In total, we worked five days in Las Tablas. At the end of our stay we were able to leave nearly 500 books in Spanish for the children. Watching the teacher’s excitement as she logged the books was a thrill for me. Books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson will now be on the shelves and it makes my heart smile knowing how those books affected my children and could do the same here.
I also watched my shy, sensitive daughter control a classroom of children using only her three years of Spanish. She matured every day and became increasingly more comfortable with the unknown. There are obvious reactions any modern teenager would have in witness to this type of poverty. Her ability to see past it and relate to kids of all ages reassures me that I’ve done something right.
I wasn’t ready for the effect Las Tablas would have on me. I experienced poverty as a child but it’s never had this kind of impact before. The biggest difference being: I had opportunities to improve my life and these children have little to none all because of where they were born.
Local community service with my children is important to me, but I have never committed to this type of service before. I truly believe God put me in this situation for a purpose. I was protected and calm during my entire stay in Honduras. Once I let go of the control I thought I needed, my anxiety and fear disappeared. Opportunities have already started to open for my return and I am hopeful Las Tablas will remain in my life for the rest of my life.
