The church service was really nice. Marlin took the time to go to El Centro and found a silver bracelet for Jairo. He seemed to love it and she was thrilled. First Ethel spoke. Then some of the people closest to Jairo got up and spoke. Jairo gave the message. It was about "depositing" into people - investing in them. In the end you are preparing them for success, but it is important to invest. Then he called Ethel, my landlord Carlos, Samuel and Axa, and Walter. He spoke to each of them about their gifts and what they bring to the church. Then he had them kneel and prayed a blessing over them while he anointed them each with oil.
I stood next to Walter's mother. She held on to me with one arm and raised the other to pray over the people in front. It was emotional for her on a whole different level than I can even comprehend.
To me, it was bittersweet. It was beautiful to see Jairo handing everything over to the new leadership. But it is still incomprehensible to me that Jairo won't be here anymore. I know we, the church, are in capable hands and I am excited to see what changes will come. But there is nobody like Jairo. He was my pastor, my counselor, my teacher, my news source, a person who held me accountable, a person whom I could always count on in every situation. It is a little scary - okay, more than a little - it is scary to be without him. But he has been teaching me how to live in Honduras for a year and 1/2. He said I will be safe without him. I know he would never allow me to be here if he weren't sure. I still haven't figured out how to say good bye to him. I gave Lourdes a letter. But Jairo has a harder time reading English.
I didn't get any photos of my own today. Apparently I have become an official photographer, which I love. They gave me the nice camera so I was busy running around getting photos of each special moment. It was a lot to take in. I was kind of happy to be distracted by the camera because it was very intense.
Belinda did take one photo of me with Lorenzo. I love this little boy so much.
We had a special lunch for everyone after the service. The kids were told to line up first. It was so awesome to see them line up from the kitchen past Eunice's office and around the corner by Don Juan's office. At one point I was thinking we adults might never get to eat, but then I realized how awesome it is that we have so many little kids (13 and under) to feed! What a great thing for the church. Lots of young people to invest in!
Ethel stopped me today and told me that she really liked my letter and wants to meet with me this week. I told her that sounds great. I am eager to see what ideas she has for me. I am ready for a change.
After church I went to the mall. I haven't ever just strolled around in the mall before, so I did that for a while. Then I bought some vitamins, a "combinado" (chocolate and vanilla twist) soft ice cream cone, and headed home. The streets were strangely empty. The only sign of the political marches of the morning was a lot of garbage on the side of the road. In Honduras there are a lot of people who clean the streets and sides of the roads. I bet it will be clean by the time I go to church tomorrow.
Tonight Hermida asked if I still wanted to talk. I said yes. I figured that even though I am in a much better place than Friday, there are still a lot of adjustments to come and I could use her advice. She made it very clear that she did not want to speak of any specific people. I told her I was not there to gossip or speak negatively of anyone, I was there for support. We had a good talk and in the end she told me the same thing my mother did. Everyone is going through a lot of changes right now. It will get ironed out with time. In the meantime I need to have patience and tolerance. She said the church really needs me, loves and wants me, so I should not feel unwanted. She also repeated what she has said before, that she wants her house to feel like a home to me in every way. She and her family are a huge blessing in my life.
By the end she invited me to join a bible class she is taking. It sounds really cool. She has been in it for 6 months. The only not so great thing is that it is on Saturday afternoons. I had kind of thought I would help out with the younger girls at the Ester Project. But I think it is more important for me to grow spiritually right now. I will have more to give if I am nourishing myself with the bible. Hermida is convinced language will not be a problem. I wasn't worried about it until she told me that we have to memorize a lot of scripture. I stink at that in English. Spanish will be hard.
As we were talking we got a phone call inviting us to come and cut the cake for Louis. Aparrently everyone left before he got home from the hospital last night. Gustavo is fully recovered and apologetic. Everyone is revealed about that. We went down to cut the cake and had some laughs, but headed home as soon as we finished the cake. I like hanging out with Carlos and Hermida's families. They are all so welcoming and kind to me. Plus they are fun and interesting. And they like good food. They are my kind of people!
Made plans with Guillermo (my landlord's son) and his cousin to go for a hike on Thursday. Saturday I am going to Karla and Jose's house. Wednesday the Breakfast Program will not be open. I will take a car full of people to the airport to say good bye to the Sarmientos. In the meantime I need to finish cleaning the garbage out of the office and try to make it my own. Lots of things to look forward to.
