By Michael Carson
If anyone would have told me a year ago about any of our BC kids ever doing “virtual school,” I would have explained all the reasons that would be impossible. But here we are in 2020 in this difficult time worldwide, and most of our kids live in 16x16 foot houses/rooms doing bilingual school from a screen, with hardly any help. I can’t tell you what a miracle that is.
There are times I am on the phone, messaging with or calling a parent or child from our program several times a day. It’s a lot of work for all of us, and it’s something we have done, with only summer as a break, since March.
We bought tablets for the kids who needed them at the start of this new virtual school year. We send an internet packet once a week to phones and tablets, whatever each can use. Rafa delivers whatever school supplies and books they need all behind masks and safety protocol.
Our kids struggle with so many different things, and certain ones have struggled even more than others through virtual school. Nonetheless, here we all are plugging along, fighting and helping each other along the way. I am truly in awe of our kids’ resilience through this whole pandemic. They have fought hard to keep up with everything, and their parents and our staff have kept them motivated.
I know this whole process will only leave our kids stronger and more resilient than they already were, and for that I am so proud of them and their parents alike. It’s been hard. I can’t even explain how hard. But they keep going. They keep fighting.
When this all started, we began sending money to each family each week. These parents were without any resources as the entire country was shut down. Their sponsors have taken turns sending extra money so that we can provide each of these families with food and other necessities. Everyone’s generosity moves us in ways we can’t describe, and watching these families try to say thank you will forever be etched into my memory. We as a ministry feel honored to be a part of each one of these children’s fight to continue their education, despite all obstacles. Our parents are survivors, and we are humbled to help them with whatever they need.
We want to say a special thank you to each of you who have donated extra money to feed these kids, these families, these precious souls so they can focus completely on their homework. No one should have to try and learn on an empty stomach. Thank you to each of you who have kept that from happening. If you would like to know how to help with this particular aspect of our ministry right now, you can contact courtney@bchonduras.org.
Please continue to pray for our families as parts of Honduras begin to open, but virtual school continues. Most believe the ongoing effect on the Honduran economy will continue for a very long time. Please pray our kids and families keep their spirits up and keep fighting for their future. We will be alongside them cheering them on, doing the work necessary to get them through.
