Summer Trip '08

Keith and Vickie Stephanie, Annina, and Nadine

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer! Keith, Vickie, Stephanie and I returned from Honduras safely, just a day later than expected due to a flight cancellation in Houston.

When I arrived in Honduras on June 26th, I began working with Thad and Rachel Barlett and the West Metro group from Atlanta, GA. At the Christian School, the kids completed an art project and letter for their sponsors. On Friday and Sunday, we had a festival for the kids. I worked with a group of talented students in the upper grades to prepare a drama that was presented to the other students.

Last year, when my mom, Mary, was in Honduras, we spent time with Helda and her three sweet girls, Waleska, Yahaira and Evelyn. When we saw their house, Mom was very struck by their living situation. Helda had been saving little by little in order to make improvements to their mud-wall, leaky-roof house. When it rained, the water literally carved a path down the center of their dirt floor. We decided that if we were able to return the following year, we would help her with her house. Mom was unable to come due to her pending surgery; however, Keith Johnson worked hard on Helda's house. After three years of construction, her house is now enclosed by cement block walls, she has a new roof and a raised cement floor; all vast improvements from their former living arrangements. The girls helped haul blocks, and Helda was cooking for us any time she wasn't working. The generosity and contentment of those with the least never ceases to amaze me.

When we weren't at the work site, Keith, Vickie, Stephanie and I were visiting Little Hands kids. Little Hands is the ministry that Stephanie and I worked for during the time we living in Trujillo. We were impressed by the work that Brian and Sara Bilodeau (missionary family from New Hampshire) have been doing and also by the efforts of Alissa and Rachel (two young ladies from Washington state). Alissa has been living in Trujillo since February and has used her ingenuity to create exercises, lessons and activities to aid in the development of the Little Hands kids, including pre-school in the homes of the children. Rachel, who has been in Trujillo during the summer, has used her teaching skills to help tutor kids who have fallen behind in the Christian school.

There was a lot of activity in Trujillo during the time we were there. After the group from Atlanta left, a group from Mississippi arrived. In the past, Annina Spencer came with this group; however, this year she stayed for a month in order to immerse herself more in the language and culture. Among the group was a pediatric occupational therapist named Bobby. Bobby visited the Little Hands kids, helped diagnose their infirmities and developed exercises and tools to help stimulate development. In Trujillo, it's very hard to get accurate diagnoses and adequate resources. Bobby skills were very helpful in getting the kids things that they have long needed.

It was great to see how all the groups and efforts worked together. I feel that a lot was accomplished this summer in Trujillo. Several of us are already planning our return trip next summer. It's what keeps us going.

More info to come on the scholarshipped students.

Take care.

Nadine Taylor

P.S. My mom came through her surgery just fine. They removed 15" of her small intestine as there were 4 or 5 areas affected by Chrone's disease. She should come home early this week. I'll be heading home tomorrow to help take care of her.