Today was the team’s first visit to Cuidad Espana and Iglesia Metodista: Cristo Resucitado. For many of us, this was our first experience with the school and church that has been growing rapidly under the leadership of Pastor Daniel. We were all looking forward to seeing the work that God has done here in a rural area in Honduras. To say that we were pleasantly surprised would be understating the experience that awaited us after our nearly hour’s journey from Tegucigalpa where we are staying.
When our bus pulled in to the parking lot we were greeted by a small group of staff at the school and were warmly greeted at the front door by more. When we walked into the sanctuary we were immediately met with a loud and long high-spirited cheer of welcome from students, teachers and parents. As we walked to our seats at the front of the crowd, the applause continued as the children pressed closer to us, shaking our hands and greeting us. Many of the children were in costumes, girls in beautiful traditional dresses, boys dressed as ranch hands, others as native Hondurans and some in woodland animal costumes. We were then entertained with over an hour of an outpouring of a gift of God’s love, joy, respect and appreciation as none of us had ever experienced.
The students came up to us, wanted to tell us their names in English and to have their picture taken.
There were many dances and performances which were very impressive and joyful. We enjoyed them all! After meeting with Pastor Daniel over coffee at the new school cafeteria and having lunch, our work began with both the Women’s Live Well Depression and Domestic Violence Workshop (led by Michelle) and the continuing construction work on the new High School classrooms.
Our first day at Cuidad Espana leaves us a little tired, but extremely grateful and glad. We hope that we can make a difference in the lives of these amazing Hondurans. They have already profoundly affected ours. To see the joy and happiness on the faces of these fine people whose lives are lived with the hope and belief that their faith gives them, regardless of material possessions, makes us wonder about our own lives and God’s plans for it. We already know that we will be leaving a piece of our hearts in Honduras.