God is my River Boat Guide (Part II)

As I was planning to come back to the US, my friend Jody kept telling me she had a present she was really excited to give me.  I am a weirdo.  I don't really like to receive presents.  It actually makes me really uncomfortable.  So I kept thinking to myself, 'Oh no.  Jody is really excited about this gift.  What could it possibly be?  There's nothing I really want or need very much.  I hope that I can act as excited as she is when she gives me this thing.'  I was kind of dreading it.

When I got to Salt Lake we picked up my friend's Jeep, which he kindly allowed me to drive for the week.  Then we headed to Jody's.  One of the first things she said when we got there was that she wanted to give me the gift.  I braced myself.  Her husband was busy with something and said, "Wait!  I want to dry off my hands and be ready to see her expression!"  Nothing like pressure!

Jody had me close my eyes.  Then she put something into my hands.  I was afraid to open my eyes.  I felt the thing, but I had no idea what it was.  So I opened my eyes and looked:

It didn't register immediately and I felt a little panicked.  But they say it was literally only seconds. Finally it came to me - the image was me!  Jody had created and framed the image of God As My River Boat Guide, which I wrote about in my blog:

"Today God gave me the best gift of all.

I was in a quiet time of prayer.  I could feel that God was trying to speak to me, so I quieted my minds and asked what He would like to share.

The first thing that came was a word - GUIDE.  So I prayed to God, asking Him what this word meant.  At first I saw only the word, over and over.  That is how God communicates with me often, so I knew to wait.

Finally I saw an image of God on a wooden raft.  He stood on the raft with a long pole to steer or push like a river rafting guide.  I was sitting on the raft.  He was guiding us down the river.  There were rapids, and He guided us through the rough waters.  It was such a peaceful image.  I only had to sit on the raft.  He showed me that He alone is in charge of exactly where we were going.  No human or organization can control our direction.  He will keep me safe in dangerous times where the waters get rough.  He is my guide and the One who chooses my path, watching over me through it all.

I wish I were an artist.  I would love to paint the image of God as my river guide.  As crazy as it sounds, it is something I need to remember every day." - May 18, 2015

Jody gave those words to an artist and this is what he came up with.  The coolest part to me, was that he got it exactly right.  The first thing out of my mouth was "Colorado!"  I don't know why, of all things, I said that.

Jody said, "It was supposed to be Honduras.  But this is what he drew.  I was going to ask him to change it to trees and water that are typical of Honduras.  But I decided not to."

"No!" I told her.  "This is exactly where it is supposed to be.  The image God gave me was a specific place in Colorado."  But I had never written that in my blog.

The only difference between the image in the frame and the image in my mind was minuscule.  In my mind God was standing a foot more to his right.

I loved my gift!  It is one of the most thoughtful gifts anyone has ever given me.  I will cherish it. It's bubbled wrapped, packed and ready to hang on my wall in Honduras.

God is my guide.

Quality Time

Last night, after barely making it into Denver, I spent the evening eating and talking with a friend from Salt Lake, who happened to be in Denver.  Since he was in Denver when I was in SLC, he agreed to stay some extra time and pick me up from the airport.  The evening slipped by quickly.  It was dark (9 p.m. in the US!) before I knew it.  We had a nice dinner and great conversation. I had a wonderful time getting to know someone who has been in my life for years, but whom I haven't had the chance to spend quality time with until last night.

(I barely made it to Denver because mine was one of very few planes that landed in Denver yesterday. There was a nasty thunderstorm.)

Today was spent reading and relaxing with my Mom.  She volunteered at the library while I read and caught up on sleep in the morning.  This afternoon we went to Walmart to stock up on vitamins and ibuprofen.  I can get ibuprofen in Honduras, but only in large doses.  I prefer the smaller pills.  Mom got some weights.  I am teaching her some exercises to do with the weights.

Tonight I took these photos from her balcony.

First the view to the right...

