A Parent's Perspective by Kelly Schoeppner

We share with you a reflection by Kelly Schoeppner, current missioner Emily Schoeppner’s mother, that she wrote after her visit to the Finca in the Fall of 2026!

As Steve [my husband] and I prepared for our trip to visit Emmy at the Finca in Honduras, we bought all the things: new backpacks, dry fit clothes, fans, hand sanitizer wipes, small travel shampoos, and gifts and treats for the kids and missionaries. We researched our route, studied Spanish, received vaccines, and brushed up on names of the children that Emmy spoke about on our weekly calls. What we didn’t prepare for was the amazingness of the Finca.

From the moment that we arrived, we were met with hugs and pure warmth from the missionaries. They treated us like we had already known them, like we were family that they hadn’t seen in a while, and they were excited that we were there. They carried off our bags and delivered them to our clean and set up guest house. This warm reception was unexpected but so appreciated, and it really set the tone for the entire week.

After meeting all the missionaries, Emmy was anxious to give us a tour of the Finca. We had seen a pixelated version of the tour on a video call, but nothing compared to how beautiful or how big the Finca was in person. It was stunning with the bay and the beach 50 feet from the guest house. The clear blue water and the amazing open sky lays a beautiful backdrop for the Honduran buildings of the Finca. Palm trees, bamboo, hibiscus flowering bushes, colorful landscape foliage lined the path throughout the grounds. We saw the children’s homes, the convent, the school buildings, the bodega, the chapel, and the clinic all nestled in the gated community with the jungle-lined mountains surrounding it. I was surprised how big the campus was and how beautiful it was, but also just how safe and secure it felt. It was great to see where everything was located and where Emmy had spent nearly a year already.

With every passing day there, we continued to learn just how wonderful this community was. We met teachers, maintenance staff, security guards, social workers, religious sisters and tias. All working alongside each other for the betterment of the kids. Everyone was so friendly and open to us being there, excited to share in their community, even though we only understood a small portion of what they were saying, and it was such an inviting atmosphere.

Then we met the kids. Oh my goodness, they were so sweet. As soon as they saw Emmy walking towards them, they ran up to her, showing her their projects or toys, or telling her things that were going on. She was often greeted with jump hugs and the younger ones wanting to sit on her lap or be held. She would then turn to us and introduce us to them. They would giggle at us trying to speak Spanish, and it was fun to watch them look at me and then look at Emmy, saying how much we looked alike. Throughout the week, the kids would often see Steve and I and give us hugs too or ask us to play with them, which we would, only stopping because we were worn out from the heat (not because we are old)! I even earned a nickname from one of the girls that I was playing with. “Mama Gringa, Let’s go!”, She would say repeatedly, as I pushed her on the tire swing. Those cute, adorable faces, sweet eyes and smiles just melted my heart. They were all just so precious.

Each morning, we all started with a spiritual event (morning prayer or a Communion service) in the chapel at 6 am. You wake before the sun and walk the 2 minutes across the campus to the chapel, gathering children from the homes to take with you. It is a beautiful way to start each day, seeing everyone participate and pray while the sun is coming up, shining through the chapel windows.

I think my favorite time of the day was family dinner at the missionary house. I was impressed with the cooking skills of these young adults in a basic kitchen with limited food resources. I also really enjoyed watching everyone come together at the end of the day, sit down for a meal, recap about their day, often talking about great things that took place with the kids. I loved that! They would tell stories about the kids they interacted with that day. You definitely could feel the love - they all spoke so highly and positively about the kids, and it was so heartwarming! These kids have been through so much, and having them be so loved and so cared for is so amazing! All the missionaries have big, kind hearts and it showed -the kids adored them!

I wasn’t prepared to observe Emmy teaching, I thought I was, but there is something so incredible watching your child do their job. I have seen Emmy with children, of course, but there is something special seeing her teach where you know she is meant to be. She had all the makings of a disastrous morning stacked against her…it is the last few months of school, 2 big holidays the following week, her classroom is outside, open to all the elements, including marching band practice, recess, thunder and then having us in the classroom as well. She did a wonderful job engaging her students with her animated song of her class rules and getting them started with an art project. Profa Emily was fun and firm, and I am grateful that I was there to witness my girl doing what she loves.

I was also surprised by the sense of community outside the Finca gates. The neighboring town is home to many of the workers, teachers and kids of the Finca. It is a very small town literally outside of the gates of the Finca and barely even on google maps. Emmy gave us a walking tour of the town one evening, since we were there for Mass. As we were walking the dirt roads, families were coming out of their homes dressed up, in excitement and anticipation of Mass. Everyone talking and walking together to the church, felt like a scene from a movie. A priest travels to the town to say Mass, once per month on a Thursday evening. The tiny pink church situated in a field in the middle of town, nearly bursting at the seams with everyone attending, lining the entire church, choir loft, vestibule and sidewalk out front, even a dog wandered in. It was incredible.

I also wasn’t prepared for all the new things that I tried or did while visiting Emmy at the Finca. Not only did I travel internationally in an ancient plane across the ocean, spent 5 hours in a taxi on very rough roads (without any kind of rules) through rural Honduras and getting stopped by police for passport check, I saw toucans in the wild, ate hicaco straight from the tree, washed my laundry in a pila, swam in a poza, saw jellyfish in the bay, chopped down sugar cane with a machete, tried fresh sugar cane, held a squirrel, ate baleadas, got pinched by a crab, saw iguanas and macaws in the wild, drank fresh coconuts on the beach, swam in bioluminescent water under the stars of the milky way and spent priceless time with my daughter in a place that she loves!

Most of all I wasn’t prepared for the effect the Finca would have on me, I thought I would meet people, tour the Finca, spend time with Emmy. I thought most of our time there would be spent with her, talking, swimming and playing with the kids. However, the missionaries included us in their everyday lives at the Finca. We got an up-close and personal view of what goes on there, how they carry out their mission, how they care and love those kids and how they have built relationships with all who work at the Finca, as well as the neighboring towns. They are constantly working out ways to better the kids’ lives through love, support, education and relationships. It was an incredible week, one I will cherish always! So glad I didn’t let fear of the unknown deter me from this amazing experience. I know I will keep all that I met at the Finca in my thoughts and prayers. I am also so thankful l for people who are willing to sacrifice daily for the good of others and who said Yes and followed Gods will for them and serve this mission! The Finca kids and everyone serving at the Finca will hold a special place in my heart. I will forever think of them fondly as I reminisce about our time in Honduras and at the Finca.

Mama Gringa