Taking our kids to an Orphanage in Honduras

The orphanage in Honduras Hogar de ninos Tierra Santa in La Paz, Honduras

my husband had been visiting while he was deployed down there let us bring our entire family.  Before we went we did not know if they would let the kids come with us.  Our kids, us, and other volunteers from the base served food, handed out clothes and toys and just hung out with them.  I even got to paint a few little girls nails!

We served the kids chili and sandwiches. 

Like everywhere in the country there were lots of dogs.  Our little boy was smitten with a little puppy they had.
I had brought clothes our kids had out grown, toys, hygiene, and art supplies to pass out to the kids.  I wish I had brought more.  I felt bad that I didn't have bigger clothes for the older kids.
The almost two hours we spent there went by to fast.  It was sad to leave knowing how much more they need.

10 Things I will miss about Honduras

10 Things I will miss about our Honduras family vacation

1. Snorkeling

2. The beach on west bay in Roatan

3. Delicious food

4. Fresh tropical fruit

5. How cheap everything is

6. The friendly people

7. $4 manicures, $12 pedicures and $32 1 hour massages

8. Sunsets on the beach

9. Zip lining in Copan

10. The beauty of the entire country.

10 things I won't miss about Honduras

Highway in Honduras (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

10 Things I will not miss from our Honduras family vacation!

1. Living in a hooch with no bathroom and no running water.

2. Almost dying any time we set foot in any type of moving vehichle.

3. Riding in buses with no AC for hours at a time.  (if only I had come across these travel tips for riding buses in Central American a little sooner!)

4. Throwing up or having upset stomach every other meal.

5. No one speaks English. (I know I should just learn spanish)

6. Wondering what kind meat I'm eating.

7. Going 36 hours with no electricty.

8. Mosquitos

9. Termites

10. The way my hair looks in 100% humidity.

Taulabe caves - Honduras

On our attempts to tour Honduras went to Taulabe Caves. Taulabe Caves was a perfect family day trip this past weekend.  It was about an hour's drive from Comayagua for us to get to, but well worth it.  It was $4 per adult and $0.50 per child, our 4 year old was free.  This price included a private tour guide.  For $4 more you can take the extreme tour and crawl through other areas.





If you look closely at this picture you can see the formation near the back that they call "the fountain".






Here is a youtube video I found that shows you a lot about the area we were in.

Comayagua park near Soto Cano

We found a random park across the street from Soto Cano air base near Comayagua last weekend during our family day trip.  As you can see from the pictures it was a new experience.

There were monkeys, racoons, and foxes in cages you could look at and feed.  Yes, that is my husband feeding the monkey my bottle of tea.  The monkey had already reached out and swiped another gal's bottle of coke and drank it, so we figured it would be okay!



The equipment was unique.  Here my son was flying in a plane merry go round thing. 



Another version of a merry go round.  Not terribly safe!





This was our favorite play thing.  A swing like you would ride at the fair only this one you actually crank yourself. 





Standard swing set.

Hooch living

Here is the hooch we've been living in the last few weeks at Soto Cano air base in Honduras on our "family vacation".   Soto Cano air base is right outside Comayagua.  Atleast it's not a tent!


We have a nice front porch covered in termites!



Our glamorous bedroom.













We walk to these bathrooms. There is hot water and flushing toilets.

Comayagua Cathedral in Central Park - Honduras

Comayagua, Honduras is the home to multiple historic places and full of Spanish architecture.  On our Honduras family adventure the place we are living is just outside of Comayagua.  We went to the pitiful mall and then to this beautiful plaza.

Pictured here is the Comayagua Cathedral, built during the colonial era in Honduras. It was inaugurated on December 8, 1711.







an archway in Central Park.

Restaurante Casa Colonial by Ricardo - Comayagua, Honduras

Restaurante Casa Colonial (Colonial House Restaurant) Also know as Ricardo's is located in the Central Park of Comayagua, Honduras, next to the cathedral.  We got the chance to eat there on our family trip into the town.


According to my husband this is the best restuarant in Comayagua.  I think most people would agree.  It is a great place filled with art and antiques.  This is the front room of the Ricardo's.




We sat in the middle room.  It had a romantic fill to it.  Behind this room is a large outdoor patio and clean restrooms.  There was no AC inside, so next time we will sit outside.



Pictured here are what they called Enchiladas.  We would call them tostados or chalupas.  These enchilades were phenomenal.  Probably they best thing we ordered!



These are the tacos, also very good.



I got the typical plate "Plato tipico".  It came with plantains covered in cream, rice, grilled steak, cheese, beans, and salso.  It was good.



The jalapeno steak with rice, potatoes, and beans.  The grilled potatoes were the second best thing on any of our plates.  I don't know what they season them with, but they were excellent. 

Orphanage in Honduras

Hogar de ninos Tierra Santa in La Paz, Honduras

One of the unique things about being deployed in Central America is the opportunity to help. Paul, my husband gets to visit an orphanage in La Paz, Honduras twice a month.  La Paz is near Comayagua. I asked him to take a lot of pictures so I could share them. He said it was an incredible experience. He has seen at least 40 kids living there.  One Sunday they had a big water fight with them. He and another guy filled up 500 water balloons.

I am in the process of trying to find a good website for this orphanage and an address.  As of now I have not and will update this when I am able. 

If you are interested in sending things to them I can get you my husband's address and he can take it over.  I know that they are in need of personal hygiene products, especially deodorant.