Then to the left

I've been missing my friend Jody, who was my hostess for the past week.  After staying with her, I have grown accustomed to talking with her several times throughout the day.  She had a long day today and we didn't get to communicate at all.  I've had to go cold turkey.

I've also missed Erika a lot today.  Can't wait to see her again!  I am getting homesick for Honduras. I'm trying to remind myself that it is healthy to have time apart and she is fine without me.  But I still miss her.  And Fany too.

Tomorrow morning I am serving at the food pantry with my Mom.  Then I have a piano lesson at 2 p.m. and dinner plans with a very special friend who helped open the restaurant in Denver in 1999.  It will be great to see him again.  We have had a special connection that just naturally happened since the first minute we met.  I remember when he walked into our hiring office.  I knew we had to hire him.  He is a now a sommelier, among other things. I haven't seen him since 2006. Yet I know it will be just like old times.  Can't wait to see him!

Phases of friendship

My lesson for today was of friends.

My first appointment was with a woman whom I don't know well, but who has always been kind and supportive.  She and I have never really sat and talked, so it was interesting to do so for the first time.  I felt good as I left, and look forward to building that friendship as God allows in the future.

My next meeting was with a couple who may not seem like people I would naturally tend to hang out with.  However, over the years, they have proved to be the most dependable, caring friends I could ever ask for.  When nobody else was there for me, they were.  Consistently.

We had a really nice talk, sometimes chatting about light, easy things.  At the same time, we were able to get down to some nitty gritty topics and dig deep.

I appreciate people like this in my life. They are people who care enough about me to bother to ask tough questions.  They have years of wisdom and experience to share.  I am grateful they are willing to take the time to offer their advice.  I basked in their knowledge.  I left feeling well cared for and blessed. They gave me creative new ideas and sturdy, sound suggestions to carry forward.

In the evening I was able to meet with someone I haven't seen in over 3 years, although it feels like much less.  We used to be co-workers when I lived in Salt Lake.  Our backgrounds are different, but we are kindred spirits.

She invited me for Ethiopian food at a restaurant her friends own, which was awesome because Ethiopian is my favorite food.  It is something I long for when I am in Honduras.

I appreciated the fact that, although we used to work together, we barely talked about that place.  We didn't need to lean on that mutual experience to bridge us back together.  We have both moved on to bigger and better things.  She is a woman who has not had an easy life but finally things seem to be falling into place.  She looked super, is overcoming physical problems that have been ruling her life for many years, and is turning to God about emotional stressors.  It was great to see her doing so well!

We shared some laughs and talked about our dreams for the future.  We are both in such great places now that our dreams seem much more within grasp and reasonable than they did when we last spent time together three years ago.  It was an exciting and uplifting reunion.

Today I give thanks for true, good friends.

Heading into Day 2 in SLC

Got to Salt Lake on Monday.  Monday night my friend Jody gave me one of the best gifts I have ever received in my life.  I will post a photo here, but I don't have a camera on this trip.  (I also lost my Kindle "en camino" on the way.)  In any case, it's a cool gift and you will appreciate it too because I have shared about it on my blog.

It was over 100 degrees for the past few weeks in SLC, but this week is supposed to be perfect weather.  I'm grateful because I have been a little surprised at the clothing styles I am seeing here in the US.  The fad seems to be short shorts and tiny dresses on women of all ages.  Guess I am turning into a prude.

A friend lent me his Jeep.  He kept describing it as old.  I love it!  I told him it would be perfect for Honduras.  Hahaha!

Yesterday I met with my friend Allan for lunch.  That was super nice and relaxing.  We had a few hours to sit around and catch up, talk about the past and future.  It was a perfect way to start my whirlwind tour of Salt Lake.

Then I headed straight to the dentist with onion breath from my salad.  Got a good cleaning and the doctor found nothing wrong with a tooth that was KILLING me for about 2 months.  He said maybe it just needed to be cleaned.  He donated toothbrushes and a big box of toothpaste, as well as a spin brush for some lucky person in Honduras.

