Honduras 02/2010

This month's trip to Honduras was very hot and rainy.  The hot temperatures mixed with the daily rain created an environment that felt like an open air sauna.  We were able to visit nearly all of the AOH sponsored homes in Honduras.  Time did not permit me to visit two that are located far from San Pedro Sula and require a day's travel just for the one home visit.

I was able to see some of the Computer Labs that were already installed and operating in the orphanages.  The home directors were extremely grateful to our sponsors for the donations of computers and they expressed how important the labs are for the children and their academic development. 

I was also working all week on evaluating the furniture needs of all of the homes.  In 2009 we were able to provide tractor trailors of cafeteria tables, bunk beds, dressers, tables, chairs, desks, and other furniture items to the homes. 

I created a report from this recent visit to document all the progress we made in improving the furnishings of the facilities and to compile the list of items that are still needed.  I hope to be able to send more bunk beds and dressers this  year.  These items are in great need and they are oftentimes needs that are not urgent.  The children will store their clothes in dressers that have fallen apart to the point where the drawers are missing and shelves are collapsed. 

We started discussions to plan the Day of Celebration event for 2010.  We are looking at dates in May.  The children were already asking us about details of the day's activities and whether or not we will be hosting a Drawing Contest again this year.  This Day of Celebration event truly creates a bond and a strong relationship between all of the orphanages in the program and you can easily see that it is the highlight of the year for most of the children. 

One of the homes had just returned from the warehouse with their monthly goods distribution from Angels of Hope.  These bags contain rice, beans, and corn for two months.

Given that it was the weekend of Valentines Day, we gathered a youth group together on Saturday morning and created handmade Valentines Day cards for the children.  We then split into groups and brought a Valentines day party to each of the homes complete with cards and bookmarks for each child, ice cream, and candies.  It was a special activity for the homes as well as a good opportunity for the local youth group to do a service project and gain awareness about the many orphanages in their local community.