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Show U April 5f 2001 Honduran base helps support two orphanages T- w by Chief Master Sgt. Steven Jones First Sergeant and Command Chief Soto Cano AB, Honduras 7- ww Note: Chief Jones is from Hill AFB and was sent to Soto Cano on a remote and will return this May. When he went to Honduras Jones thought his time there would be spent strictly maintaining military hardware. What he's found is that he now helps maintain the human spirit of some forgotten souls. base supports two orphanages, were started by a Franciscan 25 years ago! His denomination has very little to do with it as it is all about caring for the children. We have troops from all faiths and no faith that come out to help. The Guadeloupe Orphanage takes girls from infant to 12, and also some 1 1 ,9T , . it s mi i teW i 1 Our abandoned or abused mothers and their little ones. The Santa Anna Orphanage takes girls from 13 to 18 and sends their top 5 percent to school paying for everything. All support comes from the U.S. The first time I arrived at the orphanage I was nervous about what I might find. A5 Chief Master Sgt. Steve Jones gets some quality cuddles from some orphans who benefit from his charity endeavors. Since I didn't speak Spanish I was also worried about whether I would be able to communicate with the kids. I found good news and bad news when with dirt floor and one broken single bed and any other belongings that people donate. No electric, no heat, no water, no bathroom, no TV, no radio. I I often worry on chilly, rainy arrived. The kids were very open and happy to see American G.I.s. Our visits have become a way of life for them. They know when we're coming and look forward to the special meals we bring and the time we spendjplaying soccer and volleyball -or just romping around acting siDy together. I quickly discovered there's a universal language of hugs that transcends all boundaries. If I was sitting down, it was not uncom-monitwo or more to jump up on my lap and spend several minutes inspecting the dimple in my chin; it seems dimples are an anomaly in Honduras. These are just plain kids who, like every other kid, crave affection and love from caring adults. They need reassurance and someone to tell them that they matter. or That is what the members of Joint Task Force-Bravtry to provide. We tell o them they are special by being dedicated to visiting with them and providing good meals. As I got to know the girls I learned about their individual stories and how they came to live in the orphanage. When I think of an orphanage I think of children with no parents, but that isn't always the case in Honduras. Some kids are there because they aretoken away from their parents. Some because they have been abused sexually or physically. Some because mom and dad send them out on the' street corners to beg for money or food. Still others - - girls 1 T & by washing and mending cloths and cleaning for other people. Jose is now the man and helps support his family by begging and bringing whatever he can A military volunteer helps spread cheer and ketchup on a home to help feed his family. I child's sandwich at an orphanage in Honduras. have done what I can by pro- are there because the parents just simply viding money for food, feeding them when can't afford to feed them or clothe them or I am in town and sending back to the states for clothing and shoes from my daughter give them a proper education. used to think that parents were cruel and wife. Gabriela now has badly needed for sending these kids to the orphanglasses and I was able to pay the fees for first-hanI d until is that saw how books and so forth to get them back in ages, some of them have to survive. I got to know school. School costs in Honduras are paid Gabriela, Jose, and Mileen who were begby the family, not the government I wouldof streets the the Honduran on n't blame this mom if she put all three of capiging I kids would see these her children in an orphanage, which would tal, Tegucigalpa. airI when went to pick up visitors at the guarantee clothing, a bed, three meals a I would to the a restaurant take kids day and education. port and get them a good meal and I began to Still, life in the orphanage is not easy. learn their story and it really touched my Convicts in prisons in the United States heart Like many families these kids lost have it much better than these kids whose everything during Hurricane Mitch, their only crime is being born into meager cirentire neighborhood and father were washed cumstances. The girls have to work hard to support away as water took their homes right off the side of a cliff. They now live in a Red their orphanages. Elementary age kids Cross village set up as emergency housraise chickens, slaughter them and process with mom. their them for sale, often getting worms. If s not ing Their residence consists of one room uncommon to see 50 vultures lurking out I Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras. The