Honduras ~ October 18, 2014

Well, we went back to HO370 for a second day, to see the “Child Sponsorship Program”.  We were going to be doing Vacation Bible School type activities with the children.  One group was going to be using balloons, so on the way, everyone was blowing them up.  Then we had to find a couple of bags to carry them in.

My group was activities, and we were going to be doing two different things, doing a story, and creating a card, with two hands touching, one their hand, and one of the sponsors.  The other half of each group would be working with balloons to try and create Balloon animals, hats, and such.  Another group was doing a bible story, and the fourth was doing some bible songs.   We were all so excited and ready to get started.

When we arrived, the children were waiting for us with a big banner and balloons.  After a group of had gotten off the bus and walked in, they all stomped on their balloons, making lots of noise.  I wonder what the others thought. Maybe we were braking all their balloons?  It was actually kinda funny.  The children then gave us lots of hugs, and they all had some great big smiles on their faces.

Well, after we got into the center, we went into the church, the Pastor talked to us.  The pastor has been married for 23 years to his wife, and they have a son that is 23 years old, a Daughter, Katherine 15, and Son 8.  He went on to talk to us about his life, and how he got to where he is.  It was very touching.

His Grandmother raised him, and how he rebelled as a teenager, and got involved in drugs.  He had to hit rock bottom, before he met the Lord at the age of 28 years old.  God put his life back in order, and he got married.

He talked to about the church, and that they are about teaching what God is and what Love is.  There is a sign on the wall that he points to. “Samos una Iglesia Que.”  They are there to rescues these lives.

Their church has a membership of about 300 plus visitors.  The children are the true value of what they believe, and what they do.

Vanessa is the Project Director, and she has a love for children.   While she has no children of her own, she treats all the project children as her own.  The project stared 9/27/2011.  They started with 162 children that participated in the Child Sponsorship Program.

In their area, there the threat of drugs, violence, and abuse.  There are many child mothers, and they are there to help change the lives of the children, to keep them safe, and to help them break the cycle of poverty. The challenge that they face is to “change their mentality”.

There are six teachers at the project

• 2 teachers – 3-5 year olds
• 3 teachers – 6-8 year olds
• 1 teacher – 9 -11 year olds

They have Artuo, their accountant, and two lunch ladies.

The Project, like all Compassion Centers, work on four areas.

• Physical
  1. 2 medical checks per year
  2. Share meals with those who may not have enough to eat
  3. Medical assistance as needed
  4. Toothbrushes
  5. Each month, they weigh, and measure each child to ensure that are not under nourished.

• Intellect
  1. Help with School Supplies, including a back pack at the beginning of the year
  2. If the student gets 90% (A’s) in their classes, they are rewarded with a field trip
  3. Computers at the Project for them to use for research for school

• Social Emotional
  1. Recognize birthdays each month
  2. 12 years and older go to the movies
  3. Soccer teams for the older and younger children

• Spiritual
  1. Food Baskets – handout to those in church to encourage them to come
  2. Bible Day parade
     1. Dress up as Animals
     2. Getting the mothers to support them

Vanessa said that Sponsors need to write to the children and encourage the children.  The letters show the children that someone cares about them.

Currently there are 207 children in the program, and they average around 200 children activity day.  The children come twice per week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  In most cases there is only one child per family.  Some families have two or three children in the program. It depending on the need in the family.  They are planning on expending the program in early 2015.

About 70% are ages 12 and under, and about 30% are over 12 years of age.   The program is still new, so there are not as many older children.

The Pastor has been at the church for the past four years. (As of 2/20/2015).

This past year, 25 children, not from the project were baptized. One was baptized from the project, and is now part of the Worship Team.  The children do not get baptized until they are at least 12 years of age.

While we were there, they have a TV station, that was streaming live, and it was the children’s hour while we were there. (More later in the blog about the TV station.)

About 30% of the project attend church services.  Many of the children worship at churches closer to their homes. However, every two months they invite all the children and their families to attend service, and in the church there can be 500 + in the service.  They have special plays and songs by the children in the project.

When asked if there were any specific need right now?  They are needing a new roof for the church as it leaks.  And for the project, they want to finish the second story of the building and add more to the balcony and part of the additions roof.

Well, after a few more questions, it was time to feed the children lunch, and then it will be time to play with the children.

Continued… Day Two – HO370 – Part Two

Thank you for reading my blog.
Lisa