Soaking up the Culture (and the Sun All in One)

Wednesday was full of learning and appreciating a new land and a new culture.  After a leisurely breakfast, students got a full island tour full of the island's beauty and complimented by a lunch out at a fairly swanky resort to boot!  

After some fresh Papaya, grain cereal, and black coffee, we were greeted by a cozy 25 passenger bus (you know the kind with the super amazing invention of air conditioning that we all couldn't wait to soak in). 

 As we set off, Orsy gave us a full tour of the island of Roatan (roughly 21 miles long and only 1-2 miles wide depending on your location).  

We were swept away with   beautiful vistas, friendly local shopping villas, and a gorgeous landscape dotted with inviting verandas.  Along the way, Orsy answered questions pertaining to the island of Roatan (once actually part of Belize but traded to Honduras), the people, the economy, the culture, and island life in general.

  

After a long winding tour (props to our bus driver who managed to squeeze down crowded streets and climb narrow peeks with the greatest of ease), we eventually hit some hill top local merchants selling an a sundry list of antiques, artifacts, and cheap imitation knock offs.  Students got a chance to practice their barter skills and contribute to the local economy all at once.  Then it was off to the Mangroves.  

The Mangroves (roughly about 10 miles due North of the Children's Home is an amazing boat ride across the ocean and into a above ground tunnel of nature's beauty.  

With glowing blue and green water reflecting the sun's rays - we all were able soak in some of the beauty of the land. 
   
 

Following our tour of the Mangroves (amazingly the rickety vessels chose not to topple over and we all remained dry), we headed off to lunch.  Orsy directed the driver to a little slice of heaven known as 'Parrot Bay' - apparently a site where television shows have come to do some shoots, and it is easy to see why.  For at least an hour or two we were transported to a lush white beach and feasted on yummy 'Americana' food - chicken fingers, burgers, and cold diet coke (does it get any better?).  

Finally we were ready to get back to our true charges of the day and returned home and were greeted by smiling faces who couldn't wait to play.  As some of our team went out to grocery shop, others laced up their shoes and hit the soccer pitch in the front yard.  Soccer (football) is by far a national past time if not obsession and regardless if you are a pro - or only think you are one - just about everyone loves to go out and play!

 

Games included Boys vs. Girls (for the record the girls won), Honduras vs. America (for the record it was a tie), and Hodge Podge of Humanity vs. Hodge Podge of Humanity (for the record we all won)!  One of the great blessings of a trip like this is the simple pleasure of watching kids be kids - no matter what age, what size, or what country of origin - through the simple language of play there is much that is communicated!  If one is willing to cope with the ensuing sweat - a game of football on a breezy afternoon (with good mates) is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon.  
Then after another delicious dinner of grilled chicken and beef, the best fresh pico de gala sauce you'll ever taste and guacamole (washed down of course by some fresh pineapple, watermelon, and cantaloupe), it was finally time for the evening activities.  

We started off the evening activities by having Grace share the gift of over 100 books that she had brought with the kids -

 

no doubt many will be read by our students with the children over the next few days.  Then they will be placed in the children's library to be used over the next year or two - a beautiful and thoughtful gift to be sure.  Mikenzhie and Lexie also shared a generous gift with the children as they talked to the children about their sewing bag full of material and offered to give lessons to anyone tomorrow who would like to work with them sewing bags

with the Home's three sewing machines.  New fabric is never to be taken lightly here and is gratefully appreciated.  Finally, in what has become a beautiful tradition, our team got to share the gift of love from some very special ladies at the John Carroll School.  

Mrs. Anne Drummey leads up a ladies sewing group at JC (including Mrs. Danica Attanasio, Mrs. Celeste Smith, and Mrs. Lynn Mullin, as well as other ladies from time to time).  And each year JC students make the trip to Honduras, the sewing group sends us with new pillow case for each child (along with bags for our community day).  

The children are always so grateful and truly look forward to such a special gift.  We start with the youngest - Eduardo (barely 3) who gets to pick his favorite and work our way up until everyone has one (and of course there are always a few extra because that's what generous ladies do... they give generously ... in love). 

 The pillow case gift is just one more example of the John Carroll School Community being more than just a school but a truly beautiful synergistic community that supports and serves others together.  To know that the children at Sandy Bay Lighthouse Ministries will go to sleep tonight on a new pillow case knowing that it was both made and delivered with love is just one of the many examples of the Patriot community working to bring forth the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Finally, the night was wrapped up with a movie on the 'big screen' - the large white wall in the main room.  We brought the cartoon 'Home' that shares the story of how a lost alien and an orphan girl work together to be reunited with lost families.  But along the way the two unlikely compatriots find the true meaning of family and that it isn't always just who you were born with - but who sticks by you and loves you day in and day out - no matter who you are.  A touching and personal message that certainly resonates here in this dear home filled with a big family who loves one another and opens their arms to love others as well.

We are all grateful that the Children's Home has become our 'home' for the week and that their family has welcomed us in.