| The small, tight-knit community of La Fortunita in southern Honduras now has an expansive new playground, thanks to a project initiated by Sharefish and largely funded through an $8,000 grant from FBC’s Day Missions Fund.
I was one of a seven-member Sharefish team that traveled to Honduras for a week in June to paint and install the playground in a large field across from a K-8 grade school. The other team members were Chuck Nichols, Sharefish’s president; John Baldwin; Bob Kimball; Greg Clary; John Clary; and Charles Gale.
The components of the playground were built on the campus of Sharefish’s Aprende Conmigo preschool/middle school in El Carrizo by a small Honduran crew from Mercy and Grace Ministries that works regularly with Sharefish. The highly skilled crew constructed three monkey bars, each a different height; two large swing sets; two full-size slides; and an ingenious fort that would soon accommodate a small climbing wall, a mini zip line, and a climbing rope.
After we (and several local volunteers) sanded and painted these pieces, they were moved, slowly and carefully given the rutted roads, to the nearby field in La Fortunita via flatbed truck. At this point, community members — adults and children alike — gathered at the site to help dig holes, mix concrete, and pull weeds. Mothers, grandmothers, and small children congregated under the shade of a large tree next to the playground. Students carried over chairs and desks from the school so that everyone would have a seat. It was the perfect example of community.
The next day — our final workday — once the concrete had set and the final touches had been added to the fort, students and teachers came over from the school to experience the playground for the first time. After a short assembly to express their thanks, the students immediately started sliding, swinging, and climbing. What a privilege it was for our team to share in their excitement! The hot, humid conditions (much like Raleigh’s weather that week!) were quickly overshadowed by the laughter and joy surrounding us.
We returned home the following evening with full hearts and the knowledge that the past week had been tiring but so meaningful. The country and people of Honduras are truly beautiful.
Learn more about Sharefish and its educational programs at sharefish.org. Once on the home page, scroll down to see videos from the trip. Please consider traveling to Honduras with Sharefish in 2027! Talk to any of us from June’s group — we will be happy to answer your questions. -Holly Cook |
