The five Good Shepherd teams set their own menus, buy the ingredients, cook in the Good Shepherd kitchen, and deliver in their own vehicles or in a van provided by FACETS. More than 80 members of Good Shepherd participate on one or more teams. All together Good Shepherds Hot Meals teams are responsible for 32 nights each year. Good Shepherd is one of the only participating churches that has multiple teams.

In recent years many of the members of the confirmation class have assisted.  A number of Good Shepherd youth have earned service credit being part of a Hot Meals team.  Many of the families that cook or deliver bring their younger children providing them an opportunity to learn first hand the value of Christian outreach. If you would like to learn more about Good Shepherd’s Hot Meals programs contact Charley Hoffman (Hoffman.charley@gmail.com, 703 425-9236). This is only one of the many Outreach efforts at Good Shepherd. If you would like to learn about some of the others contact Gail Calabrese (gailcalabrese@verizon.net) or Sharon Holcombe (shh5508@cox.net). You can learn more about FACETS at www.facetscares.org.

During this fall’s 12-week session, Good Shepherd offered five levels of classes during the morning and three levels during evening classes to the 85 students who registered in September. Volunteers who made the fall ESOL classes possible include Nancy Biele, Annie Butters, Sue Campbell, Elva Crawford, Michael Crawford, Arline Easley, Jeanette Franzel, Winnie Gordon, Lou Hind, David Jones, June Lepthien, Roberta Lindsay, Eileen Miller, Tink Shelton, Ingrid Sides, Gail Smith, Carol St. Germain, Bill Straight, Maureen Strauch, and Carol Sweetser.

Registration for winter/spring classes is scheduled on January 4 and 5. Morning and evening classes will meet on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays from January 17 through April 14. ESOL seeks and welcomes your participation in assisting our neighbors to improve their English skills. Please contact Nancy Biele 703-425-5256 or biele_57@msn.com for more information.

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

Though it was the team’s final day at El Hogar, it was without a doubt one of the best. So without further ado, I present to you our final full day:

The day began with one last morning devotion about respect, followed by a scrumptious meal of pancakes. As the rest of the team was preparing for the day, Chrissy and Daniel slipped off to watch the spelling bee that the children had been preparing for all week. Just an hour earlier we had seen a little girl cramming with flashcards, so we were excited to see how the competition turned out. The children were gathered in the auditorium and competed in groups of three. It was a wonderful site to see, and the children seemed both very excited and very happy. After observing this for a while, the team loaded into a van for a trip to see what will become the location for girls once they graduate from El Hogar.

You see, girls have only been attending El Hogar for about four years, and no system is currently in place to continue the education of girls once they graduate, like the Technical Institute and Agriculture School for the boys. For this reason, the El Hogar staff have purchased a piece of property with two houses in BEAUTIFUL St. Lucia, a city up in the mountains outside of Tegucigalpa. We toured the currently empty buildings and listened to the plans for them. It was an amazing experience to see the vision that the staff have for the scope of El Hogar. The plan is to have the girls living at this new facility while attending private high school. What a gift that will be for the girls! We also had the pleasure of touring the houses with a team from Canada that included a former Director of El Hogar. The city of St. Lucia was also very enjoyable, with great mountain vistas, cobblestone streets along the mountainside, and the oldest church in Honduras, dating to around 1500.

Once we worked our way back to the main road, we traversed the rural mountainside to La Valle de los Angeles, a “tourist village” with great crafts and goods for sale. After we finished exploring the many shops, we piled into the old van for the return trip to El Hogar. Excited at the prospect of grabbing food at a restaurant on the way home, the team hardly noticed when the engine failed to crank the first time. By the second time, we understood. The driver, Raul, let the van roll backwards out of the parking space and towards the parking lot exit. However, the van became stuck on an obnoxiously large bump, so all the males present helped push the van backwards over the bump . Then we helped the van turn about 90 degrees and gave it some speed down the hill. Raul then managed to get the engine started, and the men all jumped in, a regular “Little Miss Sunshine” moment.

