In December of 1989, without electricity or running water, Emmanuel opened its doors for the first 5 children. It was founded by missionaries Lydia and David Martinez. Lydia was the one of the first people I met at Emmanuel, and it doesn't take you very long to realize she is hardwired to God. Lydia says “We like to say that this is not a work for God, it’s a work by God.” The reason for this perspective is readily clear. Everything there has been donated by people. The staff doesn’t even get a salary.
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| David and Lydia in 1989 |
Simply put, they depend on God to provide. When David and Lydia were scouting out a site for the orphanage, they were shown the property at Emmanuel and were told that it was about 50 acres. But when they went to sign the paperwork for the loan, Lydia noticed it was actually 1,000 acres. David told her to hurry up and sign the papers. It's one of the many miracles you learn about when you come here.
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| David and Lydia in 2009 |
With this land comes timber. Most of the cooking in Guaimaca is done with wood, and Emmanuel is no exception. Cooking for the children is done on wood stoves like the one below. In town you notice workers coming home at night with big bundles strapped to their bicycles. The smell of pine in the air is constant and pleasant.
Twenty years later, facilities at the orphanage include the church, homes for the children, staff, and volunteers, dining halls, a laundry facility, warehouse, bakery, gymnasium, medical and dental clinic. They have two deep wells which provide for clean drinking water. Long gone are the days when creepy crawlies came out of the shower heads. On the farm they raise their own pigs, cows and chickens. While not entirely self sufficent, the farm provides all the necessary meat, milk and eggs for the orphanage.
Education
Emmanuel provides a comprehensive educational program for the children. The only grades the Honduran Government requires children to complete are grades 1-6, Emmanuel’s additional classes include Pre-K, Kindergarten, Special Education, Junior High, and High School. In addition to the basic subjects (math, science, Spanish, and social studies), they offer art, English and Computer classes. Emmanuel has begun offering quarterly extra-curricular classes in the afternoon to the children in grades 4-9.
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| First Day of School |
Putting FedEx to Shame
The system of getting needed items from the United States to Emmanuel is run by Dr. Don Reynolds, a Chattanoga dentist. The operation puts FedEx to shame. Several times a year the "container" comes down to Emmanuel from a central warehouse in Tennessee. Used by Dole to ship their fruit to the U.S., use of the container is donated to ship items to the orphanage. Cases of Moon Pies, donated by the Chattonoga Bakery Company are used to help pack the container and ultimately make for happy children in Honduras who consume the packing material. The container is also the primary method sponsors send items to their children.
The biggest miracle, of course is the children and the love they so freely share. If you're not into hugs you came to the wrong place. The children immediately accept you and then they hug and climb on you with reckless abandon. They want to know your name and they want you to know theirs. Once you're on their grid - they call out to you by name whenever they see you. After a day with them you ask yourself, who is really helping who here?
Some of that love brought an unexpected gift to Keeley. On the first day she prayed that God would help her find some way to better relate to the children. After breakfast we hung out with the toddlers for a few hours, embracing our newfound status as human jungle gyms. You just have to laugh -- when they want your attention it's "Tio! Tio! Mira!" "Uncle, Uncle! Look!"
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| R.J. and Toddlers |
The following day, as Keeley and I returned to the team house, Maria Wilcox stopped Keeley with a concerned look. "Let me look at you." "Oh no," she said. "You have lice."
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| Maria and Keeley |
So for the next several hours and with great love, Maria rid Keeley of her new found companions. Keeley believed it was God's answer to her prayer.
What did you Build?
Explaining what we did here can be a challenge with some. It's easy to describe, it just doesn't fit their expectations. "What did you do there, did you build something?" "We spent a lot of time loving on the kids." "Right. But what did you do?" Yes, painting needed to be done and door frames needed to be installed at the school. And we did some of that. But nothing was more important than one on one time with with the children. Playing games, cooking them hotdogs for lunch, or just hanging out with them in their yards, their smiles and hugs tell you everything you need to know. Love is what they need the most.
Circle Time
Each morning, before breakfast, the children gather up at "circle time" at each of the houses. There are houses for small, medium and large girls and small, medium and large boys. Additionally there's the toddler house. They are all kept separate by these divisions. It can be a bit awkward for siblings as many of them have brothers and sisters at the orphanage and they are separated. At least physically.
During this time several childen are selected to lead and are placed in the middle of the circle. They sing for about 15 minutes, followed with a lesson, and then head off to breakfast. On Friday they do "big circle" where the entire orphanage gathers. Circle time is where I met and fell in love with one of the three children I now sponsor.
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| Circle Time |
La Tienda
Going to La Tienda (the store) is a big deal. Here they have ice cream, sodas and snacks and it's a blast taking kids there. I just let them chose whatever drink and food they want (they love pringles). However during my first trip I noticed that they weren't eating what we had just bought. When I asked why, the little boy said "I'm saving it for my brother." I found this experience repeated nearly every time I took children there. And when they do eat, they insist you have some too.
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| La Tienda! |
The Clinic
Both teams had doctors come with them, and the second week brought Carlos Azuzena from El Salvador. While on site, Carlos found a hole in the heart of 14 year old Laura. I found her crying one day in the yard, the news about her heart had her understandably scared. All I could do was hold her while she sobbed. The good news is it's totally fixable. She recently had an echo-cardiogram done in Tegucigalpa and we hope to see progress on getting treatment for her very soon. It's one of the things I hope the World Orphan Fund can help with here and at other orphanages.
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| Dr. Carlos Azuzena |
The Girls at the Team House
Several girls, ranging from 14 to 17 years old helped us during our time at the team house with cooking and cleaning. With frequent laughter, goofyness and serious moments in-between -- we became a family. They cooked for us, ate with us, and just hung out with us. Several of us made our mission in life to fix a bicycle for Mersy. And of course, thanks to them, the now famous Honduran Chicken dance was invented.
At the end of the week they shared painful testimony about their lives before Emmanuel. They opened up to us in a way that the volunteers at the orphanage said they had never witnessed. I cannot begin to describe the emotions I felt as a child the same age as my daughter described how her mother was murdered. Through the tears she said she loved God and knew He had a purpose for her. Holding them afterwards you never wanted to let go. But I have no doubt God has them in His hand, and we were grateful He gave us the opportunty to play a part in helping them heal.
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| Comforting After Testimony |
Just Scratching the Surface
There is so much more to tell about Emmanuel and you'll hear more about it in future posts. I'm returning there in four weeks to see my three kids, love on the others and find ways the World Orphan Fund can help.
If you would like to sponsor a child at Emmanuel, you can do so easily for only $35 month. Send me an email and I'll get you the information.
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