Jose Erminio

Our smiling friend Jose Erminio
Today, I learned the names of the members of the family for whom we are building the house: Juanita, the mother, Santa Ana and Magdali, the daughters, and Jose Erminio, the son. The three females stay hidden in their existing house all day while we are there because they are either shy or afraid. The Friars suspect that there was some pretty horrid abuse and trauma in the home before the father passed away.
The son, Jose Erminio, on the other hand, sits out with us all day and even lends a hand from time to time. Every day we’ve seen him, he has worn the same dirty clothes. I’m not sure if he has any other clothes to wear. Erminio doesn’t say anything, (although we think we got a faint “si” from him today), but his smile is absolutely priceless. Whenever one of us is dead tired (which is often on this job), we just need to look over at him and catch his eye and he will give us a big toothy grin. It is really amazing that he has that joy in his heart and can impart it with his magical smile.

The old house to the left and the new one

Ben

Everyone hard at work

Kim wheel barrowing mud

The local Hondurans working with the team

Sarah taught him a special greeting today (a slap me five, followed by  a fist pump), and every time she passes by and did it with him, he was so very happy. It sure does remind me of what is really important in life—not material things, but relationships and love.

What a blessing it is to see that in action in Honduras!

Matthew