the Chico life Reid style

I’m finally getting to this…there has been much to do adjusting back to being home after our week in Honduras.  Luke, Maia and I had a great time visiting our friends in the village of Brisas del Volcan in Honduras.  We are partnering with them for 5 years as these 24 families work very hard and develop the land so that they can receive title to the land, be land owners, and leave povery!

We led a team of 15 people, most from Chico, but others from all over who are support the village. We spent 2 days travelling, 5 days in the village and the last day in Copan (or mostly driving there), the Mayan ruins on the border near Guatemala.  Our time in the village included some activities planned by us like a Thanksgiving cultural exchange with pumpkin pie (they were initially confused, as squash is not usually eaten as dessert!), games and crafts with the kids, and photo frame making with the women and family portraits. We also toured the land, pruned plantain trees, weeded the coffee nursery, visited homes, helped make tortillas, collect eggs, milk cows, and see the whole process of coffee–hulling, washing, drying, skinning, roasting!  And speaking of coffee, most of our hours were spent picking (or cutting, as they say “cortar cafe”) coffee since it was ripe and ready.  We strapped on baskets and picked the red berries, going up and down the rows of lush green plants in the misty air with a Brisas buddy.  Luke said this was one of his highlights–truly “walking and working together” as the slogan of our partnership states–picking from the same plants, feeling more alike than different in those moments.

Taking Maia was sure an adventure as we really didn’t know what to expect. She did pretty well, considering 4 plane rides, 2 daily hour-long bumpy car rides, and lots of Honduras (in the village, at restaurants, while nursing, at the hotel, everywhere!) grabbing her legs and cheeks and chunk and squealing “¡Qué linda! ¡Los ojos azules!” and other such excitements and witnessing a little gringa.  She often was completely overstimulated by 3pm and wanted some space.  We couldn’t have done it without my mom and Jeff and Lauryn. too!  Overall we were really happy we brought her to feel even more united with the villagers as family is everything to them!  It showed trust and value in this relationship.

One of my highlights was during home visits on the last day.  One of the women (16 years old and pregnant with her first!) was taking us to her house and those of some neighbors when we stopped in on Mireya who had her first baby only 4 days before!  I had also worked with her husband, Rigoberto, in the coffee finca a few days prior (apparently they don’t do paternity leave).  I entered the small one-room house to find a tiny newborn wrapped up on his mother’s lap with several women surround her trying to show her how to breastfeed.  The little unnamed baby (they usually wait 2 months to name the children) was struggling to latch on. In that moment all evidence of our economic and social barriers disappeared and we were two mothers who had experienced the exact same thing. I was able to encourage her and giver her a few tips, but mainly just relate completely, knowing that the difficulties and eventual success I had 6 months ago had nothing to do with my wealth or privilege.  I felt totally human and united with Mireya.  These are the moments Agros encourages us to look for, where we see that we too have poverty and we are like our poor Honduran brothers and sisters in many ways.

Thanks for listening, supporting, and praying. Check out lots of photos on Shutterfly