by Lisa Steele, FLM Executive Director

En Español

Thirty years ago, LaRue Hilton had the vision to help the vulnerable children of Catacamas, Honduras. She and her husband, Richard, visited Honduras and decided to pursue an adoption. They saw a great need but could not adopt every vulnerable child. Instead, they purchased a house in this small, growing town surrounded by mountains and need and began caring for orphaned, vulnerable, and abandoned children. They soon realized they needed more space, so they found four acres of land on the outskirts of Catacamas and began building residential homes for children. So many (including many of you reading this) answered the call to help build the Por Los Niños village.

Over the years, our village has changed to meet the community's needs. We have fewer children living on our campus. Many have graduated or have been reintegrated into their biological family. We have found that there are fewer "orphans," but the needs of vulnerable children and families are still great. Families need resources and tools to stay together. In the past, parents would leave their children at Por Los Niños because they could not afford to feed them. Or perhaps it was a single-parent household. Or the child was simply abandoned, but few were true orphans.

by Lisa Steele,  FLM Executive Director

En Español

The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn… 

These words are from my favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night”. I especially love the phrase, “the thrill of hope.” 

What would we do without hope?

The word hope is defined as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” In Spanish, hope is “esperanza”, which means “a feeling of expectation, anticipation, of promise.” In both of these definitions we see that hope is much bigger than four letters. It brings an expectation—a desire, of things to come.

We usually talk about hope when we have a need, like better health, a better job, safety for loved ones, faithful children. So where is the “thrill” of hope in all of these things?

The thrill of hope is that feeling—that desire, promise, anticipation—that we will receive what we need. And when we do our burdens are lifted. We feel the thrill. And in this weary world, don’t we all need a thrill of hope?

So many children and families in Honduras are yearning for a new and glorious morn. They may not have their expectations or desires met here on this earth, but we know that we will all receive them when we receive the hope of a life with Jesus forever. Until that time, God calls us to care for one another as we remember that hope.

Eternal hope found only in Jesus Christ is different from the hope we often speak for earthly things. While there is nothing wrong in hoping for a job, a house, or better health, those things often have an element of doubt when spoken. But when we speak of eternal hope we add a deeper layer to the meaning of hope—anticipation and expectation.

by Lisa Steele,  FLM Executive Director

En Español

As we enter this time of Thanksgiving, we are so thankful to have the opportunity to serve the children at our Por Los Niños Christian Bilingual School. At the beginning of November, we ended the first year of our Montessori preschool. We were overwhelmed by the reception of this program! All 15 spaces were filled, and we had a waiting list. It has been exciting to watch the preschool children grow this year. Our outreach to the community is also increasing along with the growth of our school. In addition to the preschool and kindergarten, we added the 7th grade this year. In February, when the new school year begins in Honduras, we will add the 8th grade and continue adding upper grades each year.

We know that education is one of the keys to success and growth. In Honduras, public education is free, but parents must provide school uniforms, books, supplies, and transportation. Education is often impossible to pursue when a family lives off $1.90 a day. Many children drop out of elementary school by third grade so they can work and help their families economically. Already the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with two Category 4 hurricanes (Eta and Iota) in 2020, led to a sharp GDP decline of nine percent in Honduras, according to The World Bank. Income and employment declined, with about 400,000 people losing their jobs. A country already struggling finds itself struggling even more.

by Lisa Steele, FLM Executive Director

En Español

When we build a house for a family in our Family Preservation Program, we give them more than four walls and a roof. We are giving them safety. We are giving them security. We are giving them hope. We are building their dreams.

“I have always wanted my own family and my own house. Now I will have both.” Belkis shared her thoughts with a group in June who came to Catacamas to help build her new home. Belkis and her sister, Enia, lived on our FLM campus for 14 years. Before they came to live with us, they lived in extreme poverty and malnutrition conditions.

Eventually, the sisters were reunited with other members of their biological family. Belkis started a family with Lisandro and they started their life together. They were able to rent a house and bring Enia with them. Belkis and Lisandro worked to save money to purchase land even though they had a long commute to their jobs. The dream of having land and one day building a home for their family kept them going. Until that time, they rented a small house that was expensive and in disrepair. Throughout this time, Family Life Missions supported the Hernández-Flores family with food, clothing, family guidance, medical follow-ups, and spiritual strengthening as they began their new life.