Recognized, Remembered, Connected. We are making an impact!

By: Becky Sparks

 On our recent trip to Honduras to see students and water filter recipients, I was delighted that volunteers Dr. Danny and Engineer Diana would be our translators. They are truly a part of our hearts and seeing them again after our 2 year absence was fantastic. During our free time, Diana and I made it a point to revisit our “tire repair experience” from the last Brigade. We found the shop, (a house on the side of a hill) , and were immediately recognized by the men who had fixed our flat tire several years ago. Their parrot was still there, but the puppy we had met was now living in another house. (We saw our first kitten of the trip – an oddity on previous brigades, but it seems that they are more numerous now. ) Our tire repair team’s mother came out too, embraced us with hugs, and then took us to the home next door where her daughter and granddaughter live. Her daughter hugged me, having recognized me from a previous Brigade, and I recognized the granddaughter from a previous home visit. (Cindy and Armando had visited her several times) She is now 21 years old and has been confined to bed her entire life. She is non-verbal, and her mental function is uncertain, this--a result of bacterial meningitis at 3 weeks of age. But her family has taken excellent care of her, in their room that has no electricity, and no running water. The mom mends clothes on a treadle sewing machine to help with family finances. Her eyes follow the people around her, and when I got to her level, we stared at each other. I did not see fear or desperation. I experienced connection as her deep brown eyes connected with mine and we simply spent time in each other’s company. Her mother and grandmother and our small group prayed together, and left in the hope that something good will come because we “happened” to return. I think of that experience every day, with a sense of compassion, sadness and wonder…and look forward to being able to give her some sort of comfort and mobility. (Thanks to Drs. Brenda and Danny, we are investigating options.)Being recognized and embraced after the length of separation leaves me with the awareness that Honduras Good Works has made a permanent impact in our small part of Honduras. God willing, with His intervention and the support of all who care, we will return soon.