Joy. This is the word that comes to mind when I think of Honduras. Pure, contagious joy. This joy is different from the joy we often associate with wealth and material gains in the United States.
One day, we helped with an emotional health day at a rural school. My friend Anna and I led an activity where the kids were instructed to draw a picture of their family. When preparing for this activity, we realized we did not have enough crayons for every child. Our concern quickly vanished as we watched them share their crayons, even with kids across the room. It was a small but beautiful reminder of how I should be as open and willing as they were to share the resources that I have. When the children finished their drawings, they were so proud to show me what they had drawn. They hadn’t drawn the materialistic parts of their life, but rather the joy that they found in family. After we had finished the activities, we brought out piñatas for the children, and they continued to demonstrate the joy they had in sharing with each other. They took turns hitting the piñata, encouraged younger peers to take a whack, and did not compare how much candy they got. They were filled with joy and generosity rather than jealousy and selfishness. This is the joy that I saw.
Later in the trip, we checked in with the pastor of a local church to ask how we could support him and his community. I found it refreshing that the pastor eagerly welcomed us into his home to sit in plastic chairs on the dirt floor of his living room. Unlike the typical rushed and distracted hosting style in the U.S., the pastor took his time fellowshipping with us and joyfully discussing his church.
We felt how he truly valued the time he spent with us. While we were there, his youngest child pulled out a box of worn down toys to share with Kristen and Natán’s son on the dirt floor. Even though these toys were dirty and broken, the pastor’s son joyfully played with them and shared them with his new friend. We gave one of the pastor’s daughters a bottle of bubbles to play with while the adults were talking. A look of amazement was on her face as she learned to carefully blow the bubbles, and that was quickly replaced by a grin as she popped them. She was quick to share these bubbles with her older sister and little brother so that they could feel the joy she was experiencing. And as we drove away, we saw the girls run outside to teach their friends how to blow bubbles as they had just learned. They were more interested in sharing this little piece of joy than saving the small bottle we had given them for themselves. This is the joy that I saw.
The joy these children had is unlike anything that we can create for ourselves. It is the joy that only comes from the Lord. VER International brings this joy to those living in cycles of poverty, and WOW is it contagious. Witnessing the joy of the Lord overcoming seemingly hopeless situations is truly beautiful. Let’s all make it a point to share this kind of joy that I saw in Honduras.
Emma Cate is a graduate student at Belmont University, pursuing a doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy. Her aspiration is to support immigrants in the United States through her work. In July 2024, she volunteered with VER International for the first time and was deeply inspired by their mission.
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