The Treasure of Family

By Maria H., on mission in Honduras

R is a very close neighbor of ours who works selling a typical Honduran food called baleadas on the side of the street. A few days ago, R really portrayed the importance of family when a friend came to our gate to tell us that R’s kids were at her sale stand crying. When we went to see what was wrong, we found R walking back to her sale stand completely out of breath. 

“R, what happened? Where did you go and why are the kids left crying?”

“My other nephew, A, ran away in that green bus…he has no money…he doesn’t know the city…and he’s barefoot…” was the answer that I wasn’t expecting. 

“They brought him here so that I could help him, and I lost him. I am going to close the stand and I’m going to go looking for him.” 

“Well, if you’re going, we are coming with you.” 

After over five hours of searching, however, we had no lead of where he could be. We finally decided to head back to the center bus stop and when we arrived, a man had told us that he received news that A was on the complete other side of town. Although not fully convinced, R had nothing else to lead her, so we took the next bus heading that way! On our way, J, R’s daughter, said with new energy, “It’s now like a treasure hunt and we just got a clue!” R’s response melted my heart, “It was always a treasure hunt, J because we are looking for our family and our family is a treasure.” We made it to the other side of town and just started walking and looking when after about half an hour we received another call from R’s sister. They had found him! After 6 hours of searching, we were finally able to bring him home! 

“You spent the whole day with me, helping me find someone that you don’t even know. Thank you, how can I repay you?” R said to us on our way.

“You are our friends, it’s basically like our family too.”