The Young Offer Us Hope

Saturday and Sunday morning I was in Gracias for a workshop for youth on leadership, sponsored by Sister Nancy Meyerhofer with Joan Condon from Capacitar. There were 20 young people there – 8 from Sister Nancy’s youth group in Gracias, Lempira; 4 from other youth groups in the Gracias parish; 4 from the parish of La Entrada, Copán; and 4 from Dulce Nombre parish.

Capacitar works with simple wellness techniques, but Joan Condon added a lot on leadership and conflict resolution. The young people loved it. It was delightful – not only the movement exercises and the small group discussion – but to be in the presence of so many leaders.

None of them is well off; some of them have only had six years of formal education; some in Gracias are studying at the special school for teachers; others are workers – baking bread or making horseshoes; others are working at home.

In the presence of these young Hondurans, I have hope, a hope which needs to be nourished. Part of the work of the church here – and part of the work of international missionaries – is to encourage these young people, help them acquire what they need to be creative and faith-filled citizens of the Church and of their country.

There are so many problems here – poverty, crime, corruption, lack of opportunities in education and work – that it would be easy to become burdened by all the evil. But when you encounter young people like these, experience their energy, and walk with them, you see the possibilities.

As we proceed on the Lenten journey, it is clear that there is violence and war and sin. But there is hope - for death and sin do not have the final world. The crucified Lord is risen.

Joan Condon & Sister Nancy Meyerhofer