We woke again to a 7 am breakfast, traditionally prepared with cheese, tortillas, beans, bread, bananas, oranges, pineapples and of course coffee! Then the team split up: half went to visit a maternity home, then complete the following at the elder home: share donations from SMA, meet with Sor Matilde (director at the elderly home), give gifts to the jovenes (the young ladies that live and work at the elderly home), and to spend time with the elderly doing a craft project, while our family (Kopeckys) went to visit our sponsored child and her Abuela in San Jose, a town about 45 minutes away.
Unbound is an organization which partners children, youth and elderly with sponsors to help move families on a path out of poverty. The set will write letters back and forth to establish relationships, share pictures and pray for each other. The organization has done this since 1981, and recently just arranged their one millionth sponsorship!
Our family had sponsored a young girl (Jensi) who was our daughters’ age for over a decade, and Chris and I were both able to meet her and her family during previous mission trips. Unfortunately her family moved out of the region during covid.
Two years ago we started sponsoring Miate Angeli (10) and we were able to meet her at a park in town with the Unbound staff, including our driver Edwin. We were very grateful to also have Maria there to interpret for us. Since we had written several letters, we already knew a bit about each other. Her grandmother was there because her mother had just given birth to their fifth child on December 28th. Miate was a complete joy and very interactive, much different than I’d expect from a first meeting. We exchanged a few gifts, went for a walk, braided hair, danced, sang, and even played a game of snakes and ladders. Lunch was great with many meats and wonderful melon drinks. After several hours our time was ending and the group sang us a traditional Honduras history song, as well as a song of thanksgiving for each other. Miate gave us a handwritten note expressing her appreciation to us, which the Unbound staff said was very uncharacteristic….we could tell they were also touched by the fact all of their hard work was showing such beautiful fruit.
We reunited with the rest of the group and spent the afternoon at the Hogar de Ninas making little floral arrangements out of paper as a gift for the elderly tomorrow. During this time, we continued to connect with individual girls…. whether it was playing games, talking about life, teaching English and Spanish to each other, and just giving love and attention. Dinner with the Sors delightful conversation full of laughter, and consisted of beans, pork and cheese tortillas, served with cole slaw and soup.
Today’s virtue to observe was fortitude and I can’t stop thinking about Maite’s courage and generosity in sharing her love with us. I also was reflecting on these verses from 1 John 3 from last Friday’s readings, reminding me of the importance of our presence here:
“If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”
Rose and Chris
St. Michael the Archangel Honduras Mission Project 