Hi-ho, hi-ho! It’s off to the mountains we go!

Today we trekked to a new place, Arena Blanca, which was located high up into the Honduran mountains. Once we had arrived it was clear that these people were in need of our help. The school house consisted of two classrooms with a washing station out back, as well as a second building where the newly constructed Justa stove was built. We began our day with a hygiene clinic, treating the twenty seven students for worms, taught them to wash their hands, brush their teeth, as well as provided them with a fluoride treatment.

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Arena Blanca
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Brushing their teeth
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Chewing the nasty pills

As the hygiene clinic was underway, Daniel gathered a few team members to begin construction of a Justa stove for the school to use to cook their lunches and possibly other food/meals with. Following the hygiene clinic, the students had their daily break from school, beginning at 11 and ending at 1. During this time only laughter could be heard and children were seen playing soccer and coloring with HAF team members. Honduran children sure do know how to play, for the pouring down rain didn’t stop their happy souls!  Eventually the rain passed and the children returned to their classroom only to participate in a vacation bible school program we had prepared for them. With the help of two AP girls, Brenda and Marleni, the children were taught the lesson of Jesus calming the seas. However, it was made rather exciting by adding motions for the words Jesus, disciples, boat, waves, and wind. Our homemade streamer sticks couldn’t have been more fun and have done a better representation of the wind. The bible school lesson concluded with the making of the “Ocean in a bottle”, in which the children added a variety of jewels, glitter, and beads to blue-dyed water filled bottles. For me, this was the highlight of the day. The children had fun not only constructing their bottles, but also watching their magic in a bottle whoosh back and forth, like an ocean filled with treasures. 

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Jesus Stills the Storm
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Maynor, Marleni, and Brenda narrating
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Maynor está loco

Shortly after the VBS lesson had concluded, so did the construction of the brand new Justa stove! Smiles were seen on all faces as they thanked and hugged us for all of our generosity and help. Today was a great day for all.

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Nate, David, and Daniel building a justa stove
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Making progress
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Almost finished
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MUD FIGHT!!!
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Happy as pigs in the mud

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