I had another super good day. I got up and got ready for church. When nobody came to pick me up I figured they were just running on Honduran time and were a little late. Then I decided that I must be confused about what time church starts, but I still wasn't worried about it because you can't miss church when you ride there with the pastor. When Jairo called I expected him to say he was outside. But instead he said "Karla and Jose are here!" I was confused. Well, it turned out that we had a miscommunication. I thought I had said I might spend time with Karla and Jose on Saturday. He thought I was spending the day and the night with them. So when he saw them at church without me he wondered where in the world I was. In the middle of the service he had to talk to them to find out what was going on. Ooops! So he called me and told me to take a private cab. He told me what to say exactly, and how much it would cost. So I set out on my first adventure in a private cab. (I used to take private cabs a lot on my last visit, but I always used the same driver who was a family friend.) I made it to church just fine and for less money than Jairo had expected. Plus I got the low-down on grocery shopping from my driver, if I ever go alone. He said I can walk to the "super" (short for supermercado or "supermarket") and if I need a ride home it should cost about 60 Limpiras. I asked if it was dangerous to walk there and he said it is much more dangerous near the church than it is at the super.
At church Josue was there. His family was asked to speak. They all walked up on stage together, stood close to each other, his father took the microphone and was unable to speak. I wouldn't have been able to speak either. Jairo and Evelin Michelle's father, Boris, went up and stood with him in support. They brought tissues and glasses of water. Everyone had cameras and cell phones taking pictures and most people were crying right along with them. We all firmly believe that Josue was dead and God chose to bring him back to full health. Hector, Josue's father, said he is so glad that Josue has no memory of what happened. He was in a coma most of the time. He quoted scripture, told everyone to take every opportunity to show love to their children, and spoke from his heart. It was beautiful, and sad, and amazing to see a boy who had been physically dead on March 11th, standing, thin but healthy, next to his family. Eunice spoke too. She was not her usual poised self, but how could she be? She was overwhelmed with emotions and praise for God. Josue will go back to school tomorrow! This experience has brought many people closer to God. One of Josue's friends is now committed to going to church every week, along with her family, after seeing what God did for Josue. (And she is a beautiful girl who seems very interested in Josue.)
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| Josue, his father, his mother and his sister, Elienai |
Jairo called all of Josue's friends to come onto the stage. There were at about 20 of them all surrounding Josue. Jairo pointed out that, like Josue, most of these kids grew up in the church. They are like family. Therefore, when something like this happens to Josue, it is like something happens to your own son. He talked about how life is very fragile, not to take it for granted, to live each moment because tomorrow is not guaranteed. And then he sprayed perfume all over everyone - but that is another long story.
Yesterday two people my age were buried in the US. I wasn't particularly close to either of them. One was a girl I went through grades 7-12 with. The other was the brother of a very special ex-boyfriend. They were 41 and 43 years old respectively. That is too young to die.
After church I was anxious to go home, as usual. The whole social scene is just not my thing. I can never remember people's names and everyone wants to talk to me and it is just uncomfortable. But I'm getting better at it. And I do appreciate that people go out of their way to make me feel welcome and thank me for my work. I'm pretty sure that last week I wished happy birthday to three different men, when I thought each time it was Lourdes' brother. Ooops! It is getting easier now that my Spanish is getting better. Today a woman thanked me for knowing Spanish because she wanted to talk to me but she didn't know English. I thought about all of the people in the US who are so self righteous about everyone speaking ENGLISH in the US, and I thought about much more I liked her approach of appreciation, rather than condemnation.
BE ADVISED, THIS IS A PERSONAL RANT. SKIP THIS SECTION IF YOU'D LIKE: That is something that really bothers me - the whole "learn English" thing - because I know people in the US who don't speak English did not choose to be born into situations where they were barely able to survive. They escaped horrible circumstances for opportunity. I've talked to many of them in various jobs I had in Chicago and Denver. They would love to know English. They would also love to have food on the table and be able to feed and shelter their families. I think the people who post things on Facebook and say negative things about people who don't speak English are clueless about other parts of the world. To me, one of North America's greatest flaws is that many North Americans are ignorant. They have no idea how the rest of the world lives and they assume that everyone is just like them. That everyone does, or should, live just like they do. Many illegal immigrants come to the US from Honduras. They can't get an education because they have to work at a young age in order to eat! They can't work because there are no jobs. So they save every penny and risk their lives to go to North America. We were all immigrants at one point in our family history too. I'm pretty sure nobody reading this blog is 100% Native American. So who are we to judge? Okay I am done with my rant.
After church we all sat around and ate a delicious soup with vegetables, corned beef, and sausage in it. Lourdes expected me not to like the corned beef. I told her it is one of my favorite meals with cabbage and potatoes in the US. She was surprised. She continues to think I am a STRAAAANGE gringa. We sat around for two hours, eating and talking and saying "Que Calor!", which I generally think is overused, but was actually fitting for today. It was HOT outside!
My landlord asked me how long I plan to stay in the house. I explained that if I can't raise funding I will have to go back permanently in June. I don't think anyone had ever told her that because she seemed to expect me to stay. But I have been making it clear to everyone that I am not yet fully funded to live here. I sure am glad that I came at this time though. Eunice said it made it easier for her to be at the hospital with her son, knowing I was here to help Lourdes and Jairo. And there have been quite a few days when God had me trying to fill Lourdes' big shoes too, which is impossible, but still I try. I have no doubt in my mind that this was not of my own doing, but of God. And that is why I am so confused about why I am having to struggle with fundraising? Is it possible that God is done with me in Honduras now? It sure doesn't feel that way to me. But it will be clear if I can't come up with enough money to live here. Because God does meet all of our needs. As I told Eunice today, this is only money. God will surely provide if it is his will. After all, He gave her son LIFE when no doctor could.
Link for donations: https://worldoutreach.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=117
Since I got home I have been thinking a lot about my future. About what life could hold for me if I do return to live in the US and what it would be like to live in Honduras indefinitely. For some reason I feel like Honduras is in my future. But I can't say why. It's just a feeling I have inside.
My neighbor keeps bringing me food tonight. First fried green platanos from the tree that fell down. She knows I am sad about that tree. Then she showed up with bananas. Big fat ones that are chubby but short. I ate the whole bowl of fried green platanos. I still like the sweet, more mature ones better. I wonder if I'll continue to lose weight with no exercise, eating like this. I have no idea what my body is doing with all of this food.
After the platanos I sent my weekly letter to the prayer team, and then got busy on this. And now it's time for bed. I just learned this afternoon that there is no breakfast program tomorrow or Tuesday because Tuesday is Honduras' version of Labor Day. I asked Jairo how I could help out and stay busy, offering to iron for Lourdes since it is really hard on her back. He said I can help do the grocery shopping for the breakfast program. (It will be my job if I live here permanently.) We are also going to clean Eunice's office. Jose invited me to spend Tuesday with his family. I'll stay busy, I'm sure. And even when I'm not busy, I have been very happy and peaceful lately. God is Good. Life is Good.
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