the face of poverty

The face of poverty. There is a very real and stark face of poverty. It is the face of my students, of the neighbors I walk by every day, of our friends in the community. In the states, we see this face, but often only when we want to. Here in Honduras, there is no choice. It is everywhere you look.

Today my friend Sarah and I visited the home of one of her student’s after school. Juan Carlos was not in school today and she wanted to drop off his homework and check on him. His house is very close to school and we walk by it every day. From the road, it is clear that it is a one room home. What soon becomes clear is that this one room is for Juan Carlos, his two younger sisters, his dad and 6 months pregnant mom. The house has a twin bed and a crib. Where everyone sleeps is unclear.

When Sarah and I arrived we were greeting by the whole family and offered the only two chairs in the house. We all chatted, Juan Carlos did his homework with Sarah and we read a book together that we brought from school (translated into Spanish). Sarah and I were guessing on some of the translations. Luckily we had the bright Juan Carlos to help us! Then we all played a game of duck, duck goose. The 5 of us. But since our circle was so little we ran through the house as part of the circle. We ran around the oven outside, which is made from an old trashcan. We dodged the chickens and roosters that live in the backyard. It was the best duck, duck, goose game ever.

This family certainly places a face on poverty and you are aware of the level of poverty in which they live when you first arrive. Within a few minutes however, it becomes clear that poverty or not, they are a beautiful, loving family that live a happy life. They are a family who is proud of their son, who is a stellar student and a strong individual. They are a family that gives all they have for their children and work hard to provide for them.

Playing duck, duck, goose in the house has certainly taken on a new meaning for me.