The team then made it to the restaurant, which had the best bean and cheese dip ever, as well as homemade guacamole (yes, be jealous). Full from this meal, the team made its way home, now slightly less phased, but still excited by, the wild Honduran roads. The team then rested during the afternoon and prepared for the talent show that was planned for the evening. The show was far better than we could have ever imagined, and we are not talking about the act that we prepared. The children put on a MARVELOUS performance of the three little pigs, and several brave souls sang in front of the assembly. The team also had a chance to share some talents. Daniel and Nick put on a clown juggling act, and Chrissy and Daniel did handstands. The children loved the act, especially when we called for a volunteer. After this, we presented the children with a slide show of pictures from the week. They very much enjoyed this, as they feel very special when they see pictures of themselves.

Morning broke with a clear sky and the sound of children performing their first chores. After these chores, the children gathered around the courtyard where we met them for the morning devotion. The teacher this morning spoke very passionately about respect for life, saying that the children should be happy each and every morning that they are alive; for this reason, they should respect their life and what they have been given. The team loved that the teacher told the children that they must all be “shining stars.” The morning’s entertainment featured a battle between Nick and an army of ants. Luckily, the can of Raid that the team found turned out to be the key to victory. Following breakfast, the team jumped in a van for a trip to the agricultural school associated with El Hogar. The driver today was Arturo, a young man who was once a student at El Hogar and who now teaches English to the children there.

The ride to the school was beautiful and thrilling. Driving in Tegucigalpa is always an exciting adventure, full of narrow misses with buses and amazing sites, such as a tiny pickup truck loaded down with a mountain of recyclables. Once out of the city, the winding roads through the mountains were absolutely gorgeous, with views of farmland and hillside communities. Once at the agricultural school, the team went on a wonderful tour. The school produces enough food to practically feed itself, but also enough to supplement the food at El Hogar and the Technical Institute. The children are taught sustainable farming methods for three years and grow a number of crops, such as limes, cucumbers, carrots, corn, and plantains. In addition, they grow king grass, a type of grass that grows extremely tall and is used to feed cows.

Speaking of cows, the farm has a substantial number of them of all ages (including an adorable 15-day-old), as well as chickens, horses, goats, sheep, and a turkey, among other animals. However, the team bonded more with one animal than any other, a dog named Delca, who followed the team around for a good portion of the tour. After a much-needed lunch of fresh cabbage salad (from the farm, of course), beef (also from the farm), rice, and what the team thinks was fresh pear and pineapple juice, the team left the farm, but not before we took a quick picture with Arturo.

Once back at El Hogar, the team rested or played soccer with the children before eating dinner. The next 30 minutes were spent in turmoil as the team decided what activities to do with a rowdy army of young boys. The team wanted to maintain order during the evening playtime, so we decided to organize a game of Mission Impossible. For those of you who do not know about this game, it is pretty much the best way to keep a horde of young boys preoccupied and under a tiny bit of control. We collected the necessary items and hoped (more than anyone can recall ever hoping for anything in their life) that the game would keep the attention of the boys. Essentially, the boys had to get their team from one side of a room to another without touching the ground by using only the objects that we provided for them . To our great delight, the boys LOVED the game. After a few rounds with increasing difficulty, the teams dispersed and new activities began, including a spontaneous game of dodge-frisbee, which the boys thought was hilarious and which the team thought was a great way to vent a lot of male energy and frustration. Unfortunately, playtime was briefly interrupted by gunfire next door. This was not the first time the team heard gunfire at night, but this was the first time it was close enough to worry. This experience really drove home to the team why a place like El Hogar is necessary. Growing up in a caring and nurturing environment, instead of in an environment where violence predominates, will help ensure that the children of El Hogar have bright futures. With these thoughts in mind, the team retired to the guest hut to rest before the final full day at school.

