Today we served at Clementina’s Kitchen. Clementina is a 94-year-old woman who is a woman still full of life and love for her community. She turns 95 next week! She started a kitchen from scratch to feed her 1st graders, who came to school unenergetic and some even passed out due to a lack of food and nutrition. As a teacher, she had a desire not just to meet their educational needs but also their physical needs.
Clementina is a very small, but super-inspiring woman. Shawn called her “a lot of love in a little package.” We had a chance to hear her story, and she has fought for years to feed kids. At the beginning, she was feeding 90 kids, but due to rising costs, she now feeds 35 kids a day. She does this at the age of 95! She reminded me of the persistent widow in the Scriptures who persistently asked others for help – donation of a bench, a table, food, money to buy food, land to build a kitchen, etc. She even sold food in various places to make money to then buy more food to freely feed the kids. She has done this most of her lifetime!
Lately, she has been using a stove without fully functioning burners. Thanks to the donations that many of you made, Project Honduras (PH) was able to purchase a commercial-grade stove, and we are in the process of installing a flush toilet as well. Currently, there is no bathroom, not even an outhouse. Thank you to those who made a donation to benefit Clementina and the work that she is already doing. A special shout-out to many in Detroit who donated to PH this year. You helped bring these improvements!
When we had to go to the bathroom, a local walked us to her home so we could use her bathroom. I learned a great deal about life in that community during that time. They get water delivered once a month, which is not enough for the month, so they have to buy water from the local river, which is expensive. Her bathroom had a regular-looking toilet, but you had to get water from the cistern to pour down the toilet afterward to flush. You want to use as little water as possible because it is such a precious resource. Three of us went to the bathroom before we got water to flush.
Project Honduras put on a medical brigade at Clementina’s where the families that Clementina serves were able to see a doctor and a dentist. Plus, a local member of the Comayagua church provided haircuts for the children. Every child and parent received a new toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, along with parasite medicine and vitamins for a year. Plus, the kids received a fluoride treatment. Even the members of our military guard received a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.
The men weed-whacked the entire property. The weed whacking is essentially how they mowed the grassy areas of the property. The weed whacker was brought by PH, not something a local would own in this area.
Project Honduras also bought Wendy’s kids’ meals for all the kids, and we sat with them while they ate. This is a luxury these kids do not get to experience – a fast-food kids’ meal. We helped many of the kids build their Happy Meal toy together as well. I really enjoyed building the toys with the kids, especially because I cannot speak Spanish, and this provided a way to do something together and communicate without using words, but looking together at picture directions, pointing, building, and smiling together.
On the way back to our hotel, our bus stopped at an outdoor restaurant area, and we had our choice of food. I enjoyed some amazing papusas and great fellowship with others on our team. I am very grateful to the members of the Comayagua church for coming out to support us and be our translators – thank you!!!!! Thank you to them as well for providing a gift bag to each of us upon arrival of Honduran made snacks. Thank you!!!