HONDURAS - Easter parades, beautiful artwork, breathtaking waterfalls, and Spanish masses. These were just a few of the sights and sounds during holy week in Honduras. But these familiar sounds were nothing in comparison to what Loras students would experience in ten days.

“I was expecting kind of a break, and a spiritual kind of renewal, and I definitely got that from this trip,” said Loras senior Alan Dietzenbach.

But it was not all relaxation. 

“It has been a really great feeling,” commented Loras senior Joanna Brady.

Students spent plenty of time working.

“To know that what we do is serve, it is not for ourselves,” adds Joanna.

And this week is all about serving the kids.

“As soon as you see them, and there are ten of them jumping into your arms it just completely changes your day,”

said Loras junior Amanda Stecker.

Loras students spent afternoons reading books, playing soccer, and even swimming.  But behind all this fun is a harsh reality for the kids.

“The kids outside of the mother’s project had to leave their families to get an education,” said trip coordinator and Loras student David Summers.

Children are being forced to leave their homes in order to better their lives. While this separation, though tough to understand is making a difference.

House director, Jerome Cabeen sees beyond the situation.

“The greatest heroes in my life are those little girls between the ages of 5 and 14 years old up at Guadalupe. They have kept me here, and they will keep me here, because they have brought so much joy to my life.”

A Joy that radiates from everything in this country, and even if Loras students can’t change Honduras in ten days what matters the most are the lives they have touched.

Erin Horst can be reached at Erin.Horst@loras.edu