Day 6 - Thursday, July 5th

Thursday was bittersweet to say the least.  It was our last “ministry” day in Honduras and we knew that the next time the sun rose we would have to part ways with the people here and the fellow team members that had become family.

Unfortunately, my camera broke that morning so I was not able to take any pictures for the remainder of the trip, but I did post a few that were taken by my daughter, Ashtyn and fellow team member, Ryan Smith.  Thanks!

Thursday morning we headed out from Cantarranas in trucks to the base of a mountain near the village of Bartolo.  We had to stop at the base of the mountain so that the two trucks could go back to Cantarranas and pick up the rest of the team.  Most places on our trip were reachable with the two 4 wheel drive trucks and diesel van that shuttled us around, but the road up the mountain to Bartolo is usually only travelled by foot and by horseback.  With the van out of the question, half of the team hiked the 2 mile road up the mountain by foot, while the other half were taken all the way up in the trucks. 

This was not your ordinary hike in the woods either.  Remember, this road is normally only passable by horse or 4 wheel drive vehicle and there were some pretty steep grades.  Fortunately, the Lord allowed the weather to be overcast that day and it was only around 80-85 degrees as best I can remember.  The temperature also got a little cooler as the elevation increased.

The village of Bartolo, from what we could see was simply a collection of adobe brick houses scattered a few hundred feet apart along the slope of a mountain.  Upon cresting the final hill of our hike, the road widened to an area in the midst of the houses.  There was a church and feeding center up the mountain to our right and a one room schoolhouse down the mountain to our left. 

The half of our team taken up in the trucks was already there.  Some of them were at the church and some of them were at the school.  I grabbed Ashtyn and headed straight for the school.  The children were outside and I knew this would probably be where we would find Gabriel.  Gabriel Eduardo Pineda Cardona is the 9 year old boy our family supports through Touch A Life.  We were able to meet him for the first time when we were in this same village last year. 

He was there, so Ashtyn and I greeted him a warm hug.  I found it strange at the time that he only smiled once the entire time we were there.  Now, I do understand, after it was later explained to me by someone on staff with Touch A Life that some of the children are overwhelmed when groups of strangers suddenly arrive in their village with gifts and hugs for everyone.  It makes a lot of sense now that I think about it.

We found one of our team members to translate for us and explained to him that we were his sponsors and had met him last year.  He said he remembered us and this seemed to set him at ease a good bit.  We also inquired about his brothers and sister.  We knew from his letters that he had one older brother – 11, one younger brother – 7, and a younger sister – 3.  We met his younger brother last year and looked forward to meeting the rest of them if possible. 

He called over his younger brother and older brother and we all sat down together on the ground to talk.  He told us that his mother would be there soon with his younger sister, and to our surprise, his 11 month old baby brother!  There were several parents at the feeding center when we met Gabriel for the first time last year and we were disappointed to not meet his mother.  Now we know why – she was 8 months pregnant a year ago, and their home is a good long walk from the feeding center!

Gabriel’s mother arrived at the feeding center a short time after we sat down to talk, and we were able to speak with her also.  She told us they lived in a one room adobe block house with a dirt floor and clay tile roof, very similar to the ones we could see in the village.  They do not have a bathroom or running water – except for a garden hose.  Their furniture consists of a wooden table, a plastic chair, and 2 beds.  The beds are constructed with a wooden frame covered by ropes and a straw mat for a mattress. 

We knew from Gabriel’s letters that his father has been very ill for a long time because he asks us to pray for him in just about every letter we have received.  His mother confirmed this and explained a little further.  She told us he works in the fields on a farm whenever possible, but has suffered from some sort of abdominal pain for several years.  He has frequent headaches that often bring him to the point of tears. 

By this point, Ashtyn and I are also in tears and wishing there was more we could do to help this family.  Ashtyn did do more.  When she learned that Gabriel’s youngest brother, Esgar, does not yet have a sponsor, she stepped up.  Yes, God is using the compassion of a 16 year old girl from the United States, with only a part time job, to help this 7 year old boy have a hot meal every day, uniforms for school, and an education.  Words do not exist to express how proud I am of Ashtyn, but she would agree that the praise must go to God!  He is our Provider!

The feeding center here is basically a covered porch on the front of the church building with an adjoining room to store and prepare the food.  The church property is surrounded by a tall chain link fence, and it is heartbreaking to know why this fence had to be erected.  Before the fence was erected, the children without sponsors would stand to the side and wait for the leftovers from the children who did have sponsors.  The only problem was, the children without sponsors were literally fighting the stray dogs to get the scraps of food that had fallen to the ground.  The fence stopped this fighting.  Again, praise God for the funds that allowed this fence to be built.

We had another church service with the people of Bartolo before we left and we were able to hear the children there sing and quote Scripture.  They do not have much, but they worship our Creator at the top of their lungs.  Pastor Santos is doing a wonderful job leading and teaching the people here.  Ashtyn and I had the neat opportunity to sit with Gabriel's family during the service.  Before we left we were able to distribute the remainder of the flip-flops, clothes, goody bags for the children, and leftover markers from VBS.  We also had a pinata and candy that the children enjoyed tearing into.

My heart still aches for Gabriel and his family, but I know that in a very small way, we are able to help make a difference in the quality of their lives by sponsoring him. Glory be to God for allowing us to do this!

Our trip was short, but I know that God will use it to make a lasting impact on the hearts and lives of those who went.  We were able to witness firsthand how His word is being spread to many souls in Honduras.  Praise be Him for this life-changing opportunity!!