God Bless,

El Hogar Mission Team

We write this blog entry in a state of utter exhaustion. This day was both physically and emotionally exhilarating. The morning began with a wonderful breakfast of homemade donuts. Desiring a refreshing drink to accompany the donuts, Daniel opened a pouch of milk that the team had received. After excitedly pouring himself a large glass, he downed a huge gulp. Overwhelmed by a horrid taste, Daniel attributed the poor flavor to the “wholeness” of the milk and encouraged the other young men on the team to try this “all natural” milk. Ian was the only brave soul to try the milk. Then the wise leader, Richard, informed us that the milk was actually extremely sour. Guess the milk really was “all natural.”

After battling an abnormally large cockroach using a plunger and Purell (it’s a long story…), the team jumped in a van to tour the St. Mary’s Technical Institute associated with El Hogar. The team was given a marvelous tour by Junior, a boy studying to become a carpenter. The team thoroughly enjoyed seeing the metalworking, carpentry, and electrical shops. The amazing training these boys receive, an education as well as occupational training, brought the team great joy because these young men will enter the workforce with an extensive skill set.

Following the tour of the shops, the team had the honor of seeing the chapel at the Institute. This building was BEAUTIFUL, with a large mural behind the altar that was painted by the art teacher at El Hogar . The team also enjoyed the lights in the chapel, which had small, dangling plates that rattled gently in the breeze. They made for a serene feeling within the chapel and left the team feeling very relaxed.

The lunch that followed took the team completely by surprise, a meal of fried chicken, french fries, and rice! It was an All-American meal, and the team truly enjoyed it! The team then left to finish looking at the Institute and purchase some of the boys’ finished products. However, the team was quickly called over to watch and participate in a volleyball game. Nick and Daniel represented the United States and helped lead the teacher team. Unfortunately, the victory could not be secured, but it was quite a fun experience for all.

The drive back to El Hogar was an exciting experience, as the team found out first-hand what Honduran driving is all about. The road through the mountains is approximately three lanes wide, that is, if there were lanes. The way it works out in reality is that the two edges of the road are slow lanes, while the middle is a free-for-all, any direction, daredevil, passing lane. The team experienced the thrill of darting between oncoming traffic and the cars in the passing lane and arrived back at El Hogar still chatting about the excitement.

Reverend McKenzie, feeling the “brick” of donuts, fried chicken, and french fries in her stomach, fell asleep for four hours in the evening and woke up rejuvenated at 10 p.m. In the meantime, the team had a ball playing with some of the younger boys, including Tulio, Jorge, and Jesser. The guys on the team played soccer and Uno, while Chrissy led Simon Says. One of the best moments, however, was when the teacher sat the boys down and asked the them to congratulate one of their friends on one good thing they did today. The team also received applause from the children for our work. Lastly, the teacher told the boys that they could play for 45 more minutes, news that made the boys cheer with excitement. Once playtime was over and the team cleaned up from the night’s activities, the team feel asleep rather quickly. Everyone, that is, except for Reverend McKenzie, who worked on crossword puzzles long into the cool Honduran night.

God Bless,

El Hogar Mission Team

Today was a day full of exciting adventures with the children of El Hogar. At the morning devotion, a teacher spoke to them about listening to and respecting the person who is speaking. Once again, the team was struck by the amazing ability of the El Hogar staff to instill wonderful values in children who come from backgrounds that are so troublesome. After the morning devotion, the team ate a meal of corn flakes and bananas before heading off to join the children in class for the morning. Chrissy and Daniel helped the fifth grade boys prepare for the upcoming spelling bee. They enjoyed dictating Spanish words to the children for them to spell, though sometimes Daniel’s mediocre accent made it challenging for the children. In science class, the kids were also preparing for the spelling bee, this time with science words.

The math lesson for the day was all about counting and spending money, which the children thoroughly enjoyed, especially as they were encouraged to participate with chicle (bubble gum). The team also greatly enjoyed English class. With the teacher checking notebooks, the team got to spend time reading with the children. This was an amazing experience for all the team members, who enjoyed helping the children learn the basic rules of the English language. Several team members also found it useful to read the Spanish text of the books while the children read the English text. This was an effective method for encouraging the more timid children to read.

