Our Last Day in Honduras

After sleeping in for a few extra minutes this morning, we traveled to the Valle de los Angeles. The Valle de los Angeles is a cozy little community with lots of shops and a small town center encircling a beautiful stone fountain. On our drive, we viewed the beautiful scenery from atop the winding roads, with houses scaling the tree-littered mountainside. To put it simply, the drive to the Valle de los Angeles was the most beautiful drive we have been on so far in Honduras. Arriving in the Valle, the girls were excited about spending all of the money they had exchanged for limpiras. The boys, however, were not as enthusiastic about the shopping trip.

The shops were filled with handcrafted jewelry, textiles, leather goods, pottery, and intricately carved wooden trinkets. All the shop owners (some of whom spoke excellent English) were so excited to see some American tourists. As we were all shopping, we were aware of how much we actually stood out- we don´t exactly look like native Hondurans. Afterwards, we stopped to get a quick bite to eat at a restaurant that had a stable in the back with a horse belonging to the President of Honduras. We had fun looking at all of the horses and playing in the playground.

We then hurried back to El Hogar in order to work hard for the last few hours that were left of daylight. Some of us continued to paint a few of the rooms in the new house, others created giant storybooks for the schoolhouse, while the rest of us hauled gravel up a flight of stairs. By the end of our working period, the rooms were painted, storybooks colored, and gravel pile annihilated.

When our projects were completed, we had time to play with the boys for our last evening in El Hogar. Somehow we still found the energy to play endless games of soccer and tag! No matter how tired we were, the children´s contagious smiles and laughter brightened our moods. We were all very sad to say goodnight- we all want to stay at El Hogar to work and play! But we are looking to the farewell ceremony in the morning. The children are planning a presentation to send us on our way. In return, we are planning a choreographed dance and speech to express our gratitude and love for El Hogar.

When we went back to the volunteer house, the team had planned a surprise birthday celebration for Alex`s eighteenth birthday tomorrow. We enjoyed angel food cake and candy, and the surprised look on Alex´s face. After our small celebration, we were back to work with lots of chores and packing in preparation for our departure in the morning.

We are very sad to be leaving El Hogar and we are already making plans to return. We are extremely appreciative of the life-changing experience, and are grateful to all of the people that have helped us to get here. The children at El Hogar are very grateful for all the supplies (a.ka. suppies, according to Gwen`s posters), and for our presence here. However, we are looking forward to returning home, what with our own bathrooms, no bunk beds, and without the tedious task of carrying gravel anymore!

Can´t wait to see you all when we get back!

Love,
The El Hogar Work Team
(Kelsey and the Birthday Girl!)

El Hogar = LOVE.