Seeking the Heart of Christ: La Ermita

Walking around La Ermita (where the mission is located) was one of my favorite things that we did. I had already gone out a couple of times with the girls. We went to the Pulperia a few times and next door to visit the neighbors. Karla and Cindy really like to visit. A lot of people are unemployed and are home all day. Of course, many don't have television, cable, and Internet like we do. Their lives are outside and with others. When Gracie, Kristian, and I walked around La Ermita to collect names and give out tickets for them to come to the mission on Christmas Day, I felt like one of the people. We didn't ride from house to house in a vehicle. We didn't even ride on bicycles as so many Hondurans do; we walked. We were invited into so several homes around the village. Everyone was so kind. They would get up and give you their chairs or find chairs for you. Of course, their chairs aren't all cushy like here in America. Their chairs are like the white plastic ones like you can buy at dollar general. These people have nothing, but they would offer whatever they have when we entered their homes. I know there is a lot of darkness in Honduras, but there is also so much beauty. The countryside is so so picturesque, and the lives and people are so simple, yet beautiful.

This handsome guy is Noel. He lives behind the mission with his mom & siblings. He has testicular cancer, but you wouldn't know it. He is always smiling.

This is the soccer field behind the mission.

Here are several of the beautiful children of La Ermita:

You don't often see elderly in Honduras. I believe this man was in his 90's.

This is another lady in the village.

Gracie found one of her abuelas.

Here they are together

She was so sweet

These two and their other siblings were abandoned. There are 6 or 7 children living alone. The oldest spoke to Gracie. I tried to talk to these two, but they wouldn't speak and didn't like to be touched.