Honduras Missions Trip

The Gift Honduras Gave Me
I am back home now and all I can think about is hopping on a plane and going back to Honduras. The experience was only a week but it has changed me forever. The people I met, the relationships I built, and the kids of Honduras that I fell in love with. All in all it was probably one of the best weeks of my life and I just hope all the memories stay as vivid as they are right now. If you know me you know that kids are my passion. I am going to be a teacher and getting the chance to be with kids all week was amazing. Whether it was hanging out with the brothers all day or just playing with some kids in some random village in the mountains it was all just so awesome that words can’t even begin to describe how much I loved it.

I can’t wait to go back and when I do I hope it is for a more extended period of time so I can get to know the country and its people even more. I fell in love with the country and its people in just one weeks time so I can not wait to see what a longer trip can do. I miss the boys already and I can’t wait to see them again soon. I can’t thank them enough for what they taught me.

A Mountain of a Day
Today was an up and down battle emotionally for our team here in Honduras. Our first stop of the day was to the special needs orphanage. When we arrived we were told some devastating news. The girl Ashley had been telling me about all week, Izzy, had became ill and had passed away. Even though I had never met this girl I knew she had to be absolutely amazing from just listening to Ashley talk about her with such love and admiration. While at the orphanage all of us had some great experiences with the children. Their smiles and laughter are some of the most amazing things here in Honduras. The boys spent the night again last night so they were with us all day again!

After the first orphanage we went to the Dump. The Dump here in Tegucigalpa you have to see to believe. Hundreds of people live, and I do mean live in the dump. Our goal today was to feed some of them. As you drive towards the dump the scenery goes from sad to heartbreaking as you see men, women, and children in conditions you never thought possible. As we drove in we had to have people guard the food on the back of the truck so that it was not taken. When we got to a crowded spot we had the kids stay in the van as we got out to great the masses. The man in charge of the feeding is Mark Tindel. He works at Casa de Esperanza and at least once a week comes to the dump to feed. We passed out beans, rice, tortillas, and water to the people at the dump. Mike and I were in charge of passing out the water and it went fast. I got down to just one pouch and my goal was simple, give the last bit of water we had to a child. Two people came towards me, a man with a machete, and a little girl with a smile. I don’t even have to tell you who ended up with that water.

After leaving the dump we went to the Mother Theresa Orphanage. This place had some amazing kids. Daniel quickly made a new friend who wouldn’t part from his shadow. And his name was Daniel too! Steve also connected with a child, Kenny. They were inseparable all afternoon! One of the nuns there pointed out a small girl, Jacqueline who was shying away from our group. She was such a sweet little girl! The nun told me that when I leave the little girl would cry. But it didn’t take that long because as soon as anyone but me touched her she started bawling. Luckily Hines was there to help me calm her down. Side note, she also covered me in warm strawberry milk.

Our busy day continued when we went to the Jesus statue at one of the highest points of the city. From there we got to see a storm roll in and the view was breath taking. We then had to run back to the car to beat the storm and luckily we all made it back before the storm came.

Our final trip of the day was to KFC where we took the kids from Casa de Esperanza for dinner. Those kids are quite possibly the most energetic children I’ve ever associated with. The KFC has a soccer field in it so Daniel and I got to play some soccer with the kids! There were some sad goodbyes as we left KFC though.

In closing please keep Ashley in your prayers tonight as well as anyone else whose life was changed through Izzy.

One More House & Mario
Today we got up bright and early to build another house! And by bright and early I mean Mario woke me up at 5:55 by saying “Corey… GET UP” The boys stayed over last night and they can be a handful but they are awesome. We arrived at the build site with the wood already unloaded (by Mike, Daniel, and I) which means we were ahead of schedule! The brothers as usual were all about helping us build the house by doing whatever they could do help, even if sometimes that just meant running and giggling. We finished the house early even though we faced a lot of difficulties. I was so proud of our team as no matter what happened they continued to work hard and didn’t let these issues get in the way of providing for a family in need. The family we build the house for was so very gracious. The look in their eyes when the gazed upon their new house was all the satisfaction we needed!

During the building of the house Mario, one of the middle brothers, was by my side helping me for most of the day. He hasn’t said much to me so far on the trip but today he was extremely chatty! Mario’s story is a long one and to see him thrive is awesome. Whenever we have been around kids his age he is the center of attention and is always sharing with the other kids. Its amazing to see someone that has less that me give without even batting an eye. He is inspirational. On our ride home Mario, Marveen, and I sat in the back of the bus. Marveen was passed out after a few minutes but Mario and I were talking, singing, and dancing the whole way back. He is an awesome kid and I am so very thankful that I got to know him a little better today! Everyday down here has been a great gift and the things I have learned I will not soon forget. The boys are staying the night again so its time to get them ready for bed. Tomorrow we are going to the special needs orphanage, the dump, and taking some great kids out for dinner.. this all means that tomorrow will be my favorite day of the trip!


