Our final day had arrived and a special carnival is planned for the girls and elderly at the senior center. The courtyard is decorated with streamers and balloons. Carnival activities consisted of ring toss, cake walk, face painting, duck pond, fishing, and “Minute to Win it”. Popcorn was popped and drinks were served.

As soon as the girls and elderly arrive, they are greeted by our tres amigos clowns (Brad, Greg and Mike), squirting them with their water cameras and flowers. Never have I seen so many priceless reactions. The girls and elderly had constant smiles on their faces. The Sors also participated in the fun (I think they had more fun then anyone)!

After the carnival concluded, pizza was served. 30 pizza’s were ordered and all were consumed faster than we could bring them out. This was a real treat not only for the girls, but the elderly as well. After lunch we all went to visit the apartment of the girls who had just graduated. There are 5 girls sharing the apartment and it is very inviting. They are all so lucky to have the help of Joe.

Later the group went shopping for souvenirs and then returned to the orphanage for our final dinner. It was truly special as several round tables were set in the dining area to accommodate all the sors who would be joining us. They had balloons and other decorations hanging from the ceiling and cheeseburgers were served.

Once we had all finished, we gathered in the St. Michael’s room for a farewell show put on by the girls. It was a very emotional night as they showed us how thankful they are to have us in their lives. They began the show with some traditional dances and was followed by a beautiful poem Yamaley had written for us.

There were more dance numbers, one which had us all on our feet as well. There was one hilarious number where the girls had bags on their head and faces painted on. Words cannot describe how creative this was (hopefully the picture will).

Throughout the show, a gift was presented to each of us by one of the girls, – a beautifully handcrafted pillow (including one to be presented to Padre Bill). Three of the talented girls had painted them for us, and they were all truly beautiful. Each girl who presented us with a gift shared their thanks, prayers and hope of seeing us soon.

This trip has been more rewarding than expected, I know each time I come down here I become a better, more giving person. Although we all may have struggles of our own, we must put the needs and happiness of the girls and elderly as one of our top priorities. Our group had an incredible bonding experience and I know we all leave this place with more love than when we had arrived. We are all going to miss the daily hugs and laughter of the girls and elderly. As long as we keep them in our hearts and prayers, we can help our relationships with them to grow stronger.

We are all home safe and sound. Thank you all who have prayed and supported us and our families on this marvelous experience. Please accept our prayers in return.

It was another special day as we prepared for Arasely’s Quinceñara. A number of us went over to help her get ready. Nails were painted. Hair and make-up were also done. It is rare for a girl to celebrate something alone, so we definitely wanted to make her feel like a princess. The mass began for the celebration 2 hours later than planned (normal for Honduran time), Ludin and Digna sang beautiful songs.

After the celebrating, we all enjoyed some birthday cake. The girls sang all types of birthday chants, and our team sang the traditional “happy birthday”. The girls are all so thankful that St. Michael’s gives them the opportunity to celebrate this tradition in their culture.

When the celebration was over, The Pollock clan got to meet with their sponsored child at he elderly home with Digna, and her family. We have sponsored her for 5 years and have had so many opportunities to spend time with her.

That evening we were able to finish our VBS with the remaining girls. Each girl decorated a little box and inside they placed a note stating what present they would give to God this year.

After dinner at the orphanage, the group, Sor Dinora, and a few of the girls went to the hospital to hand out bread, cookies and hot tea. At first we were able to give some to all the people waiting outside of the hotel. Next we went to the maternity ward and handed them out there. It was heart wrenching to see the conditions in the hospital. There was a pregnant woman who was having complications, Sor Dinora led us in prayer to bless her and her child, it was a moving moment to be able to connect with a complete stranger in a spiritual way.

After the maternity ward we went to the under 2 pediatric ward. Lastly we went to pediatrics where children over 2 stay. Visiting hours were over so all their families had to wait outside in the open aired courtyard while their kids were all in one big room together. You could hear a number of kids crying for their parents, another gut-wrenching experience. We were all thankful to be able to learn from this experience and were glad we could give something back.

