Surprises (Honduras 2014, Part 3)

Prior to leaving for Honduras, I fervently prayed over any unexpected opportunities that God would provide during the trip.  I've come to learn that He always does more than I expect, so I've started to pray over those things before I even know what they are.  I got one of those surprises a few days before even leaving on the trip, when I received an email from a friend who sponsors a child in the same area as my sponsored girls, but was not coming with us this time.  There had been a mix-up with the child visit list, and her little girl, Dayana, mistakenly thought her sponsor was coming to visit.   Dayana and her whole family were so excited, and would surely be disappointed when they realized it was a mistake.  So, at the last minute, I agreed to add Dayana to one of my visit days with my girls and visit her on behalf of her sponsor.  Of course it wouldn't be the same as having her sponsor there, but I hoped to at least let her know she wasn't forgotten.  As soon as I agreed to include Dayana on my visit and started to pack a few extra gifts for her, it hit me that she was an answer to my prayer.  She was the surprise I wasn't expecting!  

Fast forward to Honduras...

After picking Estefani up at her school, we headed to Dayana's house.  Dayana attends the same school as Estefani, but was at home getting ready for our visit.  We walked a short distance to her home, where she was waiting at the door to greet me with a hug and a joy-filled "Hola!".

We were also greeted by her precious family.

Dayana with her mother

...and baby sister, Marilyn

If I had to describe Dayana in one word, it would be joy.  Yes she is poor by our standards in the US, but she is cherished by her family.  Her home is simple, but it is well kept.  Many children in this community roam around unsupervised day and night, often showing up at the sponsorship center having no idea where their parents are.  Meanwhile, when Dayana attends the sponsorship center, she is escorted by her mother and usually half a dozen other distant family members, while her father is out working hard to provide for them.  Her family attends church together.  Her parents are constantly teaching her.  When you enter their home, there is no doubt about how loved their children are; the walls are covered in pictures of the girls, each one with a carefully homemade frame around it.  When I began taking pictures of the photos on the wall to show to Dayana's sponsor, her mother ran and got her baby book, wanting to show me more. 

  

This one says, "my beautiful girl"



Despite being cared for by her family, Dayana craves every ounce of love she receives from her sponsor.  She is constantly thinking of her.  When we were at the project later in the day and all the other children were scribbling on paper and sticking stickers, Dayana had carefully drawn a boarder around her paper and began to write a neatly-structured letter in perfect cursive to her sponsor. 

The real surprise, though, comes a little later in the when Dayana's mother pointed to me, and then to Dayana's baby sister, Marilyn, and said, "Maybe you can be her sponsor some day."  When I prayed over the unexpected opportunities for this trip?  Unknowingly, I was praying for this...

Marilyn 

And this...

Sweet smiles and crazy dance moves

And this...

Bonding with my borrowed child :)

After a few more home visits with other team members' children, we headed back to the sponsorship center.  The majority of our team had been united with their sponsored children and were off playing with them.  Bella and I sat and did artwork with Estefani and Dayana.  Everything was being set up for our upcoming fun day with our kids.  But where was my Melania?