December 11, 2012

El Hogar Grads Give Back

If you have been to El Hogar, you've been able to see the poverty of Honduras from the air as you are flying into Tegucigalpa.  Once on the ground and driving through city streets on your way there, you get an even more shocking view of what life looks like for so many people.   For me, the most disturbing sight is that of scantily clad children dodging cars on busy streets begging for money; it's just as likely to see them during the school day as late at night because many of them are fending for themselves and have no time for school.   

This fall I made my annual pilgrimage to El Hogar to attend graduations at each of our three sites as well as a reunion for our alumni.  At the reunion, one of the highlights was hearing a number of the alums tell their personal stories of how they came to El Hogar and where they are today.  Coming from dire poverty, they were given love, an education and, most importantly, hope for the future.  Many of them are now husbands and fathers who have secured good jobs with local companies or, in some cases, run their own businesses.

Claudia Castro, who hosted the reunion, reminded the men of the financial support from North America that allowed El Hogar Projects to provide them with a home and education.  She then asked them if they would consider giving back to El Hogar.  She had created coupon books that would allow them to make an annual pledge, fulfilling it with monthly installments.  It was exciting to see how many stepped forward to take a coupon book and express their deep desire to help provide for the children of El Hogar today.  Others pledged to help through mentoring and doing special projects as they are able.

This trip reminded me of the many lives that are transformed by El Hogar, mine included.

Phillip Petree,  Board Chair, El Hogar  Ministries

On a bright, sunny morning in Honduras, Friday, November 16th the El Hogar Technical Institute (ITSM) was bustling in preparation for the school's 26th annual graduation ceremony. This year twenty three young men would be graduating and taking the next step on their respective journeys.

Unannounced, out of the countryside came the first ever graduate of ITSM. His name is Israel Bautista. He was dressed in a bright blue shirt and had a great big smile on his face. Twenty-six years after his graduation in 1986 he walked up to Lazaro Juarez, the Director of ITSM, and introduced himself. Lazaro proceeded, in turn, to proudly introduce Israel to fellow staff members, guests and members of the graduating class of 2012. Israel is now married with a family and is working.

After the festive service and formal graduation ceremony all of the graduates, their families and assorted guests - including Israel - gathered for a celebratory lunch. A camera was found and a photograph captured this unexpected visitor and welcome graduation surprise. Hopefully, Israel will make a return visit to El Hogar every year.

William Pelosky, Director of Development, El Hogar Ministries

Please go the the El Hogar website: www.elhogar.org and click on the Amazon icon there to make purchases on amazon.com.  At NO cost to you, El Hogar will automatically receive 4% of your purchase value!

Honor someone on your gift list with a donation to El Hogar. See our catalogue of honorary gift ideas. We will send a beautiful card to the honoree telling them you have made a donation to El Hogar in their name as a gift this holiday season. Click here to see our Gift Catalogue. 

Girls Graduate from Sixth Grade 

The father of Denis sat humbly and quietly in the third row, his eyes more focused upon the sawdust floor than on the graduates who were welcoming families and straightening their ties. Several of the boys from the graduating class sat next to him to engage in small talk.  But this was an awkward moment for the father of Denis Javier, who, in his final year at the farm school, was killed by a petty thief in Tegucigalpa in the first month of the school year.

Mardoqueo was a reluctant guest for those ceremonies. His wife refused to attend. Both of them acknowledged that the pain of Denis's death was far too present and fresh for them to participate.  This would have been Denis's graduating ceremony. Nevertheless, Mardoqueo joined with us that morning to celebrate with the rest of the class in their achievement, and to honor his son.

Mr. Hernandez received from the students and faculty a photo album from his son's years at the Farm school and a plaque that he will carry home to place on his son's gravestone. He was also informed that the soccer field at the Farm school will be named in Denis's honor, with an appropriate plaque recognizing this honor. A new set of bleachers with a roof for shade is being constructed through donations given in Denis's name.

  

The grief from Denis's death was still very present with the students and faculty on that day.  But there was a spirit of triumph and hope as we acknowledged some fearful realities of life in Honduras, yet our intention remains to overcome such burdens through our relationships with one another and the God who sustains us.

Rev. Matthew Engleby, Executive Director, Honduras