The Brothers and The Hospital Today was all about the kids so naturally I loved it! We started the day by going to the hospital here in The city to visit the kids and give then stuffed animals. I was in the verge of tears the entire time. The first child we stopped to talk with had traveled four hours and was exhausted. He was very weak but still managed a smile from something as simple as a beanie baby. The next child was being treated for cancer and his mothers optimism touched me. The love for her child was simply amazing and she had no doubt he would win his battle.
After the hospital it was off to the boys house to clean. As usual they were all about helping! Marveen even got on the roof to scrub the windows! The kids amaze me more and more everyday with their laughter and smiles even when they are facing difficult situations. And tonight they are all over for a sleepover! Music was all over the place today! I wore my favorite shirt, my “swim for your life shirt”! And while heading to the homeless shelter the song “bad day” came on and it made me think… it made me think that even on my worst days its not even comparable to some of the days the people here face. I dont think I’ll ever have a bad day anymore now that I know what a real bad day is. A bad day is not a flat tire or a long day at work. A bad day is not being able to feed your children, a bad day is not having a bed to sleep in. A bad day is the feeling that no one cares. Now that I know what a bad day is I try to best to help those who truly have bad days. And the day of music ended with a dance party to Katy Perry and Taylor Swift on the ride home! Ill end the post with a quote I saw on the wall of the homeless shelter that is stuck in my head. “There is no fear in love” :)

Stuck in the Mud & Valley of the Angels
Yesterday we spent all day up at a farm in the mountains! The reason we spent all day was because all our vehicles got stuck at least once. The farm we were working on has some amazing plans! They would like to employ people from the dump to work on the farm as well as donate a majority of the food they grow to those who need it most in Honduras! As usual my favorite part of the day was playing with the kids! They are truly amazing! They seem to love to work just as much as they love to play. After a few hours of work it was time to get the vehicles out. I was so proud of our team, even though it was storming and we had been out in The sun all day no one quit.

Then today it was off to the Nashville school which is a bilingual school near the valley of the angels. We built bookshelves and picnic tables for the school! After that we got to enjoy some awesome honduran food! Working at the school today was especially enjoyable for me since I will one day be a teacher! Yet again the boys joined us to help and Marveen was especially ready to work today as he helped me and Daniel build a table and then shared some of his favorite foods with me! Out of all the brothers I’ve spent the most time with Marveen, he is quite an amazing kid! He has a better work ethic than I do and I’m pretty sure he is better with a hammer than me too. He has also been trying to teach me some spanish but its not going great. He also loves helping me find places to buy Coca Cola but thats probably because he knows I’m gonna be buying him stuff too! Its relationships like this that make me know without any doubt that I’ll be back here… for as long as I possibly can be! I love these kids.


Today was my favorite day but I’m sure I’ll say that everyday! We started out by going to church with the brothers. After that it was out to lunch where Mike and I played soccer with the brothers in the playplace! The brothers we’ve been spending time with are six of the most amazing souls I’ve ever been with. Their smiles and their laughter are intoxicating. To see them have so much joy after all they’ve been through is truly inspirational! After lunch we ended up in a village in the mountains where the rain was coming down. The soccer field was empty when we arrived but soon Mike and I had quite the game going with some kids from the village. I had more fun playing soccer in the rain, on a rocky field, and with total strangers then I’ve ever had before! It was amazing. The children of Honduras continue to change me and it is beautiful!

"All I Have"
I believe thats what went through the heads of the Hondurans whose house we torn down then rebuilt in a matter of hours… They were the most gracious people I have ever meet , our act of kindness brought the mother to tears. My favorite part of the day was playing with the neighbourhood children once we had the house built! What amazed me the most was the willingness of the community to help countless children, neighbors and even our driver spent their day hard at work to improve the lives of an amazing family. Yet again another amazing day in Honduras!


Up… thats all he had to say to me. One word from the youngest child at casa de esperanza that started to make me think. Today my life changed and it only took an afternoon. One afternoon with the most amazing kids ive ever met. All it took was us taking time to play with them and the smiles never stopped. Josu (probably spelled wrong) spent the afternoon on my shoulders singing and dancing and the whole time smiling, they were all smiling and it warmed my heart like nothing ever has before :)


So close...
So its finally here and I can’t wait… a life changing experience just days away. Its all I can think about. I know it will be everything I want it to be and more. I already wish that I’ll be there longer. I can’t wait to give all I can to people who really need it. If possible I’ll be posting my adventures here. I hope you will all take the time to read and check up on me. Thank you all for your support!