My purse broke as I was leaving Denver, so I am now without a purse, trying to keep track of everything in my pockets.  Since I had a break between my prayer meeting and the dentist I went in search of a purse.  Apparently I am a picky purse buyer because I looked through hundreds and couldn't find any that I really liked.

I happened to be by Kohls, and since my watch died last week I figured Kohls was a good place to pick up a cheap watch.  Several people warned me the price of watches has gone up.  They were right!  No watch for me either.

My time of prayer with a lady who is a gifted healer was quick but great.  God gave me peace and advice about how to move forward.  In the prayer time He also spoke to me a lot about rivers, which you will see is extra awesome once I post the photo of the gift that Jody got me.  He is tying things together in a special way so I know His words are for me.

In the evening I was able to meet with my friend Kim and her kids.  Our time reinforced to me the honesty and sometimes braveness it takes to maintain a respectful friendship.  I appreciate the fact that we trust each other enough to address anything we need to talk about, knowing that it comes from a loving place.

Spent the rest of the night filling in every little gap of my schedule.  I was hesitant to pack it too tightly, thinking it would get stressful.  But there are so many people I'd like to see, that it's going to be back-to-back meetings until I leave on Tuesday.  I am blessed that so many people are willing to take the time to meet with me!

This morning I have a meeting with my home church, then lunch with my friend Arlene, who has been a long time supporter.  After lunch I am getting together with Kacy, who also has a heart for Honduras.  And dinner with be at my friend Kate's house with her husband and baby!

My general prayer every day is that the words which leave my mouth are of God, not of me.  And that His presence will shine through me in a way that is apparent to those with whom I am meeting.

Back in the USA

Today was a strange day.  I still haven't gotten a grasp on it yet.  Last night I itched all night.  I only have health insurance in Honduras, since that is where I live.  So I went to the Dr at 7 a.m.

They gave me another IV of prednizone and I was out of there within a half hour.  I really love this clinic and the doctors there.  They don't mess around.

I was dopey as I passed though the airport and onto the second flight.

As I landed in Denver I realized something I have never thought of before.  I was born to two residents of the US.  I can come and go from the US on a whim.

At the same time so many people risk their lives to be here.  Where I am.  Where I can come if I can pay for the airfare and where I am welcomed with open arms.

Tears came to my eyes as I thought of the five people I know who are currently risking their lives to be in the US.  I have two friends who were crossing the border into Mexico last week.  Two more friends arrived here illegally, one almost dead, last week.  And of course there is Fany's brother, who is being helped by immigration after he almost died in the desert in Texas.

I was born to one family.  The were born into another.  That is the only difference.

With all of the racial tension lately I have seen many posts about "white privilege".  Today my privilege really struck home.  I love Honduras and don't want to live anywhere else. It is a blessing that I can come and go from the US, legally, whenever I choose.  Until now it is something that I took for granted.  I will never take it for granted again.

Red welts

Two days ago Fany and I were outside talking in the garden.  A bird fell from its nest and Fany ran to grab it before Jetty could.  It wasn't able to fly yet. Its parents were none too please from the sounds of their squawking, but they didn't come down to rescue it.  We hauled out a ladder and debated where to leave the bird so that cats would be least likely to get to it.  Finally, Fany climbed the ladder with the bird in one hand and left it on the roof. Hondurans are very caring toward birds.  Even more than toward dogs or cats.  It's strange to me, but to them it is strange that I care so much about my cat.

Fany and I have been waiting and waiting for the few mangoes that grew this year to ripen.  We lost all of the avocados from both trees due to lack of rain.  The mango tree is hardly bearing fruit, so we have been "muy pendiente" (very aware and waiting).

