Friday Jairo and I arrived at the breakfast program with the smell of something DELICIOUS in the air. The girls were making pancakes. I think I ate about 8 of them (we had leftovers) with watermelon, which is in season right now. The teenagers have been so helpful with Lourdes gone. She would be proud of all of the kids.
Lourdes went to the doctor in the afternoon on Friday. Saturday when they came to pick me up for the airport, she told she she has fibromyalgia. I knew that was not good, but she just told me she will require a different lifestyle with a lot more rest. She is very relieved to know what is wrong. Now she has a name to put with all of the terrible symptoms she's been having. That part is definitely a relief.
We picked up Kim Fahrenkrog and her daughter Jovi, with their friend Pat, at the airport. Then we went to the church to empty out the 3 of the 4 suitcases they brought, which were full of vitamins and socks, and more socks and more vitamins, as well as lots of other good stuff. We went to a cool restaurant for lunch, sat out on a big balcony and filled up on pupusas, then went back to the church for the girls' youth group. The girls are between 12-14 yrs old and are working hard at memorizing the bible. We also donned party hats, sang and had chocolate birthday cake for their teacher. I let them know that my birthday is in November and I would like the same cake - moist chocolate, with a mousse-like frosting and strawberries on top. Yummy!
Sunday we went to church. It was my favorite service so far. My Spanish has improved enough that I don't have to work as hard to understand, which is nice, and it was about Psalm 139 which is one of my favorites. I could really feel God's presence in church intensely that day. Jairo talked about Josue being so sick, near death, and how his parents must feel. He talked about the healthy boy that was just playing the trumpet for the church band last week and is now unconscious in ICU. But God is clearly healing Josue. Jairo also spoke about taking God's hand and holding on as tightly as we choose. Unlike a mother, when holding her child's hand to cross the road and holds on tight, God holds on only as tightly as we allow. And we can follow in the path he has for us, or wander away.
After church I was invited to attend the equivalent of a small group here. It was great! It was at my friend Evelin Michelle's parent's home. Their home is absolutely incredible. There is really no way to describe it. It is a hodge podge of old architecture which has a ton of character and it's way up in the mountains near the rainforest, so it has incredible gardens. They let me pick my own grapefruit! I was so excited! The food was very traditional and so good - a sort of stew with beef and sausage, platanos, green bananas, and yucca. We also had birthday cake for the 3rd time since I got here. I timed it right to catch a lot of birthday celebrations! The meeting time was beautiful. Even with three gringos present, the members opened up and shared of themselves for the group. Afterward we broke into prayer groups. That was pretty intense, but I liked it. I didn't have to pray out loud, although I would have if asked. Praying aloud in Spanish would have been a new step for me. Evenlin Michelle's family also had a spare tv, which I discovered while watching the sunset from their second story loft. They let me borrow it since I have free cable in my house. On the way home we received a phone call that Josue is no longer in a coma. He is talking and asking to go home, but in reality he is still very sick in ICU.
Last night I watched the news for the first time in almost a month. I was so disappointed to see that, once again, my country has embarrassed itself. I was hopeful that the summit of the Americas could bring about some change in the horrible problems that drug trafficking is causing in Honduras. But instead it seems that everyone was distracted by the 11 secret service men who were sent home and 5 others who were "grounded" (whatever that means) after they allegedly refusing to pay a prostitute and she caused a big fuss.
Today we went to the breakfast program where we served rice, veggies and hot dogs. The kids played board games and colored in coloring books from Pat, Jovi and Kim. They were so happy to have Lourdes back with them again! She taught a lesson, had a time of prayer, and kept things organized. One of the kids' mothers did the cooking today. I spent played with the kids and acted as lunch monitor, making sure dishes got washed and kids were well behaved. Afterward I checked my email and learned that I may not be able to return to Honduras as planned when I go back to get my passport stamped. I am still $600 short of the minimum I need to live here. Unless I am able to raise $600 in monthly donations I will not be able to return. That was a depressing thought which controlled my mind for several hours after reading the email update from my home office in the US.
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| Playing "Don't Drop the Monkeys" |
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| SORRY!! |
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| Blanca Flor and her drawing |
This afternoon we rested at the church, reading and talking, after the kids left. A thunderstorm rolled in. Aaron went to the Dr for a stomach ache. (He will be fine.) Lourdes napped. Then Jairo invited me to his home for a prayer group with the elders of the church for Lourdes. Although I think they wouldn't mind, I don't have permission to share about that. All I will say for now is that it was an honor to have been invited, and it was an incredible experience. God filled every nook and cranny of that home tonight.
Afterward we had Chinese food, which seems to be what everyone eats if they aren't eating Honduran food. I had 2 plates, then rode home with Karla and Jose. They said they will spend time with me this weekend. Karla will finish her "licensia" in psychology - our equivalent of a bachelor's degree - in September. After this semester she only has 2 more classes. Jose is going to school to be a high school teacher! I didn't even know that. He said it is fairly new. I am excited for both of them.
