The Family

One of the most powerful experiences in Copan for our group was meeting a small family in an obscure community named Llanatios. Ellen introduced us to this family about three weeks into our stay in Copan. The two boys, Isiayis and Alexander, both orphans, worked each day carrying wood for miles to generate income for their family. Isiayis is 16 and Alexander is 12 years old. Maria, who is 18 years old, makes pottery and accepts donations through a small ceramic operation she runs. The pottery operation was funded in part by the World Bank. Mercy, age 9, lives with the family as well and is Maria’s niece. Maria’s mother had been very sick and she acts as the mother/grandmother to Isayis and Alexander who have no family they can turn to. To enter Llanatios we took a Tuk Tuk. Tuk Tuk’s are omnipresent in Guatemala and Honduras. They are taxis and consist of a small cab with three wheels, one in the front and two in the back. We packed three and four people respectively in each Tuk Tuk and made the way up the steep grade to Llanatios. Meeting the family for the first time was amazing. The family was so excited to meet us and we made pottery with Maria and played simple football and jump rope games with the children. They were so happy and Ellen told us that the laughter bursting from the kids that day was the first she had ever heard. We vowed to come back the next week and each group member was taken aback by the kindness and happiness of this family who has next to nothing but is full of joy and songs (Isiayis has a wonderful singing voice). Further, Isiayis has never gone to school and cannot read or write. Yet, his attitude about life and his love for others is unmatched in my eyes. We returned the next weekend and Wes, a friend we met in Copan, presented Isiayis with a guitar he bought in Copan. Isiayis was overjoyed and I have included a picture taken moments after Isiayis received his gift. The entire family took turns playing the guitar and Wes and Ellen played some tunes as well. It was a beautiful day and we all thought it would be the last time we saw this family before we left. For reasons not so fortunate, we were reunited with the family. Isiayis came to our house very early on the morning of his birthday and informed Ellen that their mother/grandmother had passed away at 1:00 AM that same morning. Ellen was obviously very distraught and came to me early in the morning with the news. She indicated to me that Isiayis had requested we come visit them that day. Some of the group decided to brave the steady rain and mud and we went to visit the family again. We pushed the Tuk Tuk up the hill several times and this consisted of slipping in the mud and holding on for dear life as the Tuk Tuk struggled along. But, we made it to the top and to Llanatios. We were greeted by Isiayis, still staying very strong but we could tell he was hurting. Maria saw Ellen and immediately broke down. Alexander had tears in his eyes. Many friends and neighbors were at the home and many of the children were shoeless and coatless in the steady and cold rain. We talked with the family and in opposition to what we had thought we were a comforting influence on the family. We hugged the family and they of course gave us a wonderful portion of rice and chicken and tortillas along with Maria’s fabulous coffee. We could see in the other room that there was a coffin with their mother lying inside. This was the room they all sleep in and there were no cots, blankets, etc. The poverty they live in the midst of every day is staggering. We all left with mixed emotions and all of us shed some tears that day. It was so very hard to leave them. I know I will be back one day to see these people and I told them this. They are strong and beautiful humans and experience so much pain and suffering on a regular basis, but continue to hold steadfastly to their spiritual beliefs and each other. I hope to God they can make it through this and I know Ellen continues to work on their behalf for donations, etc. She will continue to see them on a regular basis I know. It was a gift for me to get to know them and I will think about them a lot in the days to come. To think, they are only one family in the macrocosm of poverty and struggle in Central America and the world at large. God Bless them.