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| Friends with the Chicas in front of the newly constructed volleyball court |
Over the past few years, it has become custom to spend our mornings working on the Ranch while the kids are in school. We try to lend a hand to the employees in the kitchen, gardens, tortilla house and farm. This gives us a greater appreciation and understanding for what it takes to care for and feed the children on a daily basis.
We also bring projects and donations with us to help make improvements to benefit the children. One of our projects included painting, decorating, and hanging curtains in the girls new exercise room. We hope this will make them feel more excited about exercising with a more attractive and private place to get in shape! We also painted one of the girls’ bedrooms and built a volleyball court outside the girls’ homes. A medical doctor traveling with us helped one of the nurses give CPR classes to the staff.
Our afternoons and evenings were spent with the kids, and it was everyone's favorite part of the day! Play time, homework, meals, impromptu dance parties, and meaningful conversations bring visitors and pequeños together to create lifelong memories. For about half our group, who had visited the Ranch at least once before, they continued to build upon relationships formed in past years. These afternoons give visitors the chance to get to know their godchildren, along with their friends, siblings, and the caregivers and volunteers that care for them. Many visitors also choose a godchild to sponsor while in Honduras as lasting relationships are formed.
We also had the joy of visiting Casa de los Angeles in Tegucigalpa, the home for special needs children. We were all impressed by the resources and therapies offered to the pequeños in that special home. One visitor who knows some sign language formed a strong bond with Ondina, a deaf woman who is learning sign. They were able to communicate and learn a lot about each other in their short visit. While in Tegucigalpa, we also had the chance to meet the boys studying in university and treat them to a pizza dinner. It was wonderful to visit with them and let them practice their English.
By the end of our ten days it was hard to say goodbye. Lives continue to be touched by the children of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos as sponsors and supporters take the opportunity to visit the homes and meet their godchildren. We parted with strong smiles, a few tears, and promises to write, send pictures, and (we hope) return on next year’s trip. NPH is a lasting lesson in love and understanding and we are so appreciative to NPH Honduras opening its doors to us and letting the children become imprinted on our hearts!
Laura Useche
Friends Northwest Office Administrator and Volunteer Coordinator
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