“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” 1 Corinthians 1:27 – 31
In His sovereignty, God looked down on Tegucigalpa, Honduras and decided to use the dirtiest, most despised place in the city and turn it into something beautiful. Now everyone who hears the story has no choice but to give him all the credit and all the praise.
On June 20, 2009, the House Home (orphanage) opened its doors to eight children who before that day had no hope and no future. Two more kids have since moved in to become part of the unique family. The House Home took these children off the streets, out of abusive environments, and away from poverty, hunger, loneliness and despair and gave them a place to call home.
And yet just a few months before this transformation occurred, the building that is now a haven to ten children was a place of sin and revilement. The building that now offers hope and a beginning was a place that stripped women of dignity and ended dreams. The building that men intended for evil, God meant for good. The building that was once a brothel became an orphanage.
Before the children moved in, several adults prayed over every window and door to bind Satan and any evil spirits from the location and dedicate it to the work of God. The youth mission team from Bellevue that was onsite to welcome the children to their new home also prayed over every room. From the time the House Home opened its doors until now, God has poured out his blessing on the ministry of the orphanage. He has used the foolishness of this world to bring Himself glory and provide for His children.
Because 70 percent of Honduras lives in poverty, the decision of who should live in the House Home proved to be very difficult. The teachers from all three neighborhoods, Ayestas, Villa Nueva and Feb. 21, chose about 50 kids with special cases that lived in extreme poverty. The staff studied the children and prayerfully chose these 11. Here are their stories:
Erick Eduardo Hernandez (7 months)
Erick’s mother, Doris, lived in San Pedro Sula with her family but moved to Tegucigalpa in high school and began working as a prostitute. Erick was born in January 2010 and his father did not want anything to do with him. The Bellevue youth trip served dinner to a group of prostitutes one night and Doris and Erick came. Through this dinner, the mother was introduced to POI and decided a few weeks later to leave Erick at the orphanage. She wanted to return to San Pedro Sula without the baby because her family did not know about him. Before Doris left the city, she talked with Esteban, heard the gospel and gave her life to Christ. She plans to return to Tegucigalpa after visiting her family and does not want to return to the streets. Erick is being tested right now because his mother has AIDS. Preliminary tests have shown that he is HIV positive, but we are waiting on results from a more accurate test given by an HIV specialist.
Kevin Josue Martinez Martinez (3) Ayestas
Kevin’s mother is mentally challenged and was therefore incapable of raising him. However, his father was 90 when he was born and left Kevin’s mom to go live with a sister-in-law. His mom lives in a room the size of a walk-in closet with only a bed and gas stove. She works for someone who makes tortillas and earns about $2 a day. When Kevin was two, she had a newborn girl so she would leave him outside when he cried so he wouldn’t wake the baby. He was malnourished and neglected. When Kevin moved into the orphanage, his mom said she couldn’t come back and get him because she didn’t have time. She continues to show no interest in him, but Kevin is the most respectful child in the orphanage. He will start kindergarten next year.
Marvin Joel Vallejo Oyuela (8) Feb. 21
Marvin lived with his mother, grandmother, and three brothers and sisters. His mother sells Avon products from door-to-door and cleans a classroom at Feb. 21, but she suffers from mild mental retardation. The family lives on less than $3 a day and lives in extreme poverty. His grandmother took care of him during the day but could not move very well due to diabetes wounds in her legs. Marvin did not receive proper nutrition and would spend the whole day on the street by himself. His family would leave him alone because of his hyperactivity. He had no sense of discipline or family before coming to the orphanage. He continues to have a hard time sitting still and behaving but the house parents say he is improving. It is also difficult for him to remember things so he struggles in school. However, he is slowly making progress in reading and writing and math.
Katy Elizabeth Cornejo Rubio/Karen Patricia Cornejo Rubio (8/9) Villa Nueva
Kathy and Karen, two sisters, lived by themselves in total misery and unsanitary conditions in a place no bigger than a walk-in closet. They had different mothers, both of whom passed away, and their father abandoned them to live with another family in a different city. At one time they lived with an older sister but she got married and also left them. Kathy and Karen then moved in with an aunt’s family on a budget of around $4 dollars a day. They never took showers or received a meal except the ones provided by POI. When they moved in to the orphanage, they had parasites and lice. The house parents say both of the girls are very good students. They visit their grandmother every 15 days but rarely see their father.
Anderson Argenis Garcia Hernandez (9) Feb. 21
Anderson lived in total misery with his mom who had no job and could not earn enough money to send him to school. Anderson was illiterate and spent his days playing in a cemetery near his house. He would perform little errands for his neighbors in order to earn money to buy food for his mom and him. They had no plumbing system, just a hole that was already overflowing. Before coming to the orphanage, he was sexually abused and on his way to being part of a gang like his older brothers. Since coming to the orphanage, Anderson has started school and is doing excellent. In fact, the house parents say he is the best student. Although he sometimes picks fights and needs to improve his focus, he shows love to everyone. He does not visit his mother often because she now works all the time.
