A hand-up

A while ago, I sent out an email about the conflict among the recyclers at the landfill. Some of the younger people chose to stay away from recycling because of this conflict. One of those young men was Maynor.
We first met Maynor a couple of years ago when the community was constructing the new classroom. He immediately stood out as a hard worker. He volunteered to help dig the footers for the classroom without being asked. After seeing the quality of his work and his selfless attitude, we hired him to work on the classroom. However, the boyfriend of his mother made him quit because he felt we weren’t paying him enough. So Maynor returned to recycling at the landfill—ironically earning less than he had been earning with us. If that makes no sense to you, it made no sense to us either… but that’s how things can be in this community.
Since the time he quit recycling, he has been working with us in the community. He is a very hard worker, always watching what is happening around him and anticipating what needs to be done or who needs help. Whenever we make eye contact with him, his face brightens into a smile. Maynor is 18 years old—and he is deaf.
Last week, José and I visited Maynor’s family in their home. They live in a rented house in the community, one of the poorest homes I have ever been in. The floor is dirt, and rainwater enters the house from runoff coming down the hill as well as through holes in the roof. Maynor’s mother, his three sisters, and his niece share two beds in their two-room shack. His oldest sister is 13 and has a one-year-old child. The other two sisters attend the community school and always greet you with bright smiles when you make eye contact with them. And Maynor’s mother is blind.
Maynor is the sole breadwinner for the family. He recently had to borrow money to pay the $28/month rent and buy food for them. That is quite a load for an 18-year-old to carry, although sadly it is not uncommon in this community. Being deaf and having a mother who is blind only adds to the difficulty—but he carries on.
We were able to connect with the owner of a hardware store here in Danlí, who agreed to take on Maynor—and another young man who also left recycling—for a six-month internship. We will pay their salaries during this period, and in return, the owner will teach them various skills at the store and provide mentorship. This hardware store owner truly seems like a godsend. He has taken it upon himself not only to teach them welding and other practical skills, but also to pour into them as people. We are incredibly grateful for the way he is watching over these young men.
After hearing more of Maynor’s story and seeing the condition of their home, we have decided to build a house for Maynor and his family on our property. We already have one family living there, and we believe it would be helpful to have another family on the property as well—especially given the phenomenon we’ve experienced where items on the property seem to grow legs and walk off. José and I have determined that there must be something in the water causing this. 🙂 We would be grateful to see this young man and his family living in a much better home—one that doesn’t give them a shower in their beds when it rains.
It is an honor to work alongside Jesus as we serve this community together. To all who send encouraging words, funds, and especially prayers—thank you for your part in this work.

Last week, we met two pediatric doctors here in Danlí. They generously offered their services to help in our community. During our conversation, they shared something heartbreaking: many premature babies in Danlí don’t survive simply because there are no incubators available. (And to put that into perspective—Danlí is the 4th largest metropolitan city in Honduras.) If you know anyone who might be able to help us obtain an incubator, please email me. Thank you.