We concluded our visits sitting in a circle surrounded by women who are leaders, mothers, teachers, and church elders in their community. Cafecito and pan dulce (coffee and sweet bread) in hand, they shared their gratitude for ASJ and the work our team does. They shared how our partnership has encouraged them to plan their own advocacy initiatives and community events to bring families together. With joyful faces they proudly shared photos of past events they held while also voicing their hope to continue working to prevent violence and improve their neighborhoods. All of these leaders are an active part of the drive for change in Honduras, and their stories are a reminder of what it means to choose hope against all odds every single day.
ASJ-US Team Visits Honduras
August 26, 2026
A Time of Connection, Commitment, and Fun!
Recently, our US-based staff had the privilege of traveling to Honduras for a time of connection, commitment and fun with our Honduras-based staff. We enjoyed connecting with our Honduras-based team, met with many inspiring community partners, and spent time as a staff to recommit to our mission.
Our time in Honduras started with the Monday devotional. Every Monday, ASJ-US and ASJ-Honduras meet first thing in the morning for a time of worship, reflection, and fellowship. Occasionally, we play games and our ASJ-US team joins virtually while our team in Honduras gathers in the main conference room called “Paz y Justicia” (Peace and Justice). This time, however, no Zoom was required. We all gathered in
Paz y Justicia, and sat next to each other. We gathered in small groups and created songs, chants and plays about justice and laughed a lot! And although we extended the devotional time from one hour to two, we still felt that time flew by.
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Later that evening, our day concluded with a spirited fútbol match between our teams. While ASJ-HN ultimately claimed victory with a score of 8–7, (we weren’t salty at all) the game was about much more than the final result. We witnessed so much laughter and enthusiastic cheering that will fuel us for the rest of the year. It is times like these where we can see the reflection of joy that comes from being in community with one another. We are immensely thankful for the deep connection we have in this multicultural, multinational team. It is this strong relationship, that we continually build and celebrate together, that strengthens our ability to walk alongside one another in the arduous work of justice.
During this retreat, ASJ-HN hosted us for community visits in several of the neighborhoods where our
Comunidades Fuertes (Strong Communities) program operates in Tegucigalpa. We had the honor of meeting many inspiring community leaders driving change for these neighborhoods, among them healthcare staff, education staff, volunteers, mothers, and elders. The medical staff from the local health centers showed us their workspaces and shared stories of resilience, sacrifice and love for the communities they serve. The educators, administrative personnel and volunteers from the local schools shared how they partner with our Strong Communities program and provide the children with free services such as computer classes, mental health support groups, and even additional meals for kids to learn better.
After all of our inspiring time of fellowship with ASJ-HN and our incredible community visits, it was time for some one on one time within our ASJ-US staff. A big part of our team goals is to deepen our relationships with each other, and on our last few days in Honduras we did just that. Our team gathered on a dock overlooking the Caribbean sea as we readied ourselves to make commitments to our mission and to one another. Two years ago during our staff retreat, we wrote a team charter, which now guides our daily interactions. This time we practiced gratitude and shared examples of how each of us see the values we wrote in the charter show up in our everyday work. These team moments remind us that transformational work begins with trust. The strength of our team shapes the work that we do and our ability to serve the people of Honduras with integrity, courage and hope. The final full day of our retreat invited us to be vulnerable with each other. Through sharing our “Story of Self” we followed everyone’s journey to ASJ: what led each of us to justice work and the mission of ASJ. We practiced listening with curiosity which allowed us to better understand the unique journeys, motivations, and values that each team member brings to the organization. We will always hold these stories near and dear. They show us that while our paths may be different, we are united by a shared vision.
It was a gift to have the opportunity to gather in person, and we left with our hearts full and a renewed sense of teamwork. As we all departed for home, along with our luggage, we carried with us stronger relationships, deeper trust and a new commitment to our work ahead. We are already looking forward to our next reunion where we will continue deepening these connections.
A Blessing We Didn't Know We Needed
Notes on Belonging from a Honduran “Gringa.”
Joy as a starting point for justice work
Joy and Art Merge in a Solemn Ceremony
Love, Honduras
A Spotlight On Our Dedicated Volunteers
How Hondurans Live Out The Joy of Democratic Participation
A Reflection from ASJ-Canada Board President, Matt Van Geest
Words from the Executive Director
Thirsty For Justice
