Afflicted for three decades by truly deplorable education, Las Lomitas is finally breaking through. For the past 10 years, the community had settled into the debilitating state of mind that their children were receiving the best that they could receive. Arriving to their graduation ceremony in sixth grade, the majority could not perform simple addition or subtraction without the help or tables - without even considering multiplication. A great many of the youth graduated without being able to read. The one teacher trying to cover 50+ children in all six grades was clearly not cutting it.
Following multiple trips to local supervisors, a second, excellent, young teacher was added to the school in Las Lomitas. In short order, the existing teacher was run from town - although not in the most upright fashion. The community is now actively seeking a qualified second teacher to complement their children's education. Many are now discussing how to extend the program into high school.
Right next to the school lies dormant the bumpy, pock-marked face of this rural Honduran town - the soccer field. With a great deal of local effort, collaboration, and financial contribution, Las Lomitas worked with the municipal government and HTH donors to build a large retaining wall and level out the field. What was once certainly the steepest soccer field that anyone had ever played on (15 feet out of level to be precise), is now set to become one of the premier fields in the area.
Correspondingly, pride in our tiny town has risen significantly over the past year as these events have unfolded. Kids now feel like they might be sharp enough to continue studying, or actually enjoy it. Parents now feel like it might be worth the trouble - maybe their child won't just grow up to simply grab a machete or give birth to their first child at 15? The very face of the community has undergone a tremendous makeover, and all of those that love the sport feel more beautiful by association. This is not to be undervalued in a country where a significant proportion of young men are dispatched prematurely from this world due to their involvement in violent crime in their free time. Here, soccer just might save their lives.
Smack in the middle of all of these remarkable changes happening in town, we find one rather extraordinary man - Eduar Funez, our local pastor. Having moved with his family from a larger, more prosperous town at tremendous financial and emotional expense, Eduar has become a catalyst for change in Las Lomitas.
He has cried and begged for action from pulpit that the church awaken and cast off the chains of fear and conformity. He has stood with dignity in community council meetings and implored the community to not stop or slow down until justice has been done. Coaching 11 young men, he has taught them values through sport on the same soccer field that he has fought to see reconstructed.
Perhaps most importantly, he has stood beside other community leaders and encouraged them to keep on. Some of these new leaders certainly would have soon given up, others, old and burnt out would have long since fizzled out. Standing firm in the power and hope of Christ, he has grabbed exhausted arms and hoisted them up - empowering, not overwhelming those who fight for change here in our town. For these reasons, and so many more, we have come to love and respect this remarkable man.
As we rejoice with these overcomers, we are simultaneously burdened by the financial difficulties that Heart to Honduras is currently experiencing. HTH exists to empower and encourage the remarkable people fighting an uphill battle against the status quo here in the Yojoa region of Honduras. As these leaders take important steps - shining light into very dark holes - we hope to continue alongside them.
We very seldom do this - maybe even never here on the blog - but we do want to ask those of you that are passionate about what you read here to consider giving to Heart to Honduras. It is a truly-remarkable organization that has grown exponentially in impact, sustainability, and fiscal stewardship since we joined six years ago. It has become something that we are truly proud to be a part of, and will fight to see continue. Those of you that want to give, you can do so easily online at hth.org/donate-now
Join us on this journey.
