Jessica

Some of you might recall one of my first blog entries about a little girl, Jessica, who was way below the average weight for her age. Jessica’s picture was featured last October on the front cover of the Bay Islands monthly magazine, the VOICE. The article addressed malnutrition concerns for families on the Island. Like hundreds of families who live high up in the hills, Jessica’s family does not have access to running water and it can be a challenge to provide food from week to week, not to mention a well-balanced diet. Thankfully, Jessica’s weight has improved over this past year. However, malnutrition continues to be a problem for many children on the Island, especially when families only have enough money to buy the least expensive and more filling foods like beans, rice, and tortillas. Over this past year, I've realized how important it is to educate, educate, and educate; always making sure what we are suggesting is realistic and attainable for each family.

During my year in Roatan, I continued to stay in contact with Jessica’s family. Once in a while, I would see the parents in town and I would also visit from time to time; bringing vitamins, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and sometimes food. One afternoon, I was playing with the children for a couple hours while their mom was off collecting a chicken for supper. She came back with alive chicken and I remember one of the younger girls being super excited to show me their chicken. Being a city girl, I’m not used to seeing my food alive right before I eat it. J Jessica’s family has a one room, dirt floor home that is divided into 3 separate areas with curtains. One room is their kitchen/living area and the other 2 rooms are used for sleeping.

In September, I visited their family for the last time just before living Roatan. I brought toys that my sister, Katie, donated last Christmas from a toy drive at her work. The kids were SO excited. One of the games was the game, Matching; where you place a bunch of cards face down and then you take turns looking for a matching pair. I picked out an American Girl paper doll set especially for one of the older girls. I was a huge paper doll fan as a kid and I was hoping she would like it too, which she did. However, I don’t know if she or I was more excited about playing with them that afternoon. The rambunctious and extremely talkative 4 year old, Ronnie, enjoyed playing the game where you have to place the correct shape into the correct space on a wooden cube. Needless to say, it was fun to see the excitement on the children’s faces that day. Hopefully, these games are keeping the kids busy during the long rainy season going on right now in Roatan. Also, most schools on the Island only have half days, so many children are left to occupy their own time for the majority of the day, while their parents are off working. The eldest child, who sometimes might not even be a teenager yet, is left to look after her brothers and sisters. 

One of the things this family showed me over my time in Roatan is the beauty in living simply. Their life is not easy, but they know how to find joy in the simple things. In a society where we have an over abundance of "stuff" in our homes, it can be easy to overlook the simplest of things like having access to clean running water or toys to play with when we're bored. I continue to pray for them and I ask that you pray for those who are less fortunate than yourself and PLEASE find an organization to support that is helping people who are living in poverty and make a monthly donation. God has blessed each of you, myself included, with more than what we need to survive physically in this life. I realize it can be hard to imagine a life in which you had to worry about providing the basic essentials for your family or what it would feel like knowing that you cannot afford to receive adequate health care. However, this a reality for millions of people all over the world. During World Youth Day in Brazil, Pope Francis shared this message, "No one is disposable! Let us always remember this: Only when we are able to share do we become truly rich; everything that is shared is multiplied! Think of the multiplication of the loaves by Jesus! The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty!" 

"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.” Mother Teresa

Playing inside their home

Playing with Ronnie

American Girl paper doll set