I thought today was off to a good start. I got the garbage out for myself as well as Fany and her family before 6:30 and I had a plan. I closed all of the windows in the back of the house, so when the water man came by, I would hear him loudest from the front of the house.
After dashing down the driveway and opening the front gate to find nobody there three times, I realized the new plan did not work. I had one Nalgene of water to brush my teeth and give to the cat, but otherwise I was high and dry. I decided to wait and fill up the water on the way to church. So I laid down to rest for a while, taking the keys out of my pocket. And then I hear him. This time I know he is outside the gate. I lept from the bed, put on my flip flops with the thong between the wrong toe and ran outside. I purposely slammed the screen door, thinking he would hear it, and charged down the driveway yelling "Water here!" in Spanish. I opened the gate and couldn't believe it. Nobody was there. So I stepped out to look around. And just as the huge metal door clanked shut, I remembered my keys were in the house.
The water man was down the hill a little ways, so I got my water and tried climbing on top of the bottle, explaining that I had locked myself out. He took pity on me and climbed up in several places where I was insisting he could get over the barbed wire. But each time he climbed back down, saying he could not get through. (My house is fencend in with a tall wall, about 15 feet, topped with coils of barbed wire like a high security prison.) I was frustrated, thinking I could get over the darn barbed wire if I could only climb up there. I imagined myself with cuts on my legs and ripped clothing, but at that point it seemed like the only solution. He tried to rouse the neighbors to see if we could get in from their yard, but they had a party last night which went late and nobody was awake yet.
Finally he said he would wait with my water and I should go to the guards and ask for a ladder. So I ran in my sweat pants and tee shirt, with my hair uncombed and my teeth unbrushed, through the neighborhood, feeling terrible that I was holding up the poor water guy. The guards didn't have a ladder, but my taxista was there, sitting at his car. I went to him and told him what happened. The guards came over and told me that he is safe to talk to, but I really shouldn't go around asking for help from people I don't know. I told them I know him! They said yes, he is a good man. Then the guards asked if I had passed the workers in a blue truck with a ladder. I had no idea what they were talking about, but Gracias a Dios (thank God) the guards spotted the workers down at the end of the street with FOUR ladders!
I ran down the street, by now sweaty and feeling like an idiot, and explained I had locked myself out of my house, could I use a ladder to get inside. The taxista followed me each step of the way - he is so good to me! I think he is my special Honduran angel from God because he keeps me safe a lot. The workers took down the ladder they were using and they all piled into the work truck. I ran ahead to relieve the water man from his duties of guarding my water. He refused to accept any money for his time and help. Then I ran back to make sure the workers knew where to go. I showed them my gate. It's not really a gate. It's a big metal door in a huge metal wall.
They put up the ladder, then stood below assessing if the barbed wire was electrified. Finally they decided it wasn't and two of them climbed up. They were up there a while, trying to figure out how to get over the barbed wire. With help, one climbed over. That was scary to watch. I was okay with covering myself in blood, but not some poor stranger. Then the other helped lower him to the ground. I don't think anyone will be breaking into my house anytime soon. But Jairo did point out that now they know that there is a gringa alone in that house and they know how to get in. He said it will be interesting to see what happens in the next three months. I hope we don't get robbed because I was dumb and left my keys inside!
I was sooooo happy when the gate clicked open and I was able to go in. One of the men carried my water to the doorstep. I had asked the taxista how much to pay them for their help, so I asked him to wait outside, then ran in to grab some money. He didn't look at it, but stuck it in his pocket. What an experience! I never want that to happen again!!!
When I passed the guards to go to the church they were all concerned about how I was doing, if I was more relaxed now, and if I were from Spain??? I told them no, I am a gringa.
Jairo took me to visit the attorney for my residency. Once I get all of the paperwork from the US, the process is easy. The attorney will do all of the work. Jairo and I just have to show up at some building on the 18th of every month to show them my papers have been submitted for residency and they will give me month to month permission to stay until my residency is granted. In total it will cost $1500. Oh boy. That is a lot of money. Luckily it is a one time thing. After that if I spent the rest of my life here I will never have to pay a penny.
Iglesia en Transformación has to write a letter that they are responsible for me in every way - for my behavior, for my health, even for my finances! I have to have a Dr sign a special form that I am healthy. Also we have to go through Interpol. I don't know exactly what Interpol is, but I know it is something important.
Jairo said he is really happy that we are using a lawyer to do this. He had to help someone with this process once before and it was a horrible experience. He told me not to worry about the money because I have a rich Father. Then he looked upward and prayed to my rich father. So I prayed too. $1500 is a lot of money for us, but he is very relaxed about it.
Also we learned I can drive with my US drivers license until I get residency. Neither Jairo or I are very comfortable with that. It is legal, but the cops can harass me if they want to. Jairo told me NEVER to give police my license if I have an encounter with them, because the police can take it and claim they never had it, then sell it.
It was nice to have time with Jairo. I haven't spent time with him in a while. He is actively looking for a car for me. He found two nice ones so far, but was not comfortable with the people who were selling them when he tried to negotiate. He has all of his friends looking for a car for me, but wants it to come from someone who they know and feel comfortable dealing with. I asked him to have them keep an eye out for a fridge too, and told him I appreciate all of the time and effort he is putting into getting me the right car.
Jairo saved an article for me to read. It is about the fact that Honduras is the most dangerous place on earth right now. The article also talked about the "Death Triangle" formed between El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. He said nobody realizes that often he has information that we are not even aware of. I told him that I believe it is very dangerous here, but it is hard for me to fully understand because I never personally see it. It is because of Jairo that I am sheltered. I am grateful for that. But I don't have a realistic idea of what is happening in this country. He asked if I am aware how many journalists and lawyers have been killed in the past week here. I am not. He asked if I have noticed we don't always go the most direct routes to get places, and there are some areas we don't visit at all. This is because we stick to main roads that are most safe. I never know these things.
Jairo said there are times when he comes down from his office and has to make everyone leave the church. Sometimes he said he has to be really pushy to get everyone to go, but that it is because he has been given information that something bad is about to happen. He has to make sure that everyone is at home, safe in their houses. We are always oblivious to this, although now I can think of sometimes that we left quickly and unexpectedly. I just figured something came up. Now I remember times when Jairo comes down from his office and does a special whistle, then goes and sits in the car waiting for us to pile in. I always try to do what Jairo asks, but from now on when he comes down from his office and tells us all to get in the car I won't stop to fill my water or go to the bathroom. I'll get straight into the car so we can go!
We got back from the lawyer's office just in time for a conference about domestic violence and what we, as women, can do about it. A woman from Alexandria, Virginia was the presenter. I got up and spoke voluntarily in front of the group. Lourdes stood next to me to translate if I needed her. I think I did pretty well. I spoke in Spanish and looked at her to make sure I was saying things right. She had to correct me a few times and say parts of some sentences, but Spanish is getting more and more natural for me. (I talk to my cat in Spanish most of the time now.) I didn't feel nervous speaking in front of the ladies. But I also felt like I was really supposed to speak at that point, so that might have helped me feel more comfortable.
It was a long day, with some tough situations, but it all turned out great in the end.
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