Finally it's time!  Fany told me she was going to use the broomstick handle to knock them down and asked me to catch the mangoes before they hit the ground.  Without thinking I said sure.  I love harvesting things.  Especially after spending months watching them grow.

So we got about 7 mangoes from the tree.  I caught most of them in my arms like a football.  Luckily I was wearing a tee shirt, not a tank top.  The next morning I woke up with what looked like a compound fracture on my forearm.  It was swollen like crazy.  It also itched a lot.  I figured it was a spider bite.  Then there were two.  By evening I had a lot of red spots on my arms and even some welts and redness on my face.  The worst were my "compound fractures" and in the crease of my elbow.

I took all of my bedding off the bed (although there is no water to do laundry), thinking I had a flea infestation.  But the cat wasn't itching.

Mom told me I should go to a doctor.  That was when it hit me.  I have gone through exactly this 3 times before.  It was the mangoes!  Some spots on my neck and scalp itched.  It was just the same. After more itching than sleeping last night (and reminding myself to ALWAYS keep Benedryl on hand in the future!) I woke up at 5:30 a.m.  I called the doctor's office at 6 and found out they open at 7.

I continue to be impressed by the doctors at my clinic.  Yesterday Fany went to a public hospital.  It's one of the better public hospitals.  The doctor told her that the swelling in her hands and feet does not exist to anyone but Fany.  (And me, because I can see it.)  The doctor also asked if metal illness ran in the family and criticized Fany for a bunch of things.  I repeatedly hear horror stories about doctors in public facilities.  But my doctors are great.

I got to the building just before 7 a.m.  Three people were in line before me.  They were all instructed to go to the waiting room where I have gone for my stomach problems.  I was instructed to wait in a different room this time.  Just as I sat, my name was called.  They took my vitals and said they were going to put me on an IV drip of antihistamine and prednizone.  Sounded great to me!  She told me to avoid certain food because my defenses are very low right now, and I could go into anaphylactic shock.  Good to know not to eat pineapple because normally I start every day with a pineapple and celery smoothie.

Immediately after they started the IV, exhaustion hit.  I knew I shouldn't be driving, but I didn't have a choice.  Made it home in one piece.   Ran over the curb, even though I was going very slowly, right as I turned onto my own street.

Fell into bed exhausted and slept until noon.

My face has gotten worse, but my arms are better.  I am so grateful for good health care!  The whole experience cost $7.50 with my insurance, including everything - meds for this week and an IV.

I will look like a freak in the airport tomorrow, but my Mom will always love me.  Even with blotchy red welts on my face.  And maybe I'll get some extra space on the airplane because nobody will want to sit near someone who looks the way I do.

I've called everyone that I need to say good bye to.  All that's left to do is throw some clothes into a suitcase, which I will do as soon as I finish my final procrastination tactic - this blog.

I probably will not write much in July.  I have meetings morning, noon, and night with people the whole time I'm in the US.  It will be a very busy time away.  Not at all the definition of a vacation.  But I am eager to see my Mom and friends, so it will be good!

All checked in and ready to head out in the morning.  USA, here I come!  Red welts and all.

Dreams

Lately my dreams have been strangely real, in the manner that when I wake up in the morning they seem to apply to my real life.

Last night I had two simple dreams.  In the first I was seated in a classroom.  A woman was in front, taking a photo of the people in the class.  I was toward the front.  About 6 people were scattered behind me.

Before taking the photo, the woman told me (this is strange, but it will make sense in a minute) to flip all of my hair forward, and then let it fall back again, to kind of fluff up my hair so it would look nice in the photo.  I tipped my head forward and all of my hair fell over my face.  Right at that instant she took the photo.

I was so frustrated!  She had asked me to move my hair, but then waited until my face was covered to take the picture.  She refused to take another.  Everyone else would look normal.  I would be seated in the front, a faceless person, covered in hair.

