Let me Introduce ...

Let me introduce to you some of the sweetest and most loving (and sometimes difficult) little Honduran boys that I had the absolute pleasure to serve and love.

Mannuel

Mannuel – sweet, thoughtful, intuitive, leader. Mannuel was the easiest kid in the entire little-boy house to connect with. He was old enough to be funny and silly, but he also could be serious and calm. Mannuel was the best at watching the special needs boy, Jonathan, and was always respectful to him. It was hard to find kids who looked beyond their needs to see anyone else (which is typical in any country and with any kids), yet he did. One day some boys had been really nasty to me and after he came over to me and asked if I was alright and if my feelings were hurt. Very frequently he touched my heart with his spirit and actions.

 Eduardo

Eduardo was a little boy who wanted to feel special. He told me that at 6 his families' house burned down and he was the only survivor. A neighbor brought him to OE and he has been there for a few years now. Eduardo was on one of the cleaning crews so I got to know him very well by the end of my stay. Every night before I left to go home he would ask for a hug and end up in my arms, legs latched around my waist, cheek against mine and rubbing my hair as he holds on. It was like he wasn't thinking about how I would surely be back in the morning, he was just aware that this was the moment he had with me. I want to be more like Eduardo in that way. 

Osman

If I was going to take home one of the boys, it would be Osman. He's not super smart, he didn't come and sit on my lap all the time. He wasn't looking for the love and attention that the other boys were and I am not sure why. But, somehow in his being living I decided I would just love to give him a home. These pictures were taken on his birthday and when I asked how old he was, he didn't know. At first I thought that possibly he was really a lot less sharp than I originally thought, but then I realized that he most likely doesn't have any papers. It's a common occurrence for the kids at OE to not know their birthday (we were most likely celebrating the day he got to the orphanage and calling it his birthday) or how old they are.

Okay, one more picture because he's just so cute :)

Jonathan

Jonathan was my struggle. My challenge. The reminder that I need The Lord and His wisdom. As a special needs boy, Jonathan was a whole different story than the other boys. He is very strong physically and in his will. He can understand almost anything you want to communicate to him. But, he cannot communicate very much at all. I found that it was a constant struggle to be strict and firm while also compassionate and willing to help. I desired him to learn to listen well and thrive independently (which I believe he can) while still loving and caring for him in ways that accommodated his needs. Is it possible for a 20 year old volunteer to find this balance? I don't know. But, I tried always to have a spirit and attitude of love and to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance as I interacted with him. Thankfully, I love the little stinker, and he didn't mind me either :)

In the end I don't have the time, energy, or emotional capacity to write about every little boy who touched my heart. Ultimately, I wish you could just meet them, visit them, hug them, know them. And, as I go through this week, I hope to maybe post one or two more little blurbs about the things God taught me and a few special lessons from Him. In the end, God used 55 little boys to change the heart and life of a 20 year old Gringa. For that and for them, I will be ever grateful.