Tucker's Response

Jaime and Ale formed perhaps the core of our mission trip. These two boys, perhaps 10 or 11, came by our work site every day. They epitomized what we were truly there for: a cross-cultural experience.

It is true that we were there to work-but more importantly, we were there to make connections, to build bridges. If all we had wanted to do was build a house, we could have just donated the money and allowed Habitat to take care of the rest. But we were there for yet more-and these two, with their insatiable curiosity, provided the opportunity to REALLY delve into another way of life.

Nearly every day the two came by (it is to be admitted that this was, in part, because we always offered them food) to find out what the "gringos" were doing today. It never varied much-we would talk with them, share food, and occasionally take fun pictures-but these experiences provided everyone with a necessary connection into the world of those we were helping. They were curious to no end-they would attempt to converse with any of us who came over get a drink or reapply sunscreen, though our meager Spanish was no match for their native tongues. Over the course of the journey, we came to know and love the two very much. Our crew is even staying in contact with them via mail.

It was particularly touching when they would offer to help (them, help us! and we needed it, too). Jaime especially was occasionally found helping to mortar a block or fetching water for a parched worker.

What struck me most about the two, however, was that curiosity--they kept coming back. We were quite possibly the first "gringos" they had ever seen, and while we were generally a staring point, they made overtures of friendship, exactly what we were there for as well. They wanted to know us as much as we wished to know them, and by the end of the trip we had become fast friends. Perhaps one of our best pictures was taken in parting-we left them a football, which they loved. The sheer joy on their faces more than made the trip, already worthwhile, an extraordinary experience. We built a house, it is true, and that is something we accomplished-but more importantly, we made great friends with two of Honduras' most curious, open, and loving little boys. THAT is what we set out to accomplish, at least in my mind. A job well done, Crew.