After a long trek on a bus, spending about 2 hours at the Nicaragua/Honduras border, driving to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, then spending probably an hour driving in circles around Tegucigalpa because the bus driver didn’t know how to get to our destination, we made it to our destination.
We are working with 3 other teams from our squad this month
We are staying just outside of the capital city, Tegucigalpa, at a ministry called Zion's Gate. This ministry takes in street kids and gives them a place to stay, learn discipline and how to be involved in the community here. It also gives the children opportunities to go to school through child sponsorships. The kids here came from places where they faced all kinds of abuse. They’ve lived in poor conditions such as at the dump, where they are trying to earn money by collecting recyclables and searching for food in dumpsters. Most kids get involved in drugs, and get high on paint thinner or pot, at fairly early ages.
Tent city outside Zion's Gate
The children here all have different stories and are from various age groups, one girl only 2 years of age. The ministry, which was started by an amazing man named Tony Deien, began by building relationships with children and families in areas such as Los Pinos sector F, one of the “most dangerous” areas in Tegucigalpa. Conditions are so dangerous, even the police won’t enter the area. If there is a disturbance it is the military that responds. Tony has brought in children from this area and also other poor areas and given them an opportunity to change their lives. They receive tough love to help them reform from the many drug issues they have, and they are allowed to go to school and receive an education. It is so amazing to see how God has used Tony in these children’s lives! We have been able to see all sides of what goes on within this ministry through Tony – the good, the bad and the ugly – and that is such a blessing! It is such a real ministry with nothing hidden. There are kids that are thriving because of this ministry, and others who struggle to show the commitment to receive what they are given. Again, it is tough love they receive and drugs and alcohol are, of course, not permitted. Devotion to doing chores and taking up responsibilities is a must for these kids. These kids are now able to have dreams, whether to be a bus driver, travel the world as a missionary, become a chef or even a doctor.
Ariel, one of the rescued boys at Zion's Gate
Dania, Jennifer, me, Fanny & Fernando at Zion's Gate
Having a little fun with the kids
Our ministry involvement here has been working on the property to help solve an apparent rock problem, meaning there are too many. The solution is having us make a rock wall. We are here building relationships with the kids, which has been truly amazing. The kids at Zion’s Gate are so loving, and it is such a blessing to be here!
Rockin' it up on top of the rock wall after the rock work is done
We are also involved with different ministries each week we are here, which I will talk about in another blog. We spent time at Heart of Christ, which is a center that takes in young girls who are pregnant due to abuse, incest and rape, special needs children where the infa (orphanages) do not have resources to care for them, and abandoned children.
My teamamtes and me with Gracie and Lee, who run the Heart of Christ ministry
Part of our ministry is to play with the kids and show them some love. They are so adorable that this is easy to do!
making pupusa with one of the young mothers at
Heart of Christ
We are also helping to build a tilapia (fish) farm in the mountains. This farm will help feed people in need and also help create resources so that this ministry can provide for communities in need.
Helping with the construction of a tilapia farm which will feed many people
Building a rock wall for the tilapia farm
We will also be working at a private school called Loyalty School, which is a Christian school that has a goal of being able to provide free schooling for those in need.