The next dream was about being with a group of friends I haven't see in a long time.  We were talking and catching up.  But every time I had something to say, someone spoke over me.  Every single time! So frustrating.  Nobody heard a word I said.

Before church this morning I was sharing with one of the dancers about my frustrating dreams.  She said, "It sounds like you are feeling unseen and unheard."  Hmmm...  That  is exactly how I felt in the dreams, and exactly the way I am feeling recently in real life.

Two nights ago I had a really productive dream.  In real life I have felt angry toward someone.  I have been trying to forgive the person, but I am still too angry.  Although I am fully aware that my anger only hurts me, I have not been ready to pardon the person and ask God to bless them.

I dreamed the person came to me and apologized for part, but not all of what happened.  In real life when the person hurt me, I was strong and walked away with my head high.  But in the dream I felt all of the hurt that I had pushed aside.  In the dream I cried and felt all of the hurt I didn't allow myself to feel in real life.  After the person finished apologizing for a part of what they had done, all of that hurt was gone.  When I woke up it was still gone.  I hoped it would last.  It did! Today I am no longer angry and was able to pardon and bless that person.

Never thought that would happen through a dream, but I am grateful it did!

Today I visited a church in Los Pinos to watch the girls we taught all week perform there.  It is a great church with a super nice pastor, but the whole time I was missing MY church.  I love my church.  I love the people.  The leaders are incredible.  And the presence of the Holy Spirit is so strong there.  I fully enjoyed attending the church in Los Pinos. It's a great church! But it is not MY church.  And that is fine.

Pooping Spiders

Can someone please explain to me why my cat always gets horrible asthma a week before I leave the country?  When I lived up in the mountains she had asthma off and on, but it always got worse right before I went to the US.  Now, down in the city, she hasn't had any problems.  Except the week before I went to the US for Christmas and now.  She is wheezing away and has been like this all day.  I hate having to leave when she is in this state.  Fany said maybe she can sense that I am leaving.  Fany takes good care of her as far as feeding her and cleaning up after her, but Hondurans are just not cat people.  Except Samuel.

Today was a big wedding for people from my church.  I was invited, but unable to attend because it was the last night with the dancing ladies. I noticed something funny about Honduran weddings.  When people talk about the wedding, the big thing they talk about is the food.  In the US when we go to a wedding we don't really think about the food ahead of time.  Unless you have to choose fish or steak.  Then you might give it a quick thought.  But you would never say, "Yes.  I was invited to the wedding.  Can't wait to eat!"  As this week went by I heard that several times.  Another Honduran factoid for you.

Last night the water came for the first time all week.  Unfortunately it never made it up to our house.  When I got home from the gym today I asked Fany if she heard the water come last night.  She said there were some drips at 5 a.m.  I said, "So I can wash my clothes now?"  She looked at me in silence.  Then she said, "Not if you want to shower."  I chose a shower over clean clothes.  Especially since I was just returning from the gym.

Molly let me do a load of wash at her house.  (She gets water every 3 days!)  Then we went out to dinner.  I have been saving my money for over a month.  We went out for sushi to celebrate our last night with the dancers.  It ended up only costing $15 per person.  We ordered a sushi boat!  I had never had a boat before.  It was quite exciting.

We talked about the difference between the Honduran kids in dance classes and kids in the US.  The teachers said kids in the US aren't as eager to work.  Here the kids ask for extra one-on-one help and never want to stop.  They even seem to enjoy learning the basic fundamentals, which are not always so fun.  We were happy to see how much the kids of Los Pinos appreciated the classes and took advantage of the opportunity to learn.

Tomorrow we will go to the church early and help the girls prepare to dance.  Then off to the airport to drop of the teachers.  We are excited to do this again next year.  Dancing is great for the kids of Los Pinos.

This morning I made a post on FB to set up times to meet with people while I'm in Salt Lake.  Right now I have ONE open slot.  Everything else is booked, morning, afternoon, and evening for eight days.  Crazy!  I am going to leave SLC exhausted but full of love from all my buddies there.  As I always say, if I were ever live in the US again, Salt Lake is my home.

