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Lo siento por el atraso del blog! (sorry for the delay, internet is very spotty here in Honduras!) But at least it is available at all! So today marked day 1 of work in Villa Soleada. After a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and pancakes, we were off for the grand tour of Villa. What an unbelievable amount of work that got done since last summer! So awesome to see all of the progress and to know we would be a part of what is yet to come. When we stopped at the Bilingual School for a brief informational session and update, I had the honor of seeing the plaque which bears my name for my fundraising efforts last year. I was filled with such an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that I (along with my wonderful friends and family) was a part of such a huge and significant project. The children of Villa Soleada and some from the town of El Progreso, now have the benefit of receiving a bilingual education, which will offer them a future filled with more opportunities than most of the people of Honduras.
Back to the workday... Matt, Dara, and I spent
our time at the worksite for the library being built next to the Children's Home. While we weren't able to help a ton in the early part of the day, we did sift some sand and help raise some boards to build the upper level. After a couple hours of work, conversation, and playing with the kiddos (who LOVE to borrow with our cellphones and take a ridiculous amount of pictures) we were off to have lunch with the locals. We divided up and headed out for a typical Honduran meal of Baleadas, Platanos, y Pastelitos de Pina. Deliciosa! I got to help Glendi with the tortillas, and I will just say it was very obvious as to which were mine and which were hers!
Hanging out at the Children's Home after lunch was just another reminder of why I love being here so much. The kids are so full of love and affection, which I find somewhat suprising, being that they are living in a group home and have most likely been abandoned and/lived on the streets. The fact they are so openly trusting of us and eager to befriend every one of the volunteers says so much
about how effective this program (SHH) has been, and how well they are treated and raised by their house mother and father.
The afternoon at the worksite was much more productive for us than the earlier part, and I am happy and proud to say that not only did I keep up with all the youngsters in their efforts to mix cement, I carried over a dozen cement filled buckets to the workers up on the scaffolding! As most of you are probably aware, I have been working really hard over the past year to get in shape and lose weight both by exercise and dietary changes. Being able to carry those cement buckets was a goal I set for myself as I was planning and preparing for this trip. Can I get a hip hip hooray!?!
While I didn't get to play soccer today, I did get to reconnect with some friends, both volunteers and Hondurans. I was so excited to get to see Ana Lucia, mi buena amiga aqui en Honduras, and give her the watch and supplies she had requested. Dinner, shower, group reflection, and seeing even more familiar faces as the night went on
will allow me to go to bed with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. (sheesh, when did I get so cheesy?)
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