The universal language of connection

For many families, vacation means escape — white-sand beaches and sandcastles, snow-covered mountains and ski runs captured in a camera full of memories. It is a chance to slow down, unplug and leave the everyday world behind.

The Smith family of Arkansas, however, chose a different kind of trip, one that would bring them face-to-face with a world far removed from their own.

The experience proved to be especially eye-opening for siblings Austin and Anna, ages 14 and 11, as they traveled through communities in Honduras alongside their parents. It wasn’t their first trip outside of the country, but this journey was their first up-close look at poverty.

Between exploring rural Honduran communities, meeting local families and trying traditional cuisine, the Smith children experienced a trip unlike anything they’d known.

The spark to sponsor

Austin and Anna’s parents, Steven and Lisa Smith, have been sponsoring through Unbound since 2018, when an Unbound priest visited Saint Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers, Arkansas. Inspired by Unbound’s mission, the Smiths were moved to visit with volunteers immediately after Mass to learn more about sponsorship.

Knowing they could have a meaningful impact on families in another part of the world while giving Austin and Anna an opportunity to learn from families with different backgrounds, the Smiths decided to sponsor children the same age as their own.

“When I started sponsoring, I wrote all the letters, and my kids were pretty young,” Lisa said. “But my intention was always that they would pick this up and it would not be me anymore, and that they could learn something about another person or culture, especially people who are in a different situation than what they're in financially and socioeconomically.”

The family currently sponsors two children in Honduras, Wilson, 13, and Gabriela, 11.

Through letters and photos, Austin and Anna had started to put faces to the names of their faraway pen pals. They had some knowledge of their sponsored friends' lives and the communities they called home.

Steven and Lisa, however, wanted more for their children.

They didn’t want Honduras to remain a distant place on a map, or for Wilson and Gabriela to be names on a page. They wanted their children to build a deeper connection with their sponsored friends and experience firsthand the people and communities they were helping to support.

A deeper journey

In the past, Lisa had participated in mission-driven work in Kenya because of her background as a pharmacist, but her husband and kids had never visited communities affected by poverty. Lisa understood the value of learning from different cultures and believed it would be an important experience for her family.

The Smiths started planning to visit their sponsored friends on an Unbound Awareness Trip in 2021, but awareness trips were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unbound staff-guided trips allow sponsors to meet their sponsored friends, witness the benefits of direct support and explore the beauty of another culture. While work and school made it challenging for the family to find the time to visit Honduras, they hoped that they would someday meet Wilson and Gabriela.

In May 2026, the Smiths finally participated in their first Unbound Awareness Trip.

A fresh perspective

During their visit to Honduras, the Smiths had the opportunity to join their fellow travelers in rural neighborhoods to meet local families, explore the pine forests and mountainous terrain and meet their sponsored friends.

Early in the trip, cultural differences and language barriers led to some initial hesitation in communication. It was a child-like boldness that broke the ice and turned strangers into friends.

“Once my son figured out [how to use] Google Translate on my phone, he was off to the races. I mean, we didn't see him again. He knew everything about everybody in the community,” Lisa said.

Throughout the week, the siblings weren’t focused on the lack of resources around them, but rather the potential for new friendships and connections. As the only children on the awareness trip, they brought an engaging perspective to the towns they visited and people they met.

Children often have a remarkable gift for fostering connection. Austin and Anna’s presence broke down emotional barriers and made children in the community feel comfortable and free to be themselves. As nerves settled, authentic connections soon followed.

“Austin and Wilson started a soccer game and the next thing you know, even some of the adults decided to jump in the soccer game,” Lisa said. “They just left the translators in the dust because as soon as they had a soccer ball, it was like universal.”

While Austin and Wilson played soccer, Anna danced, swam and made bracelets with Gabriela. While the children couldn’t speak each other’s language, they understood being kind, friendly and supportive of each other.

“I think it's one of those things where you know they're decent people,” Lisa said about her children. “But you get to see them just be really, really generous with people, which was awesome.”

Although their sponsored friends’ families face challenges as they work their way out of poverty, the Smith siblings are more likely to discuss the things Wilson and Gabriela enjoy, from their favorite hobbies to everyday moments of happiness.

Anna said one of her favorite memories was a special dinner toward the end of their trip.

“Wilson gave a speech about how grateful he was, and I was in the talent show, too. I did some of my tricks that I can do in dance.”

Austin’s favorite part of the trip was how welcoming the community was.

“Even though they didn't have much to give,” he said, “they would always give as much as they could.”

Through games, laughter and play, Austin and Anna discovered how meaningful friendships can form even without a shared language.

Strengthening community

While the kids easily found common ground, so did their parents.

Lisa spent a lot of quality time with Wilson’s mother, Meisy.

“I think you realize that parenting a 14-year-old boy is just parenting a 14-year-old boy,” Lisa said. “She certainly has other financial concerns, but she's worried about the video games [Wilson] plays. I'm worried about the video games [Austin plays],” she said. “Certainly, we have less concerns about basic needs, but at the heart of it, the worries are the same no matter what.”

Through conversations with mothers in the community, Lisa also learned about mothers groups and Agents of Change projects that support families and help communities plan for the future.

Building sustainability within families makes lasting change possible. Mothers groups that focus on budgeting and saving, along with community-led projects, are crucial to create positive, long-term outcomes.

Recognizing the importance of giving power to a community to address their own needs, the Smiths decided to directly support community initiatives.

“We actually had each of the kids go online and pick out an Agents of Change project in Honduras to fund while we were there,” Lisa said.

Lasting memories

After returning from Honduras, the Smiths reflected on their life-changing experience. Each family member left with a new personal understanding of connection, dignity and kindness.

Steven described the joyous festivities that the Honduran people organized throughout the trip. The family could feel the love in every meal, activity and conversation they shared.

“Everywhere we went, every person we met, they brought out marching bands and fireworks and flags,” Steven said. “And they would dance with us. They played music and wanted to dance. And the amount of food that they were constantly making for us! It was just such a celebration everywhere we went.”

Along with their parents, Austin and Anna returned home with a deepened sense of solidarity with the families they met. The siblings’ youthful perspective brought joy to each community they visited, making it easy to connect with others. They recognized the challenges Unbound families face and chose to focus on showing love and generosity.

The love and care the Smith family experienced throughout their trip left a lasting impression. They hope other families will consider sponsorship and discover meaningful relationships that come from walking alongside others.