Before the beginning this article, we would like to clarify that the intention of this article includes fundraising. If you feel moved to give while reading this piece, please click here to contribute to our GoFundMe.
“Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me… Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Matthew 18:5, 10-14
Mauricio was brought to the Children’s Home (Hogar de Niños) on the closing days of March on a hot Sabbath. He was wearing crocs that had lost their traction and their shine ages before. Since we didn’t know how long his stay would be, he spent long days studying the walls of the Hogar while the other children went down to school.
During these first few weeks, Mauricio adjusted quickly–singing the rhythms of the new hymns he would lipsync to and adding spice with his own personalized lyrics. For unexplainable reasons, Mauricio saw a kindred spirit in this strange, out of place gringa. The only work that could fill his precious time was serving as my assistant in the panadería, the bakery, where we prepared bread, among other creations, for the rest of the children at the hogar. He believed that he was the only person in all of Honduras that could understand my gringo español, always thoughtfully getting me into trouble by translating my phrases to “Honduran.”
In exchange for his fearless creative power in our shared panedería, I compelled him to practice reading and writing for a couple hours every afternoon. Mauricio, like many other impoverished children in Honduras, didn’t know how to write his name. Day after day, we used our rainbow of markers to practice letters and learn their sounds. These were helpful lessons for him and me!
One Sabbath, I stayed at the hogar to supervise the children who decided to rest instead of heading to land on a nearby mountain. When the group returned from the mountain, Mauricio was not among them. He was reported to have taken off down the mountain when no one was paying attention. The hogar’s policy is that if a child decides to leave, they’re on their own. This was a terrible reality for me to process. This precious child had just begun learning his letters and more importantly learning about his Heavenly Father! This little boy was MY Angel sent by God! And now he’s gone! It is not fair! My faith was shaken and I couldn’t bring myself before God in the same way as before.
A short time before Mauricio had arrived, we started teaching Bible classes in the nearby neighborhood. Here, many of these children learned how to write their names, heard the Lord’s Prayer for the first time, and listened to stories like Daniel in the lion's den. This certain afternoon, I taught my group about the story of the one lost sheep that the good shepherd diligently seeks, and, as we know, finds.
The director of the Hogar, Señor Nelson, calls me the night following the lesson as I’m preparing for the next devotional. He invites me to a fortress along the Honduran coast used to fight off real-life pirates. I spend the rest of the night baking and finding substitutes for my work. With indescribable energy, I am leaving with the director and some kids on our way to the fortress three hours away before the sun could think to rise! We arrive, explore, stop at the beach, throw seaweed at each other, and begin our our way back to the hogar. Our stink was so strong of dead fish, I’m half hanging out of the van enjoying the view of San Pedro, the second most populated city in Honduras. There are many more motorcyclists, pedestrians, and papayas than in most cities I have seen in the U.S.
I catch sight of a young child walking alongside his bike, a bag of food hanging off a handlebar. I notice how he’s hobbling, like he’s injured, when I notice he’s barefoot. I study this child as we pass him–he’s the same size and build of Mauricio. As my head follows his movement, my heart freezes. On the busiest highway in Honduras, I’m now screaming, “MAURICIO!! MAURICIO!! ALLÍ ESTÁ MAURICIO!” I tell Señor Nelson to stop. Of course, any woman in a mania is a safety hazard, so we skirt over to the side of the four-lane highway. Immediately my wheels are turning and I am in hot pursuit of Mauricio. Some of the other children want to see what has gotten me so excited, and follow close behind. As we near Mauricio, we begin to call him, “MAURICIOOO!!” He turns and stops for a moment before–WHOOSH! And he’s on top of his bike flying around the corner. We finally catch him as he’s climbing a steep hill entering a neighborhood.
As the other kids near us, we tell him how thrilled we are to see him! He doesn’t meet our eyes and looks very uncomfortable. However, when we ask, “Vamos con nosotros… estamos en camino al hogar” (come with us… we’re on our way to the hogar), he, almost imperceptibly, nods his head.
Like the story of the shepherd, when the shepherd finds the missing sheep, I carry Mauricio back to the van, and he returns to our hogar.
When I was without faith and had given up, God was faithful. I was honored by witnessing this revelation of God’s amazing care and creative power in the rescue of His children. Because God cares so deeply for Mauricio, and wants Mauricio to have the opportunity to know Him, He brought Mauricio back to our hogar. There, he is able to study and learn of God’s character and, inevitably, of His love as well.
Today, I share this story with you because there are other children like Mauricio that are in need of an education, not just on reading and basic arithmetic, but of their Savior. The hogar has an elementary school on their property that shares the SDA faith and teaches basic grades 1-6. Last year, thanks to generous donations of money and prayers, Maria (age 13) and Yeferson (age 9) were able to study in this elementary school. Both learned how to read and write and about the miracles and promises our Heavenly Father liberally bestows upon us.
We are looking to send Maria and Yeferson on to their next grade, along with other children from their neighborhood. Each student requires $1,000 in order to attend this school. This cost includes their registration, uniform, school supplies, and payment for a tutor to help them with their homework as needed.
I pray that the story of Mauricio may show you how God’s power is unlimited when He seeks to save His children. Whether through your funds, prayers, or passing this link on to friends and family, you are giving these children hope. God bless you for your contribution and ongoing support!
This is a link to our GoFundMe where you can contribute to this cause. We appreciate your contributions. https://gofund.me/f33e61ff
Please email me eliannaf@andrews.edu if you would like to keep in contact with some of the children that this fund will support :)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.