Honduras

This is "the wife" here...Levi has invited me to post on his blog (he might regret it later). :P

I recently returned from a trip to Honduras with Heifer International, a global non-profit dedicated to ending hunger & poverty. I have volunteered for them for many years & was very excited to get the chance to see their projects in action. The trip was incredible & eye-opening--although it was sad & difficult at times to see the extent of poverty, it was also always hopeful.
Although we were only gone five days, returning home was a little bit of culture shock. The grocery store was just overwhelming & for a few days I was depressed & overcome by the incredible uneven distribution of resources in our world.
Americans always like to say how we "are lucky" & shouldn't take for granted all the wonderful things we have. I see it more as a charge to live simply & within our means, to not use in excess the amazing things we have constant access to.
Again & again on the trip I saw people we would consider poor that were happy & satisifed with their lives. I met a little girl named Juanita who was so happy that she was able to attend school & then still have time to come home & help her mother & aunties roast coffee beans to sell. I met a farmer with eleven children who lived in a two room mud house & who welcomed us into his home with more pride & hospitality that anyone I have ever met in the U.S. He explained that the whole village had been praying for our safe arrival & would continue to pray for our journey home after we left. I couldn't help but think that in so many ways this man & his family were richer than me.
It was amazing to see the happiness in those whose basic needs had been met & they are content. In our small & often blind country of incredible wealth & overabundance, it becomes our duty to assist our brothers & sisters. Not out of charity or the goodness of our hearts, but because every human being is entitled to the basic rights of living. The non-profit Oxfam says it well: to help people living in poverty to exercise five main rights: Right to a sustainable livelihood, Right to basic social services, Right to Life and security, Right to be heard, Right to an identity.

Above are some photos from my trip.