Read the last reflections of the El Hogar mission team in Honduras as they prepared to return home.
So here we are, the final blog entry. It has been an honor to relate our adventures to you all, and we hope that you have enjoyed hearing about them as much as we enjoyed experiencing them. This morning we had one final item on the schedule, but an item which possibly turned out to be the best moment of the entire trip. After waking up, packing, and cleaning the guest hut, the team left with Raul to go visit the home of Tesla, one of the little girls at El Hogar. 
We parked on the street and saw a house across the way that looked run down but no nearly as small as we expected. However, we then found out that this was not the house. After leading us through a doorway and down a dark hallway, Raul led us into a small open area full of drying laundry and up a flight of wooden steps. Perched atop a wall was a small 12′ x 12′ house made of wood and tin. This was Tesla’s house. Her mother was overjoyed to see us. She repeatedly thanked us for everything we were doing for her child and wished that she could give a token of her appreciation, but we said that the truth of the matter was that she was giving us far more than we could ever ask. And it was true. We were deeply touched by her hospitality and even her joy in such trying conditions. Reverend McKenzie also had an amazing God-moment with Tesla’s mother because she was able to share with her what she considered to be the best photo from the week, a beautiful portrait of Tesla and her mother that brought tears to the mother’s eyes.
We also got to look inside the small house, whose floor was almost completely taken up by the bed that Tesla, her mother, her sister, and her brother (who attends the Technical Institute) all share on the weekends. Tesla’s mother makes tortillas by hand for El Hogar in order to make some money but also works as a maid. Yet, she is hardly able to pay the $25 a month that is required for rent and the $5 per month that is required for electricity. Her only water source is communal city water. Nonetheless, the appreciation, love, and determination of Tesla’s mother was inspiring and truly capped off an absolutely amazing week. She dreams of moving into a bigger and better home one day, and the team sends its prayers to her for this goal.
Unfortunately, the team could not linger longer, as we had a flight to catch. Luckily, Raul had many “friends” that helped the team shave off lots of time. For instance, we were allowed to park right next to the airport entrance. Then we skipped ahead in the check-in line, followed by the exit-fee line. For obvious reasons we could not skip the security line, but without Raul we would likely have missed the flight to Miami. Once in Miami the team waited in MORE lines, including a return trip through security for some bizzare reason, before boarding our flight to DC. As we landed at National, 
with the familiar sites of the city out the left windows, the team reflected on the vast differences between our comfortable homes and those of the children and their families in Honduras. This week taught us that true hope and love can be found in even the places that could easily be filled with the most sadness and hatred. The people of El Hogar, and those whose lives they touch, have come to understand the true blessings of life. This week we caught a glimpse of these blessings in the love and joy of the children of El Hogar, and we will carry these blessings with us wherever we go, for the rest of our lives.
God Bless,
El Hogar Mission Team
