A Word from our New Volunteers
by Matt Hofmeister and Mariah Beaman

Kaya, her pet chicken, and neighborhood friends in Mateo, Mariah, and Kaya's house in Cedeño

Mateo and Mariah are Social Workers from Colorado. Mateo has experience in Early Childhood Education, Child Protection, and has worked with at-risk youth. Mariah has experience in Child Protection, and has helped a lot of families find the support they need to live successful lives. Mariah's daughter, Kaya, will be spending part of the year in Cedeño and the other part with her father in Florida. Kaya is 4 years old and will be attending the CEDIF (Center for Child & Family Development).

The two of us, Mateo and Mariah, arrived in Cedeño in October. On our way to Cedeño, we visited several families in the neighboring communities. This was a good introduction to the campo way of life in Honduras: chickens, pigs, hand-made tortillas, children, and the friendly, hospitable Hondurans.

Upon arriving in Cedeño, we were greeted by a local family who made us a delicious fried fish lunch, cooked on an outdoor wood burning clay stove. That night we went out to one of Cedeño's restaurants for Matt's birthday, and enjoyed our first of many stunning sunsets, sitting out over the Golfo de Fonseco with volcanoes, islands, and fishing boats as our backdrop.

We were only in Cedeño for three days the first time before heading off to do six weeks of language school in Guatemala. This is where Kaya had her first experiences in Latin America, trying out her small Spanish vocabulary. The highlight was the day we left Guatemala, when Kaya went in a store by herself (we were waiting outside with our luggage) and ordered chicle. She asked the clerk for three pieces of red gum, and was very excited to tell us about it and give us our gum.

Kaya quickly made friends in Cedeño by recruiting half the neighborhood to help her chase down the baby chickens. She was allowed the chance to care for a baby chicken for a few days, which she kept in a box in our house.

Mateo and Mariah were fortunate to experience a Cedeño Christmas, which is actually celebrated on Christmas Eve. The big event was the 4 and a half hour church service, consisting of teenagers performing dramas, dressing up, and lip-synching to songs. We enjoyed getting involved with the numerous children through the interactive songs, where everybody was pinching, pushing, kicking, hugging, and smiling, depending on the verse.

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