Two general observations:
1)You know your tooth is messed up when it hurts to eat a room temperature cucumber.  (I have a feeling my dentist appointment in SLC is going to be an expensive one.)
2) Yesterday morning the second I walked out the door, a bird pooped on my arm.  Splat.  This morning I was brushing my teeth when I noticed that spiders are living under my medicine cabinet and their poop is falling down onto my toothbrush!  Let me tell you, these spiders poop a LOT.  I am hoping the poop theme will not continue tomorrow.

The Power of Dance

Thanks to those who prayed about my passport!

This morning I had to go pick up my renewed passport.  The news said that anyone outside of the US who applied for a passport on June 9th or after would not get their passport.  The computer system was hacked and they reportedly stopped processing passports in any country outside of the US on June 9th.  Guess what day I applied for my passport?  June 9th.

I thought about alternative plans.  I could get into the US with my passport, so I could leave for my vacation next week.  But afterward I wouldn't be able to get back into Honduras.  To enter Honduras with a US passport, the passport must be more than 6 months from the expiration date.  My passport was good until September.

Thankfully, everything went well.  When it was my turn the lady went to the back and returned with an envelope. My passport was inside. Yay!

After leaving the US Embassy I went to Los Pinos for the last day of dance VBS.  It was strange because even with my passport in hand, I still felt really anxious.  It was like I drank 5 cups of coffee.

I missed the morning class.  They said it went well.  Goodbyes were tearful.  The girls in the afternoon all came, along with some of the younger kids who came earlier in the week.  One student was totally new.  It was a boy.  My favorite thing about this week was watching the kids who really LOVE to dance.  He was one.  He just let loose.  He didn't seem self conscious or uncomfortable being the only boy.  He just danced!

Dancing brings a kind of joy that I don't see in the kids at any other time.  Some of them just love to dance. They seem to forget about the world around them and think only of the freedom they feel when they dance.  It is absolutely beautiful to watch.

I am grateful that we were able to host this dance VBS and especially grateful for the dancers who paid their own money to come and teach the kids.  We hope this will be an annual event.

On Sunday the kids will dance at the church in Los Pinos.  The Pastor is a really special man. Churches in Honduras can be very territorial.  Pastor Nikolas is a one of a kind.  He is grateful that we want to serve in his neighborhood.  He allows Molly and me use the church whenever we need a safe place to meet.

I am excited to present the dance to his congregation on Sunday.  I hope it will be a blessing to them.  We also made a beautiful banner to leave with the church as a thank you gift.

Rooted in Love ♥

Today I was hoping to make it to the gym.  I talked to Molly about leaving early, but for some reason I didn't feel comfortable leaving.  Now I know why.  As I said I was feeling anxious.  I kept trying to pinpoint what was bothering me, but I couldn't figure it out.  My passport was in hand, the week of dancing and VBS was over.  It was a great success.  And yet, I couldn't relax and enjoy.

Finally I decided to head for home.  First I noticed a ton of people were walking toward me on both sides of the road, but there was no car traffic.  That seemed strange.  Then traffic backed up.  It was sudden, but not unusual.  I noticed one car turn around instead of waiting in the line in front of me.  Then everyone started turning around.  I could see police lights but couldn't tell what was going on until some buses and tractor trailers did three point turns and headed back.  There was a crowd in the street and only 2 cars in front of me.  Some of the police were wearing masks.

I was so close to home, I didn't want to turn back.  There is a way to go around, but it is about 6 miles longer and would have tons of traffic.  I decided to be stubborn.  If I had to wait for a while, it could still be better than driving back and around the long way.

Just then the police opened a hole in the crowd and waved through the two cars in front of me so I followed them through.  People were everywhere, but the crowd was calm and parted for us to pass.  First I saw one car that was really smashed up.  I thought that was horrible, but what I saw over the next half mile or so was shocking.

