Recently Ellie Ricci returned from her second mission trip to Roatan, Honduras where she worked with a  family to build them a house. The volunteers paid for their own trip, hotel, food and travel expenses.   As for materials, the volunteers and even church members who didn’t travel helped pitch in for all the materials and tools which they purchased from Dwellings, a local company. 

For Ricci, this mission made an impact. “This trip was totally life changing and really opened my eyes. People that live there literally have nothing and are so happy and content and it made me realize how much I have to be thankful for and how many things I take for granted. Everyone there is just so sweet and kindhearted and even though we don’t speak the same language they make you feel welcome and understood,” Ricci said.

The house was completed in just five days and a family has a place to call home.

This was Ricci’s second mission trip to Honduras and her experience has changed between the two years. “Last year I was more focused on getting the house built, doing tasks and helping the build team out, where this year I was more focused on building relationships with the people there and getting to know and understand them and that was amazing because I made some forever friends and family,” she said.

Ricci built relationships with the teenagers on the island because they were all around the same age, the kids would come and help out on the work site and spend a lot of time with the volunteers. “They asked me questions about America and they told me all about life in Roatan. I still talk to the kids over the internet whenever they can get access. I’m trying to work on my Spanish because I want to be able to communicate better but for now I’ll have to stick with Google Translate.”

The most important part of the trip was gifting the family the house. “For them, a house means the whole world. For us, we have the choice of houses to choose from that we can get at anytime but most of these people are living with no walls, no plumbing, no electrical, no nothing. A house is a fresh start and a firm foundation for them,”  she said.

Counting blessings is the take away. Ricci grew in her appreciation of the willingness of others to see the good in the little things.