The idea of paying bills over the internet has not caught on yet here. People say it is not safe to give your credit card information to the few companies that do offer that option. So that means like it or not, you have to set aside a day to go to the bank.
For me it is not quite as bad as for Fany. She has to pay the bills for her Aunt and transfer money for different relatives who live outside of the country. She has bank days at least once/week. I only have to pay cable, electricity and rent. Lucky for me I can do them all at the same bank. But they are due at different times that don't usually coincide so I get to visit the bank about twice per month.
The drive thru is supposed to be safest, or so Fany says, so we went to her bank's drive thru. I have never seen a drive thru that had less than 3 cars in each line in Honduras. Many days you'll see six or more cars in line. Today there were 5 lines, three cars deep with three tellers inside working just the drive thru. You put all of your stuff into what looks like a water bottle, screw on the top, stick it in the tube, push send and it gets sucked up through a see through pipe that goes into the bank. It's like something out of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Then a guy talks to you through the speaker and asks what you want to do with all of the stuff you stuck in the water bottle. It's not such a bad process if there weren't always such a long line.
Then we headed to the second bank where Fany had more business and I had to pay my rent. There is no drive thru but I purposely go a little further to this bank because they have chairs to sit in while you wait in line. So worth the extra mile or two. Before you can enter the bank a guard with a big gun wrapped across his shoulder frisks you if you are male. If you are female he just looks in your purse and tells you to turn off your cell phone, which nobody does. Then you go inside and punch your Honduras ID number into the computer. It asks what sort of business you are there for and gives you a number.
Laura has learned to wait patiently. She is counting and singing the alphabet in English, so that is how she entertained herself. My favorite Laura quote of the day was, "Wow. There are so many numbers." She continues to be addicted to Nutter Butters. Fany said she woke up this morning and asked if she could go to my house. When Fany asked why, Laura said she wanted some cookies.
As we left the bank I told Fany that the electric bill will probably come tomorrow and we will have to come back and do this all over again. Guess what was slipped through the front gate when we got home? You guessed it. The electric bill.
We finished working on the garden, trimmed the ivory, cut tree branches, and cleaned out the gutters. They were FULL of dirt. It was hard, sweaty work but the garden is looking great now and my gutters are ready for rainy season.
Ana called. She said she wants to make catrachas, one of my favorite Honduran foods, for me on Saturday. Fany heard me making plans to eat catrachas with Ana and was forced to let it slip that she wanted the throw a celebration on Saturday for me. It's my three year anniversary of serving in Honduras! I figured we would get together with Ana and her family, but Fany had a bunch of my friends in mind to invite. So we are making catrachas on Saturday and having a big party! I believe my fourth will be the most fulfilling and productive year so far.
Ana gave me a phone number to reach Erika, who is the first person I feel called to minister to in my new ministry. I called and got permission from Erika's mother to meet with Erika, but Erika was not home. When I called back later it was incredible to hear the joy in Erika's voice. She said she was truly happy that I called. I could hear in her voice that it was true. I asked if we could meet and talk about how things are going for her. She said she is available whenever I want to meet.
We are getting together for lunch tomorrow. I will assess how she is doing and what she needs. Erika was pregnant at 14 years old. Her daughter is now about one year old. I am guessing that at least she would like someone to talk things over with. Maybe we will do a bible study together. Maybe we will just sit and talk. Maybe we will look for work. Maybe we will get Erika back into school. Hopefully, all of the above as she follows the path God has laid out for her. It will be up to Erika.
My main purpose in meeting tomorrow is to tell Erika I am ready and willing to "do life together". I hope she is willing to commit to the same. I would like to mentor Erika.
It's official! Tomorrow is the first day of my new ministry. I am excited and looking forward to serving in a way I never have before. It will be so cool to see God's plans unfold as I leave my third year behind and move into my fourth year of serving in Honduras.
