Catalinaaaaaaaaa! Those first sounds of my name being
shouted from Denadi as I approach their house. Then all of a sudden kids from
everywhere start to run. “CATALINAAAA!” I almost get trampled over. What a
gift. One that I had been waiting for, for so long now. It was pure joy. I
surprised everyone in El Porvenir, no one knew I was coming. Word had gotten around
town a bit so a few knew a bit but didn’t know when I would be there. Some of the first things the kids asked: “Where
is Allison, Dan, Cristina, Janna, Riane, Laura y Elena??” … “When can we go
swimming?” … “Do you have to go back to your house tonight? Just sleep here!”
The next day, I saw Rosa, Abuela, the twins and everyone
else in between. Rosa began to cry just saying “MALA.” Everyone I saw wanted to
give me food “Catalina eat some yucca”, “Catalina do you want arroz con leche”,
“Catalina when can you come over for pasteles”, “Catalina I will make you
baleadas”. It was an awesome day back in
town and feeling like I fit right back into the puzzle. I couldn’t have asked
for more.
I was able to visit some of the project sites that the
volunteers are working in. Rosa’s Kinder is going really well, she has 35 kids
jam packed into her room and they are so excited to be there. Everyone in town
wants their kid to go to Rosa’s, even if it means it is further away! The
Porvenir English Project is another program run by HCA (Honduras Child
Alliance) that I was able to visit and see a bunch of kids who I worked with in
the past. Even kids I don’t know, knew my name!
Thursday I went with Rosa to the municipality to talk about
my projects that I want to start. There we were, sitting at a table with the “board”
listening to us. Normally this would have been a very professional event with
lots of paper work and decisions. Well, we walked right in, sat down and began
to talk. In the meantime, cake and soda were being passed around, board members
were talking on their cell phones, the historian was frantically writing down
notes by pencil, and the security guard was giving his input on our
conversation. Everyone was very receptive and happy for the children/women
center to start! A few of them are from the next town over and were trying to
persuade me to start the center in their town instead of El Porvenir…maybe
someday! My reason of going to the municipality was to ask if I needed any license
or permit to start something like this. Their response “Just go ahead and
begin!” I have another meeting next week and possibly I will get a license then?
I was actually really confused so just went along with it.
Yesterday I went to the public school to talk to the
teachers and students about a free dental clinic that will be starting on
Monday. Anne Fowler is working with HCA but also does a ton of awesome things in
the community. One of these is an annual dental brigade from Canada that comes
in and treats all the kids in grades 4, 5 and 6 in the public school. So
yesterday we had to go to all the classes to explain to the teachers what would
be going on, when and how. This was actually really awesome to be a part of. I
got to visit all the classes and see kids that I haven’t seen yet! Some of my
kinder kids are now in 1st and 2nd grade looking oh so
cute in their uniforms! Im excited to help with the dental team all next week!
A few updates:
- I tried to register a few kids (Nayeli and Denadi) in
school on Friday but their dad didn’t show up L
Fanny is off somewhere else, yet once again, but good to know the kids are
doing well and Josue is as cute as ever.
- Went swimming with the kids in the river with the other
volunteers and they all fell in love with the kids!
- Belkis had her son, but the baby sadly died 3 days later L Please prayers for
her.
- Abuela had surgery and is slowly recovering
- Baby Allison is adorable and happy happy happy! I will
hope to have pictures or videos soon!
Thank you to everyone who is helping this all be possible. I
am so blessed to be back in Porvenir feeling like I belong. Please pray for my
time here, the people I hope to minister to, and the projects I will be a part
of.
