live day by day doing whatever the Lord has for them. God is doing big things in La Finca (the farm) and in Los Penos. Not big things, huge things. Lives are changing, families are being impacted and communities are seeing Light and hope. So many people have said that the kids in Los Penos are hopeless and will never change, but what I’ve seen is the exact opposite.
In order for Tony and Nidia to continue in the direction that God is sending them they will need more finances. Right now they have about 7 kids in school that need to be sponsored. There are also needs in other areas such as providing food for the kids who’s parents don’t feed them, gas money for them to go back and forth from Los Penos every day and living expenses. God has really placed this ministry on my heart and if He has on yours as well please pray for them and consider supporting them.
To put one of the kids in school it is about $25 a month. If you would like to support Tony and Nidia or feed the kids, please donate what ever is on your heart. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry you can contact me. I would love to give you all of the information, I can even give you Tony’s email and skype- I’m sure he would be thrilled to talk with you and tell you more about his ministry.
Tony and some of the boys on Honduran Fathers Day
Nidia and some of the girls
Thank you! 🙂