Today, we started the day off eating breakfast at the Hogar de Ancianos. After our meal we each split off to accomplish diffent tasks.

Mike an Brad worked more in the garden area by sanding and refinishing all the benches.
Magda and Dani went over to the orphanage to finish helping the girls with their pen pal letters.

Jane, Sarah, Beth and Amber handed out books collected from a scout project at St. Michael’s and Dani distributed books for members of the book club.

Barb, Magda and Greg visited CAMO which stands for Central AMerican Medical Organization to coordinate future medical and dental visits to the orphanage to take care of the girls needs.

While others were busy, Greg, Jodi and I began setting up a computer and projector at the Hogar de Anacianos for our Skype sessions with the girls’ pen pals from St. Michael. In the first session, Osiris, Paola, Deisy and Neydi skyped with the advanced and intermediate spaninsh classes. Next, Nolvia, Paula, Edita chatted with the service ambassadors at St. Michael’s, it was amazing to see the kids interact and have so much in common from music to sports played. Lastly, Marta, Sandra, Arsely and Melissa chatted with a religious education class who were shocked that the girls at the orphanage only get pizza twice a year, when people from St. Michael’s visit.

After the Skype session, we all headed over to the orphanage and started filming interviews of selected girls from different age groups. I will have to say the Greg, Jodi, Magda and I about busted a gut laughing so hard at some of their responses- a bloopers video will be needed!

Dani, Beth, Amber and Sarah set up a vacation bible school activity for the Pearlas. The girls got to decorate crowns, and listen to stories.

Jane, Sarah, Amber and Beth began preparing dinner for the nuns at the new house. When the nuns arrived they were each escorted in and were greeted by a round of applause. We had 10 nuns who we served chili, cornbread and brownies for dessert to give them a little taste of Kansas. None of them had ever experienced any of these foods, but they seemed to like it by asking for a second serving!

After the dinner we presented Sor Dinora, Sor Theresea and Joe with a book that has a collection of pictures from all of our previous trips. The Sors talked about how grateful they are that St. Michael’s agreed to help the orphanage and elderly home even before we had a physical church of our own. They talked about how much they trust us and know when we are involved it will turn out better than expected. We have been able to expand the girls education by providing tutors. She said St. Michael’s has made her job so much easier by providing so much support. They are all loving how our group keeps expanding and there are so many willing to help.

The sors went on to thank Joe, I think he amazes all of us here more and more everyday. It is simply amazing how giving he is and will do anything for these girls, we are all thankful he got St. Michael’s involved.

We ended the evening with a walk to the Catholic University to visit the statue of Mary “Santa Maria”. This statue was the same one that cried a few years ago while a St. Michael’s group was visiting. Several of the girls brought their guitars and led us in song and prayer. It was truly a moving tribute to out Blessed Mother.

We had an early start to the day as the whole group shuttled off to the aldeas to visit the children Brad’s and Jodi’s family each sponsor through Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA). We took two trucks, with most riding in the bed of the truck. We were accompanied by 3 CFCA representatives to St. Elena where both Brad and Jodi’s children live.

Brad’s group went to visit his sponsored girl for the first time ever; 4 year old Keren helped decorate the house with pink balloons. They graciously offered us a meal, a type of corn soup. When asked if she knew where Brad was from she responded San Pedro Sula, giving us all a good chuckle.

Jodi’s group went to visit her sponsored boy, Gender. They also greeted everyone with balloons decorated outside their home, pine needles spread on the floor, along with firecrackers as we entered the house, a Honduras tradition for visitors. They visited and were also offered a meal, a differing type of soup with chicken which they had freshly prepared that morning. Many of us looked a little concerned as the baby chicks appeared to be running around with no mother in sight!

