Honduras-P2

El Hogar de Amor y Esperanza

(The Home of Love and Hope - Page 2)

		Transporting a lot of boys can be a problem. Rules were strict, no standing, at least 1 adult in the back with the boys, and an iron gate was fastened across the back of the truck. El Hogar also has 2 13 passenger vans which hold about 20 small boys.
In early January about 40 boys were at the home, (the others were with family friends or relatives). Everyone went on a picnic to a conservation area north of Tegucigalpa. The noon meal was a real treat featuring North American style white bread sandwiches.
		Helping out in the laundry can be fun sometimes, especially when mom is volunteering, and she lets you climb. Each boy has a box in the laundry where his clothes are kept. Many of these single mothers cannot provide for the boys but still want to do whatever they can to help them. On weekends some of the mothers volunteer to come in and help around El Hogar while regular staff have some time off.
Doña Margarita, the laundress, struggles to keep the old washing machines going. Pedro is somewhere between 27 and 29 years old. He was found living in the bush all by himself at about age 6 He is epileptic and had no language. He was taken to El Hogar where he was raised and taught to speak. He has the mind of a 5 year old and would have difficulty surviving outside El Hogar. He helps in the laundry.
		A great partnership! The girls get to practice on forgiving customers and the boys get haircuts.

THIS IS PAGE 2