In June 2012, a group from Inglewood Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alberta, travelled to the small village of La Avispa, Honduras. Their goal was to meet the local people, tour some World Renew projects, and decide if a church/community partnership could be formed between their two groups. Along the way, they had some wonderful experiences.
“As our van rounded the bend on the hill, we could see the sprawling aldea (village) of La Avispa in front of us. Some houses lined the road while others hugged the hillsides,” said Marina Vandegriend, one of the participants from Inglewood CRC as she recalled her first glimpse of what would be her home for the week. “Driving slowly along the single road through town, we passed the school and the church before coming to a stop alongside the creek. We clambered out of the van and were shown our way down to the creek bed, carefully navigating our way across the stream on some rocks, and up a narrow path to Pastor Nelson's house.”
During their first day, they were welcomed with a delicious lunch and were introduced to World Renew staff member, Ana Joya. They also met Arturo Colindres, who works with World Renew’s Honduran partner Diaconia Nacional, the host families they would be staying with, and then went to a worship service at the local Christian Reformed Church.
“Even before the first rays of daylight penetrated the cracks in the walls the next day, we were awakened by a chorus of roosters, cows, donkeys and dogs. People were getting ready for the new day of work,” said Vandegriend. “After a hearty breakfast we set off down the hill, across the creek and along the road to our first assignments.”
Each day, the Inglewood group would split into two and go to meet a family that they would be working with for the day. These families had been selected by their community to receive help from Inglewood in laying a concrete floor in their homes.
The project would be done as a joint effort. The family members would haul sand from a nearby river bed and the Inglewood group would mix the sand, cement, and water until it was the right consistency for the floor. They would then bring pails of the mixture to the local masons who were laying the floor.
"We look forward to continuing to build this relationship with La Avispa, so that with God's blessing we may grow and work together in His service."
“The mornings always passed quickly. During breaks in the mixing process we tried communicating with the families to learn more about their lives and to share a little about our families back in Canada,” said Vandegriend. “Each morning, as we met another family, we prayed together for a blessing on the family as well as on our work. When we left a few hours later, seeing the pride and joy in the faces of the recipients when their floor was finished was so rewarding — we knew that God was using even our few hours of work to bring His hope and love to these people.”
After working each morning, the Inglewood group would enjoy a lunch with the people of La Avispa and then spend the afternoons worshipping, visiting, and learning about the community. By the end of their stay, 10 families had new concrete floors in their homes. More importantly, however, a relationship had been formed between this Canadian church and Honduran community.
“We shared with each other,” said Vandegriend. “We learned about their concerns and sorrow for children far away, for family members lost in the mudslide, for young teen girls becoming mothers, for little education for the girls, for children who are always hungry. We admired their stamina, diligence and hard work. We appreciated their friendliness, kindness and generosity. We marveled at the beauty of La Avispa, with its lush green hills and tree-covered mountains; at the smiling faces of the children, eager to meet us and talk with us; and at the hope and pride reflected by the families who now had concrete floors in their homes. But most of all we thanked God for the opportunity to make new friends and worship together in a community geographically far away from Inglewood, yet close in heart. We look forward to continuing to build this relationship with La Avispa, so that with God's blessing we may grow and work together in His service. “
