Marlin and I were a team again. Lourdes is not feeling well. We have it down to a science now. Bismar is back from his private school in Olancho. He comes to the church early every day to help Today he and Marlin were mixing the pancakes when I arrived.
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| Marlin and Bismar making panqueques. |
Eunice joked with me that I am becoming a professional dish washer. She asked if I washed dishes often in the US. I told her I had a dish washing machine for the majority of my life. She joked that I am putting in my time now - washing dishes at the Breakfast Program.
I pitch in with the dishes a lot because cooking here is different. I feel more comfortable washing dishes than cooking Honduran style. I help with cooking, but I always need instructions. My friends in the US would tell you I am a good cook. But in Honduras even the basic fundamentals are different. For example, in Honduras scrambled eggs are always literally deep fried in oil, but margarine is used to keep pancakes from sticking to the flat top grill. Salt and sugar are added to almost everything - things you would never imagine. Therefore, it is best if Marlin does things her way. She has the magic touch in the kitchen. Everything she cooks is delicious. I don't mind at all taking instructions from her. The good news is, she is finally comfortable telling me what to do. She used to be uncomfortable giving orders.
Today we fed close to 70 kids. They were all very well behaved and had a great time.
Afterward I played checkers (with a chess set) with Misael and Maylen. Marlin is taking classes on Saturdays so she was busy doing homework for her class. I was happy to keep the kids occupied, although they really do a fine job of entertaining themselves on their own.
I talked with Marlin about going to the used clothing store one day. Because I am a gringa, I am limited as to what I can do. Especially in the neighborhood where the church is. Marlin doesn't quite understand. She invites me to make tamales at her house but when I talk about the logistics with her, she wants me to meet my cab on a corner where a member of the church was recently shot and killed. I know Jairo would never let me meet the taxista on that corner. It's a touchy subject because I don't want her to think that I don't want to visit her, or that I am not comfortable in her neighborhood. The fact is that it is not very safe in daylight hours. After dark I cannot be there.
We tried to figure out a way to do some shopping at the used clothing store. Jairo was in a counseling session, but Don Juan offered to take us under the condition that I wear a baseball cap to cover my hair so I look less gringa. He was serious. In the end we decided I shouldn't go unless we clear it with Jairo first. I don't want Jairo to think that I would go wander around Los Pinos on my own. But I did believe he would allow me to go with Don Juan.
On the way home from the church I asked Jairo if I could go to the used clothing store on another day. He said that as long as I am willing to take Don Juan's hand if something bad happens, then I can go. I told him that is fine with me. He also got a good laugh over Don Juan insisting on the baseball cap. He offered to stop at the used clothing store on the way home, but it was late and I knew everyone wanted to go home, so I said thank you but another day would be better. (I need to get some warmer clothes. It is getting cold down here!)
Today I learned that Don Juan's siblings all work in the US. He said he would like to move to the US and could do so legally. In fact his siblings set up a job for him making good money in the US, but he told them he could not leave the church. The man who works seven days/week, for 12 hours (or more) each day, turned down a job making more money in the US because he can't leave the church. I don't know what we would do without him. Apparently he realizes his value here and that is why he can't leave.
Don Juan is the definition of a "Jack of all trades". He is a guard, plumber, electrician, coffee maker, grocery shopper, errand runner, head of construction, fixer of all things broken, artist, disciplinarian, and caregiver. He is no longer the bather of Lorenzo because Lorenzo now takes showers on his own, with some verbal encouragement. Don Juan knows which kids in the Breakfast Program need new shoes, who has food in their house, whose parents are struggling or absent. He doesn't even live in the neighborhood, but he somehow knows everything about the kids. He knows names of kids who show up randomly and how everyone is related. He is not only Iglesia en Transformación's guard. He is the church's guardian angel. That is not an exaggeration. As they say in Honduras "Thanks God" that Don Juan did not move to the US.
I will be happy to report to Lourdes that we had a fourth day with zero complications despite her absence at the Breakfast Program. She can stay home whenever she needs to and everything runs smoothly. It is not the same, but it is still good.
