If you are a regular reader of this blog you already know things in Honduras often don't go as planned. One becomes accustomed to living in this manner - never knowing what to expect and going with the flow. We missionaries call it "being flexible". We take great pride in (add sarcastic voice here) ridding ourselves of the rigid North American culture, tossing out the wrist watch, letting go of expectations, and taking each moment as it comes. By the end of year two as a missionary, we think we have the Art of Flexibility mastered. In reality, I think it can be a daily struggle for most of us, whether we admit it or not.
This morning I woke up at 5:30 a.m. I was excited to join a bible study in English at 8:15 with North American friends. I was liking my odds of being on time although it takes extra long to shower and dress with the cast. At 7 a.m. I finished checking messages and was ready to shower when I received a new message. It was from the missionary I admire most in the world. In fact, everyone I know admires this woman immensely. Men and women, young and old, everyone thinks Gracie is awesome and inspiring. You can ask around.
A while ago she had written something on Facebook about licensing foster homes in Tegucigalpa. She doesn't live in the city, so I messaged her to say if she ever needed help I was experienced in licensing and monitoring foster homes. In June I met with her about something else. She said she was really busy. (She is always insanely busy doing awesome things.) She said we would talk after the second week in August about how I could help.
Today she called. She asked if I know a family that lives up in the mountains where I used to live. In fact I do. She has a child who needs to be placed in their home as soon as possible. She would like me to help the family finish the licensing process. I told her that would be fine. She explained what was lacking and asked me to get it done. Then she said she'd be busy for the rest of the day and wished me luck. I was on my own.
I immediately sent the family a message and got a response right back. By 7:30 things were rolling. We had a plan. By 8:30 I was 15 minutes late for the bible study, but we had already found another baby who needed a foster home. By noon I had random people sending me messages on Facebook about how to be licensed as a foster parent.
I spent this afternoon and evening at a friends house in the mountains. We planned this day for 3 weeks and already postponed once. I couldn't cancel our plans at the last minute again. So I set the phone down at about 2 p.m. When I checked my phone after dinner I had a world's record 22 messages.
It's official. It's not the same position I was looking at last week, but as of today I am serving in a new way. Nothing like jumping in with both feet!
The history of the Honduran "Department of Child and Family Services" is interesting. It was inefficient and corrupt for a while. About a year ago, they closed. They re-opened under another name with fewer employees. They didn't know how many kids they had in placements, or where the placements were.
An NGO formed in order to help. Their help was eagerly received by the Honduran government. Now the NGO does the hands-on stuff and reports back to the government, which oversees everything. I am a volunteer for the NGO who monitors the placements and kids. In this new design there are less people working for the government, therefore less money goes to paychecks and more money actually helps the children in foster care.
It will take a little while to learn the system here. This morning I thought I would have a nice, gentle initiation to navigating the Honduran foster care system. At 7 a.m. only one family wanted to be licensed. However, I am happy and nervous to report that when that one soon-to-be foster parent posted on Facebook that she is excited to become licensed, it sparked the interest of numerous others. I may not have the relaxed pace I was counting on at 7 a.m. But the more work I have, the faster I'll learn. And the more foster homes we license, the more kids we can take out of bad situations. So, I'll work fast. Happily.
The other opportunity to do social work which I trained for last week is still on the table. The lady in charge gets back Friday, so I hope to move forward on that next week. In that organization I can serve as much or as little as I choose. In my mind I imagine I would like to spend a lot of time working with them.
I will leave my schedule in God's hands. I am praying for discernment. I want to challenge myself completely without getting in over my head.
A long time ago when this transition began, God told me that I would fall into bed exhausted each night. If things keep up at this pace, God's promise will come to fruition soon.
As I was getting ready for bed a friend knocked on the door. She asked if I could help her study for an oral English exam. We worked until well after midnight. In the end she recorded me saying all of the words she needs to learn in English. I've shown her the technique (where her tongue goes for "th" and how to shape her lips for "m"). She will continue studying with the voice recording on her phone.
It's 2:45 a.m. and I am going to bed tired. I believe this is the start of my next "season" in Honduras. My heart tells me the best is yet to come and I say I am ready, eager and willing. I am not sure what is in store for me, but I am used to that now. I am flexible. I say Bring it on, Honduras!
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
