Situated on top of a small mountain in south central Honduras, Montana de Luz is a home for children with HIV/AIDS. When we stopped there, 34 children were making their home at Montana de Luz. It is a beautiful, peaceful place where the children are treated as family. The workers are called "tias", which in Spanish is Aunt. Daily they are told they are children of God and each evening they have a routine of saying that for which they are grateful. We were mildly shocked to find that this place of hope is run by a beautiful 20-something young woman. Elen Costigan (pictured) was born in the US, raised in Brazil, and educated at Ohio University. She majored in micro-economics and got a job in her field in Tegucigulpa, Honduras. She heard about this place 1.5 hours out of the capital city and began to come to volunteer on weekends. When a position for accountant opened up at M.D.L., Elen took it. About ten days before our arrival, Elen was named Executive Director. She has the passion and the energy to deal with this lively group of children. Montana de Luz strives to be self-sufficient. On our tour, we saw that they raised pigs, chickens, and even had a talapia pond. They also have clean water which is rare; I forgot to ask how they managed that. In our group was a physical therapist from the North Hills who had visited Montana de Luz last year. She had worked with one of the little girls who not only had AIDS but also cerebral palsy. She asked to see her again, and Dr. Cindy was able to access the progress this child had made in a year. Dr. Cindy had suggested last year that they make a tiny wheelchair for her, and they had done that. This year, Elen was considering surgery to cut tendons in the child's ankles, suggested by a doctor in Honduras. After Cindy examined her, she told Elen that surgery would not be the best route. Cindy recommended braces for her feet and said she would email Elen the type she would need. The most I could contribute was hugging and kissing these smiling children. Health, hope, dignity and love is what I wish for them.
1 comment:
What an awesome call/testimony. I still struggle with how I feel about kids who have HIV/Aids. It's one of those situations where I question if there is justice in the world. The disease which ravages through villages and holds entire counntries at bay--it sickens me. Then there are people like the girl in your story who are destined to work in an AIDS village. I can't think of a higher calling or place to be.
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