Esperanza

Thank you for your support

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Earlier this week, we arrived home after spending 12 days in Flores, Honduras. As we celebrate Thanksgiving weekend, we are reminded once again how thankful we are for all of you, and for your support of our work in Honduras.

During our trip, we had the opportunity to deliver the school supplies, footwear, dental and medical supplies, and over the counter medications which you have provided us in the past several months. Their gratitude for a new pencil or a tube of toothpaste was just amazing. There was one family with three children who we provided with shoes…as we passed by their home later in the week, the children ran to the edge of the road…smiled, and proudly showed off their new prized possessions! Your gifts were spread throughout the village and beyond.

Your interest and encouragement helps motivate us to assist the oppressed folks in Honduras in obtaining an education, accessing medical treatment, and procuring clean water.

Truly, your support is making a significant impact for many.

Packing For Honduras

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Honduran Hospital

In less than a week, we will be on our way to Honduras. For the past several months we have been collecting school supplies, footwear and medical supplies. I have certainly learned the “art of packing” and remove any excess packing materials, pack in lightweight canvas bags and fill each one to exactly 50 lbs. (our heavy stuff goes in the carry-ons!) We are allowed one checked bag for free but pay the additional fee ($50.00 each) to bring 2 extras…far cheaper than sending by mail, and generally, reliable.

Part of the packing process is assessing which items are the greatest priority. Certainly medical supplies comes to the top of the list and we will be carrying medicine and equipment. However, one item we are unable to take and is greatly needed is oxygen. I just read a report that Mario Catarino Rivas, a large public hospital in San Pedro Sula is currently without oxygen. Not only elective surgeries, but emergency surgeries are cancelled. The issue is a supply problem… the hospital is in debt to its only supplier. This just adds another element to the long list of problems with the healthcare system… chronic shortage of medicine, equipment and supplies, along with striking doctors.

Hopefully, we’ll stay healthy during our trip and fortunately, we have the means to receive private care. We’re certainly in the minority  for this privilege.

Children’s Photos

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Photo taken by Nudi

After spending the summer in Honduras teaching children photography, Jason and Becca from Our Journey for Hope have shared much the children’s work online. You have the opportunity to buy a student’s photograph, which will go towards increasing educational opportunities for the children of Flores, Honduras. Please check out the amazing photos these children took and consider donating to a great cause.

To see the children’s work go to: http://ourjourneyforhope.bigcartel.com/

Esperanza’s Cardiac Patients Headed For Care

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Jose

Esperanza would like to express their appreciation to Lori Cordova, RN and the entire team (48 volunteers) of The Friends of Barnabas Foundation who are currently screening/treating patients in San Pedro Sula, Honduras this week. Two of our ongoing patients, and their parents have left their homes in Flores and Comayagua and are scheduled to be seen by this cardiac team. Five year old Adriana will receive a heart catheterization in the next couple of days. The team will also perform an echo cardiogram on one year old Jose (pictured above) who was previously seen by FOBF,  and it was determined that he would need to travel to the United States to receive a pacemaker. Once we receive the report, we will begin the process of contacting a previous benefactor and coordinating with the doctors and hospital who are able to provide his care. Our best wishes to this extraordinary group and all their patients who are receiving this essential medical intervention.

Our Journey for Hope Exhibition

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Our Journey for Hope

Jason and Becca from Our Journey for Hope are putting on exhibitions, displaying the work of the Honduran children they taught this summer. Our Journey for Hope has worked closely with Esperanza – Hope For The Children, Inc. in providing children in Honduras the opportunity to not only learn photography but self expression as well. The first exhibit is in Glen Falls, NY at The World Awareness Children’s Museum, starting at 1pm. They expect to have more shows so keep an eye on their website: http://ourjourneyforhope.tumblr.com/

School Year begins at Marantha Adventist Bilingual School

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Noel, Astrid, Daniela, Wesly at school

Today marks the beginning of the school year at Marantha in Comayagua, Honduras. Esperanza-Hope for the Children, Inc. is committed to providing financial assistance for four students: Lisbeth Daniela Mejia Leon (5th grade), Noel Edgardo Solano Gomez (4th grade), Wessly Hernandez (2nd grade) and Astrid Virginia Mejia Ordonez (1st grade). Special thanks to Charlie and Nancy Morrison for providing Astrid’s educational expenses for another year.

Marantha’s mission is to “provide a comprehensive education including mind, body and spirit.” Their curriculum is difficult and students take classes in Spanish, English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Bible, Art, Music, Computer and Physical Education.  “Our” students face the additional challenges of commuting each day, and not having resources available in their towns for homework projects. In addition, their families are often ill equipped to assist with homework because they have only completed the first few years of primary education.

