Tranquilidad Foundation's Mission Team Blog

July 6 (Wednesday) by Roy Bassett

The last day, last blog of a mission trip is always bittersweet. Of course we're happy to be headed home, but we're sad to have such an amazing experience come to an end. We'll miss this place that has come to mean so much to us.

I don't "journal" very often...which is to say, not at all. I didn't even know you could use journal as a verb until very recently. However, my daughters gave me a nice journal for Father's Day, specifically for this trip. So I felt obligated to give it a try. Here's what I wrote my first morning here.

"Who would have thought I'd feel most at peace in a 3rd world country with a somewhat violent reputation? I know there is violence in this land, but it seems so far away as I sit on the porch with a cup of coffee enjoying the cool of the morning.

Hummingbirds flit among the flowers. The birds chitter to each other. Gloria, Sandra, and Leti have a constant dialogue as they make our breakfast. I catch a random word, but have no clue what they're talking about.

I know they're happy. In a hot kitchen, cooking food that will likely be cold before they eat...they're joyful.

It's infectious and a good reminder that joy is where you choose to find it. Even in a 3rd world country."

If you're reading this blog and have been here, you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you haven't been here, I truly can't adequately describe it in words or even pictures. You need to come experience this place and the sense of fulfillment and peace that you get in helping these people. Even more, you should experience the gracious hospitality they extend to all visitors.

If you can't come experience it for yourself, I can think of no better way to spend your money than to support the amazing work being done here. Lives are being changed in tangible ways. The love of Christ is being spread daily. People are being saved physically and spiritually. Be a part of it.

Our last day was spent putting the finishing touches on the playground tower and slide. It had its challenges...mostly the Honduran standards for lumber that meant a 2x4 could be anything from 1.5x4.5 to 2.5x3.5! A straight board and a "square" corner were almost unheard of...at least in the hands of these Norte Americanos!

But, at the end of the day two important things were true...the work was completed and Joel couldn't get enough of it as his smile blotted out the sun! It's likely that's the first playground he's ever experienced. The younger children will be joining him before he knows it.

When not helping with the tower and slide, the girls did an amazing job painting slabs of wood and then painting the letters of the Spanish alphabet on them. As Joel and the other children step from piece to piece, they'll be learning as they play. All in all, it was a job well done and will last for years and years.

Stanley and his crew will quickly complete the covering over the playground. When that's done, there are swings we brought with us that will turn the space into a real playground. They will hang from the rafters of the covering.

While the guys put the last few finishing touches on the playground equipment and cleaned up the tools and scraps, the girls spent the last of the afternoon making one last visit to the roadside feeding program. Many of the children there have already learned names and asked about their favorites. It's a vitally important mission and truly life or death for many of those children.

So, tomorrow morning we'll pack our suitcases and make our way to the airport. It will be good to be home, but we will all see things differently as we go. This place is not easily left behind.