Fany called me to tell me not to go that way just as I made it through.  She said a tractor trailer lost its brakes and came down the hill, taking out all of the cars in front of it until it ran into a cement home.  It was carrying something flammable, she said.  I had seen cars that were almost flattened and the tractor trailer jack-knifed into the house.  A news anchor stood next to my car as I drove through the crowd.  Turned out she was the same one Fany was watching on TV. 

When I got home Fany invited me in.  They were watching the news.  Depending on which channel, the news reported between 2-7 people were killed, more than 15 injured.

I started doing the math.  There were about 20 cars in front of me when I got to that spot.  The rest were taken out by the tractor trailer.  If I had come down that hill five minutes earlier, I could have been one of them.

As crazy as it sounds, afterward my unease went away.  All of the unexplained anxiety I felt all day was gone.  I was not one of those people.  I could have left five minutes earlier.  But I was home, safe, watching the horrible scene on tv.

Fany called her family who would be on that road, some coming home from school and some going to work.  Everyone was accounted for and safe.

Sunday after the kids perform at the church, the team will go to the airport and our week of hosting will be over.  We, the adults, were just  as blessed as the children we served.  I can't wait to see the kids of Los Pinos so free and happy again.  This week their smiles were brighter.  Their whole demeanor felt lighter.  This week I learned that dance can be magical.  This week I saw God use the medium of dance to empower and bring immense joy to kids I love in Los Pinos.  It was beautiful.

Photos from Dancing in Los Pinos, Day 2

Photos from dance classes this week in Los Pinos.  Things are going really well.  Kids of all ages LOVE to dance.  Today we kids from 4-20 years old.  That's if you don't count me joining in at times too.

Yesterday:

Today:

One of the new faces.  She learned quickly

Erika was able to come today.
She is working in the mornings as a line cook

Learning leaps

Leaps!

Learning kicks

Big kids' kicks

Reviewing kids' dance from yesterday

Reviewing the big girls' dance

Arts and crafts - My identity in Christ

Snacks

First day of dancing in Los Pinos

I wish I had an update about Fany's brother.  I do have some works of God to share, but Fany's brother has not been found to our knowledge.

The first phone, the one he used in my last blog, died.  But Juan Carlos found a charged phone and was able to make a call to his brother in the US.  At that point Fany's brother who lives in the US called.  He was crying.  He said that Juan Carlos is close to death from dehydration.  They called immigration to turn him in, but immigration said they couldn't help.  The only thing they could do is tell him to walk to a road and hope that help would drive by.

There was a time we felt hopeless.  Fany's parents were fasting.  Fany and I prayed.  We were told that Juan Carlos and the two Guatemalan men who were with him were all too weak to walk.  They couldn't make it to a road.

That is when the Lord stepped in again.  First they found the phone.  Then they found a WELL.  A well with water.  They drank until they could walk.  Juan Carlos found his brother again and said they were feeling good.  They could see lights and a road.  They were going to walk there, then sit down and rest until someone came along.

That was the last thing we heard at 3 a.m. two nights ago.

On the brighter side, today was a fun day.  It was the first day of dance classes in Los Pinos.  Yesterday the dance teachers arrived.  We headed into Los Pinos this morning and had two classes.  One for the group of kids who go to school in the afternoon, then later a second class for the kids returned from their morning classes.

It brought back memories of the classes I was in as a child.  I haven't danced (in a class) in 30 years.  But I used to love dancing.  The teachers didn't speak English, so I translated and even danced with them.  It was lots of fun for me, as well as the kids.

Stretching

Crafts

Crafts

And more dancing

I have more photos of the little ones in the afternoon class, but the internet is too slow.  You can enjoy them tomorrow.

Juevos rancheros and three tortillas

Human life is human life.  Sometimes people make choices we may not agree with.  Sometimes those choices land them in dangerous, even life threatening situations.

