Tim's Response

Now that we are home from what I would call a very successful trip to Honduras, I’ve had a bit of time to reflect on my experience. As an outsider, not familiar with the kids, I didn’t have any history on any of the participants so every student stood on their own merit. Let me just say first of all that I was terribly impressed with every one of those kids. When I’ve shared my experience with others, they always ask about the kids and how they did. I honestly tell them that I’ve never been more impressed by a bunch of young people as I was while in Honduras. Parents, friends and sponsors, you should be proud. Every one of the students worked hard. The conditions were not always favorable but they worked and did so happily. Daytime temperatures reached 105 with about 80% humidity. Blocks had to be carried, cement needed to be mixed using shovels, dirt had to be hauled out and walls had to go up. Through it all, the kids stuck with it, put forth their best efforts and in the end we had something that resembled a house. As a teacher, I was especially appreciative of the relationships they forged with the local children. It was fun to see them trying to communicate, learning new words and teaching them to speak English. This is a remarkable group of students that have participated in a remarkable service project that will benefit a family for years to come. I would like to thank the parents, the students and Mr. Clapp for allowing me to tag along. I wish all the students the best of luck and I hope you each will allow your Honduras experience impact your lives forever.

Tim Girdner (aka. Timbo)