by José Chinchilla, FLM National Director

En Español

Thirty years ago, the mission of Family Life Missions was to preserve the families of Catacamas. One of the ideas was to build a Children´s Home to provide a family for many children. For many years, this is what FLM did without moving forward with other initiatives to preserve families. But God is always acting in favor of the most vulnerable. Five years ago, Family Life missions began a program called "Transforming Lives" with the same idea that they had  30 years ago–to preserve the family!

Today, we have three strategies In “Transforming Lives” strategies: Holistic Care, Building Dreams, and Family Entrepreneurship. We firmly believe that these three areas are critical in preserving families. One program, in particular, has blessed many families. Over the past five years, we have helped build three houses and improved the conditions of one home. This summer we will build another house and improve another. These homes have all been done to reintegrate children, under our care, into their biological families. By improving the living conditions of the families, we are preserving the families of Olancho. 

In Honduras, housing conditions for families in extreme poverty are severe. Many do not have a house due to the lack of access to credit, or there is no family income.  We find overcrowded homes, dirt floors, metal sheets or cardboard walls, roofs with severe leaks, unhealthy latrines, no security (balconies or doors), etc. This is detrimental to the health and development of children and families; however, we know this is not the only solution to preserve families. Another determining factor in maintaining families is the spiritual life, another subject we will address on another occasion. But we do know that when we help a family build a safe home, it gives a message that these families are worthy and deserve to live in a decent house just as God created them. Living in poor conditions gives the children a sense of insecurity, no identity, no belonging, and spaces and situations of vulnerability. But God has a very different plan as we read in  Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

Over the past 30 years, we have accepted the call of God to give hope to these families and children: to provide them with a decent home where they can live safely, sleep peacefully, have decent spaces for harmony and recreation, and where they can grow their own food (vegetables, bananas, etc.). In this way, we respond to God's call to be His hands and provide for the neediest and most vulnerable. As we complete our 30 years of service to the Catacamas community, we remain attentive to God's message for these families and continue to respond. 

We thank God for allowing us to be a part of giving dignity and security to a family through a safe house.