It’s been a while…

Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay. Two weeks ago, we lost internet service and we don’t know when it will be back. So, this afternoon we tried out the local internet cafe. Fortunately, it only costs $.80 an hour–what a deal! We’ll try to keep updating once a week now that we know of a good place to go–look for new photos and video(!) soon.

 

As you know, over the past few weeks we’ve been able to meet many sponsored children and aging in and around Ocotepeque. On Wednesday, however, we had the pleasure of meeting Hunter, a CFCA sponsor. Hunter was in Honduras as part of a medical mission team working in Tela, a coastal resort town. Prior to his arrival, he had contacted CFCA Kansas to arrange a meeting with his sponsored child, Rony, who is 11 years old. We finalized the details here at the project and began preparations for the trip. 

Since only five people are able to ride in the cabin of the truck and eight people were going on the trip (Luis, Miriam, us, Rony, his mother, and another sponsored child and her mother), we decided to construct a shelter to protect those riding in the bed of the truck from the rain and wind. The end result was a Toyota “covered wagon.”

Our Toyota "covered wagon" the night before the journey to Tela.

Our alarm clock went off at 3 a.m. Wednesday, and after a quick shower and some Dramamine to fight carsickness, we began the seven-hour trip to the coast. For breakfast, we stopped at a roadside restaurant with an all-you-can-eat-buffet for only $2 per person! As we approached Tela, the mountains gave way to sprawling banana and African palm plantations. The temperature seemed to skyrocket as the elevation dropped.

Throughout the journey, Rony was very excited to meet his sponsor for the first time. Hunter and his family began sponsoring Rony when he was 9 years old. Through sponsorship, Rony was finally able to attend school. (He is currently in 2^nd grade). Also, Hunter and his family have funded improvements to Rony’s home, buying them 16 bags of cement and enough corrugated tin to build a small addition to the current adobe structure.

As we pulled into the hotel, Rony spotted Hunter, and before Luis had even parked, Rony had jumped out of the car and into Hunter’s arms. We quickly followed to help sort out the flurry of greetings in Spanish and English.

Rosa, Hunter, and Rony meet for the first time.

 The excitement and emotion of that initial meeting never waned throughout the afternoon. Hunter was eager to learn more about Rony, his family, and his community. Rony happily provided answers to the questions, obviously thrilled to finally be chatting with his sponsor face to face. To us, it was clear that Rony and Hunter shared a special bond, a relationship forged through the exchange of letters, photos, and drawings over the years. In treating Rony to a banana split, challenging him to a game of soccer on the beach, and offering him advice on how to respect others, Hunter treated Rony as if he were another of his own children. He made sure Rony received medicine for his cough and that he did not go home empty handed. For all that Rony’s life has been enriched through sponsorship, we witnessed how Hunter’s life, and that of his family, will be forever changed as well.

Hunter shares some gifts he brought for Rony and his family. The gifts ranged from new shoes to a soccer ball.

            As a storm rolled in off the Caribbean Sea, we said our goodbyes. There were some tears, many hugs, and dozens of thank-you’s exchanged. The next day Hunter left for the U.S. and Rony returned to his village outside of Ocotepeque, but neither of them (nor us) will forget their afternoon together in Tela.