After an AMAZING lunch of rice, beef, potatoes, and carrots, the team set off to put a second coat of Smurf-colored paint on the walls in the the computer room. However, the youth let the grown-ups take a break and relax on a bench while most of the painting was completed. While painting, the team enjoyed listening to Spanish-themed and Smurf-themed music. In the meantime, Richard went to the boys’ workshop on haircutting and got his ears lowered. These workshops are excellent opportunities for the children to learn skills that they can fall back on once they leave El Hogar. The standards in these workshops are extremely high, and the kids do very meticulous work. As the painting began to wrap up, Nick was recruited into a percussion ensemble, complete with cans and sticks, and Reverend McKenzie coated a bench and table in varnish.

In the evening, the team enjoyed playtime with the girls of El Hogar, which was an entirely different experience than playing with the youngest boys (yesterday’s playtime group). Whereas the playtime with the boys was like trying to herd 25 wild cats, playtime with the girls was like a trip to the library. Chrissy led a craft project involving colored twine; Daniel once again taught guitar lessons ; Reverend McKenzie read books with Iris; and Nick and Ian entertained the kids with Play-Doh and clay. After wishing the girls goodnight and cleaning up thousands of sequins, the team returned to the guest hut for some much-needed rest.

God Bless,

El Hogar Mission Team

This morning the team woke before 7 a.m. in order to observe the morning “devotion” time that the teachers lead for the children. With all the kids dressed in their uniforms and lined up along the perimeter of the courtyard, the math teacher began with a lecture on honesty. She first asked the children to define honesty and then began to discuss how honest people “are not afraid of the light or the dark.” The Director of El Hogar, Doña Claudia, then chimed in, asking which children believe that they are honest people. In a very revealing response, only one child raised his hand. However, the team was also thrilled to hear that, when asked who among their friends is honest, the children immediately offered up many of their friends as examples. Following Doña Claudia’s speech, the children stood at attention while they sang the Honduran national anthem, which comes in seven verses and a refrain, spanning at least five minutes.

Once the children left to attend their classes, the team met with Doña Claudia. She presented some information regarding El Hogar and officially introduced us to Yefferson and Yaneri, two young children at El Hogar. The most touching part of this meeting was the sharing of the background stories of the children. Yefferson was born to a prostitute mother and an alcoholic father. As a result, he lived with his grandparents, who did not hesitate to tell him to his face that he was not loved by anyone. Doña Claudia tells him otherwise and gives him a caring home at El Hogar with many brothers and sisters. Yaneri’s father is in jail for killing her mother. Her home was La Montaña de la Flor, where a native Honduran tribe lives. It is one of the poorest locations in the country. These stories really helped put the work of El Hogar in perspective and got the team motivated to do our part.

Next, the team thoroughly enjoyed sitting in on a few classes before heading inside to paint the computer room. This was a very enjoyable task that involved painting the wall Smurf-blue . As a side note, we discovered that “Smurf” in Spanish is “Pitufo,” a fact that we learned when we saw a sign for the Smurf movie. Sticking with the blue theme, after finishing the first coat of paint, we traveled out into the compound to play with the children. The children have been meticulously looking after a small chick (“pollito”) that they dyed blue. It was probably the cutest thing the team has ever seen. We also learned of a second pollito, which is no longer with us due to an unfortunate accident involving a talent show and the foot of one of El Hogar’s teachers (let your imagination take it from there). Also during this time, many of the children were in workshops where they learn skills such as silk screening and piñata making. The ladies of the team enjoyed a day at the El Hogar Spa, which featured hand massages and manicures.

After a dinner of plantains and beans, rounding out three square meals of beans for today, the team had some one-on-one time with the first grade boys. This time included games of dominoes, jump rope, guitar and singing lessons, and sidewalk chalk. The team was amazed by the creativity of the children, who used the dominoes to build roads for their toy cars and trucks. Jenga was also a favorite of the kids’. When playtime came to an end, the team was struck by how helpful the children were. They cleaned up everything, practically by themselves. They even mopped the floor so that no chalk was left. Once all the toys were put away, the team retired for the night, ready to rest for another exciting day.

God Bless,

El Hogar Mission Team