Santa Rosa de Copan
Since the school vacation started in November, the weather didn’t do us a favor. Due to the heavy rain was it impossible do go to Santa Rosa de Copan for a holiday. Beginning of January did we decide, despite the ongoing rainy weather, to hit the road and travel
up to our vacation home. The children as well as the employees were highly appreciative for this change of scene and enjoyed the days in the different environment greatly.
The project in Santa Rosa de Copan is progressing which pleases us all. Help was nonetheless needed then the land had to be cleared of the wood. With all the helping hands was it an easy task and the land is now ready for the next steps. In the evening did the children enjoy playing table games while during the day they were very creative coming up with new outdoor games. It was wonderful to observe how the older children integrated the smaller children in their activities which kept everybody happy and busy. Our cook had a couple days of well deserved vacation and didn’t come with us. Luckily do we have such hardworking and independent girls which took over the kitchen and needed to all our
surprise very little supervision. They were eager to keep us satisfied with tasty food and they really did contribute to a very nice holiday experience.
Baptism
January 11th, the day when John the Baptist baptized Jesus, was the day we were also enabled to baptize 23 of our children. The festivities took place in the catholic church where Edwing was master of the ceremony because he’s also a priest. Up until this date
was it impossible to baptize most of our children because majority of them doesn’t hold a birth certificate. Edwing chose for each child a godmother and godfather from our church, couples which were willing to take on this responsibility. By the minute the children met their new godparents, we knew Edwing chose wisely, an instant chemistry was felt among all of them which filled our hearts with gratitude. Seven of the oldest children which were baptized were even allowed to take their first holy communion. It was a truly eventful day for them. After the church service was a dinner organized by the church congregation. It was a very festive evening with folkloric music, adance group and plenty of time for the children to start building true friendships with their new godparents.
Our friend and angel Gerard
Our board member Gerard van Kastern visited us with his partner Teresa and Lyda. All the children were very excited when they found out that “Haleluja”, as they like to call him, comes to visit us. We enjoyed four unforgettable days with them. Gerard is our grand
friend, dear to our hearts and with an utterly sunny disposition, at the same time is he a gift of heaven - he’s an angel on earth. With plenty of pride did we show them our ne project in Santa Rosa de Copán. They were impressed by the progress, but not only, the
setting overwhelmed them in the middle of the lush nature. Gerard invited us to our beloved pizza place where we got spoiled. The evening turned into a party with dancing, Piñata and plenty of wholehearted laughter. All kids went to bed this evening with stuffed
bellies and smiling hearts.
Inauguration city playground
The city government from San Pedro Sula remodeled the communal city playground and for its inauguration was the children home „yo quiero ser“ invited. After all the celebrities held their speeches, some food was served before each of our children received a gift from the mayor’s wife, Karen de Calidonio. It created a cheerful ambience which led to a
dance with Karen and all the children. At the end was it time for a group picture which meant heaps to us, to be on the same picture among with the city’s most famed celebrities. It was a sign, that our children home has an important representative role to play, a role of a raw model to inspire more people to do good.
School preparations
Beginning of February, 35 of our children will start their new scholar year. Every year do the school preparation require loads of time and organization talent. Each child needs two regular uniforms with black shoes, a sports uniform with white sneakers and all the school bags which need to be equipped with the different utensils. Luckily enough have we a sowing atelier and Karin, an educator in the children’s home who worked before as a seamstress. She sows all the initials and badges on to the uniforms, shortens the pants and
adjusts the skirts. She enables each child to wear a perfectly fitted uniform.
Year after year while preparing the tasks mentioned above, I realize why so many Honduran children can not go to school. Financially weaker families can never afford the school costs, uniforms and books. The books alone of a high school student cost about 160.- Dollars which is half of the minimum Honduran income.
Preparation for building the 2nd floor
The 2nd floor, right above the main building, will be constructed next month. It is made out of wooden elements, custom made in Switzerland and shipped to Honduras in seven containers. A crew of six experts travel to San Pedro Sula to ensure that it will be properly
installed. Our older boys supported our male employees greatly while preparing the construction site; breaking through walls, tearing down ceiling and emptying rooms. They are ready to welcome the helpers from Switzerland. Whilst muscles brought the construction site a long while, the paper work caused a lot of headaches. We had to relay on our negotiation expertise to actually get the containers through customs. It is every
time a challenge with the countless import formalities and the every changing law, more precisely with the bountiful interpretations through the different officers’. Luckily does Patricia get usually what she wants and needs with her determination and charming
personality.
Nonetheless, the timing worked out perfectly. In roughly two weeks the construction can begin and we are pleased to update you in our next newsletter.