La Providencia - Honduras
This morning we were able to assists the developmental process of starting a coffee plantation for La Providencia. Each family home will grow coffee and patiently wait out the 2 years it takes to grow and develop the coffee beans - and then the produce from the sales will benefit the family model homes. We loved that we were able to be a part of the process that will help to sustain such a wonderful place.
We will be planting some more coffee plants the next two mornings. Quite honestly, they do not need our help in getting this project done. They are gracious and kind enough to allow us to be a part of this and I'm sure that we slowed them down a little. Their humble and patient hearts teaching us how to plant the coffee was such a reminder of Christ and how He was such a humble teacher.
The school at La Providencia has 4 classrooms and they add one classroom each year. Right now, they have pre-k, kindergarten, first grade and second grade. We working with one classroom each day, reminding them of God's promises with the story of Noah's Ark. The children loved making animal puppets and eating animal fruit snacks. The classrooms are very small - 12 to 15 students - which makes our team's one-on-one time with each child very special. Building relationships has been the key to our story this week. As we get to know the children and the staff at La Providencia, we are blessed beyond words at how God knits all relationships together.
We spent some time after lunch with the children in one of the homes and the excitement on their faces as they colored Noah's Ark and placed animal stickers on it was more than joyful. It was a reminder of the the important things that keep us happy: Christ, family and relationships that God puts in our lives.
Today was a sweet day. The rain did not stop the soccer clinic that the Hondurans love so much. Some of participated, some of us laughed as kids of all ages slipped in the mud to play, and some of us just smiled at the relationships being developed on the field. We ended our night with dinner in Mizael and Bessie's home. Mizael is the director of La Providencia and a pastor. They are truly some of God's most compassionate people. The conversation at dinner from Mizael was about relationships. He said the coffee projects and other work projects are just "excuses" to get teams here............the number one goal is to develop relationships among God's people.
We love the families that God has placed us with this week and we will hold them in our hearts forever. Hopefully, in the next two years, we will return to see our friends that have become family. And, hopefully, we will see our small coffee plants that we planted growing very successfully. They will remind us of how a tiny plant helped us to develop larger than life relationships. God uses all things and all people: even the beautiful orphans that are orphans no more, and even beautiful plants to teach us valuable lessons.
