Thursday, January 27, 2011

Hangin' with the Boys

Many of you have heard us talk about Jovenes en Camino, a home for boys, and some of you have been able to experience the place first-hand.  If you have been there, I'm sure you will agree that it's a good place.  The scenery is beautiful and the facility is nice, but, honestly, what really makes it great are the people.  The staff is made up of good, dedicated, patient, loving people who work hard to make a difference for the fifty-three boys that call JEC home.  The staff do an amazing job, but they would all surely agree that it's the boys that make the place special.  Kids are kids, and boys will be boys, but the truth is that even though these boys have been through some particularly hard times in their young lives, they are good kids.  It may sound silly or simplistic, but the best way to describe them is that they are just good boys.  


Knowing how important relationships are to Hondurans, and knowing how important simply spending time together is to fostering good relationships here, we have decided to devote a good portion of our work week hanging out with the boys of JEC. Their hospitality has been incredible. We eat breakfast and lunch with them in their dining hall, stay in an apartment in the 'green house' (where the oldest boys live), and spend our days there talking, playing, tutoring, and working on special projects. 

Each of the three age groups eat dinner in their own 'house,' and the green house has invited us to join them for their family meal. Over the last few months they have constructed an outdoor kitchen/dining room, where they eat dinner every night. It is such a blessing and privilege to be in their presence. We sense their camaraderie, as the joke around with each other like brothers do. And we're impressed with their work ethic, as they take turns cleaning up & washing dishes after the meal. We love them so much already, and we know our love will only continue to grow as we get to know them more over time.    


b & m

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