8/15/2021
Landed in Tegucigalpa safely. Met a nice family on the plane who were moving to Honduras for the next 3 years. The Dad works for the state department and told us about all the places he had lived in Latin America over the years. He gave us his contact information @ the embassy and said to call him if we needed anything. It was comforting to me to feel the presence of the American Government. As I write this the next morning that comforting feeling was more about my own anxiety as we approached landing in Honduras, than any real danger that we are facing. We have only been here for a little less than a day, but we are very safe and well cared for.
From the airport we arrived @ the Mission House. The mission house hosts teams from Methodist churches from all over America. There are pictures of all the teams that have passed through here over the years all over the walls. Many people have already paved this road for us.
@ The Mission house we were served a delicious meal of Chicken, rice and salad. Everyone has been telling us about how wonderful the food is on these mission trips, and they are telling the truth. The food is awesome. Pretty amazing to wake up in the morning in Kansas City and have lunch in Honduras.
Only problem we have had so far is that our team bag, our only checked bag, didn’t make it to Honduras. We should have it before we leave for Danli, after church this morning.
After lunch we visited the school @ Ciudad Espana. We all visited with some of the staff and sponsored students. Had some time to get to know one another and had a tour of the school. We learned about the challenges they have faced with teaching their 100 students remotely. Just amazed that these children and teachers are having to figure out remote learning just like we have over the last year. I’m embarrassed to remember all the frustrations I have felt and expressed about the inconveniences of the pandemic, when I compare those to the obstacles that these teachers and students have had to overcome just to get a good education and then the compounding of those obstacles with a pandemic. Amanda, the director of the school, is a true treasure.
Amanda helps coordinate the student sponsorship program.
-Tim Merchant, Team Blogger