We then returned to Santa Rosa to treat the rest of our CFCA sponsored children to a meal. Jodi enjoyed reuniting with her other sponsored child, Heidi. Barb and Greg Trum also got to reconnect with their sponsored child, Fannie. Sarah met her sponsored child, Yuri, for the first time and got to spend time getting to know them.

Amber and Beth both were amazed by the connections everyone had with their sponsored children and were anxious to sponsor their own. Luckily we had 3 CFCA representatives with us and they were able to find a child for each of them on the spot. The children they chose to sponsor all lived in the same village as Sarah’s sponsored child. Beth got to visit her little boy, William. Amber visited with Conceita and got to learn how much she loves dancing to hip hop.

There are so many children that still need to be sponsored. It is truly an amazing experience to sponsor these children in need. It is even more amazing to have the opportunity to meet them in person and create memories. I know my family and others have had the opportunity to meet our sponsored child multiple times and watch them grow.

After we all met at the orphanage for dinner, we headed to the new house and had girls who had graduated over the years come over for a mini reunion. It was beautiful to see them all together. They said “although they all see each other frequently, it is never all at once, so this is a special occasion”. The girls shared stories of the orphanage and there was much laughter. Even though many of us had not known a number the girls beforehand, we could see how happy and well taken care of each of them are, a great testimony for the orphanage and St. Michael’s family.

We started our day off with our timely rooster call and all gathered together for breakfast at the Hogar de Anacianos. After breakfast we got to spend some quality time with the elderly.

We began playing games. Some wobbly rounds of Jenga were played, while other painted and colored. The music was turned on and we began to dance with the elderly. The smiles on their faces goes straight to your heart. A congo line was instantly started as they danced around the courtyard, Sor Theresa included.

We then headed over to the orphanage and were given a tour by Sor Dinora. It is unbelievable the amount of work completed since my last visit – thank you St. Michael’s family. The picture below shows how much the Chicas’ room has been transformed just by adding a new coat of paint. After the tour we split into different groups to accomplish different tasks.

Greg Trum and I (Kayla Pollock) helped some of the girls take down all the Christmas decorations that were hanging from the ceiling. He then set up a projector in the St. Michael’s room where the girls enjoyed the movie Madagascar 2.

Magda, Beth, Amber and Sarah took Aracely on a special shopping trip to the market in celebration of her quinceañera. She will be the only one celebrating this trip.

Mike Pollock and Brad Hewlett headed back to the Hogar de Ancianos and started to clean up outside the new house by wheeling many, many wheelbarrows full of dirt they had dug up. The plans for this area is to lay down grass and create an area to dry clothes.

Dani and Jane began the process of pen pal letters. The girls were very excited to hear from St. Michael’s children. Dani helped the younger girls by reading them their letters and helping them to write a response.

And, Jodie and Magna met with Sor Dinora to review last year’s budget and needs for 2012.

Dinner was served and we all turned in early because all of us were heading to the aldeas (villages) to meet with many of our CFCA sponsors and their families the next day!

We began our day with much excitement as we ate breakfast at the Hogar de Anacianos. After breakfast we joined the girls at a new church where some of the girls sang in the choir. It was the church’s first mass and was accompanied by heartfelt music and messages addressed by the priest. It wouldn’t be a complete Honduras mass without a dog pacing the aisles.

Sor Dinora, some of the girls, and somehow Greg Trum, were chosen to bring meaningful gifts down the isle in celebration of the Epiphany. It was truly amazing that although the mass was said in a language most of us do not understand, we could still feel the Holy Spirit more than ever. As Barb Trum said, “it was like heaven on earth”. Many of us loved how during the sign of peace all the children go up to hug the priest, just showing another way they truly celebrate their faith.

