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This is an editorial that my friend Katy wrote for her school newspaper about Honduras:
The holidat season ohas a slightly different meaning for each person. For those whoput stock in religion, it is a celebration centered on beliefs. For some it is simply a vacation from school. However, most people deep down inside, see the holidays as a chance to reeceive gifts. There is nothing wrong with this outlook, it is perfectly normal and I myself have for years shared this outlook. However, I would like to pass along a humbling experience that I was fortunate enough to have this past summer.
In July, I was privileged to be able to travel to Honduras, a third world county in Central America. While in Honduras, my views of who I am and how blessed I am completely changed. As I walked uup a mountain, with a little girl named Kiya, I realized how much i hav, and how little I am lacking. Looking back< I can see Kiya's bright brown eyes and glowing smile. I can also see her bare little feet and the "I [heart] NY" t-shir that she had " inherited" from one of the guys in our group. The people of Honduras, for the most part, are considered lucky to have a chance to live in a house made of cardboard, or possibly tin. To own a complete set of clothing and a pair of shoes is to be blessed. Most of the children look upon the peanut butter sandwiches that we have to offer as a feast.
I know where my next meal will come from, and I know that I have clothes to wear, and shoes to protect my feet. I know that I am love by at least one person. Whether or not I get the cell phone I want for Christmas no longer matters. So on Christmas Eve, as "visions of sugar plums dance in your heads," think of those less fortunate and feel blessed, very blessed.
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| This is after a house was built for a family that everyone bonded with. |
Everyone who has been on a TORCH trip has spent the entire following year in anticipation to go back. While in Hondruas, we do things such as buld houses for people who need a home, deliver food to those who are hungry, or clothe those who are in need of clothing. The houses we build are very small, but they beat what the people were living in--that is a house built out of scrap materials or even worse, nothing.
In Honduras, the people are not at all like the people here. A lot of people here who don't have a job are not willing to work. Unlike the people of the United States, Hondurans will work and do anything to help their nabor out. There have been instances when people have come from accross the village to help because they were so excited that their neighbor was getting a home. The problem with work shortage in Honduras is that there is not a large opportunty for the people to work.
Honduran children have taught me more lessons about life than any single person I know in the states. The kids there have taught me the true meaning of love. They love me as soon as I get off the bus and love me through out the entire day. They don't expect anything in return except of course love. Also, they have revealed to me the true meaning of giving. These kids love to give things they have. If they own something or something is given to them they want to share it with everyone. They love to give us "gringos" wild flowers that they handpicked from the fields. Each of them have beautiful eyes filled with both joy yet also sorrow. It pains me to know that these children don't know where their next meal is coming from.
This summer I will be able to go to Honduras for six weeks. The first four weeks I will be with other groups, and the last two weeks I the group coming from Mississippi is going to join me.
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