Written by: Doricel Aguirre, Cultural Connections Volunteer Guide, Comunidad Connect
Doricel (left) and co-worker Nerys in Los Robles
So far during 2016, I have guided 7 groups from Honduras Outreach International (HOI). That’s 99 volunteers who have come to share their experiences with the community of Los Robles, contribute to the social projects and promote religious values through bible studies with children, women and men. One of the most impactful experiences I have had was when we visited the home of Doña Guillermina to build a floor that was just 16 meters in area; her home was too small to build a larger floor.
Doña Guillermina lives in Sector Peten. She is 30 years old, is a single mother to one 4 year old daughter, and she suffers from limited vision in her right eye that makes fulfilling household chores difficult. In her home she doesn’t have utensils to cook with or a proper bed to sleep on; this particular day she mentioned that she didn’t have food to feed her daughter. Nevertheless, Doña Guillermina works to get money so that she can get food and other necessary things to survive. I became emotional when it was time to read her story for the group and was unable to finish the family profile. Despite her hardships, Doña Guillermina was overjoyed to have a new floor in her humble home and wished she had more to be able to thank the volunteers for their efforts and the donation of their time. Given that she did not have much, she humbly expressed her happiness that now she will live better, and her daughter will not fall ill from from bacteria in the dirt floor. All this brings us to the following reflection: Humility makes us greater and stronger as people; happiness more so.
Volunteers and community members lay cement floor in Los Robles.