At that point the decision is yours.  Do you let someone who is on the verge of death die because you don't agree with the decision the person made which caused them to be in this horrible situation?  Or do you give blood.  Because it is a life.  And because your pint of blood can make the difference between life and death for that person.  (In Honduras a person can only receive as many pints of blood as are donated in that person's name if they are in a public hospital.  There is no free blood.)

I recently had this conversation with someone.  The person told me, "Well, (so-and-so) knew better.  They knew if they chose to do (x,y.z,) they could die."  I was shocked.  Maybe it was a bad decision.  Maybe the person had really done the stupidest thing ever.  But did the person deserve to die because they made a bad  (or possible uninformed, or maybe a desperate) decision??

To me, the answer is no.  They did not harm anyone else.  The decision affected only themselves.  In fact I believe the person thought they were making the best decision they could.  But that is my point of view.

Why am I ranting and raving about decisions and death?  Because for a few months now Fany, who if you couldn't tell already, is my closest friend in Honduras, has been struggling as she watched her brother make a life and death decision.

One morning few months ago, Fany came to me very upset.  Her brother left in the middle of the night to begin a long journey in attempt to cross the border into the United States illegally.  In the end, he was captured by regular police in Mexico who figured out what he was trying to do, and sent back to Honduras.

He arrived thin and weak, hardly able to walk.  The journey to Mexico had gotten the best of him.

Immediately his brother, who paid for the "coyotes" to guide him to the US, started nagging.  The trip was already paid for.  He could attempt it again.  But they could not get a cash refund.  His manhood was challenged.  He was mocked and criticized.

His wife even pressured him to attempt the trip again.  He has not been able to find a job in over two years.  They have four kids.  The youngest is five.  Often they cannot eat.  What other option does he have?  He is not going to find work in Honduras, she said.  Take advantage of this opportunity your brother gave you, she told him.  Try again.

Fany and her parents were very, very against the idea from the beginning.  They know the man gets sick easily and is not very strong.  That trip is hard on the toughest people.  They did not want anything to happen to him.

But eventually, with pressure from the wife and brother, Fany came to me again.  It was the day after Mother's Day, May 11th.  Her brother had gone.  In the beginning of this week he made it to a place in Mexico where they were "storing" people until they thought it was safe to send them across the border.  He was not chosen in the earlier groups.  Then they had a close call with border patrol and had to lay low for a while.

Last night Fany's brother left the storage unit with the group he was assigned.  They had eaten their famous final meal of jeuvos rancheros and three tortillas.  They had only the clothes on their backs.  It was pouring rain as they crossed the river in a blow up raft.  They were drenched and cold.  They started hiking across a desert.  I am not sure how long they had walked when a helicopter came and they all scattered.  Fany's brother hung close to two Guatemalan guys.  He was able to get cell reception for a brief moment last night, just long enough to call his brother and say that he was lost in the desert.

As you can imagine, Fany is beside herself.  She doesn't know what to do.  She can't eat.  Her parents don't know that their son is lost.  They have been fasting since he arrived in the storage unit.  Her mother said today that she feels like something bad happened.  The brother who paid and provoked his brother to try again doesn't want anyone to know that his brother is lost.  He tried calling the coyotes to rescue his brother.  First the contact didn't answer their phone.  Then they said that someone had been sent to get them.  I find that difficult to believe.

Fany said she is praying that immigration finds her brother and picks him up.  That is the only way we can imagine him getting out of the desert safely.  We are thankful that he is not alone.

I was talking to some people at my church about the situation last night, before he got lost.  The man I was talking to knows two women who are currently on the same path.  One is the daughter of a lady from our church.  This has been happening all around me for years.  But I don't talk about it.  Because I know it is controversial.

Some people may say that Fany's brother deserves to die in the desert.  He made a bad decision.  I am praying that he doesn't.