Why El Hogar?

El Hogar was founded in 1979 to provide a loving home and education in a Christian environment for abandoned, orphaned and hopelessly poor boys. Boys cannot be adopted from El Hogar - they are being trained to be leaders in their communities and help establish a much-needed middle class in Honduras.

Many of these boys are literally rescued from the streets of the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa. After receiving their basic education, the young men progress to the Technical Institute in the Amarateca Valley where they learn metalworking, carpentry and electronics; or to The Episcopal Agricultural School where they learn to raise animals and crops.

This past Spring, girls were admitted to El Hogar for the first time.

How does this Parish Fit in?

This Parish began its ministry with El Hogar in 2002, when 15 parishioners assisted with renovations. Many returned in 2003 when the Parish sent two teams of 15 to El Hogar. Their task was to begin conversion of a new property outside of town to replace the overcrowded downtown St. Mary’s Technical Institute.

Since that initial trip in 2002, numerous parishioners and friends have made the trek to El Hogar with one thing in mind – to bring their love and to show the children they are not alone.

During the first week of March in 2008 we will work on projects that our Projects Coordinator defines with the El Hogar administrators either on the El Hogar grounds or at the Technical Institute. We sleep in quarters on the El Hogar grounds and eat exactly what the children eat. In the evenings we spend quality time with the children getting to know them and pouring out all the love on them we can.

The following is an excerpt from the ministry plan that Vestry approved:

The El Hogar Mission Team seeks to fulfill the vision of Saint David’s by living its tenets to the fullest. We are a covenant community and we aim to extend that covenant to the boys and girls of El Hogar. We want to make sure they know that they do not stand alone in the midst of their suff ering. We need to learn how to love these children even as we question why they must live in such conditions and in so doing, we are drawn closer together in love as Saint David’s parishioners and in our love of the Lord. We must be willing to fulfill this mission anytime and any place…for us, it is El Hogar.

Why should you come?

Simply put, it will change your life. You’ll work hard. You’ll find energy you never knew you had. You’ll find new friends among the boys and form lasting bonds with your parish teammates. Regardless of your skill level, there will be work for you to do. You will make a difference.

The next parish mission to El Hogar is scheduled for March 1-8, 2008. Contact Larry Hinkin via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or leave a message at the church office at 703-729-0570.