After mass we returned to the Hogar de Ancianos, Sor Teresa gave the newcomers a tour of the elderly home. Time was then spent with the elderly and lunch was served.The brave souls ate cow tongue while the others were grateful for some chicken. We quickly learned to ban Greg (which was probably his plan all along) from washing the dishes as he mistakenly used virgin olive oil instead of soap. A good laugh was had by all!

After lunch we all headed back to the orphanage where we were able to spend much quality time with the girls. A competitive game of kickball began instantly, with Brad Hewlett demanding a rematch for tomorrow after our team lost so poorly (it’s true, unfair teams).

We then began a vacation bible school project with the Chicas – the youngest group of girls at the orphanage. They all decorated crowns and then listened to Jane Rall as she talked about the Three Kings and the importance of Epiphany. Next, we paraded to the the Chicas’ door and wrote a blessing above the door.

After the time spent with the Chicas, we set up a boutique for the older girls to come and pick out one pair of jeans and one jacket. Each girl drew a number and anxiously awaited to try on clothes. Many of us realize how they are just like any other teenage girl in the aspect that they all have their own fashion sense. After the boutique we spent more time with the girls and a number of girls who had graduated from the orphanage also showed up for a visit.

Before dinner, the group gathered in the Sors’ personal prayer room with Sor Dinora and Sor Alejandrina. Sor Dinora gave an absolutely beautiful speech to us about how the relationship between St. Michael and the orphanage is not about the things we bring but rather about the love and friendship we give. She told us when things may seem difficult at home or we are sad, just to remember the smiles of all the girls. She then brought out a miniature Christmas tree and talked about how our relationship is like the tree, we help the tree to grow up and outwards. This speech helped many of us realize (or re-realize) how our values of material possessions should be nothing compared to how we value our love, friendships and relationship with God. These girls have very little and are so grateful for what they have. They are all so giving and love so freely; they are truly teaching us more than they will ever know.

The preparation for our journey began with much help from many people. We organized all our donations and began with packing and creating gift bags for the girls, as shown below.

Our team met at Kansas City airport before 5am for our 6am flight to Houston and on to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. We didn’t quite start out as we had hoped, as we watched out the window as the Kansas City luggage cart pulled away from the loading area with 3 of our bags. We knew one of them contained toiletries many of us had decided to check rather than carry on. Our second problem occured when our 11:45 arrival to Honduras was interrupted by the runway being closed due to a plane with a flat tire stuck on the runway. Due to our fuel level being low we diverted to El Salvador, refueled and waited for the opening of the runway. We finally arrived three hours late.

We enjoyed a warm welcome from our friends from Joe Self and Sor Dinora who greeted us at the airport in San Pedro Sula, ate a quick meal at Wendy’s and headed to Santa Rosa de Copan to begin our journey. The ride was like three hours on a roller coaster in the dark through pot holes and curved roads. Our first stop when we arrived to Santa Rosa was at the orphanage, where we were met by some very excited and happy girls. There are six new girls in the orphanage, but all the others know the joy they receive from St. Michael’s and anxiously await our trips. Loads of hugs, kisses and bienvenidos.

The women in the group have the privilege of being the first guests to stay in the new house which has just recently been completed. The house contains a kitchen, dining area, living room and sleeping arrangements for 8 people. We ended the evening with a group prayer in the new house asking God to give us the wisdom to follow the path He has laid down for us on this very special journey.

How quickly our week went, but how much we’ve done, seen and most of all…felt!

Polly, David and I came back to the USA tonight, Dani and Paul traveled on to Guatemala.

This morning was especially difficult. Not only did we have to say good-bye to Sor Theresa and Sor Dinora (they are both being re-assigned, we don’t know where yet) but we had to leave all our wonderful friends in Honduras. We had to leave the life of simplicity and return to life more complicated.
During our trip we kept noticing little things like, “Wouldn’t it be much easier for them if they had a washing machine? Or a dishwasher?” and “How can they drive like this without any real direction or signs?”. The answer to these and many other questions is no. They live a simple life, but they like it that way. They have fewer complications and frustrations. They take things slow and don’t sweat the small stuff. They do not suffer from false pride but are humble and very thankful people. We have a lot to learn from them. I think each of us on this trip felt very unworthy of their reception of us, giving what they could to show us their love. I am hoping I can keep this feeling for a long time, and I am very happy with the new friends I’ve made and friendships I’ve re-kindled. It was an amazing trip with some amazing people and I thank God for letting me share in their lives.

