Different Perspectives

I've been slow in giving you all news from Little Hands of Hope this week. I was a little sick earlier this week and did not have enough energy by the time I was freed up at the end of the day to tell everyone what's been going on. I'm feeling much better now though and as usual, there is a lot to tell!

Not Easter Lillies, but they are pretty! Matia's little garden at his house. 

This week was Holy Week and school was out and family was visiting all over El Salvador. When we went to the market on Friday, we had slim pickings and most of the market and stores were closed. Apparently Good Friday is the day they pick to take off. :) The Catholic church has been busy all week, but the church here in Meanguera that I've been working with does not pay any attention to Easter. I miss the Easter services back home and the celebration over Jesus rising from the dead! I've been so busy this year that Easter surprised me with how quickly it came, but next year I think I'm going to have to work with the church on celebrating the Resurrection. :)

Delmy with the block house that she built. 

We've had less children in the afternoon all week because of people traveling and family visiting and confusion over whether we would still be open for the children. The children still wanted to come, so we were still open. :)

The kids are really comfortable with us now and know the routine very well. Everyone understanding the routine keeps everything flowing smoothly on all sides. We have a difficult role now. Because a lot of these children do not have a father and sometimes a mother that is active in their lives, there are so many things that get overlooked while they are growing up. In a way, we have to fill in for the parents, but we don't want to step on the toes of the people who are caring for these children at home either. It is a fine line to walk, but they are young and now is the best time for them to learn how to behave. It is somewhat of a daunting task to look at it that way, but it is my prayer that they will learn how to behave properly as adults. We have to teach them to say "please" and "thank you," that bad words are not acceptable, how to share, and how to treat each other kindly. All little children have to learn these things, but when it is not reinforced at home, it is more difficult!

Rosme and Anderson learning to share their food. :) Anderson was not sure whether to fus or just let Rosme have it since Anderson was full anyway!


I was chatting yesterday with Nilson, who is long time friend and now my neighbor. We were talking about some coffee that my uncle Christian had given Nilson to try and we got on the topic of children drinking coffee. Here in El Salvador, it is very common for young children to drink coffee. I even had one child come drinking coffee out of a bottle! It makes me cringe to think of all the possible ill effects coffee could have on the children at such a young age. Nilson commented that it is customary here to give coffee to the kids in order to help fill their tummies since sometimes there is nothing else to fill it with. Something healthier is too expensive. It just hurts to know that people struggle so much just to eat. It's also painful to see some of the effects of poor nutrition on the children. I have very few children whose teeth are not literally rotting in their head. Sometimes we take our blessings for granted!

Erika and Matia with Rosme who was not feeling so well and decided Matia's lap was the best place for a nap.

We had a lady stop by last week selling raspberries. She had come all the way from Honduras - we are close to the border of Honduras here, but that is really quite a ways for her to come! We had the children outside and she stopped to ask if we wanted raspberries. When she saw me with the kids she put her bucket down and asked me if I had some clothing I could give her for her two children. I didn't have anything available when she was here, but maybe we will see her again. She probably is barely able to make ends meet coming all the way from Honduras selling her fruit, but that's all she can do for now. It is a different reality than what we are used to. 

Lorena with her lego tower. 



Well, I am a little sad to come home in May because I feel like we are really starting to figure things out and build a relationship with these children, but I will be back soon. I will be happy to see you all too! If you want to hear more from me when I'm back in the US, let me know: littlehandsofhope@gmail.com. In the meantime, you'll still be hearing from me! Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your encouragement and your support! You are the ones that make this possible. Don't forget to pray for us!