Chief is one of many airmen and soldiers in the .Latin Amer- by Gary Boyle Leadership class helps provide shoes for ; nights which child is lying on the cold damp dirt floor. Mom works out a meager existence scrounging whatever she can Hilltop Times staff Community service is a part of ican country who spend their preAirman Leadership School and cious free time helping orphans every class is allowed to pick how in the poverty ridden country. they want to make the world abetHearing of me need, the Airman ter place. If the class has trou- Leadership class 01D at Hill decided ble coming up withan idea however, nowwas the time to get the orphan they are open to suggestions. ' girls shoes and they were the ones Recently a former first sergeant to do it to the school his former "Itoldthemiftheygot$500worth of a compatriots special need of of shoes the ALS staff would pay Honduran orphans for shoes. for shipping. They ended up with The girls appreciate used shoes, about $700 worthf shoes, four but I thought it would be neat if big boxes worth," said ALS flight just once they could have a new Chief Master Sgt Perry Woods. pair of shoes," wrote Chief Mas- The kids got new dress shoes for ter Sgt Steven Jones, who is First school and an additional pair for Sergeant and command chief at play." . I When see if I could get her to come out of her shell. At first she was like a frightened animal, never allowing me to get to close but finally she would hold my hand. The first time I tried to pick her up she flipped out and that set us back about four weeks. But with patience and determination she slowly came around. With a little love and attention she has bloomed like a little flower. She now runs up to not only me but also all the other G.I.s and is not afraid to leap into any willing arms. She runs and laughs and teases us like most of the other kids. Her and status among the other kids has grown exponentially. I am most proud of her. I thank God that I have been blessed with being a part of her life - even if for one year. Some may think we are saints for dedicating time to these kids but I say they give us so much more than we ever self-estee- m thought possible. They have taught me compassion and to be happy with little. They have loved me and accepted me when I have missed my family so much in this strange and foreign land. They have made the difference in this not just being another year away from my family. Truly, this has been one of the best and most pivotal years of my life. sources., "Most ofthem gave plasma, some even did that two or three times. That way they were helping the local community while raising , first started coming I noticed girl that seemed to be very sort of a loner. Her I is name Marina asked the workers about her and they said they often worried about her and felt she had been abused. She was dropped off several years ago and no one has ever come to visit he r. So I decided to Jones sent the class hand-draw- n outlines of the girls' feet along with photos of the foot wear recipients. Woods told the class of the girls' plight and the students committed to help them during the first week of school and had collected the shoes within two weeks. The students took the photos and began raising money from family and friends and unconventional : V side the slaughterhouse as the children work. The older girls learn to sew and the older boys make furniture. Lice outbreaks are common. Yet these kids don't complain as they have it good compared to many in Honduras. So we come and try to make life better. We tell others back home and raise awareness and compassion. It's common to see military members, soldiers and airmen carrying care packages from their home churches and units out of the post office each day. Together, the base supports six different orphanages. The Family Support Center at Hill has been a godsend to me. They have donated more than 25 boxes of clothing. Believe me, these kids cherish our used clothes like gold. To the folk's back at Hill, you have no idea what a great gift your donations are. Still, the most important thing we provide these children is love and attention. The bottom line is kids need to know that someone thinks they are special and love them. money for these girls in Honduras. They even had a bake sale. I was really proud of this group," Woods said. They were down getting shoes and came up $70 short A gentleman asked why they were buying all these shoes 4 and they told him it was for orphans in Honduras and he gave them the $70. They never even learned his name." The 25 students even donated the money they raised to bring a guest to their own graduation. i ; ? I "Usually students will raise money to buy tickets for themselves and , a guest for graduation. This group donated tite ticket money for their ; guests in order to buy shoes," Woods said. Persons interested in helping the Honduran orphans can contact Jones at DSN 4494105 or e-m- him atonesjtfb-emhl- . army.mil'. ; |