Our ministry this week was Los Piños. We were all told about Los Piños because almost all of the boys that live at Zion’s Gate are from there. We weren’t told much just that it was a dangerous and scary place with lots of poverty. That didn’t prepare me well enough.

Tuesday through Thursday my team of six, Cassie who is a 25-year-old full time missionary here at Zion’s gate, one of the boys that lives with us but is from Los Piños, and a few more people all pilled into Tony’s little five seat KIA. (I think the most we got shoved in this week was 12) Los Piños is a little more than thirty-minutes away and it is mostly all down hill but once we get to Los Piños it is straight up hill.  So everyday Cassie would drop us off at the bottom of the colony and we would walk in with one of the boys. We would hike about twenty minutes up the mountain on a dirt road until we got to the section of Los Piños that all of the boys are from that we know at Zion’s Gate. From there we would climb up a big set of stairs and then on out it was just small uneven dirt trails that went up and up and up.  Most of the houses that we visit are just one room with dirt floors. If they have electricity it is rigged and illegal so often times it doesn’t work. A bathroom is a hole in the ground because there is no sewage system and definitely no toilet paper. There is trash everywhere. They collect rainwater to do dishes and wash clothes so when it doesn’t rain for days at a time like this week there are dirty dishes and clothes everywhere. Most people wonder when there next meal will be and how they will get the money to buy it. There are so many underfed cats and dogs and roosters in and out of most people’s houses. Its dusty and dirty and there are bugs everywhere. None of the houses that we visited had fathers or husbands living there. It is hard to explain what it is like to be in such an environment. Words cannot really describe what it feels like and looks like in Los Piños.

Yesterday before our visit to Los Piños we went with Cassie to a government orphanage. We went into the room for special needs children and it was probably the most heartbreaking situation I have ever been in. After being in there for no more than five minutes I had broken down in tears. I couldn’t understand how these children’s parents could just leave them at the doorstep of this government home to be raised by someone else.  It hurt to see these children just laying there not getting any love or attention.  

One little boy was mute. Stefan had his guitar and asked if he was allowed to strum the strings. His care taker said “yeah he can play it but its not like he can hear it.” As soon as she said that I started balling. I started thinking of all the things that I hear and say everyday with absolutely no second thought. I used to complain about being woken up every morning at Zions Gate by huge semi trucks but at least I am able to hear them.  We take for granted so many things.

We take for granted that our moms and dads love us. Its supposed to be normal to have parents that love you but here its quite the opposite. Too not know who your dad is and to not have a relationship with your mom because she beats you is common.

This week has been really hard but I am learning so much and becoming more and more thankful for everything that I have been blessed with my whole life. Even though there are hard times I love life here in Tegucigalpa!! Please pray for the people of Los Piños and for IHNFA, the government orphanage.