June 14, 2011 Day Seven

Another early day with the roosters, I was a little concerned because I only heard one…I thought something happened…but no worries, he soon started in and all was right with my world!
We walked the girls to school this morning, it’s about ¾ of a mile but uphill both ways…seriously!!
After breakfast at the elderly home we gave out the donations for the elderly. The Girl Scouts made wonderful lap blankets for them and they were all so happy to receive them! Later we took a tour of Santa Rosa de Copan, picked up a few items, went to the City Market and bought some fruit. All of this before we met Ricardo at 10:30 am!
Ricardo took us to the Pollock’s sponsored child, Digna. I was so happy to see her and she gave me the biggest hug EVER! She is incredibly shy and it’s always quite moving when she shows us love.
After visiting with Digna and her family we came back to the elderly home and then the orphanage. Dani and David went to tour the local women’s abuse shelter and found it quite interesting. They met the rest of us back at the orphanage and we spent some quality time with the girls. We presented Sor Dinora with the donations from our parish family and gathered more pen pal letters.

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Since we have been running out of time on the other days, we were finally able to start the girls with their new book for the book club, Water for Elephants. Polly and David went on an adventure to find an item one girl (Doris) needed for a project at school, this turned into an interesting search for them, since they didn’t know what they were looking for! After visiting 6 pulperias (small stores), they finally had success! Doris was thrilled!!
Later in the evening the girls put on a show for us. They sang songs and played guitar. We handed out the donations for them, each girl received a shower basket along with toiletries, underwear, flip flops and other much appreciated items. The girls also presented us with small tokens of thanks and friendship. It was an emotional night, saying goodbye to all the girls that are so special to all of us.
We took a walk to the Mary statue at the end of the night and did our prayer and reflection, it was a wonderful way to conclude the evening.

*One thing I forgot to mention. When we were in the village of San Miguel I spoke with a man that I had met the last time I was in Honduras. We went to this village to distribute CFCA benefits which included backpacks, school books, vitamins for the children and seeds for each family. We walked up the mountain to teach them to plant the seeds and water them (which in this case is taking a handful of water and throwing it across the seeds). I asked the man how the vegetables were growing and they have success!! What a wonderful feeling!

June 13, 2011 Day Six

I am wondering how I can even begin to talk about this day. I know I cannot do it justice with mere words or photos. We woke up early to take a trip (about 3 hours) to the aldea , San Miguel where David’s CFCA child lives. They have never met before and the entire community came out to greet us. At the entrance of the community they had constructed a gazebo made of palm leaves and flowers. We all walked into the community together with more and more people joining us along the way. When we arrived in the center of town there were many speeches and songs of welcome. We learned that David was the first sponsor to visit his sponsored child in the community. They were so happy to have us as visitors, we were all humbled by their welcome. We spent a lot of time with the community and we all enjoyed it very much!
We were able to stop at my brother and sister-in-laws sponsored child’s home. His name is Wilson and he loved all the things my sister-in-law sent for him!

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After our visits in the communities we came back to the orphanage for Mass for the feast of San Antonio. It was a beautiful Mass with the younger children singing. After Mass there was a “reception” in the courtyard of the orphanage, this is where the girls distributed the decorated bags of the bread they made. The people from the community came to see the decorations and receive the bread. It was a very nice celebration. Please excuse any typos or strange sentences in this post, Karol has been “helping” me and it has taken me a long time to write what I’ve gotten done!