Wilmer Samir Soriano Velasquez (9) Ayestas
Wilmer’s mother abandoned him to go to the United States. His father is a convicted felon for murder and has mental problems. Marvin lived with his aunt and cousins once his mother left, but she was not happy that he was living with her. He was one more mouth to feed and she did not want to spend money on him so POI brought him to the orphanage. Wilmer has a speech problem and needed to be checked by a doctor. One of his cousins, Jennifer, now lives in the orphanage with him. The house parents say when he first arrived, he was abrasive but now he is focused, respectful, humble and obedient. He is also doing well in school.
Yennifer Jissell Pavon Mejia (10) – Ayestas
Yennifer’s mother left her twice to go live with another man in another city. She lived with her grandmother, four brothers and sisters, and father in one small, crowded room with very poor and unsanitary conditions. Her father made less than $4 a day as a shoemaker. He also had a physical defect in his hand, which hindered him from working better to earn more money. At night, the children would sleep with her father and because she was the only girl, she was at risk of being abused. Yennifer never sees her family but sometimes visits her grandmother. She becomes angry quickly and is difficult to communicate with at times. The house parents think this problem could be because she is never with her parents.
Anderea Odily Lopez Maldonado (10) Ayestas
Andrea lived with her mother and stepfather, both of whom were addicted to drugs. Her stepfather would abuse her and her mother didn’t care enough to stop him. When her aunt found out, she took Andrea to live with her, but the stepfather would come to the church to call her names. Andrea’s mother gave the maternal rights to her aunt and nothing is known about her birth father. When she came to the orphanage, she had serious speech problems. Unfortunately, these problems have persisted, making it difficult for her to do well in school. She does very well at home, though, as she’s calm and obedient. She visits her aunt occasionally but never her mom or dad.
Heydi Carolina Avila Espinal (10) Villa Nueva
Heydi grew up with her mother and grandmother in a city south of Tegucigalpa. When she was six, they moved to another town with her stepfather. He drank a lot and would beat her mom. He rarely provided food for them and one night when he was drunk, he kicked Heydi and her mom out of the house. They went back to live with the grandmother and then found out the stepfather had an accident and was paralyzed. Heydi’s mother was hospitalized shortly thereafter and died of AIDS. Her grandmother could not care for Heydi anymore because she was very old and could not see well so her aunt brought her to Villa Nueva in Tegucigalpa. Her two cousins work as well as her aunt so Heydi was often left by herself in the house. She supposedly has three brothers and sisters but has never met them. She moved into the orphanage a few months after the rest of the children. She is doing well in school and is a hard worker. Sometimes she struggles with wanting all of the attention but the house parents say she is working on that.
Jenifer Gabriela Vasquez Velasquez (12) Ayestas
Yenifer’s mother died of AIDS and her father left her to live with another family. Yenifer did not get along with her stepmother and her father would not help her or take responsibility for her so she lived with her 70-year-old grandmother. This grandmother took care of four other children on about $2 a day. Yenifer was abused by her father and did not get the proper nutrition before coming to the orphanage. The house parents say although she has a hard time focusing, she is a good girl and is always happy at home. She’s doing fine in school and has a better relationship with her dad since moving to the orphanage. Her cousin, Wilmer, lives in the orphanage with her.
Larissa Maria Flores (12) Feb. 21
Larissa was diagnosed with a skin disease called Dermatomyositis when she was two years old. It is an inflammatory disease associated with muscle injuries in erythematous skin (red), giving her skin a purple red color. The cause of the disease is unknown and while it can be stabilized through treatments, it cannot be cured. Larissa’s father abandoned her when she was seven and she lived with her mother and grandmother. The POI Staff wanted her at the House Home from the beginning but her mother would not allow her to move, though she could not take care of her properly. On June 21, 2010, her mother finally agreed to let her move under the condition that POI help her get a new house. Larissa is very reserved and quiet but is happy at the orphanage. She is terminal but right now is able to walk on her own and play with the other children. She has such a sweet spirit about her and the house parents are thrilled to have her.
House Home parents:
Jhonny Ariel Quito and Miriam Lizeth Giron and their three kids: Liliana Alejandra Quito Giron (2), Skarleth Jissel Quito Giron (7), Jotan Ariel Quito Giron (10)
Nely Janeth Cruz and Llurie Yovany Lopez
Hazael, Nely and Yovany’s nephew, stays at the House Home two weeks out of every month, 6 months a year. He’s two years old and they treat him like a son.