Attending a private school offers students a smaller teacher/student ratio and also offers a consistent schedule where teachers aren’t forced to strike because of poor working conditions. It has been a rewarding experience watching the growth in Daniela, Noel, Wessly and Astrid and we wish them an enjoyable and successful school year!

Through The Eyes of a Child

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This summer Noel (10) and Astrid (7) are here in the Boston area to receive continued medical check-ups (cardiac and orthopedic) and to spend their summer vacation with us. Both children attend a bilingual school in Honduras which operates on the American school calendar. The pubic schools in Honduras are open from February to November.

Their school curriculum is a rigorous one and they have endured a great deal of physical and emotional pain with their medical issues. So that makes summer time especially sweet and it’s always a wonder to experience it through the eyes of a child.

This summer Noel and Astrid have spent a great deal of time on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont. This has been their favorite spot where they are showered with love from our family and have met many new friends. Their days are filled with activities: swimming, boating, fishing, jet skiing and tubing. We often wonder how these experiences will translate when they are describing it back home to their families and friends…they are “foreign concepts” only to be imagined.

The children have certainly enriched our lives and many others who they have met. We can only hope the summer has offered their bodies a chance to relax and their minds to have been enlightened, and hopefully this will help give them the inspiration when they return back home to Flores where they will once again be working hard at school and home.

Healing Hearts

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Ina and Noel

There are so many meaningful reasons for being involved with Esperanza…for me, the most important one has been to help save (or change) a life. Yet there are numerous other reasons as well, and one which quickly comes to mind is the incredible people you meet along the way. Today I am thinking of Mrs. Ina Melen, an airline ambassador with American Airlines who generously volunteers her time transporting children for medical treatment, and over the past few years has become our admired friend.

Recently, I was scheduled to travel to Honduras to bring Noel to Boston for his annual cardiac evaluation. However, life took me on a different journey and I needed to be home with my family for a medical crisis. I quickly thought of Ina and hoped she would have the time to travel to Honduras to accompany Noel to Boston. I contacted Mrs. Margaret Whitehead (director of  American Airlines’ Children’s Escort Program), explained our situation and inquired about Ina’s availability. She quickly reassured me that there were many volunteers available, but when she confirmed Ina would be the one to help, I was immediately reassured.

I cannot adequately describe what is involved with Ina’s journey to assist with a child’s trip to the United States.  She is up at the crack of dawn to complete a round trip from Boston, MA to Tegucigalpa, Honduras….involving many hours, several connections and trips through Customs. It is never an easy process and there are always complications, yet Ina handles herself with grace and determination. The children in need are her motivation and we are her beneficiaries. We have always appreciated Ina’s service, but now in our time of special need, we realize her gift of  “healing hearts.”

Abuelo (a.k.a. Grandpa) to all

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Keyla celebrating “Abuelo’s” Birthday

Today we are mourning the death of Richard (“Dick”) Kimball,  Esperanza-Hope for the Children’s greatest financial supporter, and more importantly, “Abuelo” to all the children who entered his life over the years. Both Dick, and his wife Martha, have welcomed these children as part of their extended family. Their involvement has included hours of babysitting, visiting children at the hospital, celebrating holidays and birthdays (including one where Abuelo and 2 children danced together on the coffee table!). Children have loved staying over night at their homes in Lexington, MA and especially on Lake Champlain in Colchester, VT.  Our friends in Flores, Honduras have been holding him in their thoughts and prayers and we are grateful for their support.

He is Gone

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

-David Harkins

GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND FOREVER…DIOS LE BENDIGA AHORA Y PARA SIEMPRA

Noel Going Above and Beyond

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Noel with Abuelo, Abuela, and Tio Bob

-This post is written by Rick Lania

Something I have had a hard time articulating when describing my experiences with the children in Honduras is how the kids pay you back so much more than the work and effort that goes into providing them with medical treatments. Statements like, “they can always put a smile on my face” do not mean nearly as much to the person I am speaking with when they are out of context. This is why I thought I would share an example of one of the many ways Noel has gone well beyond “paying back” my family.

Recently, my Grandfather has been in the hospital, which hasn’t been easy on anyone in my family. In Honduras, Noel learned this information from Ana and decided he was going to check how “Abuelo” was doing on his own. Throughout this week he has tried to call each night. One night I spoke with him, others he couldn’t reach anyone, and last night he spoke with my mom. For a 10 year old, he was very persistent and extremely caring, with each phone call asking “How is Grandpa doing?” It definitely meant a lot to me and showed just how much he cares about the 2nd family he has become a part of. I